KANSAN
20.2009
20,2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009
KANSAS 94, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 44
5B
ETBALL REWIND
tter offense overall
ident when comparing percentages in Kansas' states.
day's game against ansas rattled off only 43 s. Out of those Kansas for a 46.5 field goal per Thursday's game against Central Arkansas, however, Kansas shot the ball 59 times and made 33 of those. That gave the team a greatly improved 55.9 field goal percentage.
"When we were turning it over before we could get Cole a touch or Markieff (Morris) a touch, our offense as smoothly" junior Reed said.
er side of the ball Kansas
continued to showcase a much stronger defense than they had in their two exhibition games. A huge factor in the continuation of that trend against Central Arkansas revolved around Kansas' ability to force turnovers. On Thursday the Bears gave the ball away 18 times, which led to 28 of the Jahawks' 94 points.
"I knew that they were going to come out even tougher after they struggled against Memphis," Central Arkansas senior guard Mike Pouncy said. "I knew that their coach was going to get on them and they were going to pressure us even more."
Follow Andrew Taylor at twitter.com/Andrew_Taylor 11.
— Edited by Samantha Foster
-44 win Thursday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
Weston White/KANSAN
Junior center Cole Aldrich slams a dunk over a Central Arkansas player Thursday night. Kansas moved to 3-0 to the 91-44 victory.
Weston White/KANSAN
Freshman guard Xavier Henry hits his first three during Thursday night's game against Central Arkansas in Allen Fieldhouse. Henry shot four for eight from the field and led the Jayhawks with 12 points.
Game to remember
Aldrich
This was Henry's first action in four years since his high school team lost in the semis of the state tournament. He missed his first three-point attempt, a shot he didn't want to take on a play he was called for. In the second half, he made both his three-point attempts and finished with eight points. He looked like he hadn't missed a beat. More importantly, he said his knee feels fine and he will try to earn more minutes in practice.
Stat of the night
25. 5%
That's the percentage the Central Arkansas Bears shot from the field last night. At times it was even worse
than that for the Bears as they entered half time with a paltry 15 points after earning a 19.2 field goal percentage in the opening half. After Kansas went on a 0-0 run in the first half, the Bears never stood a chance as they fell to the Jayhawks 94-44.
Self
Quote of the night
"I was good on nine foot. Seriously. No, I'm serious. I was really good."
Bill Self on the enjoyment of dunking in his past
Prime plays
(score after play)
1ST HALF
17:24 — In his fourth consecutive home game, Xavier Henry's first shot was a made three. (5-2)
16:35 — Sherron Collins made a great move to shake his defender and stepped back for a three. (8-2)
12:24 — Xavier Henry missed a difficult layup and Thomas Robinson was there to clean it up, getting half his body above the rim for a two handed dunk. (16-5)
8:50 — Tyshawn Taylor alley-oop passed to Markieff Morris. (22-5)
2:28 — Marcus Morris put his head down and took his opponents to the hoop for an and-one lay in. (37-9)
12:27 — Somehow, in all the excitement from making a rare basket, the Central Arkansas defense forgot about Sherron Collins. He jogged up the court unguarded and stepped into one of the easiest threes he could take. (58-21)
8:20 — Xavier Henry hit a three with a defender right in his grill. (68-28)
2ND HALF
14:15 — Markieff Morris took Tyrel Reed's missed three and put it down with two-handed authority. (53-17)
2:30 — Chase Buford threw up a wild arching shot, drawing contact. The ball rolled its way in. (87-39)
5:08 — Tyrel Reed hit a contested fade away two point jumper while the shot clock was expiring. (76-32)
Key stats
This was the Jayhawk's largest margin of victory (50) since Kansas defeated Dartmouth by 11 Nov. 28, 2008.
The Jayhawks went on a 23-0 run in a 12 minute span in the first half. The Bears went 0-15 in that time.
Marcus Morris completed three three-point plays while making his first start.
This was the first time Kansas wore their red jerseys since Dec. 30 2008 vs. Albany.
— Corey Thibodeaux
■ Thomas Robinson (eight), Marcus Morris (12), Tyrel Reed (12), Markieff Morris (eight) and Chase Buford (four) all recorded season high scores Thursday.
Memphis.
BASKETBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Sherron Collins went down writhing in pain favoring his left ankle. He limped off the court into the locker room. But just as he did against Memphis, he returned. This time, he only spent a few minutes in the locker room and seemed to have no ill effects afterward.
The ball movement was vastly improved and the younger players, Xavier Henry, Elijah
Follow Corey Thibodeaux at twitter.com/c_thibodeaux.
"We took better care of the basketball," Self said. "That's a positive after pitching it all over the building Tuesday."
Johnson and Thomas Robinson especially looked more comfortable than they did in St. Louis.
COLUMN (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Edited by Megan Morriss
the floor.
4
In last night's game against Central Arkansas, Taylor was anemic. He was the only scoreless starter in the first half as he watched his teammates have a field day in their expected thrashing of the Bears. His jump shots were nothing but a tease as they bobbed and bounced around a rim that had answers for everyone but him. He was even blocked on a drive to the hoop and then abruptly replaced by Johnson. Taylor was visibly infuriated as he took his time to find a seat on the bench.
"He's laboring a little bit right now," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "He doesn't trust his shot as much."
It was a truluent offseason for the diva-like talent, who may be NBA bound after a
potentially frustrating regular season with the crimson and blue. It's still way too early to seal anyone's fate, but perhaps a busted pinky and an exposed shakable ego was the beginning of the end for the old "15" turned "10."
With every roll of the eyes or barely missed jump shot, we are all reminded of Taylor's emphatic fall to normalcy. Along with Self and the Jayhawk nation, I pray that Taylor proves me wrong. But until that happens, you'll just have to wonder.
Maybe that jersey switch wasn't such a good idea after all.
Follow Max Rothman at twitter.com/maxrothman.
Edited by Lauren Cunningham