Kansas averaged 92 points in its first two games during a 1-1 start before the gravity of the No. 7 Jayakx who is finally replacing him during a showdown with No. 20 Kentucky on Tuesday night. The Wildcats held Kansas just five points in the first 10 minutes, and all of a sudden it was painfully clear how much Jayahx missed from the star duo of Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuke last season.
But that’s when another star emerged for Kansas. Redshirt newcomer forward Jalen Wilson scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half to take the JAHX back from a 13-point first half deficit and win 65-62 against Kentucky in Indianapolis as part of the Champions Classic.
Wilson’s aggressive outburst brought a breath of life to the Kansas team that hit only 30% of his shots as senior leader Marcus Garrett faced an illness that limited his endurance. In the end, though, a familiar recipe helped Kansas close the deal: Defense. Jayakx kept Kentucky out of the 3-point range in just 3-of-21 shooting, as the Wildcats suffered their second straight loss.
Freshman Center Isaiah Jackson starred for Kentucky with 12 rebounds, eight blocks and seven points. But just as he defeated Richmond 76-6464 on Sunday, so did Kentucky.
Wilson of Kansas shone
Wilson emerged as a key player in Kansas earlier this season after missing all but two games last year due to injury. But the former No. 53 prospect in the 2019 recruiting class looked like a rising star against the Wildcats. At 6-foot-8, the combination of his physique and athleticism doesn’t match the Kentucky defenders, which is why he made his own shot and saved a struggling Kansas offense.
When Wilson raised a fourth error after scoring 11 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, he tested Kansas with a 44-42 lead. Jayhawks converted no shots from the field for three-and-a-half minutes while Wilson sat out due to his mishap. He made the team’s next bucket – 5:29 with 3-pointers left – which gave Kansas the lead again. While Ochai Ambaji had 2:45 left for Kansas with 3:45 points, none other than Wilson was the first field goal of the half for those Jayahks.
Kansas is still still missing Dotson and Azubuik and has a long way to go to move aggressively. But Wills put the team on his back on Tuesday and showed that he could be the undisputed gem in the big 12 that is full of talent.
Kentucky won’t be able to shoot
Just two days after Richmond lost all its 10-point attempts in the loss, Wildcats’ troubles from the outside continued. The three-pointers from Kentucky – the pointers – came from their benches, the second-half creator transfer Devian Mintz hit the less-used reserve Dont Allen in the first half before hitting a pair of trains.
But if the Wildcats are going to challenge for an SEC or a national title, they will need to find something better shooting, especially from their starting lineup. Initially, most of his offense was on second-chance issues and closing turnover. But after eight turnovers in the first nine minutes, Kansas turned it three more times for the rest of the game, limiting Kentucky’s chances for a fast-break point.
After all, a pair of unnecessary flushes on the center ol levier ser is also worth Kentucky. Wake Forest Transfer was the most efficient scorer of the Wildcats with a 4-for-6 for the night from the floor. But he logged in just 14 minutes after picking up a pair of unauthorized fouls in the second half.
Quiet contribution
At first glance, a 22-2 margin on Kentucky’s bench points indicates that Jayax has not found any substance from his bench. But the redshirt sparked a major spark for Kansas with five assistants and four steals in the 25 minutes of newcomer Dajuan Harris bench. His contribution as an assistant and defender was especially welcomed as Garrett was battling an illness during the game.
Like Wilson, Harris was a four-star prospect in the 2019 class that re-emerged last season and came under the radar entering the 2020-21 campaign. But if the roles the two played on Tuesday were any indication, there are some studs in last year’s recruiting class in Kansas that will make a big impact this season.
