In a close Big Monday showdown, the Kansas Jayhawks hung on to the lead and took down the Texas Longhorns
Gradey Dick’s 21-point game was enough to lead the Jayhawks to a 88-80 victory. In a game that took many turns, Kansas was able to keep its lead and defend its home court. Here are the three takeaways from Monday night’s game.
Takeaway #1: Team steps up in Jalen Wilson’s quiet night
One of the talking points all season was who was going to show up in the scoring column alongside Jalen Wilson, and many times the answer was no one. Luckily, the team could count on 20-30 points from Wilson. Tonight, it was a whole different story. Wilson struggled mightily, shooting 1-of-7 from the field and finishing with two points.
The rest of the team stepped up though, with five players scoring double digits, led by 21 from Gradey Dick and 17 from Dajuan Harris. While it would be a surprise to see Wilson have this kind of night again, it’s very reassuring to Jayhawk fans that the rest of the team could provide scoring if that were to happen. Consistency is key now, as this hasn’t been able to become a pattern for guys like Harris and Dick, something that Bill Self and co. hope will change.
Takeaway #2: Jayhawks destroy the turnover battle
If there’s something that basketball purists love to point to when looking at the factors of a game, the turnover battle usually is the focal point. Tonight, the Kansas Jayhawks controlled that battle, with Texas turning the ball over 15 times compared to 11 for the Jayhawks. Texas averages about 12 turnovers a game on the season, so going above that on the road always makes it hard to win a game.
Takeaway #3: Dajuan Harris once again proves his importance
In games where Dajuan Harris has failed to score four or more points, the team is 0-5. When he scores more than four, the team is 18-0. Hitting that total doesn’t seem like a tough task, but it clearly matters for Harris.
On Monday, he scored 17 points and shot the ball 16 times, his season highs in shots made and attempted. Harris doesn’t need to be the team’s second option, but having him hit the eight-point mark would go a long way for the Jayhawks’ quest to win back-to-back national championships.
Next game for the Kansas Jayhawks: @ Oklahoma (Feb. 11 – 1 p.m.)
Next game for the Texas Longhorns: West Virginia (Feb. 11 – Noon)