Ready for KU vs. K-State, Part II? These guys put on a show in first Sunflower Showdown
Kansas State sophomore guard Nijel Pack’s 35-point scoring outburst against Kansas on Jan. 22 at Bramlage Coliseum ranks as the sixth-most points scored by a Wildcat in the history of the Sunflower Showdown — a series that started in 1907 and now encompasses 296 games.
In all-time games against KU, the 6-foot, 180-pound Indianapolis native’s output in a 78-75 loss to the Jayhawks trails only Mike Wroblewski (46 points), Michael Beasley (39), Jacob Pullen (38), Dick Knostman (38) and Fritz Schneider (36).
In contrast, the Jayhawks have had two players score more than Pack’s 35 in games played against the rival Wildcats. Wilt Chamberlain went for 38 points and Dallas Dobbs 36 versus KSU in 1957 and 1955 respectively.
The current Jayhawks certainly have a healthy dose of respect for Pack, who leads the Wildcats in scoring at 17.5 points per game heading into Tuesday’s 8 p.m. Sunflower Showdown at Allen Fieldhouse.
“He’s a good player,” said KU senior guard Ochai Agbaji, whose 29 points helped the Jayhawks overcome Pack’s scoring spree and claim a hard-earned three-point victory back in January. “He can shoot it. He can flat-out score. He can get a basket.”
Pack hit 12 of 18 shots and was 8-of-12 from three-point range and 3-of-3 from the line versus the Jayhawks. Overall, this season, he has made 78 of 182 three-point attempts for 42.9%.
He went 6-of-8 from beyond the arc and scored 22 points the first half in lifting K-State to a 50-34 lead over the Jayhawks. It took a yeoman’s effort on defense from unsung hero Dajuan Harris to cool Pack the second half and propel KU to its largest comeback victory in a road game in school history.
KU had trailed by as many as 17 points in the second half.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Harris “held” Pack to 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting (2-of-4 from three) the final 20 minutes, making possible KU’s comeback win.
“At halftime, he was just like, ‘I’m taking him and I’m staying on him the whole entire time,’’’ Agbaji said of Columbia, Missouri native Harris wanting to shadow Pack.
KU coach Bill Self was receptive to the idea of Harris guarding Pack in the final half.
“Juan did a good job on him the second half,” Self said.
Harris scored just seven points on 2-of-5 shooting (1-of-1 from three and 2-of-2 from the line) that day against KSU, but may have been as valuable to KU as Pack was to K-State. Harris also had five rebounds and two assists.
“You can’t take him out. He’s kind of like a security blanket for us,” Self said of Harris, who averages 30.2 minutes a game.
Though not known as a prolific scorer, Harris, who averages 5.7 points per contest, has had his moments on the offensive end.
His scoop layup with 7.1 seconds left beat Iowa State, 62-61, on Jan. 11 at Allen Fieldhouse.
Harris — he scored just two points on 1-of-4 shooting with four assists, two turnovers and two steals in KU’s 71-58 victory over West Virginia on Saturday in Morgantown, West Virginia — has scored a career-high 14 points twice (in wins over Nevada and ISU), 13 points once (in win over Missouri) and 12 points in a recent home win over Oklahoma State.
“He’s been tremendous in running the team,” KU assistant coach Norm Roberts said of Harris, who has dished 107 assists to 41 turnovers in this his sophomore season.
“He does so many subtle things that don’t go on a stat sheet — a tipped pass here, getting in the passing lanes, making the correct play. He’s infectious. We really need him out there,” Roberts added.
Self speaks as if Harris’ offense is underrated.
“Even though he doesn’t shoot the ball from the perimeter all the time, he’s a pretty good shooter when he has time. And he’s a great layup shooter,” Self said of Harris, who has made 12-of-37 threes (32.4%) on the season, 7-of-20 (35.0%) in Big 12 games only.
“He’s learned how to compensate (for lack of height) to get off shots. That’s what little guys do. They kind of figure a way to get it off the floor or whatever,” Self added. “And even though I don’t think it’s that unique — Mario Chalmers could do it — he has a great floater. He’s one of the few guys that can shoot a floater at full extension like a jumper. I don’t think everyone is capable of that.”
Harris — he was 0-for-2 on floaters in Saturday’s game at WVU — acknowledges that his floater can be a weapon he likes to use.
“I’ve been shooting it so long, since sixth grade. It’s something I’ve always done,” he said.
Harris’ teammate and good friend, Christian Braun believes Harris’ offense will only improve as Harris’ college career progresses.
“Every year I’ve played with him, he’s shot a high percentage (45.5% so far this season),” Braun said. “He always shoots it in practice. We have confident in his shot. When he looks for his shot it opens up things for ‘Och’ and others.”
Harris said his main focus will always be defense.
“Coach is on me a lot. I’m the smallest guy on the team so coach wants me to be up in them,” Harris said. “I try to work on defense every practice, every day. Coach and my teammates are always telling me to be aggressive.”
As far as offense …
“It’s important we run in transition, pass ahead,” Harris said. “Four or five of us can bring the ball up. Half the time I’m running down the sidelines and my teammates are setting me up. If I have an open shot I can catch and shoot. My teammates tell me to be aggressive on offense.”
Harris, according to assistant coach Kurtis Townsend, “is like that steady hand. He won’t do anything to hurt you. He will always be solid. He makes the solid defensive play for us. He knows what we want and expect.
“He has a feel for the game,” Townsend added. “Devonté (Graham), Aaron (Miles) and Sherron (Collins) had a feel for the game. That’s great company for him (Harris) to be in. He has IQ. He’s a winning basketball player. I’m glad he’s on our side. We need to have him on the court.”
KU vs. KSU part two will be shown on ESPN. The Wildcats will enter 14-12 overall and 6-8 in the league; KU is 22-4, 11-2.
This story was originally published February 20, 2022 at 10:50 AM.
