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Shock can do amazing things to the mind. It even can make Jeff Withey look more like a 7-footer than an 82-percent free-throw shooter.
Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg’s decision to leave Withey consistently unguarded from 10 feet and beyond triggered the shock in the junior center from San Diego. It seemed as if Withey’s mind told him things that look too good to be true generally are just that. He couldn’t possibly be that wide-open, could he? There had to be a trap door that led to a two-hour stay in a secret dungeon under the floor if he took the shot, right?
So he shot tentatively and missed on Kansas University’s first offensive possession Saturday against Iowa State. Seven minutes later, the ball was in his hands in the lane again, and it came with an invitation to shoot delivered by the Iowa State defense. Nothing but rim with Kansas trailing by nine points.
“We shoot those shots every day in practice, but wide-open like that kind of messes with your head,” Withey said. “I just need to get more confident shooting that. If teams play like that, it should be a field day for me.”
Withey, who blocked a Chris Allen shot on the game’s opening possession, had his fingerprints all over the game in which Kansas recovered from a 12-point deficit to win, 82-73, in Allen Fieldhouse.
Up to the point Kansas caught fire, most of those fingerprints were ones he would have liked to polish away, but next to Tyshawn Taylor, nobody played a bigger part in the comeback. Withey played his best, most passionate half of basketball in a Kansas uniform.
It was Withey’s open lane jumper that he buried with Kansas down 12 points that started the comeback. He finished the day with 13 points, 11 rebounds, seven blocked shots and two assists without a single turnover. In the second half alone, he amassed 11 points, six boards and six blocks.
The difference?
“At halftime, Tyshawn was in my ear telling me to be more confident when I go up to shoot that. In the second half, I made the first one,” Withey said.
And then he proceeded to make life miserable for Cyclones who twisted their way into the lane and wished they hadn’t. Withey, not the only one assigned to guard him, did a better job of containing Iowa State star Royce White (18 points, 17 rebounds) in the second half than the first.
“He is the tallest guy we have played, so that was different for us,” White said. “That was something we had to think about when we were going into the lane. He is a big-time shot-blocker and a big-time presence on the defensive end, and it showed.”
Withey leads the Big 12 with 3.1 blocked shots per game. He was in the Cyclones’ heads even more than the phantom defense played on him away from the basket was in his head.
“We read the stats and look at all that stuff, and he hadn’t hit a shot outside of the paint this year, so we backed off and made him step up and shoot,” Hoiberg said. “When Thomas Robinson is in the post, we felt like we needed a couple of guys in there. Withey hit a few, and then he got loose inside on a few as well, a couple of rebounds, a couple dump-offs, and he went up and finished. He is a long dude. That is a tough front line to play against.”
Teams that dare Withey to shoot now won’t have shock-value going for them now. As the game progressed, he enjoyed the open space. Anything that makes teams think twice about sending an army of defenders at Robinson at all times can only be a good thing for Kansas, which has a stiffer front-court challenge awaiting Monday when fourth-ranked, undefeated Baylor visits Allen Fieldhouse.
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Comments
Alohahawk 1 year, 5 months ago
After the blowout win at Texas Tech the Jayhawks needed a rough, tough outing to prepare for Baylor. Because it won't get any easier against Baylor.
One might say that next Monday's game could go a long way in determining which team wins the conference championship. The winner will have a huge advantage over the rest of the contenders. KU, Baylor and Missery have already established themselves and wins against each other are going to be crucial to the final analysis.
Today's game may have been just as good as a pactice session. KU should thank Iowa State for getting Withey, as well as the rest of the team, prepared for next Monday's game. Baylor is similar to Iowa State in their 3 point shooting, but they rely more on their inside game because they have more muscle inside. The main difference will be that Baylor plays a lot of zone, and with KU's inconsistent 3 point shooting, that could prove a problem.
It's also good that TRob sat as much as he did against ISU. Perhaps he will have more in reserve come Monday, having rested more than usual today.
And finally, KU's fans will get to watch the Jayhawks play on national TV. In fact, 11 of KU's final 14 games are on non-pay channels, ESPN and CBS. Just hope that CBS doesn't cut away like they normally do when one team gets ahead by a few points.
actorman 1 year, 5 months ago
Good analysis, Aloha. The Monday game is even more important for KU than it is for Baylor, because it's like holding serve in tennis. It will be hard enough to win at Baylor anyway, but would be even more crucial for KU's chances of winning the conference if KU doesn't beat them at Allen.
One thing, though, Aloha: I think you're being overly optimistic about CBS if you're only worried about them cutting away from the game when one team gets ahead. You're assuming they'll be showing the game in the first place, and given CBS's history on such matters, I would hardly take that for granted. Let's just hope there's no local game of equal importance to CBS showing at the same time (like, say, Idaho State vs. Northern Montana), and no big cartoon events, and no lawn-mowing championships going on. As long as none of those things are happening, then there's about a 50-50 chance that CBS will actually show the KU game in your area.
Alohahawk 1 year, 5 months ago
Mahalo, actorman. Just checked the local CBS schedule for Honolulu, for the game on Jan. 21st. The schedule says: Regional coverage - KU vs Texas, or Connecticut vs Tennessee. So, it could go either way. I'll be really bummed if they don't show the KU game. Didn't check the Feb. 25 game - KU vs Missery, since it's so far down the road anyway.
I'll have to give the local CBS station a call to push for the KU games. Although, a lot of good that may do. Maybe if I put the "Phog Hex" on them.
jhawk613 1 year, 5 months ago
Don't forget about the dreaded "sun spots"
jaybate 1 year, 5 months ago
Just saw Clooney in Descendents. See it.
JayHawkFanToo 1 year, 5 months ago
Hopefully, they did not schedule a rerun of Heidi...
For the younger fans, here is a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidi_Game
drgnslayr 1 year, 5 months ago
"One might say that next Monday's game could go a long way in determining which team wins the conference championship."
The pressure is on us come Monday. Baylor can play loose because they don't have to win in AFH.. they can match us with a win on their own court. Baylor has everything to gain and little to lose.
We have everything to lose and little to gain. Winning on our home court is a necessity if we want a chance at another B12 title... but a win here only means we hold serve. A loss means we have to win at Baylor just to break even again.
All of this changes if other teams step up and help us.
Thank you, OU, for slapping the L on KSU! We need more of that help.
jaybate 1 year, 5 months ago
Baylor can probably play our bigs straight up without DTing Thomas.
When they are not Syracusing us with a zone, will they pick up on Fred's m2m scheme to make Tyshawn drive a clogged lane?
jaybate 1 year, 5 months ago
Withey keeps getting better on defense, not just blocking. If he really gets a sky hook going, he's going to become a great one.
jayhawker_97 1 year, 5 months ago
if Withey can anticipate passes from team like that, it's a gem. he can finish it. with authority! he can even double pump! let's get the block party started!
AsadZ 1 year, 5 months ago
TT had a great game but Withey was M.O.J last night. Its really pleasing to see improvement in his game.
ccarp 1 year, 5 months ago
Way to step up, Jeff! Big Jeff and T Rob are looking strong!
chriz 1 year, 5 months ago
Good to see Tyshawn getting into Jeff's ears like that. And, obviously, great to see Withey step up. Good article by Keegs, by the way!
REHawk 1 year, 5 months ago
Scott Drew has to be squirming a bit today, watching film of Withey's play vs. Iowa State. The league caught a glimpse of a very different Jayhawk facade. All summer and early fall most of us kept fingers crossed in hopes that Withey might step up to become the fifth piece of the winning combo. To date, he has produced more than most of us could have imagined. Yesterday's statline has got to have been a major confidence builder for Jeff...dandy preparation for the Monday game which will be our most significant test in the first half of the league season.
ralster 1 year, 5 months ago
I thought IowaState does have a fair amount of inside muscle. Seemed to bother TRob a fair amount. Kudos to Releford for getting in there for rebounds...we just missed several 2nd chance putback opportunities. Like 4 or 5 on 1 possession, even.
Baylor a little more of the long-athletic look. "kentucky-light" I have been calling them, but Baylor is proving they are legit. Our "new" hated rival should be diss-us-in-AFH-tunnel-like-a-coward Scott Drew. I'd like Self to plan an extra-special pkg of disruption for Drew's team...
drgnslayr 1 year, 5 months ago
"I'd like Self to plan an extra-special pkg of disruption for Drew's team..."
That should be the strategy. Get Drew off his game plan and make them fumble around out there. Expose Drew for his weakness as a coach. The guy can recruit even better than Cal (but can't manage the talent)... he remains legit right up until they nail him (his alumni) for bribing recruits.
I've been hearing some strange news lately about the IRS preparing to go after bribed college athletes. Evidently, they consider it tax evasion. So when college players suddenly drive Cadillacs with Kentucky plates, the IRS will require them to substantiate how it was possessed. After all, our federal government needs every tax dollar it can get right now!
That info came to me from an IRS auditor.
VaJay 1 year, 5 months ago
Withey was awesome to watch on offense & defense - had to view the dunks & blocks over and over again. EJ was great (and so was Young) at feeding the ball for dunks.
The Baylor game will be much more important for us to win than the Bears. Holding serve at home will be crucial in our title run. While it may be nice to get an early edge in conference play, it would really hurt on the other hand if we lost to them at home knowing we would probably have to beat them on the road to win it all.
jhawkrulz 1 year, 5 months ago
Although I would agree that Baylor is one of our strongest contenders in the Big XII, they have not played a very tough schedule yet. They have two games of note @BYU and @KSU. Byu is unranked and is not the same team without Jimmer. And KSU has lost 3 in a row and will most likely fall out of ranked teams.
Ultimately, this will be a tough game, but HCBS has routinely figured out how to beat BU with interior passing. If JWithey and TRob can figure out how to pass it to each other inside, this game will be over quickly. Throw in a few threes by TRele and the cutting by TT, I don't think this game will be as close as they say it will be.
I think KU struggles against three point shooting teams and that isn't Baylor. If you doubt me...Davidson, Duke, Kentucky, and ISU come to mind. 3 of the 4 we lost. ISU we adjusted to their offense in the second half. People forget they made eight 3-pointers in the first half and only one in the second half.
yates33333 1 year, 5 months ago
No one know how Baylor will play Monday night, but having watched them three times this year they obviously don't play as hard as Iowa State. They may Monday, but if they do it will be out of character. Also, several of their players get frustrated quickly, sort of like White in the second half yesterday. They shoot the three better than KU so far this year, but not as good as Iowa State. Their size is their main strength. If we can rebound with them and Withey can block shots we should be O.K.
TheSychophant 1 year, 5 months ago
I am beginning to see a pattern here. Withey is just another player in a long line of big men who have improved dramatically during the tenure of HCBS I think it's spelled D-a-n-n-y M-a-n-n-i-n-g."
mikendal 1 year, 5 months ago
Baylor does have one outside shooting threat--can't think of his name--but he is legit. Maybe the ghost will have that assignment to guard him. BTW, the reason we don't do good against teams that shoot the trey well is because we don't make an effort at times, to go out and at least put a hand up when one is shooting a three. Granted, it has gotten better, but the first half of the ISU game showed we just allowed the Cyclone sharpshooters to shoot at will uncontested. The atmosphere will be unbelievable, for sure, especially with Dickie V. in the house. Rock Chalk---good luck, Jayhawks!
JayHawkFanToo 1 year, 5 months ago
On a separate but related note in women's BBall, KU 71- MU 61...in Columbia no less. Way to go Lady Jayhawks; the slavers got a nice send off to the SEC. Always nice to end the series with a win.
REHawk 1 year, 5 months ago
+1 Very satisfying to see or read any Kansas win vs. the turncoat tigers.
HiloHawk 1 year, 5 months ago
I've been a rabid Jayhawk fan for six decades, but never imagined joining an electronic discussion on them! Think knowing there was another Hawaii fan gave me courage... Anyway, I feel we have a solid team this year [as usual] and can go much further than the early predictions. Credit our Coach with making the most of his raw material - and having the intelligence to put Danny Manning where he can do the most good! Reading the glowing tributes to Bill Self on his 250th win the other day, I was in total agreement that we should make him believe that we want him to stay until he is old and gray. I'm not so worried about his departing for greener pastures [of which there are none in my opinion], as I am that people will convince Danny that he needs his own show...
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