Oklahoma State 61 - Kansas 60

Comments and Observations

By the time the game wound down to the final possessions, if you thought the outcome was going to be decided by anything other than a Byron Eaton free throw, I don't know if they make a drug that can help you. Let's just hope the rumors of Self leaving for OSU don't intensify after he helped coach them to their first victory Saturday. (just kidding, folks)

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

In a masterful 38-minute performance, Byron Eaton put the Cowboys on his shoulders and carried them to their biggest victory of the season.  Coming in to the game, he had been shooting only a 45 eFG%, but he upped it to 50% this day, with the help of two unbelievably long-range bombs.  It shouldn't surprise anyone that he used the FT line well (#41 in the country in FT Rate going in), but 16-of-18?  That was a tough pill to swallow for the Jayhawks.  Even his 5 TO couldn't derail him from game honors for highest impact and efficiency, mostly because he also backed it up with 5 AST and 3 STL.  Great game for the little guy.

Beyond that, it was Muonelo, Thomas and Adams who had solid games for OSU.  Muonelo did it was 56 eFG% shooting (3-of-5 from 3FG), although he did have 4 TO.  Thomas backed up his guarantee for victory with a team-high 7 rebounds (all defensive), 2 BLK and 1 STL, although he committed 4 TO.  Adams shot 2-of-4 and did a tiny bit of everything, just enough to allow his team's solid performance to boost his 31-minute performance to a solid level.

Dove struggled with his shooting (38 eFG%) and didn't register a single rebound in 22 foul-plagued minutes.

After a tragic week for Darnell Jackson, he brought his "A" game to his home state.  Jackson shot an incredible 83 eFG% and grabbed 10 REB (3 OREB) and shot 6-of-6 from the foul line.  Unfortunately, he also had led the team with 5 TO.  The only other KU player with a solid rating was Russell Robinson, whose performance toward the end makes that hard to believe.  Robinson played a team-high 38 minutes (Collins was hurt) and struggled with his shot (38 eFG%), but he did manage to make all three of his FT, grab 3 REB (1 OREB), dish 3 AST and nab 1 STL against 2 TO.  Aldrich didn't play at least 10 minutes, so his rating isn't "official," but it certainly looked like he played well.  He made his only FGA and grabbed 3 REB with 1 STL and 1 TO in just 9 minutes.

Chalmers and Rush had largely forgettable days.  There was a stretch where it looked like Rush was taking over and about to carry KU to victory.  But that is a mere band-aid covering his overall 34 eFG% performance (5-of-16 overall FG) and 3 TO.  He did do well on the boards with 6 REB (3 OREB) and contributed 1 BLK and 1 STL.  Chalmers had an uncharacteristic 4 TO and shot only 45 eFG%.  He also wasn't as disruptive on defense, only getting 1 STL.  Sasha Kaun was a beast on the offensive glass with 5 REB (4 OREB) and made 2-of-3 from the field.  But he also had 2 TO in just 17 MIN.

The players who struggled most were Sherron Collins and Darrell Arthur.  In the case of Arthur, taking only 3 shots should tell you everything you need to know.  That is unacceptable for the team's leading scorer.  He only played 17 MIN due to foul trouble and shot only 1-of-3 from the floor.  A meager 2 REB (0 OREB) and 4-of-6 from the FT line to go with his 3 TO ... yeah, it was a pretty ugly day for Arthur.  And yet, Collins had an even lower efficiency rating, because in his 11 MIN, all he did was take a shot and miss it as well as commit one foul.  Completely ineffective with his bruised knee.