Pregame Notes
- Key Players
- Jr SF Louis Johnson (15.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
- Fr C Kendall Williams (12.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg)
- How they got here
- Finished 1st Big 12; Champion Big 12 Tournament
- (Round 64) Def Houston Baptist, 79-68 (Johnson 23 pts, 10 rebs)
- Strengths
- Fast paced scoring: 75.7 ppg (#1 Big 12), 46.9% FG (#1 Big 12), 38.0% 3PT (#1 Big 12)
- Zone defense: 37.8% opp FG (#4 nat'l). During their last 4 games (Big 12 + NCAA tournaments), they forced their opponents to shoots more that 27 attempts from 3PT territory
- Weaknesses
- None. We can't match up talent-wise. We'll have to take some risks by defensing using the zone, and hope their shooters are off today. On offense, we have to be prepared to shoot from the outside also
Tip off
Down 8-20. We get on a 13-0 run to take the lead. Our defense was what we hoped to be, limiting KAN to just 37% FG (2-9 3PT) and only 1 assist. Our offense is relatively decent against this good KAN defense, shooting 40% FG (3-12 3PT). The stat lines that tilted the game to our favor was rebounding, beating KAN 26 to 18, resulting in an 11 to 0 advantage in 2nd chance pts. C Ruben Edgerson had an outstanding 1st half double-double, 10 pts and 10 rebs
Halftime, Up 34-30
Despite the all the positive things we did in the 1st half, scores remains close. We should not lose focus in the 2nd half.
Start of 2nd half
KAN can't get things going offensively at the start of the 2nd half, but we didn't take advantage as we ourselves committed 3 consecutive turn overs. KAN's SF Louis Johnson (13 pts) starting to catch fire, making a couple of 3s already in the 2nd half. We have 12 turn overs already
13:01, Up 44-43
Both teams suffered a few minutes of scoring drought. KAN eventually took the lead from a jumper by C Kendall Williams (7 pts). PG Brian Smith hits a 3, and we retake the lead by 2. KAN's SG Billy Tonton answers back with a 3, and KAN takes the lead. We responded also with a 3 by SG Jevon Wilson
8:23, Up 52-50
Had chances to increase our lead to 4, but PG James Woods with back to back turn overs. We have 16 errors already.
5:19, Tied at 54
SG Daniel Aylsworth hits a big 3 to break the tie. But KAN able to get it back with a 3 of their own. We committed 2 more turn overs; total of 18 now
3:53, Tied at 57
We are sticking to our defensive game plan. KAN missed an outside shot. I decided earlier to keep SG Daniel Aylsworth on the floor, playing alongside SG Jevon Wilson for a 3-guard lineup. Aylsworth drives and scores! Up 2. KAN's top scorer, SG Jim Toton (16 pts) able to knock down anther clutch jumper to tie.
2:44, Tied at 59
PR Brian Smith with an open 3. Miss. KAN's SG Jim Toton shoots. He missed this time. Timeout
2:13, Tied at 59
PF Damien Kosik gets the ball. He's on his favorite spot for a medium range jumper from the corner. Kosik (10 pts) gets it to fall! Up 2. KAN missed. Onour next play, SG Jevon Wilson missed a 3. Oh that would have been huge. Instead, KAN's SF Louis Johnson (16 pts) knocks down his 3rd triple of the 2nd half, and KAN with the lead. Timeout. Tough break in the last sequence of pays. But plenty of time left
1:11, Down 61-62
We made a bad pass again, and KAN scores on the fast break. I called my last timeout
0:55, Down 61-64
SG Jevon Wilson missed his shot. We can get the ball back if we play good defense. KAN missed. We rebound, with 0:27 left. No timeouts left. I signaled that we take the 3 only if its available. SG Jevon Wilson faking a 3. Wilson drives closer. Puts up a shot. Missed. KAN with the ball. We have to foul now. Problem is we only have 1 team foul. We gave up 6 quick fouls in succession, resulting in the fouling out of our 2 PGs. 1st trip to the line today for KAN's PG Billy Miller, who is about to take a 1-and-1. Miller makes the all-important 1st FT; and he knocks the 2nd as well
0:11, Down 61-66
SG Jevon Wilson launches a 3. It's good! Down 2. But only 0:04 left. We are pressing in the back court. But KAN still able to pass and dribble away. Game over. So close. But a gallant effort by the players. No shame in losing to a very talented team, and we took them to the limit.
Final Score: Rice - 64, Kansas - 66
Box Scores
[INDENT]Wilson 19, 7, 2
Edgerson 12, 11, 0, 2 blks
Kosik 10, 4, 0
Aylsworth 7, 6, 3, 3 tos
Hancock 5, 6, 2, 3 tos
Betts 4, 0, 1
Smith 3, 3, 4
Ramsey 2, 1, 1
Woods 2, 0, 2, fouled out
Sanders 0, 7, 2
Kante 0, 1, 0, 4 tos, fouled out
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 42-35%
REB: +10
TO: +11
Pts in paint: -10
2nd chance: +9
Fast break: +5
[/INDENT]