One of the hot topics around this Kansas team has been the bench production, or lack thereof.
When No. 14 Kansas takes to the hardwood against No. 2 Arizona Saturday afternoon, everyone knows that the Jayhawks will be heavily using their starting five, which will likely comprise Melvin Council Jr., Darryn Peterson, Tre White, Bryson Tiller, and Flory Bidunga. After those names, things can get a little tricky on reliable points from the bench.
Guard Kohl Rosario had a hot start to his KU career, but has gone a little under the radar in recent weeks. Redshirt sophomore guard Elmarko Jackson has become one of the first options with four games this season of 10+ points, with a season high of 19 points in Kansas’ massive win over Kansas State.
Yet fellow redshirt sophomore guard Jamari McDowell has quietly become a cog in this Kansas side.
“He's mature beyond his years”
“He's mature beyond his years because he doesn't see things through his own eyes,” quoted head coach Bill Self during his preview of Saturday’s clash against Arizona.
“He sees things from an objective perspective, more so from a coach's perspective.”
McDowell’s sophomore stats include 3.9 points per game, 1.3 assists, 1.7 rebounds, and .5 steals in 18.8 minutes per game.
McDowell’s improved splits at home
Inside Allen Fieldhouse, and outside of Lawrence, Kan., are two different statlines with McDowell. At home, McDowell notches a 46.8% field goal rate for 5.6 points per game, with two rebounds, 1.7 assists, and .6 steals.
Away from home, McDowell’s stats take a sudden downturn. The former four-star guard averages 16% from the field with one rebound and .6 assists.
The best thing about McDowell's game is the pace at which he plays. He doesn’t need a stretch of minutes to figure out which way the game is swinging. McDowell hardly takes rushed shots, largely looks cool with the ball in his hands, and continues to impress in Kansas’ biggest games, even if it is off the bench.
When McDowell last played against the No. 1 Wildcats, he notched a season-high 10 points, filling in for Darryn Peterson, who missed out thanks to “flu-like” symptoms. McDowell added four steals and six rebounds in Kansas’ upset win over Tommy Lloyd’s side.
That same level of production will be needed against an Arizona team that has lost just one time this season in a 78-75 loss to No. 16 Texas Tech. Tipoff against the Wildcats is set for 3 p.m. CT with streaming available on ESPN.
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