KU’s Moss has been reliable three-point shooter last two games: ‘He’s bailed us out’
Kansas’ basketball team made just 8 of 27 threes on its just-completed, successful two-game road swing to West Virginia and TCU.
That’s an abysmal 29.6% for a squad that’s made 34.2% of its attempts from beyond the arc in 24 games and 31.9% in 11 Big 12 Conference contests.
“It’s ridiculously poor how we’ve shot the ball beyond the arc,” KU coach Bill Self said Friday at a media session held in advance of Saturday’s Big 12 battle between the No. 3-ranked Jayhawks (21-3, 10-1) and unranked Oklahoma Sooners (16-8, 6-5). Tipoff is 11 a.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.
“You can also look at it as, ‘Thank goodness we have him because he’s bailed us out.’’’
“Him” in this instance is Isaiah Moss, KU’s 6-foot-5 senior wing from Chicago, who as Self correctly noted, “has made six (threes) the last two games.”
Moss — the graduate transfer from Iowa who has started two games and come off the bench 21 times — went 3 of 5 and his teammates 1 of 9 from three in Wednesday’s 58-49 victory at West Virginia. He was 3 of 8 and his teammates 1 of 5 from three in last Saturday’s 60-46 victory at TCU.
“He’s a great kid and I’ve been happy with his play, too,” Self said of Moss. He has averaged 22.7 minutes a game overall this season and 23.2 minutes per contest in league action. He played 25 minutes at West Virginia after logging 27 minutes at TCU.
“I thought he was really excited,” Self said of Moss’ reaction to scoring five straight points down the stretch to break open a tie game versus the Mountaineers.
“I think he’s helped us win some games but I think deep in his core he knew he was responsible in playing a huge role in us winning the game the other day in a hard game. It’s one thing to go out and make shots if you win by 20. In a hard game, when you need every one, I thought he felt really good about himself which is good to see because he’s had a terrific attitude since he’s been here.”
The 6-foot-5, 208-pound Moss for the season has averaged 8.3 points per game on 38% three-point shooting (41 of 108). He’s averaged 9.4 points per game on 36.8% three-point shooting (21 of 57) in league contests.
Moss has produced more off the bench the last two games than freshman wing Christian Braun, who has started the last five contests. Braun, who has averaged 6.3 points a game (14 of 29 threes for 48.3%) in 11 Big 12 games and 4.9 points per game overall (23 of 55 threes for 41.8%), did not attempt even one three at TCU or at West Virginia after going 0 for 2 from three against Texas.
“I think he (Braun) needs to be a good shooter for us. I think he is,” Self said of Braun. “One reason we haven’t made a lot of threes is he hasn’t shot any. It’s not like he’s shot poorly, he hasn’t shot any. We’ve talked about that: ‘People are going to guard you differently (in second half of Big 12 season). You’ve got to figure a way to play.’
“The way we play isn’t always conducive to a guy like Christian or Isaiah coming down and we’re going to just run a play to get them a shot. The way we play is playing downhill and trying to open up as many driving lanes as possible. We probably could do a better job at doing both but I think he (Braun) should be more a recipient from others right now.”
It’s possible Moss could be inserted as a starter, Self indicated.
“I do think there’s a good chance that could occur,” said Self, who has stressed he’s been pleased with the 6-foot-6 Braun, a first-year player out of Blue Valley Northwest. “I haven’t talked to our team since Wednesday. Let me get to practice today first,” Self added, referring to making decisions on starting lineups.
Dotson injury update
Sophomore point guard Devon Dotson scored 15 points and had three steals in 38 minutes Wednesday at West Virginia. Yes, he played all but two minutes on a sore right knee he had hurt in the TCU game. Dotson did not practice at all from Sunday until game time Wednesday.
“He had not put on a uniform or shoes since Saturday,” Self said, adding, “I think he’s fine. I was really proud of him. He hung in there. Based on reports I’ve gotten, he’s not had any setbacks.”
Criteria for jersey retirement
Former KU forward Marcus Morris’ No. 22 KU jersey will go up in the south rafters at halftime of Monday’s game against Iowa State.
Self explained the criteria for hanging a jersey: “There is not an exact deal on who goes up there. If you are MVP of a Final Four or Big 12 player of the year you are a lock or first-team All-American. Marcus was a lock as soon as he was named Big 12 player of the year. There could be some scenarios (in which) nobody may fit those criteria two years as a second- or third-team All-American. Stuff like that is still pretty impressive.
“It’s more of us discussing what their value meant to the school and to our program during the time they were here. If this was a Hall of Fame, he (Morris) would be a first-ballot guy without question.”
Morris, the 2011 Big 12 player of the year and second-team AP All-America selection, on Friday said his twin brother, former KU forward Markieff Morris, would join him at Monday’s ceremony.
“I feel it’s an honor for us both. Without Kieff, there’s no me,” Marcus Morris said, noting, “if it was up to me it (jersey) would say ‘Morris twins’ not just Morris. He deserves it just as much as I do.”
Proud granddad
Self traveled to the Dallas area on KU’s off day Thursday to visit family. Self’s daughter, Lauren, on Tuesday gave birth to Bill’s second grandchild, Phoebe Lynn Browning. Granddaughter Ella Jane Browning was born Dec. 5, 2017.
“It’ is exciting to have Phoebe Lynn all 7 pounds and 9 ounces of her with us,” Self said. “That was a big treat, getting a chance to meet her yesterday.”
