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KANSAN.COM
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Junior forward Landen Lucas goes up for a dunk during the win over West Virginia.
Baxter Schanze/KANSAN
Lucas posts two career-highs in night to remember
EVAN RIGGS @EvanRiggsUDK
The biggest question surrounding the No. 6 Kansas Jayhawks all year has been who the starter will be at the five spot on the floor. It certainly hasn't been an easy decision for Kansas coach Bill Self, and he's even admitted at times that he's been stumped.
On Tuesday night against No. 10 West Virginia, junior forward Landen Lucas left no doubt as to who deserved to be that player, as Kansas rolled to a 75-65 victory.
"Landen was the best player in the game tonight," Self said. "I thought he played smart and to the scouting report, and he was certainly a primary reason that we won."
Lucas played a season-high 29 minutes and, in that time, played arguably his best game as a Jayhawk. He posted nine points, 16 rebounds and four blocks.
His 16 rebounds and four blocks were both career-highs, and Kansas needed every one of them against a scrappy West Virginia team that outworked Kansas in their first meeting.
"We got punked in Morgantown," Self said. "Tonight, I thought we were much more competitive and made many, many more competitive plays."
Although the Jayhawks still surrendered 14 offensive rebounds Tuesday, every time there was a crucial rebound that needed to be grabbed, Lucas did just that.
"That's something that I always focus on," Lucas said. "But today, it was a big emphasis because they go to the glass so hard. Defensive rebounding was key today. I just tried to assert myself as well as I could."
But rebounding well is nothing new for Lucas, who has had three double-digit rebound games this season and has the highest rebound percentage on the team. It was the blocked shots and the offense that
Coming into Tuesday, Lucas had recorded just five blocked shots on the season. Against West Virginia, he almost matched that total with four blocks, and he altered at least a handful of others.
made this game a special one.
They're getting me the ball. I just need to finish it."
Landen Lucas,
Forward
["Coach] challenged me to go after more shots," Lucas said. "It's something that I wanted to do every time a shot went up, to jump and challenge that. I'll continue to do that because I know it's something that he's looking for from us."
Offensively, Lucas didn't do anything special,
throw line, where he went 1-of-2. But Kansas is traveling to Norman on Saturday to take on Oklahoma, which also happens to be the location of one of Lucas' two career double-doubles.
However, as usual with Lucas, he defended well in the low post against West Virginia's junior forward Devin Williams. Williams still put up solid numbers, with 14 points and nine rebounds, but shot just 4-of-10 from the field.
"I did it to myself, that's on me," Lucas said with a grin. "I know my dad will probably give me some crap about it. Hopefully I can get one on Saturday."
Des, 'te all that Lucas did on Tuesday, there was one thing he failed to do: record a double-double. He was just one point away, and that point was left at the free
with his points coming on layups and dunks. But in the past, Lucas has struggled at times finishing around the rim, and he's been prone to being stripped in the restricted area. Neither was an issue Tuesday night.
"They're giving me the ball in good position," Lucas said. "I have bad habits of dribbling the ball; I just need to go up quick. They're getting me the ball. I just need to finish it."