Kansas Basketball: Struggling Jayhawks squeak by the Wildcats at home

The tense 2017-2018 season continues for Kansas Basketball as they narrowly avoided another home loss in the race to 14 straight conference titles.

It has been a long, strange season for Kansas Basketball fans. The most spoiled fans in the nation are having to deal with not being a clear favorite from game to game. Despite all the struggles and having the NCAA play games with Billy Preston’s collegiate career, the Jayhawks find themselves in a four team tie for first place in the Big12.

In a tight game throughout, Kansas State gave the Jayhawks their best effort in the I-70 showdown. If it wasn’t for a crucial technical foul against Cartier Diarra, who had a career high 18 points, the Jayhawks may have lost at home for the third time this season.

To the Jayhawks credit, players came up clutch for Bill Self. Devonte’ Graham made his free throws after the technical foul. Malik Newman made two crucial free throws after Xavier Sneed made two to take lead by one.

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Up 73-72 with 15 seconds left, Kansas played some stingy defense. Barry Brown shot an off-balance three that missed as time ran out.

Graham led all Jayhawks with 23 points, making 9-10 free throws and hitting 4 threes. Udoka Azubuike Contributed 18 points with 8 rebounds and 5 blocks. Silvio De Sousa was cleared to play before the game, seeing four minutes. Sousa looked like he was playing his first collegiate game, but time will tell how much help he can be.

Dean Wade continued his great season for the Wildcats, scoring 22. Kansas State has now lost six straight against the Jayhawks. The Wildcats have also lost 12 in a row at Allen Field House. It was the second straight game between the two that came down to the last possession.

Not good enough

Bill Self spoke to reporters after the game as he always does, and referred to the difference of this team as opposed to past Jayhawks teams.

"We don’t have the same team we’ve had in the past where you can pull away from folks, when you play better competition, any win is a good win, and we have to understand that."

Ignoring the obvious limb to walk out on here, I will mention that there are good wins and bad wins. The win against Kansas State could be considered a bad win. Yes, Kansas Basketball fans are happy the Jayhawks won, and perhaps it is impressive to win while playing poorly.

Perhaps it is also safe to say that if Kansas plays the same way at West Virginia on Monday night the Jayhawks will lose by 20.

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Either way, Kansas finds themselves with three other teams who appear to be separating from the rest of the league, and that is where Kansas needs to be as they chase that 14th straight title.