Whewww. Needed a good 24 hours to get my ticker working normal again after the last couple days of Football and the K-St/Tech game. Imagine a lot of fellow KU fans have felt the same. I can't imagine how you feel if your also a Chiefs fan. Let's get to it.
First off and most important I want to congratulate this team for just finding a way to win. The toughness and will to win is strong with this group. We have an Alpha playing at the highest of levels in Agbaji and a supporting cast that's doing enough to keep this machine going. I saw the 17-2 record is the best in the last 5 years I believe.
This game was an instant classic, reminding me of the OU/Buddy Hield game or the WV comeback (although that game was hard to watch for 36 minutes). Much respect to Texas Tech and their first year coach Mark Adams who looks like a College Professor on the sidelines. It makes you think if he's been the brains behind the operation the whole time to Tech's rise (he was previously Chris Beard's assistant). Beard was salty when he didn't follow him across town. But who can blame Adams for sticking around and getting the HC job. Beard changes jobs more often then high school teenagers change love interests. Besides the point Tech is an very old team. I was remembering just how many guys they got that have been in College a half decade it seems. There defense is really good but they don't have a single youngster playing heavy minutes. It also seemed like the lack of a true PG is their only flaw besides outside shooting. Anyway much respect for that team, perhaps round 3 later? I'm good if we don't have to face Bryson Williams again. Did we send poop in the mail to his parents house? He was outstanding against us.
Let's talk Agbaji- 37 pts (career high), 7 3's (career high), believe it was the most points scored by a Jayhawk at Allen in a long time. 66 points in his last 2 games. Carrying this team on his back so far. Will he get his jersey retired the way he's going?
The Supporting Cast: Jalen, CB, Dave- Mixed bag of performances in this one but Jalen rebounded and defended his but off at times. He even made some FT's at critical points. CB- one of his worst shooting nights and some untimely turnovers that swung momentum but came up cluch at the FT line and played almost all 50 minutes. Dave- thought this was a game he neither hurt us or was one of the reasons we won. Going 7-8 at the FT line was a big improvement from what we've seen in some other games where he's struggled there.
Dajuan Harris had one of those games where I didn't think he played all that great and was a bit limited on both ends trying to score and defend over bigger guys. I know the game thread got a bit heated with Harris playing the last 15 minutes of the game or so including overtime over Remy who at times was carving up the Tech defense. I went back and watched some of the game and Dajuan kept the ball moving on offense and made some of the right reads/passes that ended up in buckets for KU. Who knows if anyone else could have made those plays.
KJ Adams- What a spark off the bench he was. He just seems to have a knack for being around the ball and despite Williams getting 33 he did the best job slowing him down defensively. For a freshman playing a 5th year veteran who was having the game of his life I thought KJ was extremely poised in the situation and that's something to be really proud of him for competing and thriving in the moment. He had a tip ball that bounced out to CB in double OT that was one of the biggest plays of the game. Hopefully this gives Self confidence to keep playing him in these kinds of situations. He was pretty complimentary of KJ in the post game.
We saw one of Remy's good games despite only 4 pts, he did have 5 assists. I thought the way he was able to knife into the lane created energy for this team and exposed Tech's 5 out switching they were doing. We need more of that Remy!
Game 1 of the 5 game gauntlet is in the books. Saturday is another big one with Kentucky coming to town with Gameday here. It will be interesting to see if TyTy Washington plays after he's sat the last few games for them with an injury. They have not looked good without his offensive scoring power out there losing to Auburn and going to OT against Miss St at home. Tschiebwe is going to be a really big problem to stop down low. Let's hope the guys rise to the occasion and board against him because this guy has been on an absolute tear all year long rebounding the ball.
Rock Chalk
