The #8 Kansas Jayhawks (23-6, 12-4 Big 12) inched one step closer to their 11th consecutive Big 12 title and they did it in a fashion which we have become familiar with all season long. The grinded out a 69-64 victory over the Texas Longhorns (17-12, 6-10 Big 12) in front of a raucous sellout crowd at Allen Fieldhouse.
The Jayhawks never backed down and put up one hell of fight. Kansas was down six with 11 minutes to go in the second half and could not get much of anything to go on offense. Their chance at the Big 12 title seemed to be slipping through the cracks, but Perry Ellis put the Jayhawks on his back and willed them to victory. Perry scored six straight points to cut the Longhorns lead to two. Then an and-one layup by Kelly Oubre Jr. gave the Jayhawks a one-point lead. A lead the Jayhawks would never relinquish. Perry scored 12 of Kansas’ last 23 points of the game and recorded a season high 28 points. Perry finished with 13 rebounds, 3 blocks and was 10-12 from the free throw line. He is playing some of his best basketball since stepping on campus three years ago. He’s playing his best basketball at the right time, as the NCAA tournament quickly approaches.
Oubre also had a great game. He was very active on the defensive end, getting his hand in many passing lanes and forcing deflections and steals. His presence was also felt on the offensive end as he scored 15 points and hauled in 9 boards.
Kansas had one of their best games all season at the free throw line. The Jayhawks shot 26-32 from the line and was one of the deciding factors of the game.
With the win the Jayhawks have recorded 23+ wins for the 26th consecutive season, a truly remarkable streak.
How My Click to Pick Fared
Perry Ellis – 6’8”, Senior, Forward
Stats: 28 PTS, 13 REBS, 3 BLKS, 10-12 FTs
Once again, Perry was great. He was uber-aggressive on the offensive end. He was outsized by the Texas big men and kept getting his shots blocked and altered, but he never relented. He kept going at them and getting points. It was super important that Perry kept going back inside for his points as the outside shot was not falling for the Jayhawks. In fact Kansas only shot 1-8 from three-point land. As I said before, Perry is playing great basketball. If he keeps up this play and the Jayhawks’ outside shot starts to fall, they will be tough to beat going forward.
For those out there who have said and are saying the Jayhawks aren’t going anywhere when they get to the tournament, I would say to cease those thoughts. From what I can remember many people said the 2012 Kansas team was one of their least talented and not very deep. That team got hot in the tournament and made a run to the national title game. Anything can happen once March rolls around. Who would have thought UConn would have made the run they did last year? A lot of times one player can carry a team throughout the tournament. We saw it last year with Shabazz Napier and UConn and we saw it in 2011 with Kemba Walker and UConn. We could see it with Kansas and Perry Ellis this season. Before the game yesterday, Jay Williams and Stephan A. Smith were talking about Kansas’ tournament hopes. Both commented that it all comes down to guard play in the tournament and Kansas has some very good guards. I would just say to those fans who don’t have high hopes for the Jayhawks that to not count the Jayhawks out. They’ve been counted out many times before and always seem to wedge themselves into the conversation. Any team can get hot in the tournament.
Kansas will return to action on Tuesday night, as they will host the West Virginia Mountaineers (22-7, 10-6 Big 12). With a win on Tuesday the Jayhawks will clinch at least a share of their 11th straight Big 12 title. If Iowa State beats Oklahoma on Monday night and then the Jayhawks win on Tuesday, Kansas will then win the Big 12 outright. Tip-off is set for 9/8pm CT. The game can be seen on ESPN2 or the WatchESPN app.
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Photos Courtesy of LJ-World
Video Courtesy of KU Athletics
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