Transitional Offensive the Key to Kansas' Success
Nov. 23, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas made everything look easy on Tuesday, Nov. 23, for an 82-41 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Jayhawks also flew by the Islanders with 24 fast-break plays, compared to their opponent’s two.
“The most rewarding part of defense is getting a fast break because then you get your dunks, your alley-oops and get the crowd going,” senior Brady Morningstar said. “That makes everything that much easier.”
The Jayhawks are using early season games to perfect their transition offense, preparing themselves for tougher competition that is to come in the very near future.
“I am so ready,” junior Tyshawn Taylor said. “This is kind of what we have been waiting for. We are Kansas so we want to play against the Arizona’s, the Duke’s and everybody we are playing against. That is kind of what we expect and we expect this competition at all times. I am looking forward to it.”
Taylor, an experienced guard, is good at finding his teammates in tight situations and the quick transition from defense to offense will help the Jayhawks secure extra points and tally more wins in the future.
“I think it was just one of those fast-paced games,” Taylor said. “The guys were running so I was finding them.”
Kansas also worked on another aspect of their game- dunking. The Jayhawks excited the crowd eight different times with dunks in the air, spin-moves and alley-oop passes.
Five different Jayhawks found air-time, including sophomores Thomas Robinson and Elijah Johnson, juniors Marcus and Markieff Morris and red-shirt sophomore Travis Releford, who according to Robinson, had the best dunk of the game.
“We love this crowd,” Robinson said. “I don’t see how anyone can come in here and be completely calm. It feels like they are on top of you every second of the game, so I definitely think the crowd had something to do with it.”
The Jayhawks will hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to Las Vegas to compete in the Las Vegas Invitational. Kansas will first take-on Ohio Friday, Nov. 26 before facing Arizona on Saturday, Nov. 27.
