Selden’s Late Surge Lifts No. 2 Kansas Past Baylor

In a month full of impressive road victories, No. 2 Kansas might have just secured its most impressive one yet.

The Jayhawks used a late surge to rally past No. 19 Baylor on Tuesday night, clipping the Bears 66-60 for their eighth straight win. Poor rebounding plagued KU for the first 35 minutes of the game, but good defense kept it alive against the odds. When the Jayhawks finally started grabbing rebounds down the stretch, they were able to secure their 12th win of conference play, bringing the team to the doorstep of a 12th straight conference title.

The teams played an even first half, going back and forth for the first 20 minutes. Neither team led by more than five at any point. For the second straight game, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk proved to be a factor off the bench, logging nine first-half minutes and making a three-point basket. Wayne Selden, arguably KU’s most important player, was 0/3 with three turnovers.

An ugly first half ended with fireworks, as 6’8″, 275 lbs. Rico Gathers buried a Hail Mary three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer. It was the first three-point basket attempted by Gathers in his 135-game career.

Selden opened the second half with his first basket, but Baylor extended its lead to eight with 14:39 remaining. Selden, who scored 24 points on 9/16 shooting in the first meeting with Baylor, was screamed at by Bill Self in the team huddle. It was clear, as is usually the case, that if KU was going to come back to take a tough road game, Selden would have to make some plays late.

The Jayhawks answered Baylor’s surge with an immediate 11-2 run to re-claim the lead, and Scott Drew called his third timeout of the game trailing 48-47 with 10:21 left. After the teams exchanged blows for five more minutes, Drew used his final timeout with 5:26 remaining. The peculiar move was used to prevent a likely turnover, but the announcers immediately questioned the strategy in burning your last timeout in a one-point game with more than five minutes left.

A three-pointer by Al Freeman gave the Bears a 55-53 lead with 4:13 left, but from that moment on, it was pretty much all Jayhawks. Perry Ellis hit two free throws to tie the game, and on KU’s next possession, Landen Lucas scored to put the Jayhawks ahead. After Baylor got within one with 2:04 left, Self called a timeout with 1:35 left to draw up a play, his team clinging to a 58-57 lead.

Frank Mason III had 18 points at this moment. Ellis had 15. Selden had two. It didn’t matter.

Self had the confidence in his junior guard to call up a lob play, in a one-point game, for a player who hadn’t done anything all evening. Devonte’ Graham threw a perfect pass, and Selden slammed it home over the top of the defense to replenish KU’s lead to three. Following a Baylor miss, Graham again looked to Selden, who drove to the basket and laid in a game-sealing layup with 30 seconds left.

Three free throws gave Kansas the insurance it needed to nail down another win in the Big 12. Over the last 4:13 of the game, the Jayhawks outscored the Bears, 13-5.

It’s clear now more than ever that the first 38 minutes will always be irrelevant to Self. When Kansas needs a big bucket, he’s going to draw up a play for Selden, who has shown that he’s worthy with the ball in his hands late.

Something similar happened in last year’s Kansas/Baylor game in Waco. It was the first game of conference play for both teams, and Baylor led 49-47 with 3:30 left. Selden had scored two points all evening, but in a two-minute span, he scored seven points on three straight field goals to lift Kansas into control late. The Jayhawks ultimately won the game by one.

At 12-3 in conference play, Kansas has a two-game lead on second-place West Virginia. It can secure a share of the Big 12 crown with a victory on Saturday over Texas Tech. A 12th straight conference title is all but secured, and Self’s team is peaking at the perfect time.

Less than a month ago, the Jayhawks were 5-3 and had just lost their third straight road game. Fans panicked. Some conceded the Big 12 race. Others guaranteed an early exit in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

Some things just never change. Like Kansas winning the Big 12, or Bill Self going to Wayne Selden late in a close game. Moments like this prove exactly why he is KU’s go-to guy down the stretch.

Notes:

• Suddenly, the Kansas team that couldn’t even contend on the road is 6-3 in true road games this year.
• Frank Mason III: 19 points (7/11 FG), four rebounds, and three assists in 37 minutes. He got clocked in the neck late in the game, but didn’t sit down for a second. He’s a warrior. He’s also an extremely good point guard who’s been terrific in KU’s last few games.
• Perry Ellis: 15 points (4/8 FG, 6/6 FT) in 36 minutes. He continues to be KU’s most consistent player.
• Devonte’ Graham: 11 points (3/7 FG), all of which were three-pointers. He had seven assists in his 38 minutes, which are the most he’s had in a game since the opener against Northern Colorado.
• Wayne Selden: six points (3/7 FG), six rebounds, and three assists in 29 minutes. That’s the most rebounds he’s had in a game this year, and his four offensive rebounds are a new career high.
• Landen Lucas: five points and 10 rebounds in 29 minutes. He had some massive offensive boards that led to huge KU buckets late in the game.
• Jamari Traylor: four points in 12 minutes.
• Brannen Greene and Svi Mykhailiuk both his threes in the first half.
• Carlton Bragg and Cheick Diallo played three minutes together.
• For the second straight game, Kansas shot an even 50% from the floor. Baylor shot 36%.
• From three: KU 42% (8/19), Baylor 40% (8/20)
• From the free throw line: KU 71% (12/17), Baylor 89% (8/9)
• The Jayhawks gave up 20 offensive rebounds, but zero of those came in the last five minutes of the contest.
• Up next for Kansas: Saturday at home vs. Texas Tech. Tip-off is at 11:00 am.

Great stat: Kansas is 9-1 in games decided by single-digits. This is why Korea was so important. The Jayhawks learned how to win. #kubball

— Rock Chalk Blog (@RockChalkBlog) February 24, 2016

Last year, KU was 11-6 in games decided by single-digits.
In 2014, it was 7-9.
Being 9-1 in those games this year is impressive. #kubball

— Rock Chalk Blog (@RockChalkBlog) February 24, 2016