One outcome would better serve the fragile psyches of the young Kansas University basketball players than a blowout victory over Missouri tonight in Mizzou Arena, where the rabid Antlers will smell blood and pump up the volume.
That would be a last-minute victory.
Every time the Jayhawks lose a close game, it’s going to be tougher to win one on the final possession. The second such victory will be easier than the first.
KU’s record is 0-4 in games decided in the final minute. Clutch is not a word to describe the Jayhawks so far.
“We missed a couple of shots, collars got a little tighter, guys started pressing,” was how coach Bill Self described KU’s collapse from a 12-point lead to a 59-55 loss Saturday to Kansas State at Allen Fieldhouse.
Russell Robinson and Jeff Hawkins had their shots blocked in the final possession of a loss to Arkansas in Maui. C.J. Giles’ shot was blocked in the final seconds of a homecourt loss to Nevada. Micah Downs’ closely guarded three-point shot grazed the front of the rim in a fall-from-ahead loss to St. Joseph’s at Madison Square Garden.
In the final 32 seconds against K-State, Robinson drove to the basket and had his shot blocked, and on the next possession made a poor decision in driving to the hoop instead of trying to set somebody up for a three-pointer.
Given this team’s youth, it might be a good idea for Self to force himself to keep a timeout or two in his pocket in games that have the potential to be decided in the final seconds.
It won’t be easy. Coaches use timeouts to stop runs, especially on teams lacking a natural floor leader, such as this KU team. The problem is those are the very teams that need direction at the end of games. Some coaches of veteran teams believe it’s better to trust the players to get it done because calling a timeout means the defense also has a chance to devise a strategy. This isn’t one of those teams.
The Jayhawks can’t count on blowout victories all the time. Eventually, they will need to learn how to win close ones to ensure a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the 17th year in a row.
It won’t be easy because in its halfcourt offense, KU is hindered by two weaknesses. First is the lack of a reliable low-post scorer. Second, only Brandon Rush is a reliable three-point shooter among players normally in at the end.
Establishing a low-post scorer won’t be easy. One game after Christian Moody scored 18 points at Colorado, he and C.J. Giles combined to score zero in 29 minutes, joining guard Jeff Hawkins, who didn’t score in 11 minutes. Sasha Kaun had eight points and nine boards in 21 minutes, but considering his shaky hands and shakier free-throw shooting, he’s not a great final-possession option, either. Kaun will have a size advantage tonight, and if he remembers that and doesn’t rush his shots, he has a chance to be a difference-maker.
The potential for better three-point shooting than the not-so-hot .359 team mark exists, provided Mario Chalmers (.239) can make it his last area of major improvement and Micah Downs (shooting hand injury) can get completely healthy, stay healthy, and hustle his way into Self’s rotation.
