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Alright, folks... let’s talk.
There are a couple of losses this year to point to and be upset about. (looking at TCU) Tonight was not one of those. Making excuses is not on the agenda. They didn’t play well. Mistakes were made. But, let’s look at this Tweet from our own Joel Penfield who said it better than I could.
Step away from the ledge, Cowboy fans. Tonight is not the horrendous loss you all want to believe it is. It sucks, sure. But this doesn’t hurt anything tournament resume wise. Kansas is still Kansas, they’re projected as a 5 seed right now.
— Joel Penfield (@jtpenfield) February 9, 2021
*prepares self for idiotic replies*
A bad Bill Self coached team, is still not “bad”. They’re still not out of tourney contention. Don’t let them not being ranked fool you. KU was +13 on the defensive glass tonight and held Oklahoma State to 35% shooting. They had a heck of a game defensively. Oklahoma State also didn’t have an answer for McCormack all night. They didn’t have anyone that was big enough to guard him. And they tried to double team him a couple of times and it didn’t end well.
They needed guys to step up, and this young team just almost did it. Three players were in double digits. Avery Anderson with 13, Issas Likekele with 10, and Cade Cunningham with 26. Kansas three top-scores Braun, Garrett, and McCormack with 15,17, and 23 respectively. Especially in the first half, every time Oklahoma State would hit a big three, Kansas had an answer. It was just a perfect storm.
Combine that with the fact that this team just got done playing a 2OT game against Texas with a 48-hour turnover and it was a big ask to expect this team to sweep Bill Self and Kansas. Oh hey and bye the way, do it with Ice dealing with an injury. There are things to be mad about “We lost to a bad Kansas team.” is not it.
Now the thing that’s the killer... 18 turnovers...18(!!!). That is going to lose you games on the road period. This season is by no means a lost cause at this point. But it’s quickly sliding in that direction if turnovers continue to plague this team. Another thing that is desperately needed right now, free-throw shooting. The Cowboys missed 13 more free throws than Kansas did, which ended up being the margin of the game.
The next two games are Kansas State on Saturday and Iowa State on Tuesday. Go regroup, win those games and you’re right back on track.