Newly crowned No. 1 Kansas looks worthy of that ranking
On the same day Kansas ascended to the top of the polls, the Jayhawks achieved something few other No. 1 teams have accomplished during this season of parity.
They actually played like a top-ranked team should
Fueled by the scoring of Perry Ellis and the long-range shooting of its backcourt, Kansas blitzed 23rd-ranked Texas 86-56 on Monday night in Austin. The Jayhawks scored the game’s first 15 points, opened a 24-point edge by halftime and led by as many as 33 in the second half en route to a lopsided victory.
Kansas had already clinched at least a share of its 12th straight Big 12 title on Saturday, but the Jayhawks now have claimed first place outright. They’re two games clear of second place West Virginia in the loss column and three or more clear of everyone else.
With 12 RPI top 50 victories and only one loss to an opponent outside the top 50, Kansas also has a firm grip on the NCAA tournament’s overall No. 1 seed. The Jayhawks (25-4, 14-3) could lose their regular season finale this weekend against Iowa State, fall in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament and still comfortably claim a No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday.
That Kansas came out with such fire anyway on Monday night suggests the Jayhawks aren’t satisfied with what they’ve accomplished so far. They shot 64 percent from the field against a previously surging Texas team coming off an upset of Oklahoma.
Ellis was a matchup nightmare for Texas’ slow-footed frontcourt. The Kansas senior scored 20 points on 9-for-11 shooting, torching the Longhorns in the post, via jump shots and off the dribble.
When Ellis wasn’t hurting Texas, it was Kansas’ array of shooters. Frank Mason, Devonte Graham and Wayne Selden each hit multiple threes as the Jayhawks sank 10 of their first 13 attempts from behind the arc.
While the blowout loss on senior night was disappointing for Texas, the bigger concern moving forward is the health of dynamic lead guard Isaiah Taylor. Shaka Smart told the Austin American Statesman on Monday night that the Longhorns’ leading scorer is suffering from plantar fasciitis in his right heel, which no doubt contributed to his 1-for-10 shooting night.
Of course Taylor could have gone 10-for-10 and it might not have mattered as well as Kansas played.
Four times in its remarkable Big 12 title streak, Kansas has settled for tie for first place. With their dominant showing Monday night, the Jayhawks showed that this year they’re in no mood to share.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
