One of the somewhat overlooked benefits of [Tuesday’s 23-point win over Kansas State][1] was the fact that it gave the 23rd-ranked Jayhawks an opportunity to rest some of their starters.
Just two of KU’s five starters topped 30 minutes in the game, with Christian Braun playing 31 minutes and Ochai Agbaji hitting the 32-minute mark.
Jalen Wilson (23 minutes), David McCormack (24) and, most importantly, Marcus Garrett (24) all barely played a half in the win over the Wildcats, and at this point in the season that qualifies as extremely good news for Kansas.
The reasons are pretty obvious.
First, having fresher bodies gives the Jayhawks (12-6 overall, 6-4 Big 12) a better chance to play well down the stretch, when they could possibly be playing for seeding and will be looking to build momentum for the postseason.
In addition, the more KU’s bench can play meaningful minutes, the more comfortable guys like Dajuan Harris, Tristan Enaruna and Tyon Grant-Foster could become if they’re needed in a bigger role late in the season. We already know what Mitch Lightfoot’s role is and we also know that he’s always ready and willing to fill it.
Beyond that, though, the win over K-State and the fashion in which it came was big in the rest department because of what it did for these guys mentally.
Losing is hard. Much harder than winning. And when you combine tough losses with the pressure and expectations that exist at a place like Kansas, too much of that can lead to exhaustion. We haven’t seen much evidence of that with the Kansas players on game nights, but you can’t help but wonder what kind of a toll that rough January took on their minds.
Surely the opportunity to take care of business and run away from a team, along with watching the finish from the sideline, was a welcomed change of pace for the Jayhawks who have logged the most minutes so far this season.
That break from the norm served another bigger purpose for Garrett, who, in addition to having to handle the grueling task of being this team’s primary point guard, has endured a couple of stretches of injuries, as well.
The more rest he can get the better. KU coach Bill Self has talked often about fatigue being a factor for the senior leader this season.
“Marc has the type of body — I’ve been coaching him for four years — that late in the season it can really wear down,” Self said after Tuesday’s victory. “So this was a game in which he obviously could’ve played more, but it (was) probably best (to sit him) and you give him a day off (Wednesday) and he should be totally fresh by Thursday.
“We’re going to need him to really play a lot of minutes on Saturday and Monday. So I’m fine with (resting him). And he’s not a stats guy. He could care less if he gets two or 12. All he cares about is us winning and I think it’ll help us win in the future by him playing less today.”
KU plays at West Virginia on Saturday (1 p.m., CBS) and then hosts Oklahoma State on Monday (8 p.m., ESPN) for a Big Monday rematch with the Cowboys.
Tuesday night’s victory, and the way it came, also provided a sneak peek at what’s possible in the weeks ahead for Kansas.
If the Jayhawks take care of business like they did on Tuesday in upcoming games against Big 12 bottom feeders Iowa State (Feb. 11 and 13) and K-State (again on Feb. 16), you’re looking at three more opportunities in the next two weeks to keep the starters’ minutes down and give the KU bench an opportunity to build some momentum of its own.
That scenario is by no means guaranteed, of course. Two of those three games are on the road and both the Cyclones and Wildcats will show up ready to battle.
But KU has better talent, a better roster and is having a much better season than either of those teams. It’s likely the Jayhawks will be double-digits favorites in all three games.
Getting right against them, especially after two huge games in the next five days, can be about more than adding another tally mark in the win column. It also can help prepare the Jayhawks for the homestretch, mentally and physically.
[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2021/feb/02/no-23-kansas-cruises-kansas-state-74-51-move-1-0-f/
