PAGE 8
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
+
THE DAILY DEBATE
Who will be the most important sophomore for Kansas' tournament success?
Jacob Clemen
@jclemn9
FRANK MASON III
The Jayhawks clinched a share of their 11th straight Big 12
11th straight Big 12 conference championship Monday night when Iowa State defeated Oklahoma 77-70 in Ames, allowing fans to look ahead to the excitement of postseason basketball.
For Kansas, success in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments will hinge largely on the play of standout junior forward Perry Ellis, a likely Big 12 player of the year candidate.
There is, however, a group of important sophomores that will need to step up in order for Kansas to survive and advance in March. Landen Lucas, Brannen Greene, Wayne Selden Jr. and Frank Mason III will all be integral to the Jayhawks' hopes.
While each of these sophomore players will have a role to play for Kansas, it's the play of point guard Mason that will decide whether the Jayhawks are able to sustain a lengthy postseason run.
Mason is the jayhawks' Swiss Army Knife. He's a solid scorer, averaging 12.1 points per game, good for second on
the team, with an efficient .455 field goal percentage. He leads the team in both minutes per game at 33.3 and in assists per game at 4.3 as the most trusted initiator of Bill Self's offense.
He is fourth on the team in rebounds per game at 3.7, a solid mark for a guard, and is even outpacing junior forward Jamari Traylor in that category.
Certainly, fellow starter Selden could be a big factor in Kansas' success, but it is Mason's contributions that are harder to replace. Freshman Devonte' Graham is the only true backup point guard, while Selden's position at the wing is flush with talent. Should Selden have an off game, Self could turn to Greene, freshman Kelly Oubre Jr. or freshman Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk to replicate Selden's abilities.
Self said it himself in an interview with the Kansas City Star earlier in the season
"We won't have a more valuable player," Self said. "He may not be our best player, but I think he's as valuable as anybody that we'll have in our squad night in and night out."
guard play can carry a team through the tournament. Connecticut relied heavy on standouts Ryan Boatright and Shabazz Napier, the tournament's Most
While rebounding defense and post scoring are important for tournament success, last year's UConn team showed that excellent
"CERTAINLY, FELLOW STARTER SELDEN COULD BE A BIG FACTOR IN KANSAS' SUCCESS BUT IT IS MASON'S CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE HARDER TO REPLACE."
Outstanding Player, en route to an NCAA championship.
Kansas will need strong guard play if it hopes to go on a similar run this season, and Mason is up to the task. His ability to both manage the offense and score on his own, as well as his toughness, hard-nosed defense and knack for grabbing boards as a guard will all need to be on full display if Kansas hopes to survive and advance in March.
WAYNE SELDEN JR.
Matthew Corte
@UDK_Corte
Save the past couple sweeks and the emergence of Perry Ellis, Frank Mason has been the Jayhawks' best player all year. Because of that, we already know how high the Jayhawks' ceiling is with him at his peak. They're a good team, but not one that can compete for a national championship.
The same can't be said for the player whom Kansas fans saw as arguably the team's best coming into the year, Wayne Selden Jr.
He's the de facto pick for most important sophomore, simply because no one knows what the jayhawks' ceiling is when Selden's clicking with the rest of the team.
Here's a crazy stat: excluding last night's game against West Virginia, Selden has made 45 three-point field goals, compared to just 44 two-point field goals. On two-point field goals, he's shooting just 34 percent, whereas from beyond the arc, Selden is shooting a solid 40 percent. Of all the regular rotation players, Selden ranks last in field goal percentage at 37 percent, 6 percent lower than the next
plaver, Landen Lucas.
As long as Selden continues his poor shooting from everywhere but behind the arc, Kansas won't make it any further than they did last year.
Having played the secondmost minutes on the season at 30 per game, it's essential that he figures out how to convert from two-point range like he did last season.
In 2013-2014, Selden shot 53 percent from two-point range, almost 20 percent higher than
"ALTHOUGH MASON IS THE ENGINE THAT MAKES KANSAS RUN, SELDEN IS... THE MOST IMPORTANT TO ITS NCAA TOURNAMENT RUN."
this year.
If he can halve that percentage difference and shoot around 43 percent for the remainder of the season, the Jayhawks will compete on a whole new level in tournament play. Selden isn't the most important sophomore because of what he's done so far this
season, but because of what he can do.
Also, consider this: of the six losses Kansas has had this year, Selden managed to score less than ten points in four of them. Being the third leading scorer on the team, it's essential that he puts up respectable point totals in every game.
Selden is also integral defensively. Rather than have an athletic freshman like Kelly Oubre Jr. defend the opposing team's best wing player, coach Bill Self will most likely have Selden, the Jayhawks' most physical wing, in that important position. At 6'5 and over 230 pounds, Selden has a man's body in a boy's game. His physical presence and ability to play lock-down man defense should wear down the other team's best player.
Although Mason is the engine that makes Kansas run, Selden is undoubtedly the most important to its NCAA tournament run. If he's able to break out of his shooting slump and continue to defend at an elite level, then it'd be no surprise to see the Jayhawks playing in the Sweet Sixteen. If not, however, don't be shocked by another disappointing first weekend in the Big Dance.
- Edited by Jordan Fox
Sophomore guard Frank Mason III drives down the court on Feb. 23 against Kansas State in Manhattan. Kansas lost 63-70.
BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
FRANK WEIRICH/KANSAN
Sophomore guard Wayne Selden Jr. dodges past Iowa State defender Naz Long. The Jayhawks played against the Cyclones at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, on Jan. 17. Kansas fell to Iowa State 86-81.
785-864-4358
part time, flexible hours, the majority being afternoon. Starting pay is $9/hr and will go up after 60 days. Can gain more hours through the summer months, as well. Variety of duties include detailing cars,
JOBS
Please come by in person and fill out an application at 2957 Four Wheel Drive from 7:30am-6pm.
Call 785-841-8662 for more information.
KANSAN.COM
plus trash, cardboard and general shop clean up and help. Need to be dependable and hardworking. This is a labor-intensive, fast-paced position. You must pass a background and driving record search as well as a clean drug-screen test.
JOBS
PORTER-DETAIL FOR BRIGGS AUTOBODY
CLASSIFIEOS@KANSAN.COM
K. I.D.S. Place in McLouth is looking for a Lead Teacher for our licensed childcare center that is Lead qualified. Experience in childcare is required. Please call 913-796-2042 or email us at kidspace@centurylink.net
OLATHE GOLF COURSE HIRING
Now & for the Summer
Snack Bar Beverage Cart Staff
Flexible Distance Hours
Hourly Pay & Tips 913-856-7325
info@prairiehighlands.com
JOBS
PROGRAMMER/AID
TONGANOXIE LIBRARY
www.tonganoxie.library.org
Sales Position at a historical downtown Lawrence jewelry store Hourly plus commission. Call 785-843-4266 for more details.
HOUSING
1,2, 3&4BR Apts & Townhomes
available Summer & Fall
785-843-0011 or holdaymgmt.com
DOWNLOAD THE APP &
SUBMIT YOUR FFA
FOR FREE.
KANSAN.COM
THE STUDENT' VOICE WITH YOU 24/7
DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND!
MONDAY
THRU
THURSDAY
KEEP PICKING UP THE KANSAN
FOR ALL YOUR CAMPUS NEWS!