Christian Braun, No. 3 Kansas Cruise Past No. 7 West Virginia
Charlie Riedel/Associated Press
No. 3 Kansas knocked off No. 7 West Virginia, 79-65 in the Jayhawks’ Wide 12 dwelling opener on Tuesday at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas hit a season-high 16 three-pointers, virtually about setting a Bill Self-period document at some stage in.
The victory moves KU to eight-1 (2-0 Wide 12) and keeps it discontinuance to the head of the AP rankings. The Jayhawks haven’t suffered a defeat since a season-opening loss to No. 1 Gonzaga.
Kansas is in the course of basically the most complex stretch of its season with three straight video games in opposition to top 15 teams, having already knocked off No. 14 Texas Tech on the road final day outing. Bill Self and Co. will play host to No. 10 Texas next as they survey to separate themselves from the the leisure of the Wide 12.
It is most attention-grabbing the second loss of the year for the Mountaineers 7-2 (1-1), who also owe their old defeat to Gonzaga.
Well-known Performers
Christian Braun, G, Kansas Jayhawks: 22 facets, 7 assists, 6 three-pointers
David McCormack, F, Kansas Jayhawks: 10 facets, 11 rebounds, 3 assists
Sean McNeil, G, West Virginia Mountaineers: 24 facets, 2 rebounds 6 three-pointers
Miles McBride, G, West Virginia Mountaineers: 19 facets, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
KU Offense Heating Up
It is normally a legitimate night time for Kansas when the offense flirts with college files. It is a ways a honest better night time when the same offense does one thing that spectacular from three-point vary below Bill Self.
The Kansas head coach stale to focus on with 3-pointers as “fool’s gold.” He’s got to be feeling relaxed prosperous tonight regardless. Usually ever have his teams shot the ball from deep like it did on Tuesday, nailing 16-of-37 attempts.
Most notably, every KU starter sank a pair of three’s with the exception of forward Dave McCormack, who did now not strive any. Marcus Garrett went an ideal three-for-three, Jalen Wilson added four and Ochai Agbaji dropped one more three himself on 10 attempts.
More than half of KU’s 63 discipline aim attempts came from late the arc. Over 43 percent of them went in.
Even alongside with his sport miniature to the post, McCormack supplied arguably his biggest performance of the year. The junior tremendous man has notably struggled early on this season. He recovered alongside with his first double-double in opposition to a energy 5 opponent and added two emphatic blocks for fair appropriate measure.
Right here is the version of Kansas that may maybe maybe play to boot to any team of workers in the country.
What occurs when KU is no longer as lethal from deep vary, nonetheless, will likely resolve the destiny of its season.
Sean McNeil Reveals Up
Till the Jayhawks overpowered the Mountaineers in the second half, the night time belonged to sophomore Sean McNeil—a junior guard from Union, Kentucky who averaged 10 facets per sport heading into Tuesday.
That number is due to tick up a legitimate amount now.
McNeil virtually about saved West Virginia alive by himself in the vital half with some unconscious taking pictures of his have.
Within the smartly-known building, McNeil went seven-for-seven from the discipline with six three-pointers for a season-high 20 facets—in barely 20 minutes. The guard would chilly off in the second half, going 1-for-5.
What he did in the vital body will scamper down as one of basically the most torturous halves of basketball for KU fans in Allen Fieldhouse in pretty some time. That used to be very upright as the clock expired on the vital 20 minutes. McNeil tossed up a desperation heave from the guts-court docket emblem and banked it in on the buzzer for a halftime lead.
With forwards Oscar Tshiebwe (three facets, 5 rebounds) and Derek Culver (eight facets, eight rebounds) struggling to procure their rhythm all sport, McNeil’s emergence as a reliable backcourt likelihood most attention-grabbing expands West Virginia’s doable to attain a deep mosey come March.
Even in a conference loss, head coach Bob Huggins will almost definitely be okay with one of his unsung gamers breaking out. That is bigger than ample to possess on for a rematch in opposition to the Jayhawks in Morgantown in early February.
What’s Next
Kansas will dwell dwelling for the holidays with No. 10 Texas place to focus on with Lawrence on Jan. 2 for one more ranked matchup at noon ET on ESPN2. The Mountaineers return to play rather sooner with a house sport in opposition to Buffalo on Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+.