KU freshmen Cheick Diallo, Carlton Bragg showed potential against Kentucky

Kansas may have more options in the frontcourt after Saturday developments.

The Jayhawks’ 90-84 overtime triumph over Kentucky required contributions from many, and on a day when leading scorer Perry Ellis struggled against the Wildcats’ big men, Kansas got production from freshmen Carlton Bragg Jr. and Cheick Diallo.

The pair combined for 8 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes, with all but 2 minutes occurring in the first half.

The Jayhawks play host to Kansas State on Wednesday.

Diallo was the higher-rated prospect of the two, but development in his already raw game was delayed by sitting out the first part of the season awaiting NCAA clearance. He played 4 minutes in the loss at Iowa State and didn’t get off the bench the game before that against Texas.

Bragg has been more consistent, but he had trouble finding more than breather minutes in several conference games.

Both made contributions in the first half against Kentucky as Ellis sat the final 14 minutes of the half after receiving his second foul. Diallo was the first reserve for KU on Saturday.

“They had played better in practice, primarily Cheick,” Self said. “I thought he was pretty good, and Carlton obviously made some shots and played well. Eight points kind of bailed us out when Perry wasn’t in the game, so they were important to us.”

One reason the freshman frontliners didn’t play more in the second half was the defense Kansas employed. When the Jayhawks went to a triangle-and-two, Self wanted more experienced big men — Jamari Traylor and Landen Lucas — in the game along with Ellis. Hunter Mickelson was out because of an ankle injury.

“Our veteran guys have a much better chance to play that well than what Cheick and Carlton do because we haven’t practiced it much of late,” Self said.

But what the freshmen, both listed at 6 feet 9, can provide is more defense around the rim. Self disagreed when asked why the team’s blocked-shots numbers were low.

“Low?” Self said. “They’re almost minuscule.”

By recent Kansas standards, yes. The Jayhawks average 3.9 blocks per game. Kentucky blocked six shots to Kansas’ one on Saturday.

“It’s nice if you’ve got a guy when people penetrate they can’t see the rim,” Self said. “We don’t have that now. We talk about that and beg for activity.

“It’s important. That’s a big part of defense, having guys cover up mistakes and obviously we haven’t had that of late. We’ve got to get better at it.”

Diallo has the best shot-blocking game when he swatted five against TCU. He has 13 blocks for the season. Mickelson’s 20 blocks lead Kansas, which ranks sixth in the Big 12 in that department.

“Cheick and Hunter are our best shot blockers,” Self said. “But we need more activity from those guys.”

This story was originally published February 1, 2016 at 5:35 PM with the headline "KU freshmen Cheick Diallo, Carlton Bragg showed potential against Kentucky."