Lucas likes first time in KU’s starting lineup

By Gary Bedore     Nov 25, 2014

Richard Gwin
Kansas sophomore Landen Lucas drives for two points against Rider center Matt Lopez in the Jayhawks 87-60 win over Rider.

Landen Lucas now knows what it’s like to be introduced as a starter at tradition-rich Kansas University.

“I mean it’s nice, but at the end of the day I just want to win,” Lucas, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound red-shirt sophomore forward said after scoring a career-high nine points and grabbing four rebounds with two steals in the Jayhawks’ 87-60 win over Rider on Monday in Allen Fieldhouse.

He put up those solid numbers while starting for the first time in 25 career games.

“I was always raised it’s not who starts it’s who finishes,” Portland, Oregon, native Lucas added. “We’ll see what happens when big games come around, but any way I can help the team. If coach (Bill Self) feels it’s at the start of the game, I’m ready for it.”

Lucas, who hit three shots in as many tries and cashed three of five free throws in his 13-minute stint, grinned when asked if starting a game made him feel like he’s “arrived” on the major college level.

He averaged 4.9 minutes a game in 22 games during the 2013-14 season.

“In a way it kind of does,” he said. “I just try to do my job whether it’s starting or not. We’ll see how this goes moving forward.”

Self has said things seem to go a lot smoother when Lucas is in the game.

“Last week we ran into some problems with our offense, just running things,” Lucas said of KU’s 32-point loss to Kentucky in Indianapolis. “I’ve been here a couple years. I understand what he’s looking for. Maybe just a little bit of trust in me to go out there and do what he’s asking.”

KU’s other frontcourt players also came to play against Rider. Perry Ellis had 17 points off 5-of-6 shooting (7-10 from line), while Cliff Alexander had 10 points and four boards in 13 minutes and Jamari Traylor six points, three assists, two boards and two blocks in 21 minutes. Hunter Mickelson hit three of four shots and had six points and two boards in five minutes.

“I think we did all right. I think everyone did pretty well the first half. We played inside/out,” Lucas said. KU led Rider, 51-22, at the break. “The second half we came out kind of flat. We can’t let that happen.”

Rider outscored KU, 38-36, the final half.

“The first half was good. The second half, we have a lot to improve on,” Lucas said. “We’ll watch tape and make sure we don’t have a half like that again.”

KU (2-1) next will meet Rhode Island at 1:30 p.m., Central time, Thursday, at the Orlando Classic in Kissimmee, Florida. If KU wins, it will meet the winner of Tennessee-Santa Clara at 11 a.m., Friday. Other half of the bracket: Marquette, Michigan State, Rider and Georgia Tech.

“It’ll be a good test for us. Games are coming fast and furious this week,” Lucas said. “I hope we can go down there and take care of business and come up with a championship.”

Lucas may have some family members with him in Florida.

“I think my mom is coming, possibly my grandparents,” said Lucas, whose mom, Shelley, actually is living in Lawrence this school year. His dad is in Portland. “I’ll have a chance to see them. It’ll be nice to be around the team at Thanksgiving and hopefully win some games.”

His mom is actually “a substitute teacher right now, schools around here,” Lucas said. “It is nice (having mom around).”

He gets a homecooked meal once in a while. “Every now and then, food, laundry, all the necessary things,” Lucas said.

Rhode Island, which is coached by Dan Hurley, is 3-0, having defeated Pace (94-54), UMass Lowell (72-56) and Nebraska (66-62, OT).

Second-half bummer: Bill Self was displeased his Jayhawks were outscored 38-36 the final half against Rider after winning the first half, 51-22.

“It’s hard to get too excited. We’re not good enough yet to string together two halves or (show) killer instinct,” he said.

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