Quick grades for five aspects of No. 3 KU’s 73-68 victory over No. 2 Baylor Wednesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
Offense: B
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Putting 73 points on the board is only going to win games if your defense is good enough to allow that to happen. It was in this one and KU’s 45 percent shooting from 3-point range and four players in double figures provided just enough offense.
Defense: A
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This very well might have been KU’s best defensive game of the season and it certainly was the Jayhawks’ most impressive close to a game on the defensive end. Kansas was tough, intense, scrappy and turned up. You could tell that getting stops meant something to these guys tonight.
Frontcourt: B-
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Landen Lucas was not great early, but delivered late and also came away with a game-high 11 rebounds, four on the offensive end. Add to that the fact that the 11 minutes that Kansas got from the combo of Dwight Coleby and Mitch Lightfoot delivered 2 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks and you’re looking at a group that, though still not ideal, is starting to show small signs of improvement.
Backcourt: A
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Frank Mason III was clutch, Josh Jackson was spectacular and Devonte’ Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk combined to make 6 of 11 3-pointers. All four also played 34 minutes or more and, yet, still delivered time and time again.
Bench: C+
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Lagerald Vick gave the Jayhawks very little and continues to struggle, but Coleby and Lightfoot may be starting to find where they fit on this team. Take the good with the bad, I suppose.
