Kansas basketball: Five keys to watch for the Jayhawks when #8 Creighton comes to Lawrence
Kansas will face another Top 25 test when they take the floor with the #8 Creighton Bluejays this afternoon. Here’s five keys for Kansas basketball in today’s Big East/Big 12 Battle.
The Jayhawks welcome the BlueJays to Lawrence as it’s expected to be a solid test for both Kansas basketball and our visitors from Nebraska. Creighton has yet to see its first loss of the season, and Kansas has faced some strong contenders such including Gonzaga and Kentucky as the Jayhawks sit at 4-1 (0-0 Big 12).
Kansas will be on their toes against the Top 10 ranked Bluejays, including consistency inside the paint, putting pressure on talented Creighton forward Christian Bishop, and finding roles for some of our young talent. With that being said, let’s get into what we will need from our Jayhawks today.
5. Start fast and keep the tempo.
We have to avoid starting flat, Kansas needs to find a rhythm and stick with it. Often we see our defense unable to keep guys out of the paint and this only worsens the problem. Having more pressure from forwards David McCormack and Jalen Wilson will be vital to stop the Bluejays down low. Wilson hasn’t found a steal yet this season, and while McCormack has posted an impressive 22 rebounds so far, we will need some more action from these two.
4. Holding down Christian Bishop.
If there’s one man bound to cause trouble for the Jayhawks on defense, it’s Christian Bishop. The junior Bluejay has racked up 45 points so far in just 3 games and is a pivotal part of the Creighton offense. Bishop had proven to be a commanding force at the basket last year and is making even better strides so far in 2020-21. Kansas will need to lock in on defense and keep him distanced from any inside looks.
3. Find playmakers Marcus Garrett and Ochai Agbaji.
Kansas will need all the opportunities they can find inside the paint, and getting the ball into the hands of Marcus Garrett and Ochai Agbaji will be crucial for the Jayhawk offensive attack. In tight pinch situations, these two are the go-to guys on offense. The pair have combined for over 100 points in the last 5 contests. Getting the ball in their hands is going to be how Kansas finds some consistent buckets against the Bluejays.
2. Utilize the growth of Christian Braun and Tyon Grant-Foster.
Two young Jayhawks have been displaying some excellent work on the hardwood lately. Getting action from talented guards Christian Braun and Tyon Grant-Foster will be a contributing factor to the Jayhawk lineup today.
We should expect Braun to start and hopefully find some success from the three-point line. Braun has shown a more aggressive playing style lately, and it has channeled more efficiency from him on offense. Tyon Grant-Foster has come up big in Kansas’ last couple of games, helping the Jayhawks get a close win over North Dakota State with 8 rebounds. Having these two on their game today would do wonders for head coach Bill Self.
1. Power at the basket.
Creighton is third in the Big East on defense and finding production inside the lane will be a challenge for Kansas. We will need strong, tall guys Agbaji and McCormack to bring more force to the basket. Getting good looks to these two inside will be extremely helpful, and creating space for Garrett or Wilson will be also needed. Expect Kansas to try what they may from the perimeter, but if the Jayhawks want to establish an early lead then we’re going to need some strength inside.
At 5th in the nation, the Kansas Jayhawks are set to tip-off with the 8th ranked Creighton Bluejays at 4:00 PM on ESPN from Allen Fieldhouse.