Kansas basketball: Jayhawks must rebound to win in Morgantown
By Stan Unruh
Kansas basketball has their biggest test of the season Monday night. The trip to Morgantown is always important and always difficult.
Most Kansas basketball fans have never been to Morgantown, West Virginia. I do know a few who have accidently driven through the community of 31,000. Some Kansas fans get mad at Missouri and Nebraska every time a Jayhawk team has to make the incredibly difficult trip there. I don’t think the Mountaineers deserve a spot in the Big 12.
As a matter of fact, I don’t like anything about the Mountaineers, their loudmouth head basketball coach or their head football coach. In my opinion, Huggy ball is basically assault basketball. On the other hand, their Press-Virginia rough and tumble style is effective. I just don’t like it. We all enjoyed last season’s amazing come-from-behind victory over Huggins and company. That win was especially satisfying since it came against the Mountaineers. They will be in a foul mood after Saturday’s one-point loss to Texas Tech.
I am glad the Jayhawks get to play in Morgantown first. As you might expect veterans Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles are leading the Mountaineers in scoring. Huggy has four players averaging in double figures. Sagaba Konate leads them in rebounding with 7 boards a game. The 6-foot-8 Sophomore is playing more minutes as Big 12 play rolls on.
West Virginia is the second best scoring defensive team in the conference. They allow an average of 65 points a contest. On the other hand, Kansas basketball averages scoring 86 points a game. The Jayhawks only scored 73 Saturday. Mountaineers average 82 points per outing except for the 71 in the loss to Tech.
If KU doesn’t crash the glass, they won’t win
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There is one significant advantage the Jayhawks have over the Mountaineers. Bill Self’s team leads the conference in field goal percentage. West Virginia is 10th behind Iowa State. Going into the weekend, the Mountaineers were shooting 43 percent on the season. While that is great news, the Jayhawks must crash the glass Monday night. Huggins guys may miss a lot of shots but they also lead the conference in offensive rebounds. Bill Self’s guys are next to last. If the Jayhawks don’t rebound it could be a long night.