The Cheick Diallo Show did not disappoint.
KU’s freshman forward who sat out the first five games of the season while awaiting clearance from the NCAA poured in 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks in 16 minutes in his debut and brought all kinds of excitement and energy to an otherwise ho hum night.
KU coach Bill Self said Diallo would not score 13 points every night, but the raw material appears to be there for that to be possible. Diallo is so active, so aggressive and so athletic.
KU’s not going to have to run plays for him to score, nor will they, but it does not seem like a stretch to think that hitting the glass and being set up for easy buckets by his teammates could easily produce double-digit nights quite often for the 6-9 freshman.
Diallo’s addition only makes Kansas more dangerous by giving the Jayhawks another incredible athlete to throw into the rotation and his teammates a versatile option to go to in transition and in the half-court. What’s more, the attention he’ll draw, at least for a while, will take just a little more pressure off of the rest of the lineup.
Quick takeaway
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Perhaps lost in the Diallo debut was the fact that the Jayhawks once again topped the 90-point mark and really appear to be clicking on offense. KU needed a 54-point second half to get there, but it did not look all that difficult as the Jayhawks scored in transition, hit from the outside and got balance throughout the lineup. Self said in Maui that he thought — and hoped — his team could be a heck of a lot better offensively in a month than it is today. But if this team can continue to take strides on the defensive end, the ease and versatility with which it can score on offense, will make the Jayhawks a very tough team to beat.
Three reasons to smile
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**1 – Forget the stats, if you can. Cheick Diallo brings more to this Kansas team than just numbers.** His energy, emotion, smile and passion for the game bring a dimension to this team that has not been seen around here in the past couple of years. A few guys have tried to be “that guy” but no one has been able to do that consistently since Thomas Robinson. It’s just one game, but if this is the Diallo KU is getting — good stat night or bad — that will go a long way toward elevating the play and intensity of everyone on the roster and should make the 2015-16 a heck of a lot of fun for all involved.
**2 – KU coach Bill Self said he was very displeased with the way Svi played in the first half.** That’s what makes the sophomore’s line — 10 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound in 16 minutes — all the more impressive. Instead of sulking, pouting or letting his rough first half ruin his game, Svi bounced back in the second half, played much harder and put up a decent line to help KU cruise to the easy victory. That would not have happened last year. And what you’re seeing is the continued maturity from this guy. That can only be a good thing for Svi and the Jayhawks.
**3 – Say what you will about his ability, his place on the team or him as a person,** regardless of whether you’re the biggest Tyler Self fan on the planet or can’t believe he’s on the team, you’d have to pretty much be heartless to not at least crack a smile after the young man made the first three-pointer of his career late in the blowout. The release looked good and Tyler has put in a lot of work during the past few years. He deserved the moment. And so did his dad.
Three reasons to sigh
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**1 – KU’s free throw shooting was atrocious.** The Jayhawks made just 6 of 13 from the line in the opening 20 minutes and 6 of 12 in the second half to produce a game total of 12-of-26 for 46.2 percent. KU cannot afford to have that become a trend because, with the new emphasis on calling fouls, KU figures to get to the line a lot this season. It’s hard to roast a team for an off night at the line in a game they won by 33, but against tougher competition nights like that will cost Kansas.
**2 – Carlton Bragg just never looked in sync** during this one and I can’t help but wonder if Diallo sliced into his role a little bit. They play different positions and do different things, but it may take the two of them a little time to get used to playing together. Nothing wrong with that, though. That’s what non-conference play is for.
**3 – Kansas did not defend the three-pointer well at all in the first half,** allowing the Greyhounds to hit 42 percent (5-of-12) en route to trailing by just four at the break. At one point, Loyola drained three straight threes to turn a nine-point Kansas lead into a tie ballgame. Things improved in the second half and Loyola misfired on all seven three-point attempts it tried in the final 20 minutes, but that likely was the result of Self emphasizing better effort on the perimeter to his defense at halftime.
One for the road
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KU’s run-away victory over the Greyhounds…
• Made KU 8-2 all-time against current membership of the Patriot League
• Gave KU its 26th straight win in Allen Fieldhouse, which ties for the eighth-longest streak in school history
• Made KU 730-109 all-time in Allen Fieldhouse, including 192-9 under Bill Self
• Made Self 357-79 while at Kansas and 564-184 all-time
• Made KU 2,158-832 all-time.
Next up
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The Jayhawks will be back on the Allen Fieldhouse floor at 2:15 p.m. Saturday, when they play host to Harvard.
Kansas forward Hunter Mickelson (42) extends to defend against a shot from Loyola forward Jarred Jones (21) during the first half, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse.
By the Numbers: Kansas 94, Loyola 61
