Jayhawks avoiding distractions heading into meeting with Cyclones
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- As scrutiny mounts for the Kansas basketball program, the No. 3 Jayhawks seem oblivious to any distractions on the court.
Back-to-back wins against two teams rated in the top five, Kentucky and Baylor, leave Kansas (20-2, 8-1 Big 12) sitting atop the Big 12 halfway through the conference race entering a game Saturday against Iowa State (13-8, 5-4) in Allen Fieldhouse.
Sophomore forward Carlton Bragg remains suspended indefinitely stemming from misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, a charge for which he was granted court diversion prior to the Baylor win on Wednesday.
Sophomore guard Lagerald Vick and freshman forward Josh Jackson were linked to the Jayhawks' latest controversy. According to a Kansas City Star report, each player was identified as persons of interest in a car vandalism case. Vick was previously cited by the newspaper as having been found by the university as likely committing domestic violence against a female student in 2015.
In addition, five Kansas players were listed in a police report as witnesses in an investigation into an alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl at McCarthy Hall, the campus residence co-occupied by men's basketball players and male students.
"It's been a unique last short period of time," Kansas coach Bill Self said after the Baylor win, "but the guys' attitudes are great. ... We don't have a big margin for error right now obviously on the court, and certainly our guys responded very, very well."
Among all the challenges Self faces, motivating his team may be the least of the problems. After the report of the investigation into the alleged rape, Self said many of his players were "angry" over news portrayals of an elite program losing its moral footing.
The Jayhawks rallied in the second half of each high-profile victory and will now take on an Iowa State team they beat 76-72 in a Jan. 16 road win.
Of late, Jackson has progressed as an expected one-and-done contributor with NBA aspirations. He shot 55.5 percent from three-point range in the last four games after making just 23.7 percent in his first 18 career games. Jackson scored 65 points in the last three games, all against teams currently ranked in the top 10.
"The thing I've been trying to do is just go out there and play," Jackson said. "I feel like that's part of the reason why my shot has gotten a little better. (I'm) just not thinking so much and just going out and playing basketball."
That could be the mindset all the Jayhawks must embrace considering the controversy enveloping the program. In spite of the various off-court allegations, Kansas is playing at a high level.
Iowa State, meanwhile, carries a two-game losing streak following an 85-72 loss at home Tuesday to No. 7 West Virginia. On Thursday, 6-foot-8 senior forward Darrell Bowie was suspended for the Kansas game because "he didn't meet program standards," according to Cyclones coach Steve Prohm.
After drawing nine straight starts, Bowie -- a graduate transfer from Northern Illinois -- played sparingly in the last three games, including one minute against West Virginia.
The Cyclones were beaten from deep in their back-to-back defeats, giving up 13 three-pointers to Vanderbilt and 10 to West Virginia.
"(Several) of them were probably uncontested," said Prohm, "and that's the whole focal point of our defense because we're not a team with a rim protector that you're going to get out and pressure and deny. We want to be in gaps."
Kansas leads the Big 12 with a field goal percentage of .495 and a three-point percentage of .413. Senior point guard Frank Mason is the Big 12's top scorer (19.9 points per game) and is the only shooter connecting on better than half (51 percent) of his three-pointers.
Senior Monte Morris of Iowa State more than matched Mason in the first meeting, posting 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four teals against the Jayhawks. Morris leads the Big 12 in assists with a 5.6 average and is the Cyclones' leading scorer (16.0).
At home, Kansas has won 51 straight overall and 37 straight against conference rivals.
"You've just got to finish plays down there (at Kansas)," Morris said. "Me, personally, I haven't shot it well (at Kansas) in my three years there. Other guys have, but I feel I've got to step and have a big game, get things rolling and start it off good. You've also got to slow down Mason, Jackson and (Devonte') Graham down there if you want to win."
