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Big 12 Basketball: Kansas makes major statement at Texas

By Carmine Carcieri

Feb 27, 2016; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Perry Ellis (34) dribbles the ball as Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Justin Gray (5) defends during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 67-58, winning their twelfth consecutive Big 12 titles. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Perry Ellis (34) dribbles the ball as Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Justin Gray (5) defends during the first half at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks won 67-58, winning their twelfth consecutive Big 12 titles. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas pounds Texas to a pulp in a Big 12 basketball Monday night showdown.

Bill Self and Kansas reclaimed the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll on Monday and they did not disappoint against No. 23 Texas in Austin, dominating the Longhorns from start to finish, winning 86 to 56.

The Jayhawks officially clinched the outright Big 12 regular season title, continued to build confidence for the conference tournament and most importantly, gave themselves an inside track to gain the number one overall seed in the Big Dance.

Despite having plenty of experience and chemistry, this may be one of Self’s best coaching jobs. This Jayhawks team does not have a single sure-fire first round pick on their roster and they don’t exactly have a dominate player who can take over a game on a nightly basis. Also, the Big 12 is the best conference in the country and Kansas won it handily.

And on a night when Texas was expected by many to put up a fight in their own building, the Jayhawks shot the lights out – 64 percent from the field and 68 percent from three.

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They are the class of the Big 12 and they proved Monday that it might not even be close.

Perry Ellis takeover

Plain and simple: Texas had no answer for Ellis.

Connor Lammert started on the senior forward before the Longhorns tried to flip the switch in the second half, putting center Prince Ibeh on Ellis.

Unfortunately for Shaka Smart and company, that didn’t work either as Ellis used his versatility to force the ‘Horns into a zone defense before they went back to Lammert.

Ellis, who scored 20 points on 9-of-11 scoring, had too much quickness   for Ibeh and was too strong and physical for Lammert. He consistently beat both defenders off the dribble and also showed off his improved range, nailing numerous outside shots and one three pointer. His mid-range game is flawless and of course, his high IQ is a huge plus.

While Kansas truly doesn’t have the star power of the major powerhouses like Kentucky, Ellis was able to take over the game and prove that he should be in the mix for National Player of the Year.

D-E-F-E-N-S-E

If there is one area of play that has impressed me most about the Jayhawks, it’s their improved defense. Frank Mason III and Devonte Graham are two of the tougher guards in all of college basketball and they play HARD on the defensive end of the floor.

Those two talents stifled Isaiah Taylor as the quick lead guard scored just five points on 1-of-10 shooting (with the one bucket coming off a steal and an easy layup). They also limited freshman Eric Davis Jr., who has been white hot as of late, to four points on 1-of-6 shooting.

But it’s not only Mason and Graham who make up this defensive unit. Kansas plays ‘team D’ as they don’t overcommit, they don’t gamble and they always seem to be in the right position at the right time.

Then add in Landen Lucas as the ultimate glue guy (an excellent rebounder, he doesn’t foul and he blocks shots) and you can see why this squad held Texas to 30 percent overall and 23 percent from downtown in their own building.

Don’t be too worried Longhorn Nation

This game says way more about the Jayhawks than it does about the Longhorns. While a 30-point loss at the end of February to a conference opponent is always concerning, there is no reason to go into major panic mode if your a part of Longhorn Nation.

Cousins, Davis, Kerwin Roach Jr. and Demarcus Holland make up a solid backcourt that will be tough to match-up with in the NCAA Tournament and if Smart can get Cameron Ridley (foot) back for the stretch run, they are capable of being even better.

It’s also important to keep perspective: this team is young and this is Smart’s first year. To be 19-11 overall and 10-7 in conference play is a bit of a shocker considering how long it takes to reel in your own players as a new head coach.

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That being said, the Longhorns need to get back to moving the basketball (they only had three assists on Monday) and will need to out-hustle teams (they didn’t do that against Kansas) in March. If they commit to that unselfishness and energy, the Longhorns could make the second weekend in March.

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