Who says Kansas has a “soft” men’s basketball team?
Not Illinois coach Bill Self, who likens the Jayhawks to aggressive birds of prey on the backboards.
“Kansas just physically manhandled them,” Self said of the Jayhawks’ 56-23 rebounding advantage in an 87-58 second-round NCAA Midwest Regional victory over Syracuse last Sunday in Dayton, Ohio.
“I came out of there feeling good about beating UNC Charlotte (79-61), then reality set in and I thought, ‘How are we going to keep those guys off the glass?’ Thirty three rebounds better in one game is a remarkable feat.”
The Jayhawks will meet Self’s Illini in a Sweet 16 contest at 9:20 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
“They are so long. They have a three-man who can rebound with anybody in traffic,” Self said of Kenny Gregory.
“And four big guys who all rebound,” he added of Eric Chenowith, Nick Collison, Drew Gooden and Jeff Carey.
The No. 4-seeded Jayhawks (26-6) average 43 rebounds per game to their opponents’ 34.7. The No. 1-seeded Illini (26-7) outboard opponents 40-32.
“The thing we have to do to negate their size is do a lot of gang rebounding. Lucas (Johnson) has to have a big game,” Self said of the 6-8, 230-pound junior reserve. “Our three guards have to go to the boards. I’m not putting it on all our big guys.”
Illini players Marcus Griffin (6-9, 235, Sr.) and Brian Cook (6-10, 240, Soph.) average 6.2 rebounds apiece, while Sergio McClain (6-4, Sr.) logs 5.4 rpg.
“They are a fantastic rebounding team,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “They are not only big, but very thick. We may be as tall as they are, but not nearly as thick as they are.”
Robert Archibald, a 6-11, 250-pound junior who averages 6.7 points and 4.3 boards, is as tough a player as they come.
“He is as competitive as anybody in the gym. He’s got a nasty streak in him,” Self said.
Self said the Illini and Jayhawks are similar teams.
“If you concentrate on strictly pressuring out, they can isolate you on the post. They’ve got guys down low who can really score,” Self said. “If you pack it in, they have guys on the perimeter who can burn you.
“If you watch us, you might think the same thing. We can throw it inside to get a basket and also shoot jumpers pretty well. What we have to do is just guard them.
“The one stat that jumps out at me is Kansas is holding teams to 37.6 percent shooting,” he added.
“Last year when they played Illinois (coached by Lon Kruger), they took Illinois out of everything they wanted to run. They took Illinois out of rhythm. They create havoc and run off their defense as well.
“We don’t change our defense as much as Kansas. When we are both playing good defense, we are very similar.”
Cory Bradford has had a pair of good games against KU. The 6-3 junior scored 21 points off 5-of-13 three-point shooting in Illinois’ 84-70 win over KU last year at Chicago’s United Center. Two years ago, he hit six of seven threes and scored 28 points in the Illini’s 65-55 loss to KU at Kemper Arena.
“I watched last year’s tape,” Self said. “It was a strange game. Really the difference was Cory made some shots that particular game. I did not watch tape of the game the year before.
“It wasn’t anything about Kansas’ defense. You don’t design your offense to have Cory shooting threes off loose balls and he did that last year,” Self noted. “Cory got open a few times and made them pay.”
Self is enthused about the matchup against KU.
“Coach Williams runs a program like we at Illinois would like to run,” Self said. “I like him a lot. I hope we are able to beat him on Friday, but he’s a great coach and a better person.”
