KU Basketball: Rotation Beginning To Take Shape
By Alec Tilson
The KU Basketball team lost its first game of the season in an early learning experience for the Jayhawks.
The Kansas Jayhawks led by 13 points at one point against Michigan State last night, but Denzel Valentine and the Spartans came back and won 79-73 in the second game of the Champions Classic.
Kansas was outscored by 12 points in the second half, but, despite the loss, fans got a good look at how this Jayhawks team might shape up this season.
It usually takes time before Bill Self’s rotation becomes set, but we saw last night a nice example of how the minutes could be split up this season. This of course was without freshman Cheick Diallo in the mix, and if he’s cleared to play any time soon, the whole rotation changes.
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Michigan State provided a physical early season gut-check for KU Basketball. The Tom Izzo led Spartans played like it, battling for rebounds and relying on fundamental team defense. The Jayhawks controlled much of the game through the first 20 minutes, but the second half was different story.
For the Big Three – Perry Ellis, Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden Jr. – it was business as usual as far as minutes go. Ellis led the team with 21 points and added six rebounds and a steal in 34 minutes. Mason went for 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, but shot 5-for-15 from the floor in 34 minutes. Selden shot 3-of-12 in 27 minutes.
Devonte’ Graham, who figures to see big minutes this season as the second guard in the lineup, had a night to forget at the United Center last night. He led the team with 38 minutes, but finished 1-for-9 from the field, missed all four of his three-point attempts and scored just four points.
Assuming Jamari Traylor, a big-bodied senior who brings instant energy, gets his 15-plus minutes per night, that leaves a good chunk of minutes to split up between several of KU’s role players.
Svi Mykhailiuk, Brannen Greene, Landen Lucas, Carlton Bragg Jr. and Hunter Mickelson will vie for minutes as the early season continues. Last night, it was Mykhailiuk and Lucas who led the bench players in minutes.
With Self, whoever can come in and guard on defense, that’s who’s going to play. Whoever can come in and guard Valentine – who posted a ridiculous triple-double last night – that’s who’s going to play.
KU Basketball was well aware of Valentine before the game, too, they just couldn’t stop him, according to Gary Bedore of KUSports.com:
"“Very talented. He made first-team All-American preseason,” KU coach Bill Self said of Valentine…“He can shoot. He can really pass,” Self added…"
The Jayhawks will play its next game on Nov. 23 against Chaminade at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii.
Next: KU Basketball: Maui Invitational Looming
It’s a mid-November loss for KU Basketball, nothing more and nothing less. It was still a solid first look at two of the better teams in the country and how they stack up as the season begins.