Sitting here inside Wells Fargo Arena following KU’s one-point loss, 72-71 to Arkansas and I’m still trying to figure out what just happened. Hopefully, some of these takeaways will help paint a picture of what took place today.
First, Kansas got pounded on the glass, 36-29, and shot just 18-of-25 from the free-throw line. As a team, Kansas shot 24-of-50 (48.0%) from the field, 5-of-13 (38.5%) from behind the arc, and 18-of-25 (72.0%) from the free-throw line.
Jalen Wilson (20), KJ Adams (14), Kevin McCullar (13), and Dajuan Harris (12) led the way for Kansas on the offensive end of the court.
Kansas, with 15:20 left in the second half, led Arkansas by 12 points, 46-34, and the game would never be the same again. With 11:50 left on the clock, the lead was down to 6 points and, with 8:54 left in the game, Arkansas led Kansas by one point, 52-51.
The outlook looked somewhat promising for Kansas with 5:24 left in the game, as the Jayhawks led the Razorbacks by 4 points, 61-57, but it would be the last time anything was comfortable for Kansas in the second half.
Arkansas took the lead for good with 23 seconds left and Kansas had a chance to regain the lead but failed to grab the defensive rebound and Ricky Council converted both free throws.
On the next trip down the court, Wilson was fouled at hit both free throws. Not sure why he drove the ball instead of going for a three. Down one again, Wilson was fouled near halfcourt and, after hitting both free throws, Kansas never saw the ball again.
Arkansas got the ball in bounds and the final seconds ticked off the clock.
You can point to a lot of things in this game. Dajuan Harris being called for 10 seconds, the 5-second call under KU’s goals, the block on Kevin McCullar, Jr., that had been called a charge all season, the missed free-throws, KU’s inability to close the door on Arkansas, and whatever else you can think about when looking back at this game.
Kansas didn’t make a field goal the last 3:48 of the game. I thought Norm Roberts did an amazing during an almost impossible situation.
When you put everything together and you face a team like Arkansas, you’ve got to do the little things in order to be successful.
At the end of the day, we can talk about a lot of things, but KU’s inability to get stops, poor free-throw shooting, and foul trouble, along with Self being out, was simply too much for Kansas to overcome today.
As most of you can imagine, and I posted the video, the locker room was a mess after the game. Jalen Wilson blamed himself for the loss, Gradey Dick was extremely emotional and said a decision about his future isn’t a thought right now.
I think the loss hit Kevin McCullar, Jr., the worst. He came to Kansas to win a championship and really believed that was going to happen.
First, Kansas got pounded on the glass, 36-29, and shot just 18-of-25 from the free-throw line. As a team, Kansas shot 24-of-50 (48.0%) from the field, 5-of-13 (38.5%) from behind the arc, and 18-of-25 (72.0%) from the free-throw line.
Jalen Wilson (20), KJ Adams (14), Kevin McCullar (13), and Dajuan Harris (12) led the way for Kansas on the offensive end of the court.
Kansas, with 15:20 left in the second half, led Arkansas by 12 points, 46-34, and the game would never be the same again. With 11:50 left on the clock, the lead was down to 6 points and, with 8:54 left in the game, Arkansas led Kansas by one point, 52-51.
The outlook looked somewhat promising for Kansas with 5:24 left in the game, as the Jayhawks led the Razorbacks by 4 points, 61-57, but it would be the last time anything was comfortable for Kansas in the second half.
Arkansas took the lead for good with 23 seconds left and Kansas had a chance to regain the lead but failed to grab the defensive rebound and Ricky Council converted both free throws.
On the next trip down the court, Wilson was fouled at hit both free throws. Not sure why he drove the ball instead of going for a three. Down one again, Wilson was fouled near halfcourt and, after hitting both free throws, Kansas never saw the ball again.
Arkansas got the ball in bounds and the final seconds ticked off the clock.
You can point to a lot of things in this game. Dajuan Harris being called for 10 seconds, the 5-second call under KU’s goals, the block on Kevin McCullar, Jr., that had been called a charge all season, the missed free-throws, KU’s inability to close the door on Arkansas, and whatever else you can think about when looking back at this game.
Kansas didn’t make a field goal the last 3:48 of the game. I thought Norm Roberts did an amazing during an almost impossible situation.
When you put everything together and you face a team like Arkansas, you’ve got to do the little things in order to be successful.
At the end of the day, we can talk about a lot of things, but KU’s inability to get stops, poor free-throw shooting, and foul trouble, along with Self being out, was simply too much for Kansas to overcome today.
As most of you can imagine, and I posted the video, the locker room was a mess after the game. Jalen Wilson blamed himself for the loss, Gradey Dick was extremely emotional and said a decision about his future isn’t a thought right now.
I think the loss hit Kevin McCullar, Jr., the worst. He came to Kansas to win a championship and really believed that was going to happen.
