1 reply to this topic

[warthog]

Posted on Sat, Feb. 27, 2010
Kansas will know soon if it’s a cough or flu
By BLAIR KERKHOFF
The Kansas City Star

STILLWATER, Okla. | As if an invasion by Kansas State for the home finale, in the battle of top 10 (top five?) programs, isn’t monumental enough for Kansas, the Jayhawks now also get to use the occasion for a checkup.

The meeting with the Wildcats will determine if Kansas’ 85-77 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday was merely the equivalent of a mild cough or a prolonged malaise.

A case can be made either way. Over the past few weeks, the Jayhawks followed up gritty road triumphs against solid competition with uneven play at home against the bottom feeders. All victories, but some served unconvincingly.

Saturday was a no-doubter — bad in every way as Kansas fell to 27-2. And Bill Self, as grounded in reality as a coach can be, believes the best and fears the worst.

“I don’t think the thing is broken,” Self said. “But I do think we need to really evaluate the things we take great pride in to be a good team, especially this time of year.”

Start with the defense. The 60.4 percent success rate of Oklahoma State floor shooting is a best against a Self-coached Kansas team, the best against a Jayhawks squad since the 1990 Big Eight tournament.

The Jayhawks were outrebounded 36-26 and it’s amazing there were 26 boards for Kansas players to grab.

In the paint, where KU figured to have an edge with Cole Aldrich and the Morris twins, the Jayhawks got blistered by the undersized duo of Marshall Moses and freshman Matt Pilgrim, who combined to make all 12 of their field goals.

James Anderson, courageously playing with a bad back, sealed Big 12 player of the year with 27 points. But he was going to get his. Kansas lost the easy-to-lose Keiton Page in transition and the wee one made the Jayhawks pay by knocking down all of his pull-up threes.

“Our toughness level on defense was very, very poor,” Self said. “That can’t happen in the tournament, in a one-and-done deal.”

Precisely. Oklahoma State didn’t need Saturday’s conquest for an NCAA Tournament invitation, but the Cowboys now cannot lose their way out. They own the profile of a No. 8 seed or so, making them the type of opponent Kansas could see on the first weekend.

A second-round foe capable of hitting 60 percent against a team that’s supposed to be as good defensively as the Jayhawks needs to be a wake-up call.

Better this happen in February than March.

Self went on to say Kansas wasn’t ready to defend on Saturday, which opens the door to all kinds of speculation.

Are the Jayhawks a tired bunch? They clearly were a step slower than Oklahoma State on both sides of the ball. Early on, when the Cowboys came up with a turnover they turned it into points. When Kansas got a steal it flubbed it right back.

Can Sherron Collins fight through his shooting woes? The accuracy was off early against the Pokes, but he did make three of four from beyond the arc in the second half. Kansas’ confidence soars when he buries shots early.

Can the Jayhawks somehow avoid playing on CBS? They’re 0-2 on the Tiffany network and 27-0 on everybody else’s airwaves. Unfortunately for Kansas, CBS carries the NCAA Tournament.

The loss means Kansas didn’t clinch the Big 12 championship outright, and it could cost the Jayhawks the nation’s top ranking, although not to Kentucky. About an hour before tipoff the second-ranked Wildcats were wrapping up their second loss this season to the team that gave KU its first, Tennessee.

Like Self, Wildcats coach John Calipari wasn’t down on his guys. Kentucky went two for 22 on threes and had it tied with just over two minutes remaining. The games were eerily similar, right down to the orange and blue color schemes of the winners and losers.

Oklahoma State and Tennessee jumped to big leads and fought off challenges. Kentucky did a better job than Kansas, shrinking a 19-point deficit to a deadlock. The Jayhawks never cut their 19-point deficit to more than six.

Both coaches understand that even if there are issues, best not to add a damaged psyche to the chart.

“I hope our guys don’t feel like it’s the end of the earth,” Self said. “But I hope they’re pretty disgusted and pretty mad about what transpired today.”

We’ll know on Wednesday when Kansas State brings its talented team to Lawrence.

http://www.kansascit...n-if-its-a.html

[warthog]

Hey DC, what do you think K State's chances of being co conference champions this year? I think their pretty good.