The sophomore’s buzzer-beater was the only shot he made after he missed his first three attempts and then he fouled out early in overtime. It would be quite the feat for first year coach Mike Boynton and his Cowboys to win a third. “B” games include all other games against teams in the Ken Pom Top 100, plus all additional losses (I didn’t want a chart masking the losses because it’s important for a team like Alabama, Arizona State, and others not to forget them all). Things could fall their way (USC is no lock and probably now needs a run in the Pac-12 tourney, for example), but they may not get in without a 3rd win over Kansas. Rashard Odomes had 12 points, but starter Kameron McGusty was held to six on 2-for-9 shooting and forward Khadeem Lattin had two points and four boards. “There were some good things that happened, but we’re going to have to be a heck of a lot better (Saturday) night”, Self said. “We couldn’t let them get more free throws than they got and they got more than we got”.
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Sort of a coincidence that they walked in while we were eating, but at least we were in a compact, downtown environment. “That was the first time they’ve been beaten by the same team twice, so I knew Bill Self would have them ready”. Marcus Garrett missed a 3-pointer and the Wildcats were poised to tie the score.
The Longhorns weren’t almost as efficient as their counterparts-they shot 43.1 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three-but Jacob Young’s out-of-nowhere eruption off the bench kept them afloat.
The Jayhawks increased their lead to 66-50 over that span and OSU never fully recovered, getting only as close as nine before succumbing.
As good as this Oklahoma team was playing over the first dozen games of the season, there is no question that they are not a very good team right now. “We’ve got to meet that head on, and I think we will”. Young was hassled every time he touched the ball, nobody else made shots and the Cowboys slowly built a 39-28 lead. It’s not an excuse, it’s a reality. The Cowboys went eight minutes without a basket. The Cowboys trimmed the lead to two on a jumper by Tavarius Shine. Devonte Graham leads the nation’s 36 best offense with 18 points and seven assists per game.
The win lifted the Jayhawks to 25-7 on the year, giving KU 25 wins for an NCAA-record 13th-consecutive season and into the Big 12 semifinals for the 19th time in the 22-year history of the Big 12 Championship.
“Just being more aggressive”, he said. “They played a little more locked in”.
Added Garrett, speaking about Self’s postgame message: “He was telling us that the teams we play tomorrow, if we come out like that, they’ll definitely beat us by 15”. But the Jayhawk outside shooting remained potent, and helped the No. 1 seed put some distance between themselves and the Wildcats prior to the intermission.
I don’t think anyone will disagree with me saying that last night was exceptional.
TCU and Kansas State split their regular-season series, each team winning on its home court. I don’t feel like this is it. After trading buckets during the early stages of the half, Newman’s hot-hand returned at the 14:34 mark, when he nailed his fourth 3-pointer of the day. Smith and Solomon added 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Kansas is listed as a 7.5-point favorite, with the over-under for total points scored set at 139.5. Kansas State, meanwhile, was a No. 9 seed, and Thursday’s win should lock it into a guaranteed spot.
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“Everybody collapsed on men and I saw Kenrich and Desmond over there and the guy was closing out on Kenrich so I skipped it through the corner to Desmond”, TCU guard Alex Robinson said. “We’ll keep working, regardless”. “If it was 15, as long as we got the W, that’s all that matters in the postseason”.
