Big 12 Basketball power pankings: Texas Tech rises as Baylor looks to run the table
By Andrew Tineo
Previous: 6th. Jayhawks . 7. team. 462. . 12-7 (6-5)
Previous games: 74-51 win over Kansas State. 79-91 loss to West Virginia
Next games: Monday vs. Oklahoma State, Thursday vs. Iowa State, Saturday at. Iowa State.
The Jayhawks got off on a better foot on Tuesday with throttling of Kansas State in the Sunflower Showdown. Even if it was not the prettiest the Jayhawks have looked this year, showing they can dominate without playing well is a good sign.
The starting lineup played well, scoring 63 of the team’s points in that area. David McCormack and Christian Braun, both finished up with 18 points. What has been the downfall for the Jayhawks has been a lack of bench production, and that continued on Tuesday. They combined to shoot four for 14 and finished with 11 points. That needs to be better to be competitive the rest of the way.
Continued poor effort on defense and lack of consistency on offense. Those have been two themes for the Jayhawks this season and reared its ugly head on Saturday.
Kansas could not contain West Virginia from beyond the arc, specifically in the first half. The Mountaineers shot 7-11 from beyond the arc and growing their lead to as big as 13.
All five starters shot the ball 10 or more times, as the bench did not get much time on the court. Jalen Wilson dominated with 16 points and 14 rebounds, alongside 6-13 from the field. When West Virginia’s three-pointers were hitting, Kansas’s was not, making 7-20, good for 35 percent.
Kansas’s streak of maintaining a rank in the Top 25 is looking to run its course. They’re on a torrential downslide and if they can’t pick up the pieces, missing the NCAA Tournament is becoming more likely.