Keegan: Closer saves day - again

Ames, Iowa — Watching Kansas University play basketball has become a lot like watching a baseball team with a great relief pitcher. Half your attention is trained on the action. Half your thoughts are occupied with looking ahead, trying to figure out the right time to bring in the closer to escape a jam, still the turbulent waters, maybe shut down the heart of the order.

Brandon Rush is that closer for the sixth-ranked Jayhawks. The difference: In baseball, some closers take naps early in the game; others grow tomatoes in the bullpen to combat boredom. They rest, get rubdowns and stretch to get ready for the most pressure-packed portion of the game.

Rest isn't in the equation for Rush, who has to play his man, hammer the boards and try to inject life into a listless half-court offense. And then, when KU coach Bill Self needs to go to the closer, he switches onto the player on the other team torching the Jayhawks.

Once, it was Florida's 6-foot-11 Joakim Noah. More recently, the closer shut down Oklahoma State's 6-3 JamesOn Curry. In between, Rush limited Southern California's 6-6 Nick Young to a season-low eight points, some of which came when Rush was on the bench.

In Saturday afternoon's 68-64 overtime victory against Iowa State in Hilton Coliseum, Rush checked junior-college transfer Mike Taylor for the final 11 minutes and limited him to two of his 21 points.

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2006-07 Jan. 13 KU-ISU Hoops

The most remarkable aspect of Rush's ability to do what he does is that he's asked to switch onto the hot player when he already has so many minutes on the floor.

Or is it amazing? Rush thinks not.

"I don't get tired at all," Rush said. "I'm in pretty good shape."

That's an understatement akin to saying the Jayhawks had a pretty poor shooting afternoon. It was worse than that. They made just two of 11 three-pointers, shot .419 overall and .583 from the line, missing 10 free throws. The Cyclones were even worse from the line, shooting .421.

Taylor, a 6-2, 165-pound native of Milwaukee, was on his way to compensating for poor free-throw shooting until Rush moved onto him with Iowa State leading 51-48.

Photo Gallery

KU vs. Iowa State

A loosey-goosey guard with deep, deep shooting range, the slender Taylor has an array of playground moves and a soft, soft shooting touch. Taylor didn't stop shooting when Rush checked him. He just stopped making the shots. They were deeper shots, with Rush's long arms in the way. Taylor's looks for shots and passes weren't as clean. His remaining two points came in a pair of trips to the line, neither on a foul by Rush. On one of the few moments Rush was beaten on the dribble by Taylor, he more than made amends, sneaking behind him to pick him and taking it all the way for a jam.

Rush's defensive dandy was needed because first-year Iowa State coach Greg McDermott played KU the smart way, sending only three players to the offensive boards so as to protect against the high-speed fast break that has been known to lead to blowouts.

A consistently productive halfcourt offense remains the elusive treasure for Kansas, which still needs to prove it has enough shooting to be included in any discussion of the nation's top handful of teams. It certainly has enough defense, largely thanks to Rush.

KU vs. Iowa State

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mcoan 6 years, 4 months ago

Finally, the "go to" guy I've been waiting for. I hope it continues, as there is going to be lots of opportunities. I just hope he ACTS like the GT guy and says to his teammates: "Just get me the ball. I'll take it from here."

86finalfour 6 years, 4 months ago

The JHawks were poised in this one - a good conference road victory in a loud coliseum. But I couldn't agree more with Keegan's last paragraph:

"A consistently productive halfcourt offense remains the elusive treasure for Kansas......."

This is why I support Collins at the PG. I suspect Keegan would agree with me too. Look at the avg. Keegan ratings - Collins is at #5 and Robinson is at #6.

Robinson is very stable for KU when they need sound defense. He will be great off the bench. But to get this half-court offense clicking, I believe Collins is the future for the Jayhawks getting past 3-4 rounds in NCAA.

tsweat 6 years, 4 months ago

i dont think rush has it in him to be the go to guy, nor do i trust him with such responsibilities. he is the best guy to defend the stud on the other team but mario is our go to guy right now and im guessing for the next 2.5 years. he has much more poise under pressure and he wants the big shot. on rush's 3 mario was trying to get his shot but the lane was clogged so he kicked it out to a wide open rush. rush didnt demand the ball from his teamates, mario did and i think mario is a better fit to be the guy because of his ability to find the open man if he cant find a shot. in previous games when rush did have the ball late, he seemed like he froze and made horrible plays, that doesnt happen with mario. it is nice to see rush maturing though and it would be nice to have improve enough to be that go to guy because his height is a big advantage when trying to get a final shot off

FlaHawk 6 years, 4 months ago

Rush had a great finish to the ISU game. The problem was why did KU drag the game out liek this. SHould never have been a OT if KU would have closed it out with the last shot (to say nothing of all the opportunities earlier in the game).

I would not call Rush the KU closer because of this ssingle effort. Rush is to inconsistent to be a closer. Keegan's analogy does not work as you live and die with your closer (singlular). You do not use a closer when he is just as likely to walk the bases full or give up a HR (unless you are a cellar dweller and have no choice)!

Keegan should leave it that this game Rush closed it out and hope he does it againa nd againa and again in the future..

Rush has potential and I would like to see him pick up his offense which will work wonders on his head (mental) and he will be a more complete ball player.

FlaHawk 6 years, 4 months ago

I agree that KU Is much more dangerous with Collins in the game. Robinson is an offensive liability and his shot selection gets worse as his shooting average plummets (or is it the other way around)?

KU has plenty of defense and as soon as Collins can play anything resembling team defense, Coach Self will either start Collins or he will allow Collins to play more minutes than Robinson.

This is not a knock on Robinson. He plays very well except he can NOT SHOOT. When you are a NON SHOOTER on a team that can not shoot you are in real danger of being eliminated in playing time.

leikness 6 years, 4 months ago

tsweat: I think you have to give Self credit for the play where Mario drove and dished out to Rush for the 3. It was drawn up, Mario wasn't looking to shoot.

I was at the game and they did show great poise, it seemed like there was never a doubt in their mind during timeouts, going in and out of the locker room at halftime, or any other time throughout the game.

You watch Russell during pre game and he shows a nice stroke, for some reason he just has no confidence going to the basket or looking for his shot during the game. He is a liability on the offensive end as long as he continues to refuse to look for any shooting opportunit. He really needs to take advantage of some of these games against the bottom feeders of the big twelve to get some offensive production going. Doesn't have to be a lot, just something.

jaybate 6 years, 4 months ago

Never thought I'd live to say this, but it may be time for Self to start limiting Brandon's shooting to treys. He was 2 of 9 in 2pt land and only drew 4 FT attempts. Julian or Arthur would have gotten us at least 4-6 baskets with those 9 shots and more FT attempts, too.

If Brandon can't hit 5-15 footers and draw 8-10 FT attempts, he's killing us. He was 2 for 5 from trey, so he wasn't having an off shooting night. He just doesn't seem to be able to carry the load on defense AND rebound AND expend the energy creating on offense that a 6'6" guy has to in order to be effective in two point land. I'm very impressed with Brandon's defense and outside shooting and rebounding and these will no doubt get him in the show and keep him there. But I'm no longer sure he can be a defensive stopper, rebound, shoot treys and work the mid range. It maybe just too much to ask of this remarkably talented player.

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Keegan