Earl Richardson/Journal-World PhotoMario Kinsey hit the first three-point shot of his college basketball career on Saturday.
He vows it will not be his last.
“I think you’ll see more things from me the healthier I get,” Kinsey, Kansas University’s freshman reserve point guard from Waco, Texas, said after the Jayhawks’ 69-68 victory over Ohio State at Value City Arena.
Kinsey, who has undergone two anterior compartment syndrome surgeries this season, returned over the weekend after missing KU’s rout of Tulsa because of a bout with the flu.
Kinsey made one three in two attempts, scoring five points with three steals in 16 minutes.
“It was just a confidence shot for me,” Kinsey said of his three, which came off a pass from Jeff Boschee and broke a 6-6 tie five and a half minutes into the game.
“I felt if I could hit that shot, I’d be more in the mood, more in the swing of the game,” noted Kinsey, who was 0-for-3 from three-point land and 2-for-14 shooting overall entering the contest. “I was open, he found me and I hit it.”
He also missed a three Saturday.
“On the next three, I was flat-footed,” Kinsey said. “Coach Holladay (Joe, KU assistant) told me about that.”
Kinsey expected to play numerous minutes on Saturday.
He’s averaged 13.4 minutes per game while playing in eight of KU’s 10 games.
“I was not tired at all. I knew I’d play a lot,” Kinsey said. “We were going to use our depth this game. We had everybody back in the lineup and they didn’t have much depth, so coach was going to play me a lot.”
Kinsey served as an able backup point guard to foul-ridden Kirk Hinrich versus the Buckeyes. Kinsey had zero turnovers in his 16-minute stint.
For the year, he has 14 turnovers against 12 assists.
“Coach stresses (not making) turnovers,” Kinsey said of Roy Williams. “I feel when I’m in the game, it’s my only chance. When I get in, I can’t turn it over, to show coach I know how to handle the ball. I feel when I’m healthy I can do more with the ball. When I am not healthy, I know I can do it. I try to do it, but I’m not healthy enough to do it.”
The good news for Kinsey is his legs are feeling better and he’s hoping for a big conference season.
On Saturday, his mind was on Christmas, Texas style.
He couldn’t get a flight out of Ohio for Waco on Saturday night, so he departed on Sunday.
“Tomorrow is my brother’s birthday,” Kinsey said of brother Davian Kinsey’s 25th-birthday on Christmas Eve. “He used to be a big Ohio State fan, so I said, ‘This (victory) is for you.’ It’s like an early birthday present for him and Christmas present for me.”
The Jayhawks were intent on beating Ohio State as a present for Columbus native Kenny Gregory.
“Yes, we were trying to do it for Kenny,” Kinsey said. “It came down to we had a lot of heart because of Kenny. He was here back home and we had to win.”
Exactly right, said senior Eric Chenowith, who had an off day with three points on 1-for-8 shooting. The 7-footer had five rebounds and three turnovers in 19 minutes. He also made just one of four free throws.
“I’m glad to get the win for Kenny in his hometown,” said Chenowith, who had four of his shots blocked by OSU center Ken Johnson, who had six blocks total.
“We had to fight all the way to get this one.”
Chenowith drew the ire of Williams Saturday. He hit his first shot, making a strong move to the basket, but then turned to outside shots and fadeaways.
The coach pulled Chenowith early in the second half and probably wouldn’t have reinserted him if not for foul trouble of Nick Collison.
“He shot from the foul line and he shot a fadeaway and I said the heck with it. I went with Drew (Gooden) and Nick,” Williams said.
The Jayhawks, 10-1, won’t play again until Saturday against Southwest Missouri State. Tip is 8:05 p.m. at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo.
