Three Keys: Jayhawks need big Dickinson performance against Sooners
The Kansas Jayhawks continue their road trip as they head to Norman, Oklahoma to take on the Oklahoma Sooners. Both teams have been struggling recently and a win in this matchup would go a huge way to bolstering potential seeding in the NCAA Tournament.
The Jayhawks have lost 4 straight road games and breaking that streak will take a pretty big effort. One guy on the roster can contribute in multiple ways to really bolster their chances. So what do the Jayhawks need to do in order to pull off a victory tonight?
Win the Rebounding Margin
Bill Self has been upset recently with the rebounding efforts of the team, as the Jayhawks have been outrebounded by an average margin of 10 in their losses in conference. And while Hunter Dickinson hasn't been THE problem, he has been averaging 3 less rebounds per game than his season averages.
You can make the argument that the rebounding of KJ Adams or Johnny Furphy is more important, but there is no doubt that the defensive performance of Dickinson sets the tone for the rest of the defense. And on the offensive end, the Jayhawks need to contest for rebounds to keep Oklahoma from controlling the pace of the game.
Fast Hands
Oklahoma has a problem with turnovers, something that Kansas was mildly able to take advantage of in the first game. Kevin McCullar returning to the lineup is a huge boost to those efforts on the perimeter, but turnovers in the paint are huge for this team as well. The Jayhawks have four players that average more than one steal per game.
Aggression in the Paint
The Jayhawks do some of their best work inside the paint, with nearly 50% of their scoring coming from there. Oklahoma is far behind, but the Kansas defense is much better at shutting their opponents down close to the rim. Add in the shot blocking prowess of Hunter Dickinson, who had 5 blocked shots in the last meeting, and Kansas has an advantage they need to push. .
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