Darron Cummings/Associated Press
The No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks made it two wins in a row in opposition to the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats on the Champions Classic, claiming a 65-62 victory at Bankers Existence Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on Tuesday.
After shedding its season-opener to No. 1 Gonzaga, the Jayhawks bag now bounced lend a hand with two straight victories. KU final defeated Kentucky on the Champions Classic in 2017 when the occasion visited the United Middle in Chicago.
For the Wildcats, it’s far a 2d straight loss after an brilliant dwelling upset defeat to Richmond at Rupp Enviornment on November 29. The initiating of the season has been no longer as much as supreme for head coach John Calipari‘s program as it adopted a season-opening victory over Morehead Direct with a canceled contest in opposition to Detroit sooner than it faced Richmond.
The Jayhawks had been led by Jalen Wilson with 23 aspects aspects as head coach Bill Self continues to tinker with a five-guard lineup.
Essential Performers
Jalen Wilson, F, Kansas Jayhawks: 23 aspects, 10 rebounds
Ochai Agbaji, G, Kansas Jayhawks: 17 aspects, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Brandon Boston, G, Kentucky Wildcats: 12 aspects, 6 rebounds, 1 lend a hand
Olivier Sarr, F, Kentucky Wildcats: 8 aspects, 6 rebounds, 1 lend a hand
KU’s Mountainous Negate
Till the Jayhawks can form a legitimate put up presence, performances cherish Tuesday night’s might perhaps perhaps perhaps presumably change into standard for Kansas.
KU struggled to form offense all night. Riding to the rim didn’t work. Three-pointers weren’t falling, either. KU executed taking pictures 29.9 p.c from the sector (5-21 from three) and acquired correct two aspects from its bench when compared to 22 for Kentucky.
The inability of a constant mighty within the front courtroom ticket KU early as starting forward David McCormack modified into unable to put himself in opposition to the length Kentucky boasts. McCormack modified into in terms of unplayable for Kansas, posting four aspects in 9 minutes throughout the first half of with two turnovers on 1-4 taking pictures. He executed 1-9 from the sector with seven aspects and five rebounds.
Even when he tried to form dwelling for KU to force to the lane, he wasn’t ready to seal off his man, which translated to 12 blocks for Kentucky.
Chris Stone @cstonehoops
Whereas you is seemingly to be uncertain what you are searching at right here, Kansas has been 21 aspects per 100 possessions greater than its opponents without Lightfoot or McCormack on the ground and eight aspects worse with on the least one of them on. Cramped pattern, however tracks glance test things up to now.
That pressured Kansas head coach Bill Self to reach lend a hand to a five-guard lineup he deployed within the first two games of the season. With McCormack on the bench, Self gave minutes to freshman guard Dajuan Harris, who sparked the offense with two steals and two assists within the first half of to save with five assists and 4 steals.
Between Harris and a late, breakout efficiency from Jalen Wilson, the Jayhawks had been ready to pull forward late and win greater from a 13-level deficit within the first half of.
Meanwhile, McCormack must form his game within the paint and hope Kansas can shield grinding out wins till he’s ready to roar himself on each and each ends of the ground.
Kentucky’s Costly Chase
A unsuitable loss in opposition to Richmond has snowballed real into a unsuitable loss in opposition to Kansas.
Its debatable which one feels worse.
On an night Kansas couldn’t win anything else to work on offense till late within the 2d half of, UK watched its bag offense crumple to the tune of 26.7 p.c taking pictures from the ground within the final frame after preserving a double-digit lead late within the first half of.
“If I modified into Bill Self, I would be so gratified, because my group modified into held to 29 p.c from the ground and 23 p.c from the three and we steal,” Calipari urged reporters postgame. “I cherish those games, correct to slog it out. Let me repeat you what the did within the 2d half of: They punked us.”
Defective pain surely didn’t reduction, and with two of Kentucky’s more vaunted freshman on the receiving cease, there modified into minute the Wildcats might perhaps perhaps perhaps presumably save. Terrence Clarke fouled out after lacking his final four footage while Isaiah Jackson (seven aspects, 12 rebounds, 8 blocks) and Olivier Sarr every executed with four fouls.
That put KU on the free throw line early within the 2d half of and allowed the Jayhawks to cease in a game it tried desperately to shoot itself out of.
Kansas shot 20-30 on the line to Kentucky’s 15-20. Those additional potentialities made the full distinction and helped the Jayhawks win away with a steal.
“We did some staunch stuff,” Calipari said. “We must silent’ve obtained the game. I might put it on me. We hit the skids offensively. I’m searching to figure it out.”
What’s Next
Kentucky’s avenue outing continues with a matchup at 0-2 Georgia Tech on December 6 at 5 p.m. EST on ESPN sooner than returning dwelling to face Notre Dame on December 12 at Rupp Enviornment. Kansas, meanwhile, will open its dwelling slate on Thursday at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN+ with Washburn visiting Allen Fieldhouse.
