'Best' and 'Worst' awards: Temple vs. Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. – My look at some of the best and worst performances and happenings from Kansas’ 69-62 victory over Temple on Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse:
'Best' and 'Worst' awards: Temple vs. Kansas
Keith Pompey
LAWRENCE, Kan. – My look at some of the best and worst performances and happenings from Kansas’ 69-62 victory over Temple on Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse:
Best performance: How can you not give this award to Khalif Wyatt? Sure Kansas forward Kevin Young produced 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks to victory. But anyone who witnessed the game realizes that Wyatt was the standout. The Temple guard made 8 of 19 shots and 7 of 7 free throws to finish with a game-high 26 points. He scored 11 consecutive points during one stretch in the second half.
Worst performance: It seems unfair to give this to Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, considering his team-high four assists to go with seven rebounds. But being held to a season-low two points on 0-for-9 shooting was hard to overlook. Most of the Temple power forward's shot attempts came on open looks. This was by far his worst shooting effort of the season.
Best defensive performance: Kansas’ Jeff Withey gets this award after blocking a game-high nine shots. The 7-foot senior center altered several other shots and grabbed 11 rebounds – 10 on the defensive end.
Best performance by a Jayhawk: Young wins this award after producing a double-double. The senior made six clutch foul shots late in the game to help Jayhawks pull out the victory.
Worst statistic: You have to give this to the Owls' three-point shooting. Temple made just 4 of 17 three-pointers. Scootie Randall and Dalton Pepper were a combined 0 for 6.
Best statistic: This award goes to Temple in the turnover department. The Owls only committed four turnovers in what was supposed to be a mistake producing environment.
Best of the Best: This goes to the Allen Fieldhouse atmosphere. The deafening sound from 16,300 screaming fans created an electric atmosphere I’ll always remember. Covering a game at “The Phog” is by far one of my best experiences at a sporting event.
Worst of the Worst: This award goes to Temple’s performance down the stretch. After leading 57-54 with 5 minutes left, the Owls missed eight consecutive shots before Wyatt made their final shot attempt. Temple guard Will Cummings also committed a turnover that led to Kansas taking the lead for good.
Some would call this a "good loss", but we had them by the short hairs. Reminds me of my golf game...lying three and nine feet from the hole...I two putt. Got to make those shots!— Harvey Matloff
John Mitchell is in his first year covering Temple after two seasons covering the 76ers for the Inquirer, after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette. He graduated from Overbrook High School in 1983, and he's a graduate of Howard University in Washington DC. Follow him on Twitter @jmitchinquirer or reach him at jmitchell@philly.com.
