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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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THE DAILY DEBATE
Which Kansas forward will step up in Perry Ellis' absence?
Dylan Sherwood
@dmantheman2011
IAMARI TRAYLOR
Junior forward Perry Ellis, who is out for Saturday's game against Oklahoma, suffered a knee injury Tuesday against West Virginia, which means another Kansas forward must step up in his place.
In Tuesday night's game against West Virginia, junior forward Jamari Traylor had his best game of the season.
Traylor had a seasonhigh 14 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes of play, including a huge dunk that gave Traylor an and-one opportunity, which gave Kansas momentum in overtime.
This is not the first time Traylor has filled in for an injured player. Traylor helped fill in for former Kansas post Joel Embiid in the second round of the NCAA tournament last season against Eastern Kentucky. Traylor posted career highs in scoring and r.bounds, recording a double-double of 17 points
and 14 rebounds.
and 14 rebounds.
If Traylor can put up numbers with the injury to Ellis, it's Traylor's time to shine. There is currently no depth at the post position, with freshman forward Cliff Alexander still out due to eligibility issues. Traylor has been known to foul too much in games. Traylor
that game
Traylor has started 17 games in his career at Kansas, with 16 coming this season. But Traylord's best games are usually when he is the first person off the bench. Traylon was replaced in the starting lineup several games ago, but has worked his way back into a starting
"TRAYLOR HAS STARTED 17 GAMES IN HIS CAREER AT KANSAS, WITH 16 COMING THIS SEASON. BUT TRAYLOR'S BEST GAMES ARE USUALLY WHEN HE IS THE FIRST PERSON OFF THE BENCH."
is in the same situation as former Kansas player and current Los Angeles Laker Tarik Black, who would get into foul trouble early in the game and have to sit on the bench the rest of the half.
Should Ellis be out longer than Saturday's game against Oklahoma, Kansas could use Traylor — as long as he stays out of foul trouble and plays aggressively, as he did against West Virginia. Kansas fans really like what they saw from Traylor in
role after Alexander was benched due to eligibility.
Even sitting out a year due to NCAA eligibility issues. Traylor's game has improved but still needs work. Traylor currently averages 4.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game and is second on the team in blocks with 31. Traylor has had an up-and-down junior season,but when it counts, you could see him spark at any time.
- Edited by Mitch Raznick
Graydon James Melia
@gjmelia
A SOLID ROTATION
A after locking up the Big 12 regular season championship
championship outright Tuesday, Kansas' next challenge will be to finish the season on a high note down in Norman, Okla., on Saturday. The Jayhawks will likely be facing the Sooners without its two best big men: junior forward Perry Ellis and freshman forward Cliff Alexander.
Alexander is still being held out by the Kansas coaching staff while the NCAA investigates a possible eligibility issue, while Ellis
March 11, which Ellis should be back for. As for Alexander, there is no telling when the freshman from Chicago will be back — if at all this season.
If Ellis' knee sprain keeps him out longer than a week, coach Bill Self will have to plan accordingly. Without Ellis and Alexander, that leaves the Kansas coaching staff with junior forwards Jamari Traylor and Hunter Mickelson and sophomore forward Landen Lucas to fill the gap.
After Ellis went down in the first half Tuesday night, Traylor played 30 minutes, Lucas saw 26 and Mickelson was in for a season-high 13. At one point, Self played a smaller lineup with four guards and one true forward,
"[LUCAS, MICKELSON AND TRAYLOR] WILL HAVE TO HOLD THEIR OWN IN THE PAINT, SECURE THE GLASS AND PLAY AS A UNIT IN ORDER TO FILL THE VOID..."
suffered a right knee sprain against West Virginia.
Following the Jayhawks game in Oklahoma, they have the conference tournament in Kansas City, Mo., beginning
something he may be forced to do more of in the coming games.
in a strict rotation of Traylor, Lucas and Mickelson, as well as playing a four-guard lineup in some situations.
If Kansas wants to have success with its two best big men out, it will have to work
Against West Virginia each of the three remaining forwards exhibited their ability to deliver for this basketball team.
In his 30 minutes, Traylor had 14 points and nine rebounds, six coming offensively, which displayed why he is arguably the grittiest player for the Jayhawks. This toughness was also seen when he posterized West Virginia's Devin Williams in overtime.
Mickelson scored a career high eight points, in addition to three steals and pairs of blocks and rebounds. Lucas' efforts did not show up much on the statsheet, but he had the game-saving block in the Mountaineers' final possession of regulation.
For Kansas to finish strong in the regular season, Lucas, Mickelson and Traylor will have to play vital roles. The three will have to hold their own in the paint, secure the glass and play as a unit in order to fill the void of Ellis and Alexander.
Edited by Mitch Raznick
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