Bears praise KU; Baylor basketball coach Scott Drew:?Jayhawks were ‘efficient’

By Jesse Newell     Jan 18, 2011

KU vs. Baylor

Nick Krug
Kansas guard Josh Selby (32) swipes a steal from Baylor guard A.J. Walton during the first half. At right are Kansas guard Tyrel Reed and Baylor forward Anthony Jones (41).

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Following Kansas University’s 79.3-percent shooting performance in the first half Monday night, Baylor coach Scott Drew could only blame his defense so much.

“At the end of the day, you’ve still got to make those shots,” Drew said following KU’s 85-65 victory. “A lot of times, if you go 5-on-0 on offense, I don’t know if you go 23-of-29. They were efficient.”

The Jayhawks made 18 of 20 two-pointers (90 percent) and five of nine three-pointers (55.6 percent) in the first 20 minutes.

Drew credited KU for “coming out and really punching us in the face, as they say.”

The Jayhawks snapped the Bears’ 15-game homecourt winning streak. Drew is 1-8 all-time against KU.

“I know we’re embarrassed about how they played,” Drew said, “but they deserve a lot of credit.”

Drew was asked if he felt KU played like a team that had something to prove.

“Whatever it was, it was good,” Drew said. “I think that’s why people think they’re second in the nation or first in the nation, because they’re capable of playing like that.”

He also hinted that KU has been judged too harshly by fans and analysts this season.

“I’ve heard a lot of criticism about them having close games, but there’s a certain toughness that you develop with close games, and good teams win close games,” Drew said. “So they’re a great team.”

Drew also had high praise for Marcus and Markieff Morris, who combined for 44 points and 14 rebounds.

“They’re tough to guard because they can do multiple things,” Drew said. “They finished with six assists and four turnovers. Our backcourt had eight assists, 13 turnovers. I mean, there’s not many holes in their games.”

Baylor’s Perry Jones III — who finished with a team-high 20 points on 6-for-11 shooting — also was impressed by the twins.

“They just play hard,” Jones said. “They’re a good combination. Those two, they know how to work together.”

Baylor dropped to 3-30 all-time against teams ranked in the AP top five.

The Bears also fell in front of 10,596 fans — the largest basketball crowd in Ferrell Center history.

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