Quick Hitters: Oklahoma

January 9, 2014 @CrimsonBlueKU

In a very impressive 90-point effort, the Jayhawks were able to open Big 12 play with a win. This road win kicks off a very tough schedule for the Jayhawks who will need to take the momentum gained and run with it. Here are your quick hitters from the game:

1. Wayne Selden finally looked like the guy KU recruited. And that guy is pretty special. Selden was lighting it up from outside hitting 5-of-10 threes. He poured in a team high 24 points and added two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block in a team-high 38 minutes. With Wiggins having an off night, KU needed its other starting wing to step up and Selden delivered. Let’s hope this is the start of him figuring this thing out because if he and Wiggins start firing on all cylinders together, boy watch out.

2. Frankamp impresses. I say give the kid some more minutes. I know this was a favorable match-up for him, but he looked cool, calm and collected out there. In fact, he was the only player with a higher +/- than Selden against OU. I am still in the camp that thinks he would have been better off red-shirting this season, but since that is no longer an option and Greene hasn’t shown the ability to contribute offensively or defensively when he gets minutes, why not give Frank more of a shot? Regardless, it was good to see the Wichita native come in and make a shot or two. Just like old times.

3. SDSU looks like more of an aberration. Statistically the San Diego State was an outlier, but I still caught myself overreacting to the performance in a negative way. I shouldn’t and neither should you. I think the team we saw against OU is more in line with the team we have at this point of the year which is good news going forward. There are flaws to be sure, especially on the defensive end. But this team can score, and the defense will get there before the end.

What to Watch for Recap

1. Can the offense rebound? In short? Yes. SDSU’s physcial and disciplined defense really gave KU fits. Almost a polar opposite, OU’s defense was porous and exploitable. Still, KU’s offensive output was above and beyond a bad OU defense. Their field goal percentage was pushing 60 percent for the game and they also made 50 percent of their three point attempts (on 8 makes) and 80 percent of their free throws.

2. Can the defense rebound? KU had 25 defensive rebounds, which is back to their average, but more importantly they held OU to only 7 offensive boards and 22 total rebounds for the game.

3. Does KU cover the spread? The spread was -5.5 in KU’s favor, and they won by 7. Check.

Beware of the Blog’s Player of the Game is Wayne Selden. A few outlets have given Perry Ellis the nod here but I think you have to go with Wayne Selden. You can see his stat line above but the guy was dominant in the first half. He was bombing from deep, using his NBA body to drive it and finish and looked like he was having fun doing it. Great coming out party for the 5-star freshman.

Current Standings:

1. Andrew Wiggins (4)
2. Perry Ellis (3)
T-3. Joel Embiid (2)
T-3. Frank Mason (2)
T-4. Tarik Black (1)
T-4. Wayne Selden (1)

You let the whole team down Andrew Wiggins. It’s ok to have an off shooting night from time to time, but Wiggins struggled in more aspects of the game than that. He seemed disinterested in closing out of his man, had costly turnovers at the end of the game and commited 4 fouls. All of this in the setting of 22% from the field in 29 minutes of play.