Originally published January 14, 2008 at 9 p.m., updated January 14, 2008 at 10:06 p.m.
SECOND HALF
Oklahoma’s northern neighbors haven’t exactly been kind in the last three days.
Photo Gallery
Kansas Basketball vs. Oklahoma
Photo gallery of Kansas men's basketball game against Oklahoma Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
After Kansas State pulled out a narrow victory against Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. Saturday, the Sooners traveled up I-35 to receive a 85-55 shellacking from the Jayhawks.
Kansas (17-0) made its 30-point victory look easy against a talented Oklahoma (12-5) team. Four players scored at least 10 points and the Jayhawks never trailed.
Brandon Rush led Kansas early in the game and helped sustain the lead with 16 points. But when Oklahoma began to key in on Rush, others were waiting to punish the Sooners.
Darnell Jackson scored a team-high 17 points by making shots all over the court and Mario Chalmers scored 11 second-half points.
There were many highlights during the course of the blowout. Freshman center Cole Aldrich blocked three shots including a rejection right in the face of Oklahoma center Longar Longar, who scored a game-high 21 points.
Chalmers added three trademark steals. The Kansas guards played tough defense all night, which translated into 15 fast break points.
FIRST HALF
When an Allen Fieldhouse crowd is as raucous as it is tonight, the only way for a visiting team to silence it is by putting together a lengthy run.
That’s exactly what Oklahoma hasn’t been able to do in the first half against Kansas. The Jayhawks lead what appears to be an overmatched Sooner squad 40-20 at halftime.
Kansas leaped out to an early 9-0 start behind extensive on-ball pressure from junior guard Mario Chalmers and senior guard Russell Robinson. Oklahoma’s cause wasn’t advanced when its star player went down holding his knee.
Sooner freshman forward Blake Griffin, who averages 15 points and nine rebounds, hasn’t re-entered the game after he limped off the court with 15 minutes remaining. But another member of the Sooner frontcourt has picked up the slack.
Senior center Longar Longar has been the source for the majority of the Sooner’s points. He has 10 points and five rebounds and was the only Sooner that was unfazed by the staunch Jayhawk defense.
Defense isn’t the only fundamental that Kansas has mastered in the first half. The Jayhawks were perfect from the free throw line, converting on all 10 attempts.
Kansas sophomore center Darrell Arthur has added eight points and five rebounds for good measure. Junior guard Brandon Rush had his second consecutive quick start with 11 points and five rebounds. Nine of his 11 points were from three-point range, where he is 3-of-5.
Kansas has done it all in front of the most enthusiastic home crowd of the season. Notable members of the packed house include ESPN personalities Neil Everett, Scott Van Pelt and Sean Salisbury and former Jayhawk point guard Kevin Pritchard.
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