DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2011
SBURG STATE 55
PAGE
REWIND
JESSICA JANASZ/KANSAN
Junior center Jeff Withey goes up for a block during the first half of the game Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansan Naadir Tharpe, a freshman guard, passes the ball to a teammate. Kansas played Pittsburg State on Tuesday night for the first game of the season.
ABBY DAVIS/ KANSAN
Game to remember
Conner Teahan, Senior
Teahan wasted no time in taking advantage of his spot in the starting lineup, hitting three consecutive 3-point shots in the opening minutes of the exhibition. He finished with five threes total and led the team with 21 points in 34 minutes played. Self confirmed after the game that Teahan will be the first guy off the bench in the regular season.
Teahan
Game to forget
Travis Releford, Junior
Releford
While his numbers look respectable on the stat sheet, self said that Releford's individualistic play hurt the team's offensive rhythm in the first half. Pittsburg State was hampered by fouls throughout the game, so many of Releford's 14 points were a product of uncontested fast breaks. Self also said that he needs more from Releford as a defensive leader.
Quote of the game
"I thought Naadir was going to set the freshman record for turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game, but then calmed down."
-Bill Self
Self
Prime plays
FIRST HALF (SCORE AFTER PLAY)
18:45 — Conner Teahan nails his third consecutive three pointer to give the Jayhawks a 9-0 lead.
4:20 — A JaVon McGee steal and layup by Sam Pugh caps off an 11-4 Pittsburg State run which shrunk the Kansas lead to 23-21.
3:26 — Nadir Tharpe knocks down a three-pointer, extending the Kansas lead to 27-21. Kansas ended the first half on an 11-6 run after Pittsburg State cut the lead to two with under five minutes to play.
0. 09 — A layup by Drake Green gets Pittsburg State within five points at halftime with a score of 32-27.
17:49 — Marky Nolan intercepts a Justin Wesley pass, takes it in for the layup and gets Pittsburg State within three, 34-11. It was the closest the Gorillas would get the rest of the game.
SECOND HALF
6:37 — A Naadir Tharpe turnover leads to a layup attempt by Pittsburg State's Courtney Ingram, but he's blocked by Justin Wesley. Instead of getting within 15 points, Pittsburg State gives up nine Kansas points in a little over a minute to go down 74-49.
8:26 — Jeff Withey grabs a defensive rebound and finds a streaking Travis Releford all alone, who finishes with a dunk. Kansas takes a commanding 60-44 lead.
0. 33 — Christian Garrett grabs a steal and passes off to Niko Roberts who lays it in for two, finishing off a 28-11 Kansas run and sealing the victory.
Notes
- Tuesday's win marked the debut of guard Naadir Tharpe and forward Kevin Young.
- Jeff Withey set career highs with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.
- 84 points was the fewest scored by Kansas in an exhibition since August 30th of 2008.
- The win was the 38th consecutive exhibition win for Kansas, dating back to 1995.
- Bill Self is a perfect 24-0 in exhibition games while at Kansas.
Key stats
9
Tharpe surrendered nine turnovers on Tuesday. The lofty number affirms the sloppy style of the exhibition and Tharpe's inexperience.
25. 3% Pittsburg State shot 25.3 percent from the field, as Kansas used its length to its advantage and contested most shots.
10 Withey blocked 10 shots to give him a triple-double, but altered many more. At 7-feet tall, Withey had at least six inches on all Pittsburgh State players.