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Volume 128 Issue 40
COMMENTARY Jayhawks' size proves too much for Ichabods
Little can be taken away from an exhibition game against an in-state Division II school, but the eye test showed Kansas has size and depth during the 85-53 win over the Washburn Ichabods.
Kansas started the game with two guards under six feet tall, freshman Devonte' Graham and sophomore Frank Mason, alongside sophomore guard Wayne Selden Jr., junior forward Jamari Traylor and junior forward Perry Ellis.
When Kansas subbed out both Graham and Mason, sophomore Brannen Greene and freshman Kelly Oubre Jr. entered the game, creating a lineup that towered over the opponents from Topeka.
The lineup didn't feature any player under 6-foot-5. Self said he is forced to use taller players like Selden and freshman guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk following the recent release of former guard Conner Frankamp.
"We played Wayne [Selden] at the point a couple different times," Self said. "When we play [Selden] at the point, 6-foot-5 will be the smallest guy we have on the floor. Wayne [Selden] isn't used to doing that a lot and up until last week, we didn't anticipate a lot of different situations where we do that a lot."
Seit said before Frankamp left the team, he envisioned Selden playing more at the four than at the one. Self also mentioned Mykhaiiuk, at 6-foot-7, could play point guard because of his ball-handling skills.
Though Self was frustrated with Kansas' offensive performance when using its "big" set, the Jayhawks were dominant on the defensive end, when the average height on the court was 6-foot-7. In the first half alone, Kansas recorded seven blocks from four different players, and the team grabbed 19 defensive rebounds.
The most frequent lineup Self used tonight was Selden at point guard, Svi at shooting guard, Oubre at small forward, Ellis at power forward and Alexander at center. The only player listed under 6-foot-7 was Selden, standing at 6-foot-5.
The lineup played for five minutes while offering few chances to score and keeping the ball alive on offense, Washburn coach Bob Chipman said. During the five-minute span, Alexander made three consecutive offensive rebounds against the Ichabods, who didn't score a single goal.
"We looked helpless there at times," Chipman said. They've got a great group, and they're so big and strong."
Edited by Rob Pyatt
B
BEN FELDERSTEIN
@Ben_Felderstein
The start of the 20 Kansas basketball season gan similarly to the openers of the past.
Allen Fieldhouse was p with 16,300 fans. The h the hype, the videos, o thing was in order for an season of Jayhawk baske It began with another out of an overmatched ponent. Kansas defeate Washburn Ichabods 85-Monday in an in-state er tion game.
However, one thing waferent. There were four faces in the rotation for first preseason game these four faces made the difference in their game in the Phog.
Freshman guard Dev Graham got the nod at his guard against Washb while fellow freshmen I Oubre Jr., Cliff Alexander Sviatoslov Mykailhuik stak the game on the bench. W Graham's classmates d start, they had a major im on the outcome of the gam "I wanted to start all turning guys," Bill Self s "I was going to start Bran (Green) but he had a ro defensive practice yester so I threw Devone' in then Kansas got off to a quick s
Bowen
Interim head coach Clint Bowen wa 11. The program's energy has pick
If you haven't heard...
KANSAN.COM IS ALL NEW!
day, November 4, 2014
IN
ints
ANDY LARKIN/KANSAN
inks Monday night against
and two assists.
ketball squad.
k篮队 squad.
was pleased with their (the shmen) game tonight," Self
d. "They looked good des-
ively, and the effort was
re."
- Edited by Miranda Davis
nging
y job right now is to give players the best chance win," Bowen said. "From me-plan standpoint and day-to-day work basis, establish where Kansas all needs to go." Since Bowen took the job weeks ago, the Jayhawks lost all four games, nearly kick off then-ranked home State. Despite the streak, the Jayhawks been playing noticeably in recent weeks. Evident the program has lived under the leadership bowen. With a win on play, Bowen could likely interim tag removed, a focus is on the players. It's not what this is "Bowen said. "This is our players and our im and doing what Dr. r and I talked about on very first day and that's to establish an identity at Kansas football to be." Identity may become after Saturday.
Edited by Rob Pyatt
NEWS AND NOTES:
Jack Neal and Keon Stowers participated in teams on Sunday. Both were if the field on stretches on y and taken to the hospital er evaluation.
in promoted wide receivers
ic Kiesaw to co-offensive
tor prior to Saturday's
join John Reagan.
Saturday is highlighted by m of Mark Mangino, who is offensive coordinator State.
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