KU notes: Brannen Greene doesn’t let black eye bother him

Sophomore guard Brannen Greene said the black eye formed after he collided with teammate Perry Ellis during a Kansas practice on Thursday.

Two days later, Ellis maintained his innocence — “I think he kind of ran into me,” Ellis said — but the black eye didn’t seem to affect Greene during Kansas’ 75-62 victory at Texas on Saturday afternoon.

Greene drilled four of five from three-point range and finished with 14 points. He is shooting 48 percent (24 of 50) from outside the arc on the season.

“When his head’s right,” Kansas coach Bill Self said, “and I’m not saying it hasn’t been right — but when his head’s right, he’s a really good player. And he gives us an element off the bench that we haven’t (had).”

Greene, who played 20 minutes, averaged 13 points per game in Kansas’ last two outings, solidifying his role as the Jayhawks’ fifth guard in the rotation.

“I feel like every time the ball leaves his hands, it’s going to go in,” teammate Jamari Traylor said. “If he gets an open look, he’s lethal.”

250 in Big 12

With Saturday’s victory, Kansas notched its 250th victory in Big 12 play.

The Jayhawks are 250-50 in conference play since the inception of the Big 12. Texas is second in the conference during that span at 197-103.

Double-digit Mason

Guard Frank Mason, who had 14 points, scored in double-figures for the 16th straight game.

During the Self era, Thomas Robinson and Marcus Morris share the record for most consecutive double-figure scoring games at 27.

First half

Key play: Trailing 11-2 in the opening minutes, Kansas guard Wayne Selden hit a three-pointer that calmed the waters and pulled KU within 11-5.

Key stat: Texas shot 37.5 percent.

Second half

Key play: With 6:54 left, Greene drilled a three-pointer that gave Kansas a 56-50 lead. The Jayhawks weren’t threatened again.

Key stat: Kansas had three turnovers in the game.

This story was originally published January 24, 2015 at 10:21 PM with the headline "KU notes: Brannen Greene doesn’t let black eye bother him."