The Qwest begins
Kansas rolls after getting out to an early lead
An early tip didn't affect Kansas at the Qwest Center in Omaha. The Jayhawks got an easy 85-61 win in the first game of what they hoped was a deep NCAA Tournament run. They play UNLV in the second round on Saturday.
Thursday, March 20th, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. – The knock on the door came at 7 a.m., a little too early for Brandon Rush.
A near-dawn wake-up call was needed for all the players so they could be ready for Thursday’s 11:25 a.m. tip. Rush, who usually doesn’t see the light of day until around 11, 12 or even 1 stayed under the covers of his Embassy Suites bed for 15 minutes longer before finally getting up.
“It was real hard,” he said.
Kansas vs. Portland State
Photo gallery of men's basketball game against Portland State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament Thursday at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.
He couldn’t say that about Kansas’ 85-61 victory against Portland State. Not Rush or any of his KU teammates snoozed in the early part of their opening round game of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at the Qwest Center. They took a 16-5 lead and never really saw the margin dwindle.
Self wanted the quick start. He just wasn’t expecting it. The game was early, about an 1 hour and 30 minutes before any other KU game started this season. Plus, he thought it was a little chilly inside the Qwest Center.
“Early and cold,” Self said, “usually lends itself to not great energy.”
Despite low temperature and early tip, it took about five minutes for the Jayhawks to shatter any hopes the Vikings may have had of springing a once-in-a-lifetime upset, and Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush had a lot to do with it.
Rush scored on the opening possession then assisted a Darnell Jackson alley-oop. Chalmers turned in the hustle play of the day when he blocked a shot, got the rebound from it, saved the ball from going out of bounds and then started a fast break that ended with a Darrell Arthur dunk. This came two possessions after he made a three-pointer. Chalmers scored 10 points in the first half. Brandon Rush added 15, and Arthur scored nine.
“It’s so important to get off to the fast start and not let the other team think they can play with you or beat you,” Self said. “They never challenged us in large part because we were up 10 early in the first half.”
Although the players admitted they lost some intensity in the second half, Portland State never mounted a comeback. The Vikings couldn’t handle the Jayhawk offense.
Chalmers, Rush and Collins picked up where they left off in the Big 12 Tournament, combining to make 10 three-pointers. Collins had three of them, despite being bothered by a knee injury. Self said he wasn't 100 percent after bumping it in practice earlier this week. The team made 12 three-pointers for the game, including eight in the first half. Portland State constantly double-teamed Arthur and Jackson in the post, leaving perimeter shooters open. Self said that was why his team attempted so many threes, not because they were in love with the long ball.
If he’s right, it’s probably a good thing. The guards made the looks on Thursday and in the Big 12 Tournament last week, but they haven’t connected from the outside all season. In February, the Jayhawks went through a two-game stretch where they made just four of 26 three-pointers. Another slump is a possibility. That’s why Russell Robinson wants Kansas to compete harder on defense than it did in the second half on Thursday so it can create easier shots.
“There’s going to be a night when we’re not shooting the ball well,” he said. And we’re going to have to buckle down. If the other team can’t score they can’t win.”
The Jayhawks will certainly want to contain Saturday’s opponent, UNLV. The Rebels jumped out to a 20-point lead in the first half of their first round game against Kent State. During the next two days, the Jayhawks will watch an almost endless amount of tape on UNLV, relax, eat plenty and catch as much NCAA games on TV as they can. They know Satuday night’s opponent will be plenty tougher than the one they played on Thursday.
“They got players,” Robinson said. “They got athletes from what I’ve seen. It’s the second round of the tournament and by no means is it going to be easy.”
Discussion
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please ask a fourth grader how to spell the word "quest"
I believe it was spelled this way in reference to the Qwest Center, signifying the beginning of the road starts there.
KU isn't advancing in the Final Four...yet. It's still just the NCAA tourney, guys.
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