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Kansas defeats Towson, 88-58
- 7 p.m., Nov. 22, 2013
- Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS
Final: Kansas 88, Towson 58
By Matt Tait
They scheduled a basketball game and a dunk fest broke out.
Behind a fast and furious first half in which the Jayhawks pushed the ball in transition better than at any point during this young season, the Kansas men's hoops squad buried Towson, 88-58, at Allen Fieldhouse and improved to 4-0 overall, 1-0 in the Battle 4 Atlantis classic.
Andrew Wiggins, who scored 14 first-half points on 6-of-7 shooting, led the Jayhawks with 16 points and 7 rebounds (4 offensive) in what turned out to be a very efficient night. No question Wiggins could have scored much more, but given the way the Jayhawks ran in transition and the talent of the opponent, he simply did not need to.
Andrew White III (13), Perry Ellis (10) and Wayne Selden (12) all reached double figures, as well, and the Jayhawks turned the lights out on this one early in the first half, taking a 49-16 lead into the locker room, after closing the half on an 18-0 run.
Many of the Jayhawks first-half points came via the slam dunk as Tarik Black, Joel Embiid, Ellis, Selden and Wiggins each threw down multiple dunks of all varieties.
KU shot 60 percent for the game (44 percent from three-point range) and held Towson to 37 percent while outrebounding Towson, 40-28.
Second-ranked Kansas improved to 4-0. Towson fell to 3-2.
Here’s a quick look back at some of the action:
• The game turned when: It started... Towson was overmatched from the jump and the Jayhawks jumped out to first-half leads of 17-7, 27-12 and 31-16 before leading 49-16 at halftime.
• Offensive highlight: It really isn't fair to pick just one, so we'll go with all three monster dunks that came in a span of 1:34 to kick this one off. The first came from Tarik Black, who picked up a steal near mid-court and then punished the rim with a one-hand rattler over a defender who refused to commit. Seconds later, Wayne Selden hit the rim even harder with a two-handed flush in transition that ended with him raising his head above the rim as he landed. On the next KU possession, Naadir Tharpe found Black for an alley-oop which he caught with one hand and flushed it after fully extending his arm over a Towson defender. The impressive stretch put KU up 11-5 but Towson probably felt like it was 40-5.
• Defensive highlight: Let's keep the theme of a three-for alive, with a series of first-half swats from Joel Embiid taking this category. All three came in different manners. The first was the result of Embiid stepping up to meet a driving Towson player at the free throw line. The second was off of help defense that started the break. And the third came when his man tried to beat him with a baseline drop step that Embiid was having nothing to do with. All three were clean, full-hand swats that merely fueled KU's first-half onslaught.
• Key stat: Transition points. From start to finish, the Jayhawks sprinted up the floor on offense whenever possible and that led to Kansas outscoring Towson 29-8 in fastbreak points (at one time it was 29-2). Much of the relentless pushing of the pace led to dunks, but even when it didn't KU typically got to the free throw line or got a good look at the rim. If these guys can comfortably play like that night in and night out, they're going to be scary for nearly everyone they face.
• Up next: The Jayhawks head for paradise and continue play in the Battle 4 Atlantis challenge when they face Wake Forest at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) in Nassau, Bahamas.
Live coverage (Ended November 22, 2013 at 9:06 p.m.)
David Leathers
Im so pissed. Apparently I took the line on the Oklahoma game (-2) and not them straight up. WTF
Melrank
Like every year, t I disagree with this perception that upperclassman get the benefit and can screw up without penalty yet young guys get yanked at every time during the first mistake. Old guys that play get the benefit of the doubt because they are better. Young guys that aren't quite that good, get hooked when they screw up. It's simple. You're good enough, you get the benefit - see Wiggins, see Ben, See X. Not quite there yet - see EJ, see Tharpe (last year), see Mason now. It's not rocket science.
Lajayhawk
Landon Lucas, a kid that will likely be all-Big 12 by his junior or senior year is your mop-up guy. Unreal.
Hawk90 in reply to Daniel Kennamore
I see, I missed that that segment of the debate. I apologize. I think it's just that thing Self does. He doesn't pull his upper class men. I don't know if that's what you said, but usually he lets his older guys hang through mistakes. I guess normally because they are less inclined to let the mistakes build.
Benton Smith KUsports.com staff
KU scoring leaders so far: Wiggins 16, White III 13, Selden Jr. 12, Ellis 10.
Brian Powell in reply to Daniel Kennamore
I'll say it a third time and then finish my cookies and enjoy the game:
because we're 3 deep at other positions, and because he likes to play them both at the same time.
Brian Powell in reply to Hawk90
good point; plus, we're not playing for November games -- we're looking to spring, and you bet coach is depending more on his 3rd year player to lead the offense.
Lajayhawk in reply to Hawk90
I agree with you, but Tharpe also has 20 assists against 6 turnovers in 3 games. His stats are also very good.
Daniel Kennamore in reply to Hawk90
"I'll jump in on this. How about last game where Tharpe had for more assists?"
Then you leave him in. I really don't understand why 'pull a player that is doing poorly' is such a controversial statement here. Self does it with every position EXCEPT the PG.
Jaycon11 in reply to Hawk90
Yeah, Tarpe can ease up on the throttle, when needed. One of the things that I like abt him.
Don Burgundy
It's like a soap opera when you guys talk about Tharpe and Mason and who should start over who....I think I'll call it " As the Point Guard turns"
Tom Keegan KUsports.com staff
I bet if I ask this as first question: "Has Stanley Redwine been working with your team?" Self would answer, "Not in the second half he wasn't." He always is mindful of keeping them humble.
Matt Tait KUsports.com staff
Nice job by the students in the stands who hold up the letters... Just flashed up "LOBRENCE, KS" -- Very nice.
Hawk90 in reply to Daniel Kennamore
I'll jump in on this. How about last game where Tharpe had for more assists? The point guard isn't a stat heavy position. You can't determine how good a point guard is by looking at stats. Why? The point guards job is to get the offense in a flow. While Mason has been great, he isn't the guy to get our offense in set and make it move. He is very good at driving, but sometimes he is just to over aggressive. Tharpe does a much better job at establishing the flow of the team. He might not get an assist or the points but his decisions lead to easier decisions for the other guys and that's what a point guard needs to be able to do above all else.
Jaycon11 in reply to Brian Powell
Right--by "emotion," I meant "confidence," so it was sloppy. But, yeah, it's freaking November. Mistakes will be made. This is not last year's team.
Benton Smith KUsports.com staff
Embiid really does make everything he does look so easy and not awkward. You know, like the exact opposite of most 7-footers.
Brian Powell in reply to Jaycon11
yep - I tried to say something like that :) intangibles/psychology/etc
Tom Keegan KUsports.com staff
Wiggins picks up fourth offensive rebound, which prolongs possession ended by Embiid yet another graceful move at the hoop. ... Embiid receives alley-oop from Tharpe.
Melrank
Russell Robinson started in front of Sherron in 2008. Stats would argue against that move. I'm willing to give HCBS the benefit that maybe he has a much more introspective look at what works for our team.
Brian Powell in reply to Daniel Kennamore
the case with Self, though, has always been that seniority trumps everything at the PG spot. He's loyal to the player in that spot until they leave, regardless of whether someone better shows up.
I thought the same of Tharpe when Tyshawn was still here :) We all know he was brilliant then horrible, and when he was horrible everyone wanted him benched.
Same story, same result. Mason will develop into a stud just like every other Self PG, but he will not jump over Tharpe.
Jaycon11 in reply to Brian Powell
You must, MUST consider intangibles, like emotions. Tharpe is a more than capable PG. Pulling him because Mason looks hot for a few times in the beginning of the season is not wise.
Lajayhawk
This team will regularly have the '08 team's spread out scoring. Might end up hurting Wiggins NBA stock, because he's not going to average 20+. or even close to it.
Brian Powell
funny story, we were on the baseline corner first row at the Purdue women's game (with my 7 yr. old daughter).
Band chants "BLOCK THAT SHIT, BLOCK THAT SHIT..."
And my daughter and her friend couldn't decide if they were saying 'block that chip' or 'block that chick'.
Tom Keegan KUsports.com staff
Andrew Wiggins 16 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. 6 for 8, 1 for 1 from three, 3 for 4 from line, three offensive rebounds.
Benton Smith KUsports.com staff
KU, thus far, shooting 29/46. That's 63 percent, the live stat page tells me.
Daniel Kennamore in reply to Brian Powell
Mason, despite playing far less minutes, has more points and more assists than Tharpe.
It's really an open and shut case...
Brian Powell in reply to Daniel Kennamore
PG mistakes will always be to the detriment of the team, but I really don't see where he has much choice in the matter...
But I have seen him pull Tharpe and Mason after consecutive plays though, and that's reasonable. But there's a lot of value in making them play through some errors too. I'm just always against the knee-jerk coaching when it comes game time. It's detrimental to games when you're in-game to jerk players around like that. What do they learn? They get punished, but the psychology of when you go back out on the floor after that is not positive motivation -- it's hindering to you playing like you can/should. You're playing not to make mistakes, not to take risks, not to lose. You don't take the good confident risks you should.
D_bradley27 in reply to Mistroth
He's active on twitter so it'll come from him. He's a big time talent.
Benton Smith KUsports.com staff
Another friendly reminder, our live KU coverage is brought to you by Time Warner Cable Sports Channel.
Time Warner Cable Sports Network.
Jaycon11 in reply to Lajayhawk
Man, like I mentioned this summer, transition with this group of recruits + Tharpe is gonna be amazing.
Daniel Kennamore in reply to Brian Powell
Agree to disagree;
I just think Self treats the PG position differently than the rest of the team to our detriment.
Brian Powell in reply to Daniel Kennamore
no, you still missed it.. I said [we don't have the depth at that position] to just pull them all the time. Self plays BOTH Mason and Tharpe at the same time! Are you watching the games?
Benton Smith KUsports.com staff
Kansas forward Perry Ellis hooks a shot around Towson forward Jerrelle Benimon during the first half on Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 at Allen Fieldhouse. by Nick Krug
Daniel Kennamore in reply to Jaycon11
Starting and being pulled when they are playing poorly are too different things.
Benton Smith KUsports.com staff
Kansas guard Frank Mason hangs for a shot as he is fouled by Towson forward Jerrelle Benimon during the first half on Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 at Allen Fieldhouse. by Nick Krug
Benton Smith KUsports.com staff
If Frankamp is going to drain 3's off the dribble, too, it will be hard to keep him on the bench — even with the talent of all those guys in front of him.
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