5 stats that popped in KU’s Big 12 semifinal victory over rival K-State

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Malik Newman (14) pulls up for a jumper during the second half, Friday, March 9, 2018 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Malik Newman (14) pulls up for a jumper during the second half, Friday, March 9, 2018 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City, Mo. — Perennial league champion Kansas improved to 13-6 all-time in the Big 12 tournament semifinals on Friday, with an 83-67 victory over rival Kansas State at Sprint Center.

The Jayhawks only shot 44% from the floor and allowed the Wildcats to hit 53.6% of their shots in the second half, but advanced to the conference championship game for the sixth time in nine seasons.

Here are five stats that stood out — four good for Kansas, one not — in the Jayhawks’ semifinal victory over K-State.

Offense recovers in crunch time

A better opening to the second half would’ve helped the Jayhawks avoid putting the game’s outcome in danger, but they did manage to close the game appropriately.

A key Marcus Garrett steal and layup made sure of that. The freshman’s timely bucket ignited the Jayhawks, who converted 8 of their final 13 shot attempts over the course of the final 10 minutes. Up to that point, Kansas had made just 3 of 12 from the floor in the final half.

Suddenly energized after a lethargic stretch, especially for postseason basketball, KU’s players finished off the win by following Garrett’s lay-in with more high-percentage looks:

• 2 putbacks by Silvio De Sousa

• 2 Malik Newman 3-pointers

• A Lagerald Vick dunk

• Another Vick bucket

• A Mitch Lightfoot jam

Those baskets turned a 2-point Kansas lead into 12 before the Jayhawks spent most of the game’s final 2:00 at the foul line, going 8 for 10.

Controlling the glass

For the fourth time in the past six games, Kansas out-rebounded its opponent. Not bad for a team that did the opposite in 15 of 16 games before that.

The Jayhawks won the battle of the boards, 37-30. Even more impressive, though, they only let K-State gather 5 offensive rebounds on 32 missed field goals. The Wildcats only managed 2 second-chance points.

Big 12 opponents averaged 14.3 second-chance points a game against Kansas in the regular season and each of KU’s past eight foes scored at least 10 points in that category.

De Sousa’s 8 defensive boards led the team, and Newman secured 5 on that end. Both Devonte’ Graham and Garrett added 4 defensive rebounds.

Power of the 3-ball

For the 16th time this season, KU made 10 or more 3-pointers.

By knocking down 11 of 28 (39%) versus K-State, the Jayhawks improved to 14-2 when scoring at least 30 points from beyond the arc. K-State, meanwhile, made just 2 of 13 from 3-point range (15%) — the fewest makes and worst percentage by a KU opponent this season.

Both Newman (5 of 8) and Svi Mykhailiuk (4 of 8) routinely exploited the Wildcats for leaving them open.

Bench (and former sub) scoring

Between KU’s four regular members of the starting five, each contributed double-digit points in Friday’s win.

But Kansas nearly had three more players join Newman (22), Graham (15), Mykhailiuk (12) and Vick (10) in double figures.

A starter in just 4 games this season, Lightfoot added 8 points for the Jayhawks, who also picked up 8 points apiece from backups Garrett and De Sousa.

Newman carried the load offensively, but every other member of the rotation found opportunities to score, too, giving Kansas some balance in its distribution, making the attack less predictable.

No resistance in the paint

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Mitch Lightfoot (44) and Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) defend against a shot from Kansas State forward Xavier Sneed (20) during the first half, Friday, March 9, 2018 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

KU typically fares well inside or at least goes toe to toe with opponents in terms of making baskets around the hoop.

The Jayhawks averaged a +7.5 points in the paint margin during the regular season (+2.2 vs. Big 12 foes) and even outscored Oklahoma State by 10 inside without Udoka Azubuike in the Big 12 quarterfinals.

However, the Jayhawks lost the battle for the paint against K-State. The Wildcats scored 42 points inside, matching the most by any KU opponent this season.

Confident in taking their chances against Kansas bigs Lightfoot and De Sousa, the Wildcats finished with a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint, stimulated by Makol Mawien’s 29-point explosion, 16 of which came at the rim.

You know West Virginia will try to inflict even more damage against KU’s interior defense in Saturday night’s Big 12 title game.

By the Numbers: Kansas 83, K-State 67

5 stats that popped in KU’s Big 12 semifinal victory over rival K-State

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Malik Newman (14) pulls up for a jumper during the second half, Friday, March 9, 2018 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City, Mo. — Perennial league champion Kansas improved to 13-6 all-time in the Big 12 tournament semifinals on Friday, with an 83-67 victory over rival Kansas State at Sprint Center.

The Jayhawks only shot 44% from the floor and allowed the Wildcats to hit 53.6% of their shots in the second half, but advanced to the conference championship game for the sixth time in nine seasons.

Here are five stats that stood out — four good for Kansas, one not — in the Jayhawks’ semifinal victory over K-State.

Offense recovers in crunch time

A better opening to the second half would’ve helped the Jayhawks avoid putting the game’s outcome in danger, but they did manage to close the game appropriately.

A key Marcus Garrett steal and layup made sure of that. The freshman’s timely bucket ignited the Jayhawks, who converted 8 of their final 13 shot attempts over the course of the final 10 minutes. Up to that point, Kansas had made just 3 of 12 from the floor in the final half.

Suddenly energized after a lethargic stretch, especially for postseason basketball, KU’s players finished off the win by following Garrett’s lay-in with more high-percentage looks:

• 2 putbacks by Silvio De Sousa
• 2 Malik Newman 3-pointers
• A Lagerald Vick dunk
• Another Vick bucket
• A Mitch Lightfoot jam

Those baskets turned a 2-point Kansas lead into 12 before the Jayhawks spent most of the game’s final 2:00 at the foul line, going 8 for 10.

Controlling the glass

For the fourth time in the past six games, Kansas out-rebounded its opponent. Not bad for a team that did the opposite in 15 of 16 games before that.

The Jayhawks won the battle of the boards, 37-30. Even more impressive, though, they only let K-State gather 5 offensive rebounds on 32 missed field goals. The Wildcats only managed 2 second-chance points.

Big 12 opponents averaged 14.3 second-chance points a game against Kansas in the regular season and each of KU’s past eight foes scored at least 10 points in that category.

De Sousa’s 8 defensive boards led the team, and Newman secured 5 on that end. Both Devonte’ Graham and Garrett added 4 defensive rebounds.

Power of the 3-ball

For the 16th time this season, KU made 10 or more 3-pointers.

By knocking down 11 of 28 (39%) versus K-State, the Jayhawks improved to 14-2 when scoring at least 30 points from beyond the arc. K-State, meanwhile, made just 2 of 13 from 3-point range (15%) — the fewest makes and worst percentage by a KU opponent this season.

Both Newman (5 of 8) and Svi Mykhailiuk (4 of 8) routinely exploited the Wildcats for leaving them open.

Bench (and former sub) scoring

Between KU’s four regular members of the starting five, each contributed double-digit points in Friday’s win.

But Kansas nearly had three more players join Newman (22), Graham (15), Mykhailiuk (12) and Vick (10) in double figures.

A starter in just 4 games this season, Lightfoot added 8 points for the Jayhawks, who also picked up 8 points apiece from backups Garrett and De Sousa.

Newman carried the load offensively, but every other member of the rotation found opportunities to score, too, giving Kansas some balance in its distribution, making the attack less predictable.

No resistance in the paint

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Mitch Lightfoot (44) and Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) defend against a shot from Kansas State forward Xavier Sneed (20) during the first half, Friday, March 9, 2018 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

KU typically fares well inside or at least goes toe to toe with opponents in terms of making baskets around the hoop.

The Jayhawks averaged a +7.5 points in the paint margin during the regular season (+2.2 vs. Big 12 foes) and even outscored Oklahoma State by 10 inside without Udoka Azubuike in the Big 12 quarterfinals.

However, the Jayhawks lost the battle for the paint against K-State. The Wildcats scored 42 points inside, matching the most by any KU opponent this season.

Confident in taking their chances against Kansas bigs Lightfoot and De Sousa, the Wildcats finished with a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint, stimulated by Makol Mawien’s 29-point explosion, 16 of which came at the rim.

You know West Virginia will try to inflict even more damage against KU’s interior defense in Saturday night’s Big 12 title game.

By the Numbers: Kansas 83, K-State 67