What this means…from press row
Gary Bedore, Journal-World KU men’s basketball beat writer
“KU’s league opener proved to be a perfect start in the long conference chase.
KU came out aggressive and pummeled a team that had been averaging some 85 points a game. The Jayhawks were all over the court stealing the ball. Sasha Kaun was the recipient of some great passes from Sherron Collins and others.
Brandon Rush looked like a go to guy in taking it to the hole and getting hacked a lot and converting a batch of first half free throws.
It was one of those games were about everybody played well.
KU’s defense probably was the story, harassing OSU at every turn.
It was definitely a good start for KU in the league marathon. The fans also were great. Now it’s life on the road.”
Tom Keegan, Journal-World sports editor
“You want to hang with Kansas, you better have a deep bench and a confident point guard who relishes a relentless challenge so that he can show his stuff against one of the nation’s best defenses.
Oklahoma State had neither and it was evident from the outset the Cowboys didn’t have a chance here.
This was a favorable matchup for KU because the Cowboys’ weaknesses played into the Jayhawks’ strengths, but even on nights when the matchup isn’t as kind to KU, the type of swamring defense on display of late will make it tough for all Big 12 opponents.”
Ryan Greene, KUSports.com editor
“So that’s two games in a row in which KU never gave its opponent reason to believe it could win after falling into a seemingly insurmountable hole on the scoreboard.
Brandon Rush said it best after the game in that it’s unrealistic to expect KU to start like that every game, but he’s right in that the same energy and electricity is not out of the question.
And how about Mario Chalmers and his steals? Dude had six. And that might sound like a lot, but it’s really becoming the status quo. He now has at least five swipes in four of KU’s last five games. That’s a luxury a small percentage of teams have.
Also, not to toot my own horn too much but just enough, but I said before this game I thought it’d be the opposite of KU’s 80-60 loss at OSU in Bill Self’s first season at KU, in which the outcome was determined right from go. Pretty much identical games as far as trends go.”
Inside the numbers
7: That’s how many Jayhawks scored at least seven points. Maybe the most unheralded storyline to go with this team so far in the 2006-07 campaign has been its unselfishness. On top of that scoring diversity, KU registered assists on 21 of its 34 field goals. Not a bad percentage.
90: That was Brandon Rush’s free throw percentage on the night, hitting 9-of-10 tries. His only miss came on the back end of a trip from a technical foul against OSU coach Sean Sutton. So he hit on 8-of-8 free throw attempts he physically earned. In the first half, those points at the stripe were huge in creating a gap on the scoreboard and making the Cowboys pay extra for putting the Jayhawks in the bonus at the 13:47 mark.
17: That’s how many steals KU piled up, compared to just two for the ‘Pokes. Even more important on top of those swipes from what has become one of the nation’s slickest defensive backcourts was how the transition offense is beginning to look easier and easier. That’s due in large part to how much more comfortable Sherron Collins now looks playing at breakneck speed with the ball in the open court.
100: That was Darnell Jackson’s field goal percentage on a perfect 5-for-5 showing Wednesday night, coming on the heels of two straight scoreless efforts in which he looked out of sync with the offense for the first time this season. Jackson simply adds more depth to an athletic and active post corps. Especially when he’s scoring.
Just in case you missed it…
Brandon Rush looked more aggressive with the ball than he has at any point this season. On at least three occassions, he slashed in with the ball from beyond the arc on the wing and either dunked it through with one hand or dropped in a floater from about 6-8 feet away. Just as he did over the course of last season, he’s continuously blossoming all over again.
Hopefully you didn’t miss it…
Even when Mario Chalmers doesn’t score bunches of points, he continues to be the motor that KU’s highly-capable offense runs with. Seven points, six assists and six steals will do just about every night from the sophomore guard, who could wind up as the nation’s leaders in steals if this keeps up.
They said it…
Brandon Rush on taking the heart away from OSU’s offense by slowing JamesOn Curry and Mario Boggan: “Our main goal was to just cut the two heads off, and I think we did a great job of that. The rest of the team fouled, and they were just getting frustrated that none of them were going their way.”
Brandon Rush on repeating KU’s nearly-perfect start from Wednesday night: “I don’t think we can start like that again, but we can keep up the intensity and the energy.”
Bill Self on the topic of the hot start: “We’re not going to play that well, making shots and having things fall right for us every game, but there was certainly great intensity.”
Sherron Collins on syncing up with his big men for easy buckets – especially Sasha Kaun: “That’s something that develops through practice, but there’s a lot of people (to click with). I’m just trying to penetrate and find an open guy. Sasha was just more open today than the other guys. That’s just what I was trying to do, get my teammates open baskets.”
