UNLV stayed close by pestering Kansas
OMAHA, Neb. | If you came to the Cornhusker State expecting to see exciting, beautifully played basketball, you got exactly what you deserved: a reminder why football is all that matters in Tom Osborne’s stomping grounds.
An autopsy of the six Midwest Regional games played inside the Qwest Center revealed that Kent State, which scored 10 first-half points in a loss to Nevada-Las Vegas, participated in the most competitive NCAA Tournament game played in Nebraska.
The top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks and UNLV Runnin’ Rebels contributed to the ugliness Saturday night, staging a 75-56 snoozer that sent the Jayhawks to the Sweet 16 and Detroit’s Ford Field, site of the regional semifinals and finals.
Get me out of here until Nebraska’s spring game!
It was unpleasant watching two storied basketball programs compete in such a terrible game. If you’re middle-aged like me, you had trouble adjusting to the sight of the Rebels reduced to midmajor headache.
Maybe the Jayhawks had the same problem.
They certainly struggled to shake an opponent with no size, little talent and a name that used to strike fear.
Why were the Rebels within five points of the top-seeded Jayhawks midway through the second half?
We’re talking about a UNLV team with a starting lineup that consisted of four guards and a 6-foot-7 small forward. Even more frustrating, the Rebels didn’t put one player on the court who could crack KU’s seven-man playing rotation.
This should’ve been a blowout.
It wasn’t — not until late anyway — because the Rebels used quickness and a lack of fear to pester the Jayhawks into a game that lacked consistent pace and cohesion. Saturday’s contest was not an indication that the Jayhawks are playing poorly and ripe for a tournament upset.
Besides playing in the wrong venue, Kansas ran into the wrong midmajor with a very good coach. A Lon Kruger-coached team is never going to show any fear, and you had to know the Rebels wouldn’t melt away from the challenge of taking on a heavy favorite. Even though it has been years since the Rebels were a powerhouse, the UNLV name still breeds some confidence.
KU’s big men had trouble adapting to UNLV’s quick leapers. Sasha Kaun and Cole Aldrich picked up cheap fouls and sat in the first half. Darrell Arthur turned the ball over in the low post.
Kansas wanted to take advantage of its size and play inside-out, but it couldn’t. Its bigs wouldn’t cooperate, and the three-point shooting that carried KU in its tournament opener abandoned the Jayhawks on Saturday. KU hit one of six threes in the first half.
The game was close until Sherron Collins started taking Rebels off the dribble, driving the lane and finishing. Scoreless in the first half, Collins dropped 10 after the break. He and fellow guard Russell Robinson had huge second-half performances because of their ability to penetrate and finish. Robinson tallied 10 of his 13 points during the final 20 minutes.
In fact, all four of KU’s guards scored in double figures on Saturday. Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush scored 17 and 12 points, respectively. Meanwhile, none of KU’s post players cracked double digits.
In boxing, the experts say that styles make fights. The same can be said in basketball. UNLV was an unorthodox southpaw without much punching power. The Rebels wanted to peck away from the outside and avoid a lethal blow. So the game went the distance.
Given the upsets in Kansas’ half of the bracket, don’t expect to see Kansas in another pretty game until its potential meeting with North Carolina. You should judge the Jayhawks on their ability to survive the two games in Detroit next weekend. If they advance, call it a thrilling success regardless of the final score, especially if they face Wisconsin in the Elite Eight.
The Badgers, victors over Kansas State on Saturday, could pose the most dangerous threat to the Jayhawks in the Midwest bracket. The Badgers play a disciplined style. They know how to defend. And they’re led by a coach, Bo Ryan, who has seen everything.
I’d rather see the Jayhawks play No. 2 seed Georgetown in the regional finals than Wisconsin. A Georgetown-Kansas matchup would be ugly, too, but I believe KU’s skill would more easily overwhelm the Hoyas than the Badgers.
Whatever, I’m just glad the games won’t be played in Nebraska.
To reach Jason Whitlock, call 816-234-4869 or send e-mail to jwhitlock@kcstar.com. For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com.
