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Sunday, January 7, 2007

Chalmers, Arthur shine in non-conference finale

By Ryan Greene

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Today's non-conference finale pits Kansas University's men's basketball team against both a familiar opponent as well as an uncommon one.

The Jayhawks tip-off in Columbia, S.C., against the Gamecocks for just the second meeting all-time between the two. But the Jayhawks will face a recurring hurdle - trying to win on the road.

This season, the No. 9 Jayhawks (12-2) are 3-1 away from Allen Fieldhouse, but only one of those games resembled a hostile road environment. That was a 64-57 loss at DePaul on Dec. 2. It's something KU will have to get used to overcoming with Big 12 play beginning this week.

South Carolina enters the game at 10-2. Three Gamecocks average in double figures in the scoring column, led by senior point guard Tre Kelley, who puts down 16.8 points and 5.27 assists per game. Though Kelley missed South Carolina's 67-53 win over Western Carolina Wednesday after hurting his knee on Dec. 29 against Jacksonville. His status is questionable. Senior forward Brandon Wallace averages 11.9 points and a team-high 9.4 rebounds per game, while freshman Brandis Raley-Ross has scored 10 points per contest for the Gamecocks, who are the two-time defending NIT champions.

FIRST HALF

South Carolina opened the game on a 4-0 run as the Jayhawks stumbled a tad. Following a Dominique Archie dunk and a Brandon Wallace layup, Brandon Rush stroked a three from the top of the key for KU, and the Jayhawks took the lead after forcing a Tre Kelley turnover on a layup inside from Julian Wright.

Kelley started the game for the Gamecocks, but hasn't been too effective in the opening minutes, as KU holds a 5-4 lead with 15:46 left in the first half.

******

Out of the timeout, Julian Wright scrambled almost the length of the court, battling a pair of Gamecocks for a loose ball. The trio tumbled to the deck and a jump ball was called. After that, Bill Self was whistled for a technical foul after jumping off of the bench. Bryce Sheldon hit one of the two free throws, tying the game, 5-5.

Mario Chalmers answered quickly for the 'Hawks, slicing across the South Carolina defense and hitting a floater in the lane, for his first points of the game.

After stopping a potential fastbreak hoop for the Gamecocks, Sherron Collins then hit Chalmers for a deep three-pointer, to make it a 10-1 KU run. Chalmers then forced Sheldon into a five-second turnover on the defensive end.

Chalmers continued to surge after a Brandon Rush three rimmed out, he forced another turnover in the USC backcourt, but no offensive numbers came from it, just like the previous effort.

The same culprit, Chalmers, got the ball back again for KU in transition, this time throwing a lob for Brandon Rush. It was too high for Rush to slam, so he brought it down, and wisely went back up for an easy two, putting KU up 12-5.

Tre Kelley scored his first points of the game on the next trip up the floor, hitting a pair of free throws for USC's first points in more than four minutes.

Darrell Arthur scored his first points of the game after the free throws, rolling off of a screen he set for Brandon Rush to take the easy feed from the sophomore wing and stuff home an easy two-handed slam. That was followed with a travel call on USC, keeping KU up 14-7 with 11:20 left in the first half.

******

Out of the full timeout, KU had to face a zone defense for the first time. Darrell Arthur was effective once the ball was dumped in his way. First, he drew a foul from Ousmane Konate. And after the score, he scored on a goaltending call to put KU up 16-7.

South Carolina's Dominique Archie scored on a tip-in off of a Brandon Wallace miss for the Gamecocks' first field goal in more than eight minutes, but Sherron Collins answered in transition just seconds later to keep KU's nine-point lead.

Kelley then missed the front end of a one-and-one just under the nine-minute mark, but it led to a missed three-pointer from Collins. South Carolina scored again on a tip-in.

Chalmers got yet another fastbreak opportunity, but was whacked hard by Archie while going up for the layup, and an intentional foul was called as the teams headed to another full timeout with KU leading 18-11.

******

Chalmers hit both free throws out of the timeout, and followed it with his second three of the game to give him a game-high 10 points and KU a 23-11 lead. Brandon Wallace answered with two points inside on a quick feed from Kelley.

South Carolina forced a KU turnover after that, but quickly returned the favor as Russell Robinson swatted away a pass near halfcourt, and turned it into a fastbreak layup to put KU up 12 again.

Darrell Arthur gave KU a 27-13 lead after saving a nearly lost pass from Julian Wright under the hoop behind the backboard. He spun to his right and banked one in to give him six points off the bench.

South Carolina got a spark off the bench from freshman Evaldus Baniulis, but Arthur answered with his fourth field goal from the middle of the paint, keeping KU up 29-16.

The Gamecocks though continued to improve offensively, this time with a Brandon Wallace dunk, and that was followed by a Chalmers miss from deep with the USC crowd beginning to come alive. Dwayne Day kept them coming with a tough 17-foot jumper with a hand in his face to pull the Gamecocks within nine. Julian Wright was then whistled for a charge as the teams headed into a full timeout at the 3:12 mark with KU leading 29-20.

******

Baniulis hit a three-pointer fresh out of the timeout to make it a six-point game and push USC's run to 8-0.

South Carolina then had two open three-point looks, but both clanked. It turned into Mario Chalmers going coast-to-coast and drawing a foul under the USC hoop. He hit the first, missed the second, got the rebound off a tip and drowned a floater to put KU up again by nine at 32-23.

Mario Chalmers then left the game with apparent cramping in his right calf, and while he was hobbling around on defense, South Carolina got an easy bucket underneath. The Gamecocks then cut the KU lead to four points on a Dwayne Day three-pointer, making it a 32-28 game with :41.6 left until the break.

Darrell Arthur threw up a frantic three with less than 15 seconds to go, and the ball went out of bounds underneath off the miss and back to USC with :08.4 left. But Tre Kelley was called for a charge. Sherron Collins missed a floater at the buzzer, but KU leads 32-28 at the break. Mario Chalmers has 13 points, two assists and four steals at the break, while Darrell Arthur has eight points for the Jayhawks.

SECOND HALF

Julian Wright opened the half with a steal and fed Mario Chalmers, now back in the game. Chalmers hit Brandon Rush in the corner for a three-pointer and the first points of the second half.

Kelley missed a floater on the other end of the floor, and Rush scored again with a runner while crossing the lane against an expiring shot clock to put KU up 37-28.

Dwayne hit his second three of the game for USC after a pair of Gamecock misses, giving South Carolina its first points of the second half, but it was answered with yet another Mario Chalmers floater in the lane. Only USC came back with another Day three.

Darrell Arthur then moved into double figures with a tough inside turnaround jumper, putting him at or above 10 points for the first time since a Dec. 19 win over Winston-Salem State, when he had 13. Tre Kelley scored his first field goal of the game, making it a 41-36 game with KU still leading during the first full timeout of the second half.

******

Dominique Archie made one of two free throws after a foul-ridden minute out of the timeout to pull USC within four points at 41-37. Sasha Kaun then followed his own missed dunk with a deuce off the glass for his first points of the game. Then Wright scored his second field goal of the game after picking off a pass at midcourt, swooping past a defender and throwing down a one-handed dunk to make it a 45-37 game.

Archie again split a pair of free throws to keep KU's lead somewhat tamed at seven points. Kaun answered again with a two-pointer off of the glass from straight away, to put KU up 47-38. Brandon Wallace then scored will cutting across the lane, but Brandon Rush sunk his third three of the game to put KU up 49-40 at the 11:10 mark.

******

After Brandon Wallace hit a pair of free throws out of the timeout, Darrell Arthur again scored on a goaltending call, as Wallace collected it in the air a little late, giving the freshman 12 points on the day.

Darrell Arthur continued to surge coming off of a bout with the flu as he completed an old-fashioned three-point play, putting KU up 54-42 and giving him 15 points ont he afternoon.

Sherron Collins scored on another layup to give KU a commanding 56-42 lead at the 7:28 mark.

******

Evaldus Baniulis hit only one of three free throws out of a timeout, which were the result of him being fouled by Mario Chalmers while attempting a three. His free throw ineptitude kept KU's lead at 13 points. It bumped up to 15 when Julian Wright tipped in a Chalmers missed three, giving KU its biggest lead of the game. Bryce Sheldon then whipped in a three for South Carolina, to keep the Gamecocks with a glimmer of hope approaching the six-minute mark. Darrell Arthur, though, threw home a lob from Julian Wright just seconds later, giving him 17 points on the day.

Sherron Collins hit a deep two, followed by Tre Kelley swishing his first three of an offensively difficult day for USC's leading scorer. KU is holding on at 63-49 with 3:50 to play.

******

******

Chalmers tied Arthur for a game-high total with 17 points on a baseline jumper out of a quick KU timeout, it was answered by a USC dunk from Brandon Wallace, who has 12. Russell Robinson then scored to continue KU's closing out of the Gamecocks. Tre Kelley then hit his second three of the game to give him 10 points on the afternoon, but he has gone just 3-of-14 from the field.

Sasha Kaun slammed home his own miss to give him six points, all of which have come in the second half, as KU lead 68-54 with 1:01 to play.

Mario Chalmers scored once more for a game-high 19-point total as the Jayhawks finished off USC 70-54. Darrell Arthur also had 17 points for KU, while USC was led by Dwayne Day, who tallied 13. The Jayhawks are 13-2, with Big 12 play opening Wednesday night when KU hosts Oklahoma State.

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Comments

tsweat (anonymous) says...

once again chalmers steps up big. i think self is starting to realize that KUs sucess is about how far mario can carry this team. it was also nice to see shady come back to life. this team needs to take every big 12 game seriously and go 15-1 or 16-0. not a very good conference this year so if they bring their game everynight thats not asking a lot

January 7, 2007 at 5:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

cap10d (anonymous) says...

Solid win against a solid team.Go Hawks!!!!!!!!!

January 7, 2007 at 5:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Self is also beginning to realize that the zone is indespensible when you have little depth.

KU's 5+ advantage in steals, plus South Carolina's horrendous FT shooting (please don't tell me KU's defense caused this FT stench) plus KU's job on Tre seem the decisive parts of this game that account for the spread.

The great news is that KU did little from 3pt and still won big. KU might have won by 30 on a typical 3pt night, if USC's performance was what it was today.

Go hawks!

January 7, 2007 at 5:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bethnbob (anonymous) says...

Nice Hawks! Nice to see you can win on the road. Gonna be exciting to watch the Big 12.

January 7, 2007 at 5:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTamale (anonymous) says...

Good win on the Road...It felt good to see the other team struggle from the line.

KU needs to attack the basket a little more...USC only committed 4 fouls in the Second Half. But overall good effort on the offensive side.

Also, KU gave up too many offensive rebounds. USC forwards were very athletic.

Overall good game by the Hawks and Mario stepped it up, big time!

Looking forward to the OSU game at the Fieldhouse.

January 7, 2007 at 5:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

klineisanazi (anonymous) says...

Solid road win. KU's defense was just outstanding. Nice tune up for the Pokes on Wednesday.

January 7, 2007 at 6:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

Just keep it going

January 7, 2007 at 6:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku98 (anonymous) says...

Just trying to stir the pot here... I am trying to get your opinions on the following:
In terms of impact on the basketball team, will Brandon Rush ever be any different than Kenny Gregory in his time, i.e. a nice athlete who can score (but with no consistency), who can jump out of the gym (yet rarely attacks the rim), but who needs to refine his game in a number of areas?
Not a knock on KG or Rush. I loved Gregory when he was there, but I always wondered what could have been... I am afraid to feel the same about B-Rush when he leaves.
I know it really does not have anything to do with today's game (way to go Hawks!), but I am curious to read what you guys think.
Thanks for your feedback, and Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

January 7, 2007 at 6:48 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says...

The Big 12 has 6 new coaches who are trying to get their system to work.
K-State is imporoved,
A&M is improved and has experience
MU (weak schedule) but still improved (force 22 to's a game)
Baylor improved (see last nights Okla. St game)
Oklahoma St. one year older, improved

Texas Tech push

Texas down (but young and lots of talent. Improving everygame)

Nebraska down
Colorado down
Iowa St. down
Oklahoma down

Some of the teams with new coaches will improve. KU is lucky to have Texas, OSU and A&M all at the Fieldhouse. Only time will tell. I think 3 losses our less in Big 12 play will be needed to win this year.

January 7, 2007 at 7:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mitch (anonymous) says...

Rush showed quite a bit of versatility today. He just needs to gain in consistency on the offensive end. Just as Chalmers has really begun to emerge as a force to reckon with this year, so too shall Rush. When Rush, Wright, Arthur, and Collins start firing on all cylinders, and they will, look out. Especially when Kaun, Jackson, and Robinson begin to become more regular contributors on the offensive end. KU has the potential to be a very deep team by March, but they need to avoid wasting that depth with silly fouls and passes that elicit groans from the faithful. Oh, and if it's not too much to ask, let's not leave our feet on defense or dribble penetrate out of control. Solid road win, so these are just observations and suggestions, not complaints. I'll save my whining for the folks who continue to denigrate Self and Rush, either because they really don't understand the game or simply because they are inherently and persistently unhappy souls. Conference play is right around the corner. Go 'Hawks!

January 7, 2007 at 7:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

Mario is 100%, right? He did seem to be slightly, and I mean very slightly slower in the 2nd half. Any news on the injury?

And yes, Rush was on and off as usual, but I think that when you play with this much talent, he has the tendency to defer a little. And I think that ends up being ok. KG never played with this much talent. If Rush played with the team at KU in Gregory's day, he would be shooting every other time down the floor. I think the killer instinct is coming soon with him, you can see it in his eyes and body language, he's gradually getting more aggressive.

January 7, 2007 at 7:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says...

Hey jross.....thanks for that video you put together. It will serve a purpose. I plan on emailing it to a coworker so I don't have to stop by her cube and harass her.

I'm sure she can explain why the gamecocks were so soft. (no pun intended)

January 7, 2007 at 7:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

When KU asserted their presence, it looked like men playing boys. But, if USC could have managed some better free throw shooting the game could have been much closer. Not that it would have changed the outcome.

January 7, 2007 at 7:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

borat (anonymous) says...

Gregory was much better at breaking down defenders, but Rush has a far better jump shot. I see the similarities though... Both are that *something* away from being spectacular players.

January 7, 2007 at 7:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

charlestonhawk (anonymous) says...

It was a great showing for the jhawks and fans. I went to the game and it was great to see all the blue shirts. Chalmers and Arthur really looked good.

January 7, 2007 at 8:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

chitownjayhawk (anonymous) says...

Mario started slow last year, and he did again this year, but I like what he has been doing lately. Darrell was impressive too. I am excited about Big 12 season.
As for ku98's Gregory-Rush comparison, I'd say it is somewhat valid at this point, but remember that Rush has only played a year and a half so far, and Kenny, as a freshman and sophomore, was not as good as Rush. When it is all said and done, I think Rush will leave a bigger mark on the program than Kenny did, but I don't know if he will ever be a Paul Pierce-type player.
Just FYI, Kenny is playing in Europe this year. He scores about 18 ppg in the French League (Nick Bradford and Aaron Miles also play there), and plays in the Euroleague as well. I would not be surprised to see him in the NBA in a year or two, though financially, he'd be better off as a well-paid US star in Europe than as a NBA journeyman.
Rock Chalk!

January 7, 2007 at 8:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkjayhawk4ku11 (anonymous) says...

I liked the way the zone worked out but we need to to grab the ball!!!!!!!!!!!!! go hawks good game

January 7, 2007 at 8:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

philipolson (anonymous) says...

kaun is worthless..... I thought he'd be great by now. That will kill us late in tourney.

January 7, 2007 at 9:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

Thanks Kickazzkurtz. Ive gotten some requests to repost it and so I'll try it again here:

Kansas Basketball

Photo and video editing at onetruemedia.com

January 7, 2007 at 9:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

Experiencing technical difficulty...

January 7, 2007 at 9:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku98 (anonymous) says...

I don't think Kaun is worthless. Is he as far along as most of us thought he would be by now? Probably not. But he tries hard and plays hard. Yes, he gets into foul trouble way too easily, but when did he pick a basketball for the first time? 6 years ago? He is still learning how to play the game. Given our lineup, I think he is our best option at center. We could try and go small with Arthur at center and Wright at PF, but how is Kaun going to improve without any playing time. I don't think anyone is counting on him to be our go-to-guy anyway, so I am not worried about him.

January 7, 2007 at 9:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

NavyHawk (anonymous) says...

Hey philipolson,

You must have missed Kaun's putback of his own missed dunk. Or his left handed hook-shot in the paint. He grabbed six boards in 14 minutes. Pretty solid outing. Not great, but definitely improving.

If Kansas can get the play out of its center/forwards Kaun, Arthur, and Jackson like they did tonight, they should do well in conference/tournament play. The better they play, the more teams will have to guard the middle, making it less likely Rush will have to contend with double/triple teaming. He'll step up when that time comes.

January 7, 2007 at 9:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Nutflush21 (anonymous) says...

Kaun worthless?? Have you ever watched a basketball game in your life phillip? Kaun's size alone allows him to be a strong presence on the floor. He is our best post defender bar none and has the ability to finish strong around the hoop. Kaun will continue to improve and play major minutes for this KU team and next years...

January 7, 2007 at 10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUGreenMachine (anonymous) says...

kaun is a big physical body, that will help us late in the tourney...offensively he continues to improve, defensively he is tough and likes to bang, sometimes foul...he is a solid piece to our team...i think having someone down in the post thats going to rough up other teams big guys is a good thing, but thats just me
rock chalk jayhawk

January 7, 2007 at 10:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kevbo (anonymous) says...

Kaun was a beast. Just because he doesn't score 14 points doesn't mean he is worthless. The guy hustles and gets rebounds. He bangs around in the paint, and that wears the other team's bigs down by the end of the game. He is a vital part to the success of this team, especially against a good paint team.

January 7, 2007 at 11:42 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jimjones (anonymous) says...

philipolson,
Kaun's performance certainly won't "hurt us late in the tournament" because we'll never get there. It won't be any of the player's fault though. If Self had any guts, he'd speak out now and say that if the team loses in the 1st round he'll quit the next day...rather than waiting until he's fired on Apr. 3rd.

January 8, 2007 at 12:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jocknavals (anonymous) says...

drink your kool aid jimjones.

January 8, 2007 at 2:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

Thank you, jj. I was waiting for your usual moronic Self-bashing post. My life wouldn't have been complete without it.

January 8, 2007 at 3:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

charlestonhawk (anonymous) says...

jimmy cracked corn and no one cares.

January 8, 2007 at 6:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

Kansas Basketball

January 8, 2007 at 10:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

milehighhawker (anonymous) says...

Kaun is our best low post rebounder and defender. The thing I like about Kaun is when he get both of the mits on the ball (the only hawk who actually squeezes with two hands) nobody is going to take it from him. He is very strong with the ball and at the point of attack. He often misses his first shot but is an animal going after the board. I think he will continue to improve and is a nice big man to have. We have just been spoiled over the last few years with Wayne, Nick, Drew, etc.

January 8, 2007 at 11:01 a.m. ( | suggest removal )