The hottest offense in the nation paraded into Lawrence, Kan. on Monday fresh off its most recent slaughter.
No. 3 Baylor, undefeated and flush with all the talent that an NBA scout could conjure, routed Oklahoma State for 106 points on Saturday. The Bears were merciless, just as network know-it-alls preached they would be.
Then No. 7 Kansas (15-3, 5-0) squelched them on both sides of the floor.
A layered, sturdy defense and an offense unafraid of attacking Baylor’s lengthy zone led to the 92-74 victory on Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
“I think the nation saw how tough they are,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said.
The Jayhawks were out to prove it, too.
Just more than three minutes into the game, senior guard Tyshawn Taylor swiftly dribbled down the right side of the floor and lobbed a pass behind junior forward Thomas Robinson’s head. The national player of the year candidate leaped into the air, slung his right hand backward to catch the ball, and pounded the lob through the hoop with one hand, ensuring that Allen Fieldhouse would never hush.
“He pressed the up button,” said Taylor, who scored 28 points for the second consecutive game.
Robinson’s dunk underlined how the game would continue. It was the Jayhawks, not the Bears, who would dictate on both ends.
Robinson’s increased patience with the ball provided him with cleaner shots and fewer mistakes. He finished with 27 efficient points and consistently freed space for his teammates in both fast break and half-court sets.
“He’s become more a guy that understands the game and how he can take advantage of his skill set and his body,” coach Bill Self said.
When the Bears attacked with forwards Perry Jones III, Quincy Miller and Quincy Acy, Robinson acted as the interior muscle to hassle shot attempts and swallow all rebounds.
“If you make it past that stage,” junior guard Elijah Johnson said, “you’ve still got to go over a seven footer who’s athletic and can do just about anything.”
Johnson was referring to junior center Jeff Withey, who played aggressively from the opening tipoff and never quit bothering the Bears with his long, shot altering arms.
After Withey clogged the opposition, Taylor initiated the fast break that broke the game open.
“I’m not saying that people are sleeping on us,” Taylor said. “But people didn’t really know what to expect coming from this team. They didn’t really know what we have or what we can do. I think the last two games, we showed them we can be the best team in the conference if we play how we’ve been playing.”