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Kansas Storms Past UCLA to reach Maui Finals

And you thought the Chaminade game was fun.

Perry Ellis was great, KU’s point-guard duo was lethal once again, and the Jayhawks rolled through UCLA 93-72 in Tuesday night’s Maui Invitational semifinal. Kansas is having no trouble offensively in paradise at all, having scored 216 points in its last two games.

The Jayhawks wasted no time resuming their offensive clinic from Monday’s game, as Devonte’ Graham opened the game by hitting a three. That was quickly followed by an and-one by Frank Mason, completing a three-point play of his own.

UCLA closed the lead to 8-7, but then Kansas went on a 18-2 run that all but sealed the game. Just 13 minutes into the game, the Jayhawks led by 23. They would finish the first half with 59 points.

A big reason for such a dominating game? Maybe, just maybe, Bill Self has decided that it is time to play to this team’s strength. This, of course, is the three-point shot. The Jayhawks shot 23 three-pointers, making 10 of them. It was beautiful.

There were a few other factors, too. Mason looked like the best point guard in the country while making every pass you could want, including a few beautiful outlet passes. At one point, he assisted on three consecutive three-pointers.

Plus, this Wayne Selden guy looked pretty good. I almost considered buying in for a second… he looks like a completely different player. Selden went 4-5 from three, finishing with 15 points and only one turnover (!!!).

Almost everything the Jayhawks could do right this game, they did. It was an all-around great game. Really, the only disappointment was that they didn’t reach 100 points.

Up next: Kansas will play #19 Vanderbilt tomorrow in the finals of the Maui Invitational. The only question left: Can anyone slow the Jayhawks offense in Maui?

Notes:
• Perry Ellis: 24 points, 6 rebounds. 2-3 from three in 27 minutes. He scored 24 points on 12 shots. That will play.
• Frank Mason: 16 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 31 minutes.
• Wayne Selden: 15 points, 3 assists. 4-5 from three in a team-high 33 minutes.
• Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 22 minutes. Only 2-9 from three, but I don’t really care. I want him to shoot as many threes as possible.
• Devonte’ Graham: 9 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, 25 minutes. Also played smothering defense on Bryce Alford.
• Landen Lucas: 4 points, 5 rebounds in 12 minutes.
• Jamari Traylor: 6 points, 4 rebounds in 20 minutes.
• via Jesse Newell: KU scored an absurd 1.48 PPP (points per possession) against Chaminade. In 1st half against UCLA, KU posted an even-better 1.60 (!) PPP.
• Frank Mason might still be the best rebounder Kansas has. Despite being 5’11”, he has at least four boards in every game this year. He really is so good at everything.
• Mason has 26 assists to just 5 turnovers this year (an elite 5.2 A/TO ratio)
• Svi’s shot: still beautiful, no matter the outcome.
• Ellis is making a really nice case for an All-American team this year.
• I don’t buy in to Selden just yet. I’m close, but I want to see him in another big game first.
• Can you imagine what Brannen Greene would have done so far this tournament? Sheesh.
• Speaking of imaginary things, once (if) Diallo gets cleared, this team is going to be scary.
• Overall, Kansas shot 54% from the floor, 44% from three-point range, and out-rebounded UCLA, 35-28.
• In a three-half span (both halves of the Chaminade game and the first UCLA half), the Jayhawks scored 182 points. That’s bonkers.
• UCLA guard Bryce Alford entered Tuesday night averaging 19.8 points per game. He was held to six points on one field goal against Kansas. Credit Devonte’ Graham and Wayne Selden for playing tremendous defense on a fantastic talent.

Dylan King

Staff writer for Rock Chalk Blog. http://twitter.com/_DK22

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