Notebook: A positive from KU’s blah-filled Monday

Kansas guard Kelly Oubre, Jr. is surrounded by Temple defenders during the Jayhawk's game against the Owls Monday at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.

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Philadelphia ? In what classifies as the good news of the day department, considering Kansas University’s 77-52 loss at Temple, Kelly Oubre Jr. on Monday was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for the period from Dec. 15-21. West Virginia’s Juwan Staten was named player of the week.

Oubre, a 6-7, 200-pounder from New Orleans, scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in KU’s 96-69 win over Lafayette on Saturday. He was 9-of-15 (.600) from the field, including 4-of-7 (.571) from 3-point range and added one steal in 25 minutes. Oubre entered Monday’s game averaging 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in his last three contests and followed that up with nine points and seven rebounds against the Owls.

Oubre’s selection marks the 33rd time a Jayhawk has been named Big 12 Newcomer/Rookie of the Week. Last season, KU had three different players earn newcomer honors — Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid and Tarik Black. KU junior Perry Ellis was named Big 12 Player of the Week on Dec. 1.

Embiid can’t attend: Joel Embiid did not attend Monday’s KU-Temple game in Philly, home of Embiid’s Sixers. The injured 7-footer travels with the Sixers to road games. Philadelphia plays at Miami tonight.

“I wish I was in Philly tonight to watch my KU boys play,” Embiid wrote Monday on Twitter.

He means what he says. Embiid attended one of KU’s volleyball matches at a tournament at Villanova this past season.

Semi’s list: Former Duke forward Semi Ojeleye of Ottawa has cut his list of possible transfer destinations to Wisconsin, Illinois, Creighton, SMU. Oregon and Washington, CBSsports.com reports.

Stats, facts: Monday marked the two-year anniversary of Temple’s last victory over a top-10 opponent. The Owls defeated No. 3 Syracuse, 83-79, inside Madison Square Garden on Dec. 22, 2012. … KU fell behind 7-0 before Frank Mason III made a layup with 16:31 left in the first half. That was nearly two minutes longer than KU’s longest dry spell to start a game this season (18:17 vs. Kentucky). … KU went 0-for-3 from the free-throw line in the first half, the first time the Jayhawks did not connect from the line in a half since the first half against Michigan (3/29/13). … Mason extended his double-digit scoring streak to eight games. He led all players with 13 points at halftime and finished with a career-high 20 points. He had a career-high three steals … KU started the second half 4-of-18 shooting with all four of those makes from Oubre.