The Kansas basketball team rebounded much better against Arizona State on Tuesday than it did against Arizona on Saturday. The Wildcats beat KU on the boards, 48-26, but the Jayhawks turned that around against the Sun Devils, out-rebounding them, 55-43. Unfortunately, the improvement in rebounding did not result in a win, as KU lost a wild one by 10 points.
Kansas was even more impressive on the offensive boards, especially in the second half. For the game, KU pulled down 23 caroms to the Sun Devils' 14. Unfortunately, the Jayhawks couldn't turn those extra opportunities into points, and it cost them.
The Jayhawks had three players with double-digit rebounds, an incredible accomplishment. Tre White led the way with 14, Flory Bidunga added 13, and Darryn Peterson pitched in with ten. All three players registered a double-double, yet it didn't help.
The Kansas basketball team had a horrible night shooting vs. Arizona State
It is not often that a team can hold an opponent to just 32 percent shooting, outrebound them by 12, get off 13 more shots, and still lose, let alone lose by double digits. Unfortunately, that is what KU did against Arizona State.
Somehow, KU shot just 29 percent from the field. They were 7-for-27 from three-point range and an equally dismal 31 percent from inside the arc, hitting 14 of 45 attempts.
What is worse is that KU couldn't convert on all of those extra opportunities earned by their stellar offensive rebounding. At one point in the second half, the FS1 broadcast team mentioned that the Jayhawks had scored only three points on 20 offensive rebounds. That number didn't improve much with KU's last three offensive boards, if any.
There was another instance late in the game where the broadcast team mentioned the Jayhawks were 3-for-17 on layups. Layups! Both of these stats are almost impossible to fathom, especially for a team that hopes to make a run during March Madness.
Only one Jayhawk shot anywhere near 50 percent, and that was reserve Kohl Rosario, who went 1-for-2, and his only basket was a thunderous dunk on a lob from Darryn Peterson.
The Jayhawks have to figure out a way to fix their offense quickly. Even if KU can beat K-State Saturday on Senior Day, the loss to Arizona State probably cost Kansas an extra day of rest in the Big 12 tournament. That loss will most likely bump KU down to a four-seed in the NCAA tournament. A bad showing in Kansas City might even pull their seeding in the NCAA tournament down to a five- or six-seed.
The loss to the Sun Devils was not one the Jayhawks could afford. The fact that they played horribly again and have lost four of their last six won't help their March Madness resume at all.
Kansas needs to get back on track against Kansas State and to come together during the Big 12 showcase next week. Another short March Madness run will not go over well with Kansas fans.
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