Kansas basketball: Jalen Wilson finds a rhythm in second straight win against ISU
Sophomore guard Jalen Wilson finds some efficiency against the Cyclones as Kansas basketball picks up their second straight win.
Coming off a major home win against #23 Oklahoma State, Kansas basketball continued to take out their season’s frustrations against Iowa State in a commanding 97-64 win at home.
While the Jayhawks found consistent inside support, sophomore guard Jalen Wilson stood out, finding 16 points and 11 total rebounds on the evening.
Wilson had recently become increasingly ineffective in games and often struggled to knock down shots, however, the guard looked very comfortable tonight against the Cyclones, even finding a three-point bucket before the end of the first half.
Jalen found a useful role on both ends of the court tonight, supporting the Jayhawk’s defense with 7 rebounds. Getting him back into a spot where he feels comfortable is essential, it’s obvious the tougher matchups have challenged his ability to shack off the pressure.
The win over the Cyclones puts Kansas in good spirits, but the real test lies a few games ahead for head coach Bill Self’s squad. While the Jayhawks will meet Iowa State again due to rescheduling efforts, they should be looking ahead to their February 20th meeting against Texas Tech.
It’s a matchup in that Kansas will test their ability to still compete with one of the conference’s best programs right now. The Jayhawks will meet the Cyclones and Wildcats before then, so the key right now should be sustaining the consistent play we’ve been seeing lately.
The lighter schedule has allowed for some younger names to make their way back on the floor, as we’re continuing to see promising showings from names like Tristan Enaruna and Dajuan Harris.
Bryce Thompson was able to find some early minutes too, adding 8 points to the stat sheet coming off his finger injury.
Kansas is starting to re-group and become more productive on the floor, which is moving fans back into their favor. Being able to take over in games is something the Jayhawks have been light on since the start of their season, it’s a good change of pace.
We’re seeing this bring out the best of guys like Wilson, who have been trying to get out of their funk and get back to playing their best. If he can continue to find solid minutes, he should remain to contribute asset to this starting five.