Three Keys: Jayhawks must keep composure against Sooners
The Kansas Jayhawks are coming back home to a much more difficult test than the UCF Knights team that beat them on the road Wednesday. Instead, they take on a Top 10 Oklahoma Sooners squad that is coming off a road loss of their own.
Kansas wasn't able to accomplish the three keys that they needed to complete on Wednesday, but if they want to avoid a two-game skid, there are several things they need to do against the Sooners.
Slow It Down
The Jayhawks have struggled this year when the pace has picked up. While I noted before the UCF game that Kansas has had success at a fast pace, that success has been very fleeting. The original success that saw them jump out to a 16-point lead in the first half immediately turned on them.
Turnovers increase as the pace picks up. Young players still trying to find their spot in the rotation press a bit more. The veterans try to shoulder more of the burden. The overall flow of the offense stalls, and if the defense doesn't pick up, then it could be a really big deal.
So Kansas needs to slow it down and be deliberate against the Sooners. Take full advantage of fast break opportunities, but they need to avoid pushing the pace just because they can.
Keep Turnovers Even
I think it is too much to ask at this point for the Jayhawks to limit turnovers. They are a team that just struggles to hold onto the ball. But where they have really gotten into trouble is when they turn it over but the defense isn't able to return the favor. Kansas is actually pretty good at getting steals, but they don't force a lot of other turnovers. Oklahoma has a tendency to give up steals, so Kansas needs to take full advantage.
Interior Defense
Oklahoma likes to go inside. Not quite to the same degree that the Jayhawks do. But despite that, they tend to drive directly into the teeth of the defense, and their block rate is an area that Kansas can take advantage.
Strong defense inside from Hunter Dickinson, KJ Adams and Parker Braun can go a long way in this one. If Kansas isn't able to force turnovers, affecting shots is the next best way to slow the Sooners down.
