photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) jumps over Kent State center Khaliq Spicer (21) to save a loose ball during the first half on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at Allen Fieldhouse.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) jumps over Kent State center Khaliq Spicer (21) to save a loose ball during the first half on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at Allen Fieldhouse.

There are few things that fix problems in sports like winning and, in that regard, the Kansas University men’s basketball team picked up a huge home victory, 78-62 over Kent State, on Tuesday night.

Still irked by their showing at Temple more than a week earlier, the Jayhawks came out with greater intensity and a sense of purpose that certainly was missing the last time they took the floor, and, really, has been absent from time to time throughout the season.

Call it youth, call it a learning curve, call it whatever you want. But it definitely is reality. So is the fact that, even though the Jayhawks held off a pretty stiff challenge from a decent Kent State squad, there were still almost as many bad moments as good. But, as you all know by now, those negatives don’t show up nearly as much when a team wins, and Kansas (10-2) needed Tuesday night as much as a 9-2, Top-15-ranked team can need a victory at this point in the season.

Without question the most encouraging part about KU’s 10th victory of the season was the fact that Frank Mason, who again was spectacular, looked around and got the help he needed on both ends of the floor.

Kelly Oubre was great — is anyone noticing a trend emerging here?

Perry Ellis was relentless even after a slow start.

And Cliff Alexander had enough positive moments in the second half to remind KU fans what the Alexander who showed up earlier this season then disappeared just as quickly as he arrived looked like.

All in all. The effort was better, the intensity was better and so was the result.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Cliff Alexander (2) delivers a dunk on a lob pass during the second half on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Quick takeaway

Offensively, Kansas has enough weapons, versatility and talent to find a way to score enough points to win games. There are going to be nights — and, really, there already have been — where this team will struggle, but breaking out of an offensive slump really can be as simple as one guy hitting a shot or making an extra pass that gets the ball rolling again. So there’s really no reason to worry too much about KU’s offense and Tuesday was a good illustation of this. It’s defense that is a different story, and, what Self said about Cliff Alexander — how “he can play well if he’s just active” — can apply to the entire team and really help KU’s defense shine. In the first half, that really wasn’t the case except for one or two guys. But in the second half, when Kent State shot 18 percent worse and scored just four points in the decisive first eight minutes, KU’s defense dominated and won the game.

Three reasons to smile

1 – The Jayhawks played faster and reaped the benefits. Throughout the eight days between games, KU coach Bill Self stressed tempo and pace to his team during practice. And it was clear that KU really tried to turn things up a notch against Kent State. Not only were they willing to — which Self actually said was easier because Kent State was not afraid to run either — but they succeeded big time. KU outscored Kent State 19-0 in fastbreak points, and even when they weren’t directly scoring buckets, they found themselves dictating play or getting the to free throw line, both of which serve as reminders of more ways KU can control games in areas other than the scoreboard.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Perry Ellis (34) turns for a shot over Kent State forward Jimmy Hall (35) during the first half on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at Allen Fieldhouse.

2 – The opening few minutes of the second half were crucial and KU delivered. Not only did they score the first five points of the second half to push their six-point halftime lead to 11 just like that, but the Jayhawks did it by getting to the free throw line. Even though they didn’t connect on all of their trips — and were an uncharacteristic 13-of-22 from the free throw line for the night — the fact that they were able to get there helped them establish control and gave them a chance to pick up some easy points.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas forward Landen Lucas (33) draws some contact from teammate Brannen Greene (14) as he blocks a shot by Kent State guard Kris Brewer (1) during the first half on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at Allen Fieldhouse.

3 – The KU defense recorded a season-high eight blocked shots, but the total number was not nearly as impressive as the way the Jayhawks got there. Seven different players swatted a Kent State shot attempt, with freshman Cliff Alexander being the lone KU player to pick up two blocks. The total marked the largest number of players to block a shot in the same game since 2010 and served as further proof that Bill Self’s boys took their shortcomings against Temple to heart.

Three reasons to sigh

1 – KU’s first-half offense was merely OK and featured way too many possessions of one-on-five basketball. On a few occasions, that was because of the shot clock winding down. And there’s definitely nothing wrong with a guy trying to be aggressive by making a play and attacking the rim. But Self’s offenses have always flowed so well and the Jayhawks always have looked so much better when they achieve that flow. This team’s still getting there in that regard.

2 – Wayne Selden continues to be a bit of a mystery and even Bill Self has started to acknowledge that. After the game, Self said Kelly Oubre had firmly locked up the 3 spot in the starting lineup but added that he’d love to see Brannen Greene or Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk — or both — elevate their games to the point where they’re pushing Oubre. Self then went on to say that if either guy could do that, it would probably help Selden, too, and therefore would help the team. Selden made just 1 of 7 shot attempts with one of the misses coming on a perfectly drawn up lob out of a timeout. Instead of laying it in or throwing it down, Selden, who elevated above the rim, tried for the home run and wound up firing the ball over the iron and into the Kent State bench. Selden’s 29 minutes marked the fourth time in the past five games that the sophomore guard has played fewer than 30 minutes.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kent State center Khaliq Spicer (21) gets a piece of a shot by Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) during the first half on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at Allen Fieldhouse.

3 – Brannen Greene played just four minutes in the first half and did not get into the game again until the final three minutes, when the outcome had been decided. The quiet night from the sophomore was merely the latest in the odd up-and-down trend from the sharp-shooter, who, just a few games again, was in position to lock up a starting spot himself. It’s hard to say exactly what’s going on with Greene, but Self briefly mentioned his inconsistent nature in the postgame. I’m sure the bulk of that inconsistency is showing up in practices, but KU needs Greene to figure it out as soon as he can. With Frank Mason taxed to the max at the point guard spot and Selden still struggling to produce himself, KU’s going to need all the help it can get on the perimeter to survive Big 12 play.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas players Jamari Traylor (31) and Wayne Selden react to a dunk by teammate Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk during the second half on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at Allen Fieldhouse.

One for the road

KU’s 16-point squeeze job of the Golden Flashes…

• Made Kansas 10-2 or better for the second time in the past three seasons and the sixth time in Bill Self’s 12 seasons at KU.

• Kept the Jayhawks unbeaten all-time versus Kent State (2-0) and improved them to 12-1 against current membership of the Mid-American Conference.

• Pushed the Jayhawks to a 63-8 record in games following a loss under Self.

• Made Kansas 5-0 inside Allen Fieldhouse in the building’s 60th season.

• Extended the Jayhawks’ win streak inside the Fieldhouse to 14-straight games.

• Made Kansas 718-109 all-time inside Allen Fieldhouse, including a 180-9 home mark under Self.

• Improved Self to 335-71 while at Kansas and 542-176 overall.

• Made KU 2,136-824 all-time.

Next up

The Jayhawks will close out the non-conference portion of the 2014-15 schedule on Sunday with a 3:30 p.m. tip-off against UNLV. UNLV already boasts a victory over Arizona and should pose a significant challenge for the Jayhawks. After that, KU heads to Waco, Texas, on Jan. 7 for the Big 12 opener against Baylor.

By the Numbers: Kansas beats Kent State, 78-62