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Bulletin
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| Recap: Oklahoma at Kansas |
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| Jan 15, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*Rating not based on enough data.
Comments and ObservationsI have a question that's just been bugging me. If Fran Fraschilla had to give three reasons why he likes this KU team, what would they be? I just can't imagine what his answer would be. In terms of what to make from this game, I think the most we can say is that Oklahoma is terrible when Blake Griffin can't play. But we also can say that Kansas plays with intensity every time out. The "new" Brandon Rush is working out very nicely.
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 AnalysisThis is the Brandon Rush that must be playing in March for KU's aspirations to be realized. You can see it in his posture and demeanor when he gets the ball. Rush wants to score or make something happen. And he's been very good at it in the two games he's consciously asserted himself. Now, we have to see if he can sustain this for the rest of the season. It's inevitable that he will have a few passive stretches or games, but if he can play at this level, KU can and will go places. Rush shot 70 eFG% to score 16 PTS with 9 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL and just 1 TO in 31 MIN.
Darnell Jackson led KU in scoring with 17 PTS, 8 REB (1 OREB) and 0 TO on 80 eFG% shooting. Terrific game for the "heart and soul" man. His thieving teammate in the backcourt, Mario Chalmers, was up to his old tricks again. Chalmers poured in 13 PTS on 90 eFG% (these shooting numbers just keep getting more ridiculous, don't they?) with 5 AST and 3 STL against 2 TO. So, those were the three stars of the game.
Believe it or not, Cole Aldrich had himself an extremely efficient game. It's not surprising given his overall high efficiency rating for the season. He had 6 PTS, 3 REB, 3 BLK on 67 eFG% and 2-of-2 from the line in just 13 MIN. Not bad. Darrell Arthur had a bigger impact on the game even though he wasn't nearly as efficient as Aldrich. Arthur scored 14 PTS on 50 eFG% shooting, with 8 REB (5 OREB!) and 2 BLK but also had 3 TO. The turnovers hurt him, although he made up for it by making all four of his free throws.
Nobody had a bad game for the Jayhawks, but the players with the lowest efficiency were Kaun and Collins. Both of them well below 50 eFG%, which was the main reason for their average ratings.
Longar was the only guy for Oklahoma with a respectable rating. He finished with 21 PTS on 50 eFG% shooting, with 5 REB, 2 AST and 3 TO. Rough night for every other Sooner though.
Game Projections
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