Thursday, January 22, 2009
When coach Bonnie Henrickson’s teams shoot better than 50 percent from the field, they win.
Like finals or taxes, it’s a fact of life.
Junior forward guards Nebraska guard Kala Kuhlman during Kansas' 67-58 loss in Lincoln, Neb.
Well, at least it was. Kansas teams in Henrickson’s five years sported a flashy 19-0 record when hitting more than half of their field goals.
Somebody forgot to tell the Huskers, and the Jayhawks shot a touch better than 50 percent and lost.
“We’ve said it a million times,” Henrickson said. “Whether you are shooting the ball well or not shooting the ball well, you need more shots.”
Kansas had 10 fewer shots than Nebraska in the first half and ended up attempting 14 fewer shots in the game.
Henrickson thinks the only real factor in the huge discrepancy in shot attempts was the Jayhawks’ tendency to turn the ball over time and time again. The box score agrees, as the Jayhawks outrebounded the Huskers by 8, the only other main factor in the number of shot attempts.
“We’re travelling and throwing the ball out of bounds, and on a night when you shoot the ball pretty well, you just need more shots,” Henrickson said.
Their 22 turnovers tied for second-most in the conference so far this season. The only team to turn the ball over more than Kansas was Texas Tech, whose 23 turnovers came in a victory over Kansas.
Henrickson’s teams in the past were 61-13 when they outshot their opponents. The Huskers shot 42.6 percent from the field. Nebraska was still hotter from the field than they had been in their past three games in losses to Big 12 opponents.
The idea that the Jayhawks could shoot that well and lose was starting to have life at the end of the first half.
After Nebraska junior Cory Montgomery hoisted an errant three-pointer to end the half, the Jayhawks finished the half shooting an outstanding 60.9 percent from the field. They also allowed the Huskers to shoot just 42.4 percent, but led by a single point.
Henrickson attributes the high percentage in the first half to the team’s offensive execution.
After halftime, the Huskers shot a bit better than the Jayhawks, and the point became clear.
“We don’t work to get the same high percentage shots in the second half as we do in the first half,” Henrickson said.
Kansas has discovered in their past two games that basketball, like life, isn’t always fair.
Against Texas Tech Saturday night, they were getting open looks but their jump shots couldn’t hit the water from a paddle boat.
In Lincoln, they found out that the team that steals more, blocks more, rebounds more and shoots better doesn’t always win.
The Jayhawks can only hope that karma exists.
— — Edited by Heather Melanson
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