Kansas basketball: Jayhawks survive wounded Wildcats

The Kansas basketball team has advanced to the Big 12 Tournament final. The Jayhawks earned a sloppy 83-67 Sunflower Showdown win over Kansas State.

The Kansas basketball team swept Kansas State three straight this season. The Jayhawks have played the Wildcats ten times in the Big 12 tournament and never lost. Friday night’s game was sloppy and without two of the best players in the conference. Udoka Azubuike is resting a knee strain this weekend. The Cat’s Dean Wade missed Friday’s game with an injured.

Both teams were at a huge disadvantage at the start and then the ‘Cats lost guard Barry Brown to injury less than two minutes into the game. As a matter of fact, after that he Jayhawks played like they had the game won. There was very little defense on either end. Fortunately, other than 6-foot-9 Makol Mawien, the ‘Cats shot poorly. The shot just 15 percent from beyond the arc

For the second straight game Malik Newman led the Crimson and Blue to victory. After a career high 30 points in the tournament opener he had the hot hand again. The red-shirt sophomore scored 22 on 8-14 shooting including 5 of 8 three pointers.

Devonte Graham didn’t appear 100 percent healthy Friday night. Despite his health, the Big 12 Player of the Year hit 8 for 8 from the free throw line on the way to 15 points and 8 assists. Graham played just 38 minutes against the ‘Cats.

Jayhawks survive and advance

The Jayhawk front court struggled defending Mawien but Mitch Lightfoot and Silvio De Sousa plays strong on the glass. The duo combined for 14 rebounds. The freshman collected 11 of those board and both scored 8 points.

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The Jayhawks led by as many as 16 points but let the ‘Cats get to within a bucket in the second half. The game was ugly but survive and advance is the key this time of year. That is one reason it’s called March Madness. They will face West Virginia in Saturday’s title game.