By Paul Gotham
Kansas vs. Temple: the difference between 1 and 18
Saturday, Fran Dunphy and his No. 18 Temple Owls got a front row view as to why the Kansas Jayhawks rank number one in the nation. Temple completed an undefeated December. Kansas was on the road. Everything looked good for the Owls. That was until Kansas went on a 19-4 run en route to an 84-52 victory.
Much of the discussion surrounding the game has focused on the Kansas offense. And why not, the Jayhawks shot over 54 percent from the field. On the surface, Kansas played like the cliche runaway train.
Things is, poor offense by the Owls engineered the Jayhawk locomotive.
With 8:24 remaining in the first half, Juan Fernandez knocked down a three to pull Temple within a deuce, 19-17. That was as close as the Owls would get, and their shot selection doomed them.
Temple actually took more shots than Kansas. The Owls finished the game with 64 attempts while Kansas took 55. The disparity comes as the result of a handful of possessions where the Owls beat the Jayhawks to long rebounds.
The problem was that as soon as the Owls secured the rock they could not wait to jack up another shot.
Temple finished the game 5-29 from the three-point arc. Kansas, on the other hand, 7-13. For those of you scratching your head, you are not alone. The Jayhawks took 16 fewer threes and made two more than Temple.
It was Kansas’s other 63 points that were the difference. Temple’s many ill-advised shots resulted in a highlight reel of lay ups at the other end. Kansas frustrated Temple’s offense all day. The Owls could not consistently pass on the interior and settled for long shots. The Jayhawks converted those opportunities at the other end.
Fran Dunphy now has the chance to teach his kids a few lessons on patience. There is a good chance he will say the following once or twice at practice: a bad shot at one end becomes a lay up at the other end.
As for Kansas, it is like I am watching the October – November New Orleans Saints: I haven’t seen that many weapons in one place since I saw PBS documentary on the Taliban (yes, I used that one before). Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich, and Marcus Morris just come in waves. Then you throw in Tyshawn Taylor and Xavier Henry. Geez!!! That’s a lot of firepower. Oh yeah, and Brady Morningstar is back after suspension. And don’t forget C.J. Henry and Markieff Morris. The Jayhawks are tough to defend with an extended man to man.
Henry is special. Kentucky’s John Wall gets all the hype, but Henry is just as good. Of course, it helps that he is in that lineup.
Since I mentioned the Saints, the concern for Kansas has to be the possibility of peaking too early. A dose of Big12 action should bring them down to size. Only one regular season game between Kansas and Texas: February eighth. Kansas catches Kansas State twice (1/30 and 3/3).
Speaking of the Horns
The Big 12’s other undefeated team is the Texas Longhorns at 14-0. But the Horns have been living dangerously.
Three night after trimming the Texas A&M-CC (not short for community college – rather Corpus Christi), 76-70, the Horns led the Arkansas Razorbacks by two with eight minutes remaining. Damion James scored eight points in the final two minutes as Texas won, 96-85.
Carolina blues
Forgive me if I’m not buying it. Yeah, Ol’ Roy can scare a bunch of teenagers, but it’s going to take more than that to fool the rest of us.
Sure, Carolina’s four losses is the most among the top 25. But look closely, the Heels have fallen to Syracuse, Texas, and Kansas. Who wouldn’t? Even Carolina’s defeat at the hands of College of Charlestonhas extenuating circumstances: Marcus Ginyard and Will Graves watched the game in street clothes – the two guards recovering from injuries.
In case you didn’t catch it, check out the three at the buzzer by Andrew Goudelock.
So Carolina is down a little, but don’t count them out. Few schools could lose guys like Hansbrough, Lawson, Ellington and Green and still sniff the top 25. Of course, if anyone else was coaching the Heels, it would be a different story. It’s just that that I derive a mild amount of twisted satisfaction watching Roy have to actually try and coach this year. It’s a little different when you don’t have player of the year candidates in the lineup.
An alternative to the Skip Prosser Classic?
The Xavier-Wake Forest match up lived up to its billing. Ishmael Smith earned a POTW nomination as the Deacs took a double OT thriller 83-79. The game was scheduled to be the first of a ten game series honoring the late Skip Prosser.
Not if Wake Forest coach, Dino Gaudio, has his way. Gaudio did not enjoy playing and/or beating his friends at Xavier. Dan Collins is reporting that the Wake coach has suggested a showcase that would consist of two games at one site. Wake would play a team other than Xavier from the A10, and the Musketeers would do battle with an ACC school. Sounds like a great idea to honor the memory of Skip Prosser. Here’s hoping Gaudio has his way.
Scott Sutton: Keeping it in the family
Growing up, Scott Sutton witnessed plenty of basketball. His hall-of-fame father Eddie won over 800 games at the division one level. When the younger Sutton got his chance, he took it. Eleven years later, Scott Sutton has made a name for himself at Oral Roberts University. Dana O’Neil chronciled Sutton’s time on the sidelines. Sutton guided the Golden Eagles to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances between 2006-08. Despite a rash of injuries, Sutton has Oral Roberts primed for another run this year. Thus far, Oral Roberts has wins over Stanford, Missouri, and then No.12 New Mexico.
Got any college basketball splinters? Share them here.
Kansas just looks awesome this year … a lot more solid than the other undefeated teams. Casey mentioned that Texas has been living on the edge and I think Kentucky is still a year away with their youth. I think Purdue should be the solid #2 right now … has anyone come close to beating them??
Not that I’m bitter ;), but is a 13-3 Notre Dame team REALLY not in the country’s Top 40???? Anyway, if Harangody can get just a little consistent help from his friends, the Irish would make some noise in the BE. As it is, I’m afraid we’re gonna see yet another Irish team with a great player be squarely on the bubble at season’s end.
Not so fast – Kansas trailed Cornell last night in the game’s final minute at Kansas. The Jayhawks pulled it out, the Big Red had their chances. Cornell’s performance was no fluke, Thus far the Big Red have beaten Alabama, St. John’s, UMass, and Davidson.
I watched parts of the Kansas/Cornell game last night. Cornell had a legit chance to win it. Missed a 3 at the end.
I haven’t had a chance to see Purdue yet. Anybody think they are for real?
I have not seen enough of Purdue this season. I know that E’Twaun Moore and Robbie Hummell can get it done. Wake Forest lost to them earlier this year. I did see parts of the second half of that game. The Deacs made one bad decision after another that night. Purdue pressed them in the second half to pull away. Beating Minnesota by 19 is no easy task. Saturday at Wisconsin should be an accurate gauge of how good the Boilermakers are.
I remember Hummel and Kramer from last years team. Kramer is an excellent defender and smart player (correct?)
I’ll try to catch them this weekend.
Moore has made ‘more’ of an impression on me than Kramer.
Switching topics slightly –
I was thinking about what you were saying regarding Andy Rautins. Yeah, his turnovers are up, but he is being asked to handle the ball more. He is also being asked to make decisions in traffic that he hasn’t had to make in the past. I like that he is sticking with being a playmaker. Many of his turnovers still keep the defense honest because they have to defend the pass EVERY time when it comes to Rautins.