Kansas 79 - Nebraska 58

Comments and Observations

Offensive and Defensive Performance

Using the outcome of the game and the adjusted offensive and defensive efficiencies for each team, performance indicates (in PTS per 100 Possessions) how each team would have fared against an average team.  That is, KU's offensive performance is how many points per 100 possessions KU would have scored against an average defense.  This provides a standard performance we can compare across teams.

Four Factor Analysis

(Actual statistics moved to Game Projections table below)

Player Performance Analysis

For Kansas, the discussion must begin with Brandon Rush.  He finished with a season-high 19 PTS on 68.2 eFG% shooting, 6 REB, 4 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK but also 4 TO.  The turnovers probably kept him from stratospheric efficiency ratings.  The ratings are broken out by half, but his first half (16 of the 19 PTS) must have been through the roof!  Obviously, his purposeful aggression paid off in this game.  His eFG% should be monitored along with his possessions used (if they go up) to see whether his shooting is suffering from poor shot selection.  But it's clear that an aggressive and high-percentage-shooting Rush would improve KU's title hopes significantly.

Although Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson made slightly more overall impact, it was Sasha Kaun who played the next most efficient game after Rush.  On 67 eFG% shooting and 2-of-2 FT shooting, he scored 10 PTS, 3 REB (but all were OREB) and 1 BLK with 0 TO in 18 MIN.  Strong work for the senior who is playing his best basketball off the bench.  Robinson also surprised with his 83 eFG% shooting, 10 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL and 2 TO.  His efficiency was sky-high despite missing both of his FT's.  Chalmers put in a workmanlike performance in 34 MIN, shooting 56 eFG% and contributing 14 PTS, 2 REB, 6 AST against only 1 TO.  He failed to record a single steal, which is highly unusual.  Perhaps that mild groin strain impacted his ability to stretch out and disrupt the passing lanes.

Darrell Arthur struggled a bit on this night even though he shot 67 eFG%.  He finished with 8 PTS but had only 2 REB, neither of which was on offense.  Despite his 2 AST and 3 BLK, he committed 4 TO, all of which are very costly when KU is scoring so efficiently.  Darnell Jackson had a much better game, but a little below his typical efficiency for the season.

Sherron Collins had the most disappointing effort of the night for Kansas, making just 33% of his shots with 3 TO.  KU fans should hope he's just getting ready for another stretch of games like he had in the conference season last year.

Everyone was waiting for the "Aleks Maric Show," but it looks like his writers were on strike, too.  Not that his efficiency was bad, but it wasn't up to his lofty standards.  Maric shot an impressive 58 eFG% but made only 5-of-10 FT and pulled in only 4 REB in his 26 MIN of action.  Overall, he just wasn't an imposing factor for the Cornhuskers.  Ryan Anderson and Ade Dagunduro were supposed to be the other two shining lights for NU, but Anderson shot only 46 eFG% (3-of-10 on 3FG's), while Dagunduro missed all six of his shots to go scoreless.  Instead, it was unheralded junior guard Paul Velander who shot lights out (133 eFG%) with 1 AST and 2 STL in just 15 MIN.  NU's important weapons didn't have the kind of outing it needed to have a chance against the mighty Jayhawks.