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Career night from Wayne Selden lifts Kansas over Kentucky, 90-84

Dylan King

With a career-best 33 points from Wayne Selden, the Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Kentucky Wildcats in Allen Fieldhouse, 90-84.

Kansas played Kentucky in Allen Fieldhouse, and it seemed like a great chance for KU to make up for the beating they took in last years’ Champions Classic at the hands of the Wildcats.

Early on, it seemed as if Perry Ellis would be a major factor, as he took and made the first basket of the game. Soon after, Ellis picked up two quick fouls and was benched for the half. He played six minutes before the break. Ellis looked like the best matchup against Kentucky early and has certainly been KU’s best scorer, but freshmen Cheick Diallo and Carlton Bragg played very well and limited the damage that came with losing Ellis, as they helped Kansas open up a 33-27 lead. Wayne Selden also helped make up for the absence of Ellis, scoring 13 points in the first half, but Kentucky and Selden both had much more to give.

The Kentucky guards couldn’t be stopped, and manhandling Frank Mason and Devonte’ Graham to end the half. It was getting to be so bad that after Graham picked up his second foul, Lagerald Vick entered the game. He hadn’t played double-digit minutes in a game since KU’s victory over Loyola. Kentucky ended the half on a 19-7 run, taking a 46-40 lead into halftime at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas began the game well, but their play plummeted at the end of the first half.

Both teams started slow in the second half, with the referees continuing to embrace the whistles. By the end of the game, 69 free throws were shot and 53 fouls were called. The game began to pick up when Wayne Selden clawed towards his career-high in points, scoring 10 straight Jayhawks points and bringing KU within three with 10 minutes left.

Then the game slowed back down. Both teams played so bad for a stretch, that Kansas went 5:42 without making a field goal and still took the lead in that time.

At the end of regulation, the game picked up once again, with Selden hitting a corner three over two Kentucky players. Allen Fieldhouse exploded. Kentucky scored the next possession, and Ellis drew a foul. He made one free throw, tying the game at 77. After a Kentucky turnover and a half court shot missed by just inches, it was time for free basketball. Overtime.

Both teams had trouble getting much offense going until Kansas began a run after a monster dunk from Wayne Selden.

Lucas, Selden, and Mason hit free throws at the end of OT to put the game away. Selden would finish with a career-high 33 points, as Kansas earned a 90-84 win, their 35th straight in Allen Fieldhouse.

After struggling throughout the game, the Jayhawks managed to settle down and hit free throws at the end, finishing 30/47, 63.8% from the line.

This was a good win for the Jayhawks, as they managed to beat a top-20 Kentucky team despite playing poorly most of the game. The freshmen big men stepped up and proved they could contribute against anyone in a big game, and that may make a huge difference later in the year.

Next up: Wednesday, Feb. 3 vs. Kansas State at Allen Fieldhouse.

  • Wayne Selden: Career high 33 points (12/20 FG), three rebounds and two steals. Also had a highlight dunk and a huge three. He was the biggest reason the Jayhawks won this game, and he surpassed 1,000 career points.
  • Frank Mason: 13 points (3/11 FG), eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.
  • Devonte’ Graham: 11 points (3/9 FG), five assists and one rebound.
  • Perry Ellis: 10 points (1/4 FG), nine rebounds and an assist.
  • Landen Lucas: 3 points on 3/6 FT and three rebounds.
  • Brannen Greene: 7 points (1/2 FG), four rebounds and an assist.
  • Carlton Bragg: Against the team he (accidentally) committed to before Kansas, he had 6 points (3/5 FG) and two rebounds.
  • Jamari Traylor: 5 points (2/2 FG), five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.
  • Cheick Diallo: Not much offensive production, with only 2 points, but looked good defensively. Did a great job of staying with Ulis in the paint and not letting him blow by.
  • 35th straight home win for Kansas.

Dylan King

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

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