OK, will Kansas University help some unheralded basketball player from Nebraska soar to stardom and spark an upset here today? Against Kansas State and Missouri, the Jayhawks allowed four guys who normally are spear-carriers to rise to the level of resonating basso profundos and help produce unexpected victories.
KU has a long record of aiding Nebraska football unknowns to steal the spotlight, like running back Craig Jones, 1978-80. The Jayhawks also too often have helped marginal court performers perform far beyond normal.
Back to the 69-65 loss to Kansas State. Dramane Diarra entered the KU game with about a four-point scoring average. He daggered the Jayhawks with eight points, crucial. Then KSU’s Schyler Thomas, not even averaging a point per game, poked in five.
The Missouri game was worse. Kevin Young’s 7.9-point average swelled to 14 (and nine rebounds), and Marshall Brown’s 9.3 rose to 12 points. That included a critical dunk on a pass from Thomas Gardner to nudge MU to an 85-84 lead with 1:39 left in overtime.
You know the old coaching theory about defending superstars: “We’ll let Harley have his points and try to choke off the other guys.” Well, Gardner dropped 40 on KU, and the Jayhawks did a lousy job preventing Young and Brown from making a pivotal difference. KU players and coaches choked.
As for Nebraska, it’s well-documented that Wes Wilkinson, Aleks Maric, Joe McCray and Marcus Walker can score in double figures. But can the erratic Jayhawks prevent NU’s versions of Diarra, Thomas, Young and Brown from derailing them?
Much is made of how KU has lost five games each by four points or fewer. When you own a three-possession lead (seven points) with 39 seconds to go, the case at Missouri, how can you blow it? We found out.
It’s high time for guys touted and tolerated as talented learners to perform, to prove they merit accolades rather than the harpoons they’ll deserve if they continue to hide behind that youth and inexperience alibi. Bill Self needs to get ugly.
Christian Moody for all his commendable string of positive inputs is a senior who should be a much better free-thrower than 50 percent. Why not? He could have beaten Missouri and didn’t, one lousy point available without any defensive harassment. Nobody feels worse than Christian, so maybe this will force him to shape up at the foul line. If not, bench him when free throws are a factor.
How long before the celebrated Brandon Rush stops being a periodic liability because of reluctance to force the crucial shot and take the heat, good or bad? Enough of “I didn’t have my head in the game” and “I passed off to avoid looking selfish.” Get selfish, kid, disgustingly so, like a Michael Jordan, or even a Kareem Rush. KU is a ship adrift sans rudder. With all the hype Brandon (NBA material, not) has had, he should be more dependable. Yeah, he’s JUST a freshman, but so is Mario Chalmers.
Had to wonder why 5-foot-11 senior Jeff Hawkins got so much time trying to cover MU’s 6-5 Gardner when 6-1 Russell Robinson was far more effective. Robinson is another Jayhawk coming to the fore like Chalmers. Unless KU is willing to settle for an NIT trip rather than a 17th straight NCAA junket, Self, Rush and ALL the guys 6-8 and taller need to gut up and deliver.
This bunch is a lot, lot better than its shabby 10-6 record.
