Kansas basketball: Devonte Graham will need help to beat Tech
By Stan Unruh
Kansas basketball is set for a rematch in Lubbock on Saturday. Devonte Graham will need some help for a different outcome against Texas Tech.
The Christmas and New Year’s holiday just ended the first time Kansas basketball faced Texas Tech. Most Jayhawk fans remember how they felt when they woke up on the Wednesday morning after the 85-73 loss to the Raiders. The sun did come up but gloom dominated the day. Nobody expected the outcome and it was difficult to watch.
Texas Tech took a 17-5 lead and never gave it back. They outplayed the Jayhawks in many areas and deserved to win. Except for Devonte Graham, the Jayhawks shot badly. As a matter of fact, they hit just 23 percent from three. Tech also hustled to15 more rebounds than Bill Self’s guys.
In addition, the Jayhawks turned the ball over 15 times. That stat did not look terrible until you consider what Tech did with those mistakes. Th Red Raiders scored 26 points off turnover that night. Devonte Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk had five turnovers apiece. Svi also fouled out of the game.
Fortunately, Graham score 27 points in that first meeting. Most of those came at the free throw line. The senior hit 13 of 13 free throws. The rest of the team made just 4 from the charity stripe. The Jayhawks trailed by 11 at the half and played Tech almost even in the final 20 minutes. The damage was done in the opening 10 minutes. The Jayhawks can’t let that happen in Lubbock.
Next: Jayhawks have a lot of work to do
Coach Self will have a plan of attack
Lagerald Vick did not have a great game against the Raiders. They held the junior to just 2 points on 1-9 shooting and he had a couple of rebounds. Devonte will need help from Vick, Svi and Malik Newman in the back court Saturday. Obviously, Udoka Azubuike will need to stay out of foul trouble too. He scored 11 points and collected 7 rebounds in the January setback. Dok is a much better player than he was two months ago.
Everyone knows the importance of the game to the Big 12 Conference race. We don’t know whether Tech’s star guard Keenan Evans is healthy. You know he will play. The Jayhawks must focus on improving on the things that cost them the first time. Coach Self will have a plan to bring home a victory.