Small forwards produce for KU

Kansas City, Mo. ? Small forward has been the most productive and consistent position for Kansas University’s basketball team. But like any successful coach, good isn’t good enough in Bill Self’s world.

You point to the productive play of Brandon Rush and Micah Downs, and Self points to where they need to get better. Self pointed to their lack of offensive rebounding.

“Coach set a goal for Brandon and me to combine for six offensive rebounds today,” Downs said after KU’s 69-56 victory over Cal at Kemper Arena.

At the half, they had played a combined 21 minutes and had one rebound. They finished with a combined six offensive rebounds.

In a combined 44 minutes, Rush and Downs hit for 22 points and 10 rebounds, made eight of 15 field-goal attempts and three of four three-point shots and had four assists and two turnovers.

Rush had one rebound and did not score in the first half. Self didn’t have to light him up this time. He sent the same message by benching him for nine minutes in the first half.

“I was mad at myself,” Rush said. “I just decided I needed to come out and play harder.”

In the first 6:15 of the second half, a hard-driving, soft-shooting, fancy-passing Rush scored eight points and had two assists on no-look passes to bring KU from a three-point deficit and start the Jayhawks on their way to a 13-point lead with 9:44 left.

Playing in front of the hometown crowd that watched him sit a lot in the first half, Rush contributed 12 points and six rebounds in 16 second-half minutes.

Downs and Stephen Vinson sparked the Jayhawks when they checked into the game early in the first half. Downs hit a three-pointer that drew KU within 12-6 and another that tied the game at 16. Later, he twice converted offensive rebounds into baskets.

For the season, Downs is shooting .423 on three-point attempts, second on the team to Rush’s .526.

“We talked at halftime about how we can’t do anything about the losses we have, and we just came out and played hard,” Downs said. “We just came out and wanted it more than they did.”

Said Rush: “We needed to get our swagger back, and this win really helps a lot.”