Syracuse defeats Kansas 89-81 in overtime

By Mark Dent

Originally published November 25, 2008 at 8:33 p.m., updated November 25, 2008 at 8:33 p.m.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

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Kansas vs. Syracuse

Photo gallery of Kansas' game against Syracuse Tuesday night at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

When overtime came around, Kansas had nothing left.

The Orange defeated the Jayhawks 89-81.

Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris seemed to get a little faster. Arinze Onuaku got a little stronger inside. Andy Rautins' aim from outside got a little sharper.

It didn't work that way for Kansas. Sherron Collins airballed a jump shot. Cole Aldrich knocked the ball out of bounds when he should've had an offensive rebound. Freshmen missed free throws.

The Jayhawks just came unglued at the wrong time, and Syracuse capitalized. A Rautins three-pointer gave the Orange a six-point lead with about 1:30 left and that was all the Orange needed.

The loss gives Kansas a record of 3-1. The Jayhawks next play on Friday, against Coppin State at Allen Fieldhouse.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

OVERTIME 72-72

Jonny Flynn stayed quiet most of the first half. Not so in the second. He now has 23 points. The best of those?

Well, that one came with about 10 seconds left. He had the ball behind the three-point line and Cole Aldrich was the nearest defender. He faked a drive and pulled up.

You know what happened. Flynn made it. Tie game. 72-72.

Aldrich couldn't stop Flynn then. He also didn't make a free throw on the other end that would've given the Jayhawks their 73rd point. Oh well. This one is a thriller. Time for OT.

5:49 63-57 Kansas leads

So here's how they reacted.

Tyrel Reed hit a three-pointer. Collins also had a jump shot. But the freshman really showed promise.

It started with Marcus Morris. He rejected a shot and Kansas got the rebound.

Tyshawn Taylor took it to the other end and glided in for a layup in traffic. Count it. Foul.

Kansas appears to have solved the man-to-man D.

8:31 57-56 Syracuse leads

This is it. This is where we find out if these young guys can play under pressure.

Andy Rautins just hit a three-pointer for the Orange to give it its first lead sicne the beginning of the game.

Kansas has coasted in every game so far. This is real. This will go down to the end.

Sherron Collins has been the man every time Syracuse came close earlier this game. He knows how to react. Do the young guys?

They've been fooled by the man-to-man defense. They haven't experienced any pressure like this. They'll need to look to Collins and Aldrich if Kansas is going to win.

12:47 53-49 Kansas leads

Out of the zone. Out of the funk.

Jim Boeheim switched up his favorite 2-3 defense in favor of man-to-man with a little bit of full court pressure. It worked.

Syracuse has converted several fast-break baskets in the last few minutes, most of them coming from Paul Harris and Jonny Flynn.

This isn't supposed to happen for the Jayhawks. They're supposed to flow naturally in a game like this and flounder against a zone. The opposite has been happening. Kansas looks lost right now against the pressure.

16:34- 47-38

The guess here is that the rest of the first half will play out like the last few minutes. Kansas and Syracuse traded baskets. It was physical. It wasn't pretty.

Syracuse pulled within six on a Jonny Flynn dunk, but then the Jayhawks responded with a three. That's how it's been for Kansas, and it's surprising.

The Jayhawks are young. They're supposed to get rattled. Make mistakes. Fall on themselves.

It hasn't happened yet, and that's the most impressive part about this team.

Halftime: 41-30

That whole Sherron Collins, Jonny Flynn thing. Let's just say Collins is doing better so far. By a lot.

With Syracuse making a run, he took over for the Jayhawks late in the half. He had two big three-pointer both times the Orange pulled within three.

Collins has clearly embraced his veteran leader role. Anytime it seems this team needs a basket, he's there.

Of course, the young guys have shined so far as well. Taylor had the big scoring burst, and the Morris twins have each had a couple key baskets. Morningstar is playing well on defense and made three free throws after getting fouled.

It's been up and down, but this first half has to please Self.

7:31- 24-15 Kansas leads.

Well, a bit of technical difficulties here as far as getting these updates quickly. And there was a lot that just happened, especially with Tyshawn Taylor.

In a two-minute stretch, he scored nine straight points for Kansas. One was on a nice pull-up jumper. One was on a layup. One was on a three-pointer.

He did it all in those two minutes, impressive for a freshman. And remember this. Last year, Taylor averaged just 10 points a game. He had nine here in two minutes. Not bad at all.

Quick note: Brady Morningstar helped spark Taylor's run with a blocked shot.

11:59- 11-8 Kansas leads

Markieff Morris of all people broke the cold streak. He connected on a three-pointer, giving the Jayhawks an 11-8 lead.

So far Marcus and Markieff have shown they're not shy from the three-point line. Against Washington, one of them passed up a wide open outside shot, and that was probably the first time either one of them had this season.

Oh well, if Kansas wants to win, it has to make outside shot. And if a Morris twin does it, all the better for the Jayhawks.

14:30, 8-5 Kansas lead

And the shots continue to miss.

Syracuse is playing a zone, and well, Kansas doesn't quite know what to do. The Jayhawks started the game two-for-nine from the field and haven't looked much better.

Tyshawn Taylor is airballing three pointers. Cole Aldrich is missing rim on the inside. Tyrel Reed is long.

The game looks an awful lot like most Jayhawk games against Syracuse. The team is struggling. Zone defenses have always given this team fits. This team is no different.

Last night, against Washington, the young guys played well because it was a transition game. This is a real half-court battle. It will be interesting to watch.

The early-going 2-2: Well, the game didn't start out in the most orthodox way.

Syracuse guard Eric Devendorf found out that Cole Aldrich is a better on-the-ball defender than his 6-11 frame would show. Devendorf had the ball by the three-point line and got pressured by Aldrich. He lost control, and Aldrich wouldn't let him escape. The Orange got whistled for a shot-clock violation.

The Orange scored after that, but Sherron Collins answered with a jump shot, tying the game.

Pre-game: So this Jonny Flynn guy is pretty good. He's averaging about 20 points a game. Some are callling him the best guard in the country. Last night, Bill Self even said he might be.

But Self also said this: I like our guy too.

Of course, Self was talking abotu Sherron Collins, KU's best player by far the first three games. Collins has scored consistently, showing a solid stroke from the outside and penetrating. He looks healthy and he looks motivated.

Tonight's game should be a battle between Collins and Flynn. Although, Tyshawn Taylor could guard Flynn part of the time, expect Flynn and Collins to go head-to-head most of the night. Whoever wins that battle, will likely have the advantage in the game.

Comments

taylorbern (anonymous) says...

Mark Dent is the supreme being. He could blog about Dickie V taking a poopie and I'd still read it all.

November 26, 2008 at 2 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

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