Kansas vs Michigan Basketball Recap

Kansas 75, Michigan 64

Three points are worth more than two, but layups are easier than 23-foot jumpers. That's the simple calculus Kansas used to preserve its No. 1 national ranking.

The Jayhawks moved to 10-0 on Saturday, in a workmanlike win over Michigan at Phog Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. While Bill Self's team remains perched atop the polls, Coach John Beilein's Wolverines - now at 5-5 - are faced with the need to make a splash in the upcoming Big Ten season.

Kansas maintained its momentum and plunged Michigan further into adversity by employing basic basketball logic. While the visiting Wolverines took almost half of their field goal attempts (28 of 67) from 3-point range, the KU crew did its dirty work near the rim. With forward Markieff Morris (6-of-8 on 2-point field goal attempts) and guard Sherron Collins (6-of-6 on 2-point field goal attempts) scoring consistently inside the arc, Kansas used an efficient offense built on two-pointers. The steady stream of chippies and - when fouled - made free throws enabled Kansas to easily outpace Michigan the old-fashioned way: with elbow grease and an ability to power the ball to the basket.

Michigan's guards - particularly 3-point shooting specialists Zack Novak (0-of-4 from 3-point range) and Stu Douglass (2-of-7 from long distance) - were bolted to the perimeter at the offensive end of the floor, and UM's lack of quickness made the Maize and Blue easy prey for Kansas's far more athletic backcourt. When the two teams switched matchups at the other end of the court, the Jayhawks were able to establish dribble penetration and create their parade of short-range scores and free throw opportunities. Morris and Collins - the dynamic duo for KU - were not only stellar as field-goal shooters, but as foul shooters as well. The credentialed combo went a combined 12-of-13 from the charity stripe on a day when KU made eight more foul shots than Michigan (19 to 11) on 13 more attempts (26 to 13).

At the end of the day, Michigan might have made five 3-pointers, but it took 28 possessions for Beilein's Bunch to snag those value-added shots. Meanwhile, Kansas didn't get greedy, and used an unceasing succession of two-point baskets and one-point foul shots to craft a comfortable blue-collar victory.

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By: Matt Zemek
Big 12 Fans Senior Staff Writer