The last time they played, one of the things I was most excited about watching was how Kansas decided to guard Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield.
And by saying that, I’m going on the assumption that Hield is, in fact, guardable.
The Jayhawks tried a handful of different looks, with Frank Mason getting the bulk of the time guarding Hield and I would imagine that Saturday’s rematch in Norman again will feature a few different Jayhawks taking a turn on the conference’s leading scorer and heavy favorite for national player of the year.
Here’s a look at KU’s options:
**Wayne Selden -** KU coach Bill Self was asked Thursday if Selden would start on Hield and Self inhaled, cocked his head and said, “I don’t know.” Selden has the size and strength to stay with Hield but showed in the first meeting that he’s not quite there in quickness. If Selden spends much time guarding Hield, look for him to rack up the fouls as Hield goes at him and by him while attacking off the dribble.
**Frank Mason -** Mason, though a few inches shorter, is the KU player best equipped to match Hield in terms of strength and quickness, but checking the OU star took a lot out of Mason the last time — granted, the three overtimes had something to do with that — so it would not be a surprise if Self wanted to give Mason some help in this one so the junior guard can contribute what’s needed on the offensive end, as well.
**Devonte’ Graham -** Graham is Mason Light here. He’s not as tough and strong as Mason but has a little more length and just as much quickness. The sophomore embraces all challenges with great enthusiasm, but, because of that, could find trouble by being too keyed up for the task.
**Brannen Greene -** When he wants to put forth the effort, the sharp-shooting Greene is a surprisingly decent defender. His length and athleticism allow him to crowd, challenge and still recover, but this is Buddy Hield we’re talking about and I just can’t imagine Greene will spend much time — if any — trying to keep Hield from filling up the stat sheet. A better role for Greene would be trying to match Hield on the other end, also an unlikely prospect.
**Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk -** This is the one I’d love to see even if only for 7 or 8 minutes. K-State’s Wesley Iwundu, who did an admirable job in the Wildcats’ upset of OU last Saturday, said the KSU gameplan on Hield was to wear him down by making him run like crazy in the half-court, getting bumped, chased and run at along the way. Svi is the kind of guy who KU could afford to sacrifice for a few minutes in this manner simply because he is not essential to any other aspects of KU’s game. Add to that Svi’s good athleticism, solid size and ever-improving lateral mobility, and I think he could have some temporary success wearing out Hield.
**Jamari Traylor -** Traylor has enough quickness and excellent athleticism for a player his size, but he has little experience guarding on the perimeter and, as intriguing as it might be to utilize him to bump and break down Hield whenever he’s on him, Hield also could use his ball-handling skills to toy with Traylor enough to keep him from locking him down.
**Lagerald Vick -** Here’s a longshot. Self said recently that Vick had been one of the best perimeter players in practice of late and although he’s unlikely to play in this type of a game, if he were to play, it would be as a curve ball defensive option to throw length and quickness at Hield.
