Kansas basketball bounced back in conference play Sunday afternoon, steamrolling UCF 99-48 in a historic blowout. It was one of KU's most lopsided victories in recent history. Best of all, every Jayhawk got into the action. It's been a while since Bill Self was able to empty the bench and bring in walk-ons in a win against a quality opponent.
While the Jayhawks relied heavily on the starting five in recent contests, the coaching staff was able to make use of nine guys yesterday. Hopefully, that remains a trend moving forward, but it was certainly unexpected after being embarrassed in front of the Allen Fieldhouse crowd earlier in the week. These three players stood out in a positive way versus the Knights.
3. AJ Storr
Stats: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 5-for-8 field goal (1-for-2 3-point)
Storr showed many positive signs in the win. A few days following Coach Self's heavy criticism of his performance against WVU, the Wisconsin transfer did not force shots and let the game come to him. He knocked down a 3-pointer and had an incredible backdoor cut on a Zeke Mayo lob off a timeout. Most of his work was in garbage time, but he clearly needed a confidence boost.
2. Rylan Griffen
Stats: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 4-for-4 field goal (4-for-4 3-point)
Griffen was flawless throughout the game, excluding one turnover. He knocked down every shot and had the hot hand from behind the arc. Not only did the Alabama transfer push himself out the doghouse — he proved he can be a game-changing player for this squad.
1. Shakeel Moore
Stats: 6 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 2-for-5 field goal (2-for-2 3-point)
Many fans were surprised that Moore drew his first start at 2-guard alongside Dajuan Harris, but it worked to perfection. He hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second half, showing off a sweet lefty stroke. More importantly, he held UCF's guards in check on the defensive end and did a fantastic job facilitating for his teammates. Given Moore's impressive performance, there's no reason for Self to alter the starting five after this showing.