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Kansas University coach Bill Self jovially answers questions during a news conference. The Jayhawks, who crushed Portland State, 85-61, in the NCAA Tournament's first round, will play UNLV at 5:50 p.m. today.
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2008 NCAA Tournament
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KU vs. UNLV press conference
Omaha, Neb. — Kansas University's basketball players sat in the Qwest Center stands and watched in amazement as UNLV held Kent State to 10 points in the first half of Thursday's first-round NCAA Midwest Regional rout of the Golden Flashes.
"I've never seen anything like it. They were making me tired just seeing how hard they were playing," KU senior forward Darnell Jackson said Friday.
"They pressure so hard. There are bodies scattered all over the court. They are fearless," he added of the Runnin' Rebels, who outscored the Golden Flashes, 31-10, the first half en route to a 71-58 victory.
The victory pushed the eighth-seeded Rebels' record to 27-7 entering today's 5:50 p.m., second-round clash against No. 1 seed KU (32-3).
"I think they are on a mission," KU sophomore forward Darrell Arthur said of the Rebels, a factor in the 2008 NCAAs despite losing four starters off last year's Sweet 16 team.
"They got their confidence up yesterday. They held Kent State to 17-percent shooting (actually 20.8) and forced 17 turnovers the first half. It was pretty impressive," Arthur added.
KU's chances of advancing to Friday's round of 16 in Detroit figure to be enhanced greatly if the 6-foot-9 Arthur and KU's three other inside players have big games.
UNLV's tallest starter is 6-foot-7 junior Joe Darger. The Rebels' tallest player on their 10-man roster is 6-8 Matt Shaw.
"Coach (Bill Self) said we need to get the ball inside and have an inside presence," Arthur said.
Senior Sasha Kaun, who stands 6-11, will try to make that happen in his minutes off the bench.
"If we get the ball down low, it will help our guards because it will suck the defense in, and we can kick it out for easy shots," Kaun said. "I think it's going to be tough on us in terms of guarding them because their big men can really shoot it. As long as we work together as a team and play together and talk on defense, we can definitely do some damage inside on offense."
Of course, the Jayhawks to a certain extent try to break down their opponents playing through their big men every game.
"All season long we've been able to work inside-out," senior guard Russell Robinson said. "We have to get it inside to the rim and hit open shots, do what we've been doing all year."
Arthur said he thought the Rebels played a lot like Texas, a team KU split with this season.
Robinson said the makeup of the UNLV roster, in terms of size, reminded him of Missouri, a team KU swept.
"They are athletic like that," Robinson said. "The biggest thing to me is they are not real big, but make up for it with quickness."
As far as the coaches' takes ... Self believes Vegas' lineup, which features players from 6-foot to 6-7, will provide a stern test. Guards Wink Adams and Curtis Terry average 16.6 and 11.1 points, respectively, while forward Darger checks in at 11.4 ppg.
"They are unique because they are smaller, but play much bigger," Self said. "It's a unique challenge."
UNLV is second in the country in three-point field-goal percentage defense (30.7 percent).
"I don't know that we've played anybody that defends or are in the right spots or positions better than what I saw UNLV do against Kent State," Self said. "They totally took Kent State out of their offensive sets before they even crossed halfcourt with their positioning playing so high on the floor. Their pieces are interchangeable defensively because they can switch ball screens.
"We're bigger, but you have to get the ball in the scoring area. To do that you have to be able to eliminate pressure. If you get the ball in the scoring area, maybe you have a chance to throw it inside. But yesterday their pressure was so good Kent State didn't have a chance."
Rebels' coach Lon Kruger was asked repeatedly about KU's size advantage.
"Kansas is a different animal. They are bigger and more athletic and deeper than most teams in the country," Kruger said. "We've met the ball early, and starting position has been important to us (in going against taller teams). Our guys have done a good job with that, not only on the perimeter, but the post."
Xs and Os do mean something. But at this stage of the season, intangibles also are huge.
The Rebels, who stopped a 2-seed in Wisconsin last season in Chicago, are trying to pull a stunner for the second straight year.
KU's seniors, who won four straight regular-season Big 12 titles and three postseason league tourney crowns, desperately want a Final Four.
"At this stage of the year every game is tough. Every team is a challenge," Jackson said. "It is going to come down to the final possession (today), who wants it more. I know we will play with intensity just like they will."
"All we care about now is winning and advancing," junior Brandon Rush said. "We know UNLV is good, just like Portland State was good (KU defeated the Vikings 85-61 Thursday). We'll be ready to play."
KU vs. UNLV
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Comments
melrank (anonymous) says...
Today is simple. We have bigger, faster, more athletic, and better players - if we come out with energy we win.
Rock Chalk.
March 22, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
okjhok (anonymous) says...
Yeah, pretty much...that, and hit a few shots here and there, and everything else should take care of itself. That doesn't mean I'm not a little nervous, but that goes without saying in the NCAAs. Gotta say, the road to the elite 8 is shaping up nicely. Take care of business today, and the first regional game actually looks easier. Don't know much about Siena, other than they killed a Vandy team that doesn't do anything away from their home court, so not a huge surprise there. I do know Villanova is an average team that had a good game. I would venture to guess that UNLV is better than both of them.
March 22, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
okjhok (anonymous) says...
BTW, kudos the kusports.com staff...good coverage so far
March 22, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...
Sounds like our guys are just blowing some smoke up UNLV's a$$es. Guess you have to sound as complimentary as possible when you're in front of the mics in the NCAAs.
March 22, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...
Im keeping some faith. Yes, UNLV seems to fit that 'aggressive midmajor' mold, like teams that stunned us last year. This UNLV team could be a lot like SIU was last year: small ball with tough, nasty defense. The 'faith' I mention comes from trust in Mario, Russell, and Sherron in penetrating and getting the ball to the bigmen--then its foul-city for UNLV, and we hopefully shoot over 70% FT as a team. Of course, KU doesnt have bad defense either...
March 22, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SDSurferFan (anonymous) says...
Ku is the biggest favorite today according to the oddsmakers.
I've see UNLV play a few times, once live close to the floor. They have some athletes and are well coached. I know they haven't seen a team like KU this year. They won the conf tourney to get in, but they won in their own gym.
We should win by double figures.
March 22, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...
There is a fundamental law of basketball (SIZE) that is hard to ignore in this matchup. While nothing is ever a 100% guarantee, getting the ball inside for KU would be the easy gameplan consensus...
March 22, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bswen (anonymous) says...
I wouldn't say that jayhawkinatl, UNLV is indeed a very good team who may just defend better than any team we've seen this year. KU is playing at an incredibly high level right now and so I feel confident about this game, but I think UNLV is underrated at an 8 seed, definitely. Wink Adams will be fun to watch...
March 22, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhann (anonymous) says...
Their is a great article in Yahoo Sports written by Jason King about this years men's basketball team. It is great to share with others!
Go Hawks!!
2008 ncaa champions!!
March 22, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ramsrevenge (anonymous) says...
Good story on yahoo this morning, titled "Band of Brothers"
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news;_y...
March 22, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jhawkdan42 (anonymous) says...
Man! Anybody else have a knot in their stomach? I don't know why I'm so nervous for this game, I guess losing to some of the "lesser" teams in the past will do that to you. I guess I might start the mojitos a little early today
March 22, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jhawkdan42 (anonymous) says...
ramsrevenge- thanks for the link, great article. I guess seeing all the tragedy the players have gone through puts everything in perspective. I really want them to win it all,but if they don't I will still be proud of them for a great year! RCJH!!
March 22, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KUglow (anonymous) says...
I'm with you Dan. As a player you can't look ahead but as a fan, you bet we can. And our bracket just parted like the red sea yesterday. We also get to live with history and I can't help but think about Rhode Island from 98 today. We have everything going in our favor today yet I can't seem to shake the vision of Pierce and LaFrentz going down. We'll feel better at halftime. Lots of games to watch first though.
March 22, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jaybate (anonymous) says...
Good point about SIU last year and UNLV this year but with one caveat. SIU was a little team that came out and set and stuck with slow tempo. It came out to rough you up out of what you do. Kruger defends just like Self, i.e., tough m2m defense, and take what they give us on offense) just like Hartman and Eddie. So: tempo will swing back and forth more than it did with SIU, as match-ups play are compensated for and aspects of play are given, and other aspects taken.
Strips by perimeter players should be even.
Defensive pressure should be even.
Board control should be decisive, because it will determine which team gets the most fast break baskets and fewest second shots.
Also, if UNLV suckers KU's bigs into shooting it from 10-15 feet frequently, KU loses. Why? Our bigs can only shoot 45-50 percent from that range. We are efficient and separating on offense when our bigs are cramming it from 5-9 feet (stuffs, banks and jump hooks only) at 60-80 percent accuracy and our perimeter players are popping for 40 percent from treyville, which is an effective 60%. When KU gets suckered into letting our admittedly good shooting bigs Jackson and Arthur take first shots in the 10-15 range, it looks good, but we can never separate from opponents having a good shooting day and effectively defending the trey stripe.
Frankly, every opponent should simply NOT defend Jackson and Arthur in the 15 foot range at all. Self has a strategic predisposition to let them take that tactical shot for awhile and it always backfires if it continues for very long. This is one of the few strategic chinks in Eddie ball in the three point era, frankly.
March 22, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jaybate (anonymous) says...
If an opponent can sucker either Jackson, or Arthur, to shoot five or more 10-15 foot jumps shots each game you have almost guarrantied the game will be close. When one of our bigs is shooting, or rebounding HAS to default to Rush or guards rebounding and it would always be better to have Rush and the guards shooting treys, or even 10-15 foot buckets and have the bigs boarding than not. If you get Jackson AND Arthur popping from 10-15, you are almost certain to win. One of the things this KU team had to learn after the KSU debacle was that KU could afford one big stepping out occassionally, but NEVER two, unless we were playing a cup cake of course.
Ironically, for much of a game, it is actually kind of a curse in the three point era to have bigs who can shoot the 10-15 foot jump shot. It tempts one to play, especially in 70-point, take-what-they-give-us Eddie ball, against the percentages/odds that the three point stripe biases the game toward (i.e., high percentage inside shooting, plus 40+% trey shooting and tough D wins almost every game, strips or no strips, even with slightly deficient rebounding).
The time when having good shooting bigs like Arthur and Jackson is a big plus is with 20 seconds to go in a 1 point game. The opponent has to guard Arthur and Jackson, and that reduces the double teaming on the ball.
The only time a good shooting big can really help a team is if he can pop from three the way Love and Beasely can. This 3 point shot actually FORCES the opponents' bigs to quit camping in the low blocks for awhile and a three point swing always has a big psychological effect on momentum.
Otherwise, bigs shooting lots of high percentage shots from 5-9 feet remains one of the FIVE cornerstones, along physical rebounding, pressure defense, safe ball handling, and the trifecta, of winning basketball. The rest is French pastry--nice when you can get it, but unnecessary, and often tempting one into bad habits.
March 22, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bhann (anonymous) says...
KU will take care of UNLV. They seemed very foscued. This is what a team is all about, not caring who the high scorer is, just that we win!
Rebounds and freethows will be the key to this game!
Go Hawks!!
March 22, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...
Jaybate, nice posts. It DOES sound eerily like KU: high% inside shooting, 40+% trey shooting, and tough D "wins almost every game, even with slightly deficient rebounding...". To KU's and Self's credit, they really seem to be working hard on FTs and rebounding. The Big12 Champ game vs. TX it was nothing short of a KU gang-rebounding on the defensive boards, as it should be. Hopefully all this attention to detail pays off for us; BIG!!
March 22, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...
go hawks!
March 22, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smitty33 (anonymous) says...
Play Big Hawks, Dominate the boards and defend the 3 and we should be OK.
Jaybate, how's that pessimistic outlook on our bracket now? I thought Villanova and Clemson looked like crap last night. I wouldn't be surprised to end up with KSU in the final 8, just like '88.
March 22, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justanotherfan (anonymous) says...
The biggest key for us today is to attack the front of the rim. We came out on Thursday attacking the rim. Darrell had a couple of dunks, we got some inside action, etc.
Basketball is easier when you start by attacking the rim. Starting out by shooting jumpshots is tough, because you have to start out hot to stress the defense. Attacking the rim puts stress on the defense to begin with.
March 22, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...
Excellent point, justanotherfan: start the other team off with some quick fouls trying to defend the front of the rim--can immediately change other coach's gameplan, and get key people out of rhythm or off their game & make them less aggressive...
March 22, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )