Can the Jayhawks' Paint Domination and Assists Overwhelm Sooners Again?
The Kansas Jayhawks, ranked third nationally, improved their record to 15-2 after a commanding victory over the ninth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners with a final score of 78-66. The Jayhawks showcased their dominance at Allen Fieldhouse in front of a full-capacity crowd of 16,300 fans.
The home team's performance was marked by an impressive display inside the paint, where they scored 46 points compared to the Sooners' 26. The Jayhawks were also efficient from the free-throw line, making an exceptional 94 percent of their shots. Their two-point shooting was equally effective with a success rate of 51 percent.
Defensively, Kansas outshone Oklahoma with seven blocks and seven steals during the game. This defensive prowess contributed to their fast break points tallying up to 15. The Jayhawks capitalized on turnovers as well, scoring 11 points off Oklahoma's mistakes.
A key aspect of Kansas' gameplay was their ball distribution; they recorded a total of 17 assists which is more than double that of the Sooners’ eight assists. This facilitated an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio for Kansas at approximately eight and half times better than that of Oklahoma’s ratio.
On the other side, despite being outperformed in several areas, Oklahoma managed to put up a fight in rebounds with only one less than Kansas at thirty-nine total rebounds. They also attempted more three-point shots but were only able to convert six out of twenty attempts into successful baskets.
The game saw ten lead changes and was tied four times indicating moments where both teams had opportunities to take control. However, it was ultimately Kansas' ability to execute plays and maintain defensive solidity that led them through each quarter consistently ahead in scoring.
Looking ahead for fans eager for more action from their beloved team: The next challenge for the Kansas Jayhawks will be against Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gallagher-Iba Arena on January 16th at eight o'clock PM Central Time Zone. This away game will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN channel two hundred six ensuring fans won't miss any live action from Stillwater.