Kansas basketball: One common opponent gives Jayhawks edge
By Stan Unruh
The Kansas basketball team will battle Clemson Friday in the NCAA Sweet 16. The Jayhawks and Tigers have just one common opponent this season.
The Kansas basketball team is making a third straight trip to the Sweet 16. The Midwest region top seeded Jayhawks earned another grind it out victory Saturday. They held on to whip No. 8 Seton Hall 83-79. On Sunday night, No. 5 seed Clemson played one the tournament’s best games. They routed No. 4 seed Auburn 84-53.
Jayhawks fans who are concerned about facing Clemson must remember. This is basketball season. This is not Dabo Swinney’s Tiger football team against David Beaty’s improving Jayhawks. As a matter of fact, the Jayhawk basketball team has an advantage with the outstanding senior leadership of All American Devonte Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk. The Jayhawks also have a Hall of Fame coach.
On November 21, the Jayhawks faced a team that would ultimately make the NCAA Tourney field. Svi led 6 other Jayhawks in double figures in a 114-71 rout of the Texas Southern Tigers. Udoka Azubuike had 20 that night. LaGerald Vick and Devonte Graham chipped in 19 and 17 points respectively. Vick also hustled his way to 11 rebounds. The game was finished well before the half with the Jayhawks up 66-30 at the break.
Three nights later, that Texas Southern team on a tough tour playing other NCAA tourney teams Gonzaga, Ohio State and Syracuse played at Clemson. Texas Southern trailed Clemson by just 4 at halftime and lost 84-77. Clemson’s 6-foot-9 junior forward Elijah Thomas scored 26 points in 34 minutes. Their 6-foot-3 senior guard Gabe Devoe chipped in 21.
Tigers lost 7 ACC games this season
On Sunday night, Devoe led Clemson over Auburn with 22 points and 5 assists. Thomas had a double-double, 18 points and 11 rebounds. They dominated Auburn on the boards 38-22. Auburn also missed 18 straight field goal attempts to end the first half.
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There is no doubt the Jayhawks have a tough Sweet 16 opponent. Both teams have had a variety of obstacles to overcome. In addition to the Texas Southern victory, the Tigers won 23 other games. They finished the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule 11-7 tied for third place. The Jayhawks only lost 5 Big 12 Conference games. Considering that November game, the players at Texas Southern probably like the Crimson and Blue to beat the Orange team in Omaha.