Post by MizzouTiger on Jan 21, 2008 2:23:42 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/453541.html
KU had to work to score against MU
By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star
COLUMBIA | Maybe the Kansas Jayhawks were showing great basketball intellect by taking only five shots in the final 7 minutes, 23 seconds of their 76-70 victory over Missouri on Saturday night.
First of all, they missed all five, which wasn’t all that surprising given their lack of touch all night. Second, they really didn’t need to take shots since the officials were fully content to send them to the free-throw line 18 times in that span.
Kansas made 13 of those, and that was more than enough to go home victorious with an 18-0 record and a 3-0 mark in Big 12 play.
The last seven minutes served as a microcosm of the entire night. No. 3 KU couldn’t find the net, but found a way to win. The Jayhawks, who entered the game first in field-goal percentage nationally at 52.3 percent, shot 40 percent against MU. They made up for their 22 of 55 clip from the field by shooting almost as many free throws. Of course, KU didn’t shoot well there either, making 28 of 45 attempts.
How in the world were the Jayhawks so cold?
“Mizzou had us sped up to the point we couldn’t execute very well,” KU coach Bill Self said. “I think our guards are as good as any guards out there, but I thought our guards got sped up. We tried to make great plays instead of letting the ball make plays for us. That was credit to Missouri getting after us.”
The Tigers, who normally play a full-court brand of defense, hung back more often against the run-happy Jayhawks. KU guard Brandon Rush said it was their mixture of pressure and a 2-3 zone that kept Kansas off-balance for most of the game. The result of MU’s defensive plan was one of the most startling statistics on a night filled with them: KU finished the game with two fast-break points.
Yes, this was far from the 2007 game at Mizzou Arena, when KU ran all over the Tigers and Julian Wright seemingly spent the afternoon dangling from the rim. MU coach Mike Anderson wasn’t going to let that happen again, and neither were his players.
“Missouri is one of the best defensive teams we’ve seen,” KU guard Mario Chalmers said. “I think both teams played great defense.”
Yes, the Jayhawks played some defense, too. They forced Missouri into an even worse shooting night of 38 percent and watched the Tigers hit only five of 28 threes. Missouri also struggled from the free-throw line, hitting 11 of 22.
“It was one of those nights when everybody was off,” Chalmers said. “You’re gonna have nights like that. You gotta find ways to score.”
KU had to work to score against MU
By J. BRADY McCOLLOUGH
The Kansas City Star
COLUMBIA | Maybe the Kansas Jayhawks were showing great basketball intellect by taking only five shots in the final 7 minutes, 23 seconds of their 76-70 victory over Missouri on Saturday night.
First of all, they missed all five, which wasn’t all that surprising given their lack of touch all night. Second, they really didn’t need to take shots since the officials were fully content to send them to the free-throw line 18 times in that span.
Kansas made 13 of those, and that was more than enough to go home victorious with an 18-0 record and a 3-0 mark in Big 12 play.
The last seven minutes served as a microcosm of the entire night. No. 3 KU couldn’t find the net, but found a way to win. The Jayhawks, who entered the game first in field-goal percentage nationally at 52.3 percent, shot 40 percent against MU. They made up for their 22 of 55 clip from the field by shooting almost as many free throws. Of course, KU didn’t shoot well there either, making 28 of 45 attempts.
How in the world were the Jayhawks so cold?
“Mizzou had us sped up to the point we couldn’t execute very well,” KU coach Bill Self said. “I think our guards are as good as any guards out there, but I thought our guards got sped up. We tried to make great plays instead of letting the ball make plays for us. That was credit to Missouri getting after us.”
The Tigers, who normally play a full-court brand of defense, hung back more often against the run-happy Jayhawks. KU guard Brandon Rush said it was their mixture of pressure and a 2-3 zone that kept Kansas off-balance for most of the game. The result of MU’s defensive plan was one of the most startling statistics on a night filled with them: KU finished the game with two fast-break points.
Yes, this was far from the 2007 game at Mizzou Arena, when KU ran all over the Tigers and Julian Wright seemingly spent the afternoon dangling from the rim. MU coach Mike Anderson wasn’t going to let that happen again, and neither were his players.
“Missouri is one of the best defensive teams we’ve seen,” KU guard Mario Chalmers said. “I think both teams played great defense.”
Yes, the Jayhawks played some defense, too. They forced Missouri into an even worse shooting night of 38 percent and watched the Tigers hit only five of 28 threes. Missouri also struggled from the free-throw line, hitting 11 of 22.
“It was one of those nights when everybody was off,” Chalmers said. “You’re gonna have nights like that. You gotta find ways to score.”