What an NCAA Tournament opener it was for Kansas (28-7), the No. 1 seed in the West Region. In running past Howard, the No. 16 seed, 96-68, the Jayhawks were led by Jalen Wilson (20), Gradey Dick (19), KJ Adams (13), Dajuan Harris (11), and Kevin McCullar (10).
I think we all know this, but if all five players score in double-figures for Kansas, this team will be extremely tough to beat on the hardwood.
Against Howard, Jalen Wilson led the way with 20 points and seven rebounds. In 33 minutes of action, Wilson was 8-of-16 from the field, 2-of-7 from behind the arc, and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
Truthfully, his numbers, in terms of scoring, looked average until he scored five straight points in the second half. He was extremely aggressive on the offensive end of the court and looked to score, but he just couldn’t get anything to fall from behind the arc.
I’ll go back and watch the game on my computer later tonight, but I don’t really remember Wilson forcing anything on the offensive end of the court. I thought he played within himself but was aggressive for sure.
-- If Kansas is going to make a deep run in March, Gradey Dick, the 6-foot-8, 205-pound shooting guard from Wichita, Kan., will need to be at his very best. Well, that was certainly the case today for Dick.
In 32 minutes of action, Dick scored 19 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, dished out five assists, and was credited with three steals. In earning his first career double-double, Dick was 7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-5 from behind the arc, and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
This is the type of performance that Kansas needs from Dick for the rest of the NCAA Tournament. His ability to shoot from ball from any location on the court makes him a threat each and every time he touches the ball.
With Dick on the court, a 6 or 8-point lead for Kansas can quickly turn to a 9 or 11-point lead.
Dick talked about how special it is, being from Kansas, to have the opportunity to potentially help Kansas to back-to-back National Championships.
“It's super special,” said Dick. “It's always special when you play at Kansas but like you told me being from here, I think means even more to my family and see my siblings go through here, I've been on campus since I was little.
“The fact that I get to be in the shoes to play for this university is a dream come true,” he added.
-- I’ve always known that Dajuan Harris is a really good point guard, and I’m guessing we all feel that way, but watching him up close gives you a sense of truly how good he really is for Kansas.
Harris, in 35 minutes of action on Thursday, scored 11 points, pulled down three rebounds, dished out seven assists, committed four turnovers, and was credited with four steals. For the game, he was 7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-5 from behind the arc, and 2-of-2 from the free throw line
Watching Harris up close, it gives you the opportunity to watch his every move. You see how quick his hands are, how he plays the passing lanes, and how he’s got such a great vision when it comes to getting his teammates involved.
When Kansas plays like it did today and when Harris is on top of his game, this team is extremely tough to beat.
-- When Kevin McCullar, Jr., met with the media on Wednesday, he made it clear that he was 100 percent and feeling no pain. That certainly appeared to be the case today. After missing the Texas game, McCullar, Jr., returned to the court today and played a big-time role for Kansas.
In 25 minutes of action, McCullar, Jr., scored 10 points, pulled down seven rebounds, dished out five assists, and was credited with two steals.
“Everything about how Kevin plays,” said Norm Roberts. “Kevin plays to win. He does all the little things, be it cutting to the basket, offensive rebounding, making the extra pass, and he's a terrific defender. Kevin would be if you put a quote by him, he's a winner, he's a winning player.
“He makes winning plays all the tile and it's not always making a basket,” he added. “He makes winning plays.”
McCullar, Jr., did all of those things today. Aside from being one of the best defenders in all of college basketball, McCullar, Jr., is aggressive on the glass and does an amazing job of getting his teammates involved.
When McCullar, Jr., is on the court and healthy, Kansas is, without question, a different team.
I think we all know this, but if all five players score in double-figures for Kansas, this team will be extremely tough to beat on the hardwood.
Against Howard, Jalen Wilson led the way with 20 points and seven rebounds. In 33 minutes of action, Wilson was 8-of-16 from the field, 2-of-7 from behind the arc, and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
Truthfully, his numbers, in terms of scoring, looked average until he scored five straight points in the second half. He was extremely aggressive on the offensive end of the court and looked to score, but he just couldn’t get anything to fall from behind the arc.
I’ll go back and watch the game on my computer later tonight, but I don’t really remember Wilson forcing anything on the offensive end of the court. I thought he played within himself but was aggressive for sure.
-- If Kansas is going to make a deep run in March, Gradey Dick, the 6-foot-8, 205-pound shooting guard from Wichita, Kan., will need to be at his very best. Well, that was certainly the case today for Dick.
In 32 minutes of action, Dick scored 19 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, dished out five assists, and was credited with three steals. In earning his first career double-double, Dick was 7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-5 from behind the arc, and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
This is the type of performance that Kansas needs from Dick for the rest of the NCAA Tournament. His ability to shoot from ball from any location on the court makes him a threat each and every time he touches the ball.
With Dick on the court, a 6 or 8-point lead for Kansas can quickly turn to a 9 or 11-point lead.
Dick talked about how special it is, being from Kansas, to have the opportunity to potentially help Kansas to back-to-back National Championships.
“It's super special,” said Dick. “It's always special when you play at Kansas but like you told me being from here, I think means even more to my family and see my siblings go through here, I've been on campus since I was little.
“The fact that I get to be in the shoes to play for this university is a dream come true,” he added.
-- I’ve always known that Dajuan Harris is a really good point guard, and I’m guessing we all feel that way, but watching him up close gives you a sense of truly how good he really is for Kansas.
Harris, in 35 minutes of action on Thursday, scored 11 points, pulled down three rebounds, dished out seven assists, committed four turnovers, and was credited with four steals. For the game, he was 7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-5 from behind the arc, and 2-of-2 from the free throw line
Watching Harris up close, it gives you the opportunity to watch his every move. You see how quick his hands are, how he plays the passing lanes, and how he’s got such a great vision when it comes to getting his teammates involved.
When Kansas plays like it did today and when Harris is on top of his game, this team is extremely tough to beat.
-- When Kevin McCullar, Jr., met with the media on Wednesday, he made it clear that he was 100 percent and feeling no pain. That certainly appeared to be the case today. After missing the Texas game, McCullar, Jr., returned to the court today and played a big-time role for Kansas.
In 25 minutes of action, McCullar, Jr., scored 10 points, pulled down seven rebounds, dished out five assists, and was credited with two steals.
“Everything about how Kevin plays,” said Norm Roberts. “Kevin plays to win. He does all the little things, be it cutting to the basket, offensive rebounding, making the extra pass, and he's a terrific defender. Kevin would be if you put a quote by him, he's a winner, he's a winning player.
“He makes winning plays all the tile and it's not always making a basket,” he added. “He makes winning plays.”
McCullar, Jr., did all of those things today. Aside from being one of the best defenders in all of college basketball, McCullar, Jr., is aggressive on the glass and does an amazing job of getting his teammates involved.
When McCullar, Jr., is on the court and healthy, Kansas is, without question, a different team.
