Recap & takeaways from KU basketball loss to UCF Knights

Elmarko Jackson was ready for a fast feed from Kansas ahead KJ Adams to him within the left nook. With 4:35 remaining, the ball deflected off the freshman guard and went out of bounds reasonably than creating an open 3-point shot.

That was a typical scene throughout Wednesday’s recreation versus UCF. The often cool Jayhawks had been agitated, made reckless passes with the ball, and dedicated key errors.

A gaggle that was adept at successful shut video games disintegrated.

On Wednesday at Addition Monetary Middle, in entrance of a sold-out crowd, UCF shocked the third-ranked Jayhawks, successful 65-60.

The Jayhawks, who had been forward for almost the entire first twenty-seven minutes, had been now behind by seven factors. With roughly 57 seconds remaining, they had been solely behind 4 factors, however Adams drove to the rim and was blocked.

Hunter Dickinson trimmed the margin in half with a 3-point jumper after UCF elevated their benefit to 6 factors. With fifteen seconds remaining, UCF’s Darius Johnson made two free throws to place the Knights up 5, thus ending the sport.

It appeared earlier that KU would possibly win simply. For roughly 22 minutes of the sport, Kansas led by as a lot as 16 factors, with nearly all of that lead occurring within the first 27 minutes of play.

The Jayhawks, forward 37-29 on the half, watched as UCF stormed again to take a 19-7 lead and take again the lead. A timeout was known as by the Jayhawks. Solely as soon as thereafter, for round thirty seconds, did they lead 53–52.

As KU’s nine-game successful streak got here to an finish, Dickinson scored 12 factors and Kevin McCullar scored 16. The Jayhawks (13-2) suffered a loss of their inaugural recreation in opposition to UCF, a Massive 12 newcomer.

As a result of they could not deal with the ball, the Jayhawks allowed the Knights to get again into the sport.

Despite the fact that KU shot 68% of the sector and UCF shot 38%, the Jayhawks had been solely forward by eight factors on the half.

Why? UCF transformed 9 turnovers by Kansas into 9 factors off of turnovers.

With 18 turnovers within the second half, KU’s efficiency did not get significantly better. These turnovers resulted in eighteen factors for the Knights.

Alternatively, the Jayhawks scored simply 12 factors off of 13 UCF errors. Adams had 4 turnovers, McCullar had 5, and Dajuan Harris, who had 5 in his earlier recreation, had three extra.

With UCF forward 7-0 early within the Jayhawks’ recreation, Invoice Self went to his bench. Jackson was changed by rookie Johnny Furphy in his first substitute.

Furphy scored a 3-pointer instantly, forcing the Knights to name a timeout. He stole the ball and made an unimaginable slam proper after the timeout.

Afterwards, Furphy was run an inbound play by KU, which he become a quick layup. The sequence demonstrated that Self and his employees had been assured sufficient within the rookie to execute a transfer that resulted in a aim from him.

The primary half on Wednesday served as one more illustration of how the Australian phenomenon has steadily begun to seem extra relaxed with each recreation.

In 17 minutes, he completed with 9 factors and 4 rebounds, which was essentially the most since Nov. 20.

All through the season, the Jayhawks’ bench has been a critical vulnerability. Each basic consistency and rating manufacturing have been missing.

Nicely, in opposition to the Knights, the bench carried out admirably.

The primary half alone noticed KU’s bench outscore UCF by 12 factors (14–2). The seven factors Furphy scored within the first half led the bench, which provided some much-needed scoring reduction.

Kansas had a 9-point lead in bench factors (17–8) on the finish of the sport. Parker Braun and Nicolas Timberlake mixed for the remaining eight factors. Together with three rebounds, Braun additionally had a steal and a block.