photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard AJ Storr (2) chases after a loose ball with Oakland guard Jayson Woodrich (11) during the first half on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Allen Fieldhouse.

AJ Storr’s game displayed a different level of aggression for the second half of Kansas men’s basketball’s win against Oakland on Saturday night. In 11 second-half minutes, Storr scored 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting, including 2-for-3 from distance.

The points came quickly, and they came loudly. The Jayhawks had started the second half slowly, shooting 1-for-6 from the field. Storr’s play provided a spark that the Jayhawks were looking for at that time.

Storr’s first few games with the Jayhawks were somewhat of a slow start. His first game against Howard ended with 5 points on 2-for-5 shooting. He reached double figures against North Carolina, but it took him 13 shots to get 13 points. Michigan State was another 2-for-5 performance from the field.

On Saturday, Storr finished with 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting and three assists. His most effective play came as the KU offense started to sputter, preventing the game from becoming much of a contest as the Jayhawks cruised to a win.

There wasn’t a different mentality or attitude from Storr going into Saturday’s game.

“I’m really just trying to stay locked in, always, and play as hard as I can,” Storr said. “As long as we win, that’s what is most important.”

Storr had a particularly strong sequence around the 10-minute mark in the second half. He hit a jump shot, assisted KJ Adams on a layup, and got a fast-break dunk all within a four-possession span. He then hit back-to-back 3s and found Hunter Dickinson for a bucket that gave the Jayhawks a 73-43 lead.

That lasted five minutes and pushed the lead from 23 to 30 points, which sealed the deal for Kansas.

“He looked good in transition. He made a couple of 3s,” KU coach Bill Self said. “I thought it was good — he needed to see the ball go in the basket.”

Storr is one of several transfer guards that the Jayhawks need to make an impact. His size and shooting provide unique ability, but his experience is also something that the Jayhawks could rely on. After playing as a freshman for St. John’s in the Big East and a sophomore at Wisconsin in the Big Ten, Storr has seen a lot of college basketball. He believes he can mold his game to fit any team. With Kansas, it’s already taking shape.

“I feel like it’s been easy for me (to fit in) — it’s my third year,” Storr said. “It’s just basketball. I feel like I can go to any team and fit in perfectly.”

Self wasn’t worried about Storr after a slow start shooting the ball. Following the win against Oakland, he said that getting a false sense of confidence from a hot shooting streak or a sense of discouragement from a cold streak are parts of the game. He wasn’t concerned about Storr’s ability to make a bucket in the long run.

Self wants to see the transfer wing be able to impact the game in positive ways when he isn’t shooting the ball like he did on Saturday. That can be what fully integrates Storr into the Kansas system, and Self believes he will get acclimated over time. The work ethic is there — it just has to come together.

“I think he can,” Self said of Storr fitting in. “I think he can guard better, though. I think he can rebound better, though. His attitude is fantastic.”