Recap: No bashing KU’s defense after Saturday’s performance

By Staff     Feb 20, 2011

Former Kansas guard and current Miami Heat player Mario Chalmers is greeted by longtime broadcaster Max Falkenstien before tipoff on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Note: Here is a listing of definitions for some terms used in this blog. Also, feel free to ask questions in the comments section below if something doesn’t make sense.

The criticism of the Kansas basketball team’s defense continued on Saturday, as KU coach Bill Self said former player Mario Chalmers told the team, “Yeah, you guys are fun to watch, but you don’t guard anybody.”

For a while now, this team has been labeled as a great offensive team and a poor defensive one. Sometimes, we hear it so much that it is stuck in our head and alters what we see.

So the first gut reaction would be to say KU’s 89-63 victory over Colorado on Saturday was only about the Jayhawks’ offense having a great game.

That assumption would be wrong.

Kansas guard Tyrel Reed works to disrupt the dribble of Colorado guard Levi Knutson during the second half on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Fact is, in a high-possession game (72), the KU defense had one of its best games of the season on Saturday.

The Jayhawks held the Buffs (averaging 1.13 points per possession) to 0.88 points per possession — the lowest PPP total for Colorado all season (CU’s previous low this year was 0.92 PPP against Oklahoma).

Not only that, the 0.88 PPP was the least by a KU opponent in Big 12 play.

CU scored at least one point on just 44.4 percent of its possessions — also its worst percentage of the season.

The bashing of KU’s defense won’t go away any time soon, but the Jayhawks took a step toward changing their reputation with a dominant defensive effort against the Buffs on Saturday.

Kansas forward Markieff Morris knocks the ball away from Colorado forward Austin Dufault for a steal during the first half on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

**M.O.J. (Most Outstanding Jayhawk)**

Markieff Morris runs away with this honor after a career day.

The junior forward posted 1.30 points per possession used while ending a team-high 28.7 percent of his team’s possessions while he was on the floor. KU scored at least one point on 77 percent of the possessions that Markieff ended.

He also had his second-best offensive rebounding day of the year, pulling down 31.5 percent of the available offensive rebounds while also grabbing 27.5 percent of the available defensive rebounds.

His basic stat line — a career-high 26 points on 8-for-10 shooting to go with a career-high-tying 15 rebounds — also shows just how into the game that Markieff was from the start on Saturday.

Kansas teammates Tyshawn Taylor (10) and Mario Little wait to applaud Brady Morningstar's effort against Colorado during a timeout in first half on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

**Room for Improvement**

This is another one of those games where we have to get pretty nitpicky to come up with something to complain about.

For this game, we’ll go with turnovers, as the Jayhawks had problems with giveaways for the second straight game.

KU turned it over on 20.8 percent of its possessions, which was above its season average (19 percent). That comes after a game against Kansas State where KU turned it over on 26.1 percent of its possessions.

A pair of Jayhawk guards had the most problems, as Tyshawn Taylor had four turnovers in 23 minutes, while Elijah Johnson had two in nine minutes.

Kansas State forward Curtis Kelly pulls a rebound away from Kansas forward Mario Little during the second half on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 at Bramlage Coliseum.

KU’s guards defended much better on Saturday, but from the turnover numbers above, you can see that the Jayhawks’ point-guard play is still a work in progress.

**Tough-Luck Line**

Tough call on this one, as most of the Jayhawks in the rotation contributed something positive offensively.

With a lack of good options, we’ll put Mario Little in this space, simply because he ended with a mostly empty line.

In 10 minutes, the senior forward had no shots, one rebound and one assist, but three personal fouls (though I think one of them was a call that should have gone to Markieff).

Kansas forward Marcus Morris delivers a dunk before the Colorado defense during the second half on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Little obviously is out there to boost KU’s offense, but Self will have a harder time giving him extended minutes if he continues to move the opposition closer to the free-throw bonus.

The forward had four fouls in KU’s game against Missouri (16 minutes) and four fouls against Kansas State (27 minutes), meaning three of his last four games he’s racked up at least three fouls.

Obviously, he’s playing a bit out of position in the post, but keeping his fouls down is one way he could help himself (and his team) defensively.

**Bottom Line**

Though KU’s defense was most impressive Saturday, its offense also returned to its pre-Kansas State level.

The Jayhawks posted 1.24 PPP — the seventh time in the last eight games that KU has exceeded the 1.23 PPP mark.

KU’s offense benefited from a good shooting day (eFG% of 61%) and also a strong day on the glass (42.9 percent offensive rebounding percentage, third-highest in Big 12 play).

The Jayhawks have kept their offense fairly consistent throughout the Big 12 season. On Monday against Oklahoma State, we’ll see if KU’s defense can build on Saturday’s effort and continue to improve before the most important games in March.

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