Advertisement

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Keegan: Kaun deserves props

By Tom Keegan

Advertisement

Oklahoma City — The next time Kansas University junior center Sasha Kaun takes anybody's breath away during the course of a basketball game will be the first time.

Ever notice that when he puts his mouthpiece back in place oh so deliberately, he looks more like a heavyweight boxer than a starter on the fastest team in college basketball? He easily could pass for a Klitschko brother.

Maybe Kaun's lack of sizzle wouldn't be as noticeable if he were playing for another team. If he weren't surrounded by so many high-flying high school All-Americans who have NBA potential if they are wise enough to stick around for another year or two of polish, he might blend in better.

Aside from his lack of smoothness with the ball, though, Kaun has more in common with teammates than first impressions suggest. For one thing, he slides his feet well on defense for a man his size. For another, he runs the floor extremely well for a man so big. He's not as explosive as teammates and certainly not as skilled, but he is appreciated by those who have those gifts.

"He's mammoth in there," Julian Wright said of Kaun. "He's really good at altering shots and even blocking shots. He makes good outlet passes that lead to a lot of fast-break opportunities for us. He plays pretty smart in terms of not fouling, not getting silly fouls. All he has to do is put his hands up, and it makes it hard for people to get around him or get through him."

Adobe Flash player 9 is required to view this video
Get Adobe Flash player

Jayhawks use big second half to top OU in Big 12 tourney

After a stagnant first period, an inspired Jayhawk's squad held off the Oklahoma Sooners in route to a 64-47 victory in the Big 12 Tournament.

During Friday's 64-47 victory against Oklahoma in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals, Kaun had as much as anybody to do with the Sooners shooting 20 percent in the second half and 31 percent for the game. Longar Longar's quickness gave him trouble at times, but Kaun kept plugging away, helping out to stop guards driving toward the lane.

Kaun, who had eight points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes, is bound to play an important role in the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament because the Jayhawks likely will play teams looking to slow down the pace. That's no reason to feel nervous. Steadily, subtly, the big Russian has improved. He's even doing a better job of catching the ball, as evidenced by the second-half bullet he received from Sherron Collins.

"He clogs up the middle," Russell Robinson said of Kaun's value. "He allows guys like Julian and Darnell (Jackson) and Shady (Darrell Arthur) to gamble a little because he's in there with a big body. He's not the best shot-blocker in the world, but he's a big body, and he definitely distracts a lot of people. Sasha can move, and he jumps pretty well."

Photo Gallery

Big 12 Tourney: KU vs OU

Longar got the better of Kaun and the rest of the KU big men early, but pluggers never stop plugging, never get discouraged, never let their emotions take control. At one point late in the first half, Longar put up a shot that Kaun blocked back into Longar's hands. Longar put up another shot, and Kaun blocked it again.

Kaun never will become a major offensive force for the Jayhawks. They have too many better scoring options. Although Kaun is good at establishing inside position, he's not a great finisher, especially when getting hacked. That's OK. At the other end, players tend not to finish so hot either against Kansas, and Kaun deserves a lot of the credit for that.

KU vs. Oklahoma

More like this

Comments

yates33333 (anonymous) says...

Kaun is a major reason KU is a good team, maybe an excellent team.

March 10, 2007 at 7:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I like Sasha a lot. He's got guts and he's aggressive. When you pair that with his size and athleticism, you just can't find that combination. If he'd been playing basketball since he was a kid, he'd have some polished skills and we'd be talking about one of the all-time great big men at KU. For someone with so little experience, he really plays with a lot of discipline and knows how to use his feet and his body.

I still content that his injury early this season really put him at a disadvantage this year. For someone who has been playing their whole life, it's not as big a deal, because they can catch back up when they're healthy. But the time missed is a lot more precious for someone who hasn't been around basketball their entire life.

March 10, 2007 at 8:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jbrownjib (anonymous) says...

The critics always forget the importance of defense because it doesn't generate stats. However, this is the best defensive team statistically in the country but no one talks about that fact. We shut ISU down this year and they scored the fewest points in Allen Field House in the history of Jayhawk basketball. I have been watching KU basketball since the Ted Owens years and I have never seen a team play that is as fun to watch as this team. I think the big scoring Roy Williams Era was over rated and I welcome Sasha Khan and Bill Self and wish them the well in the up coming tournaments.

March 10, 2007 at 8:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

jbrownjib...

I've been watching KU ball a while too. This team IS fun to watch, but in my mind others stick out as well.

1. Danny Manning's four seasons.
2. Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, Scott Pollard, Jacque Vaughn.
3. The Hinrich/Collison combination.

I'd put any of those teams right up there. But you're absolutely correct in implying this group is more fun to watch than the "average year".

March 10, 2007 at 9:02 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JNgohawks (anonymous) says...

jross, I think when this team is on they are right there with your #2 group, which I think was our greatest. Those guys were always 'on'. I don't think Raef Lafrentz ever lost in the field house? Am I wrong?

March 10, 2007 at 10:08 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

When we're winning, every positive of a player seems to contribute to the winning and every negative a player has can be overlooked, because, well, its not keeping us from winning.

In the context of the team, Sasha Kaun is very important. He's the only post man the team has. He's the ONLY big body. He's a very good post defender. He can play rough when the other teams do. In short, he provides exactly what no other player on the team can bring but him.

But looked at as an individual player, man does this guy have HUGE limitations.

I agree with Lebowski that the early season injury hurt Kaun badly. I still think there is a chance that if Kaun goes to big man camp this summer and/or really works alot with Danny, that he can develop one or two offensive moves. Manning may not be the best big man for him to work with. He needs to work with another wide body type. Also, I think off season therapy and conditioning can give him some spring and strengthen that knee, which can't be what it once was yet.

March 10, 2007 at 11:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

poshizzle (anonymous) says...

Don't forget the Chenowith/Gregory years....oh wait, never mind.

March 10, 2007 at 12:19 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ku98 (anonymous) says...

I love KU and I was there for Raef's 4 years. We never lost a home game, BUT:
1995: 25-6, #1 seed, lost in the sweet 16 to #4 Virginia
1996: 29-5, #2 seed, lost in the elite 8 to #4 Syracuse
1997: 34-2, #1 seed, lost in the sweet 16 to #4 Arizona
1998: 35-4, #1 seed, lost in the 2rd round to #8 Rhode Island.
You get my point. A lot of wins, we always left Allen Fieldhouse happy, a lot of great guys on these teams, but we never made the Final 4.
Jross, I like your picks, but I would put the Collison/Hinrich teams ahead of the Lafrentz/Pierce/Vaughn teams, simply because they took us to the Final 4 twice.
I love KU, I love the Jayhawks, and I have a good feeling about this year's team.

March 10, 2007 at 4:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

MoC (anonymous) says...

Jaybate said: "In the context of the team, Sasha Kaun is very important. He's the only post man the team has. He's the ONLY big body. He's a very good post defender. He can play rough when the other teams do. In short, he provides exactly what no other player on the team can bring but him."

I'd say that Jackson brings this to the Jayhawks as well; he's not quite as aggressive in the low post, but he's pretty close.

Also, he's a much better freethrow shooter, which, if you're going to be in the low post, is crucial.

March 10, 2007 at 5:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )