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Big 12 Basketball: Latest power rankings and takeaways heading into a big week

By Andrew Tineo

Dec 11, 2020; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Jalen Wilson (10) laughs with guard Ochai Agbaji (30) in a timeout during the first half against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2020; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Jalen Wilson (10) laughs with guard Ochai Agbaji (30) in a timeout during the first half against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big 12 Basketball Kansas Jayhawks Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Big 12 Basketball Kansas Jayhawks Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

Kansas is playing their best basketball at the right time

Kansas has been one of the very few teams that have been fortunate to miss no games, due to COVID in their program. Technically, the Jayhawks are just a game and a half behind Baylor in the Big 12, due to the number of games the Jayhawks have played.

Kansas is in the midst of a five-game winning streak and is coming off a big win over Texas Tech in Allen Fieldhouse.

It has been the defense for the Jayhawks that has kept them in games and was the defensive end, that was expected to be elite from the beginning of their season. With two games left, just Kansas and West Virginia have real chances of trimming Baylor’s lead.

On Saturday, Kansas had all five players in double figures, including a 1 point, 11 rebound performance from Jalen Wilson, as well as, 17 points and eight rebounds from McCormack.

A part of Kansas’s success has been Wilson and his consistency not only in scoring but on the glass. Since their last loss, Wilson has had a double-double in every game, except for an 11-point, nine-rebound performance on Wednesday against Kansas State.

Although not quite as good of a rebounder as Wilson has been, McCormack’s play has stepped up as well. He has consistently put up double figures and hasn’t shot below 50 percent, since their win against Oklahoma State on February 8.

It wasn’t the prettiest of finishes, as Texas Tech didn’t let the Jayhawks get away easily. Kansas held an 11 point lead, with four minutes left in the game until Tech made a run. Two sets of free throws and a three-pointer from Kevin McCullar cut the lead to just four.

A Wilson two-pointer and Terrance Shannon Jr. three-pointer would cut the deficit to three. However, a clutch three-pointer from Christian Braun would put the game on ice.

Kansas still has its share of flaws and it will need to be fixed if they have a small chance of overtaking Baylor. The bench only scored five points against the Red Raiders and shot just 2-9 from the field. Three-point shooting is also a major concerned and showed against Texas Tech. They shot just 8-26 from beyond the arc.

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