Iowa State @ Kansas preview
Allen Fieldhouse
Last Meeting ( Feb 17, 2020 ) Iowa State 71, Kansas 91
Kansas fell out of the polls for the first time in 12 years on Monday and used the occasion to end a string of four consecutive defeats to ranked teams.
A turnaround in the making? Perhaps, though a friendlier schedule on the immediate horizon could also favor the Jayhawks (13-7, 7-5 Big 12), who play host to Iowa State (2-12, 0-9) Thursday at Lawrence, Kan.
"We're just happy to win in general," said David McCormack, one of three Jayhawks to record double-doubles Monday in a 78-66 victory over No. 23 Oklahoma State.
"We did better on defense (than) before. We're really just locked down, we talked to each other, we communicated through problems and got through it."
The slip from the rankings, where Kansas had been entrenched for a record 231 straight polls, influenced coach Bill Self to alter his approach. He stressed defensive intensity to help the Jayhawks overcome their tendency to look tense and play tight.
"As much as you (tell them to) play loose and everything, it's easier said than done," Self said. "So sometimes you've just got to embrace it and say, ‘OK, we're going to be tight. Let's just guard the heck out of people and don't worry about offense.' "
Considering Kansas won with 41.1 percent shooting, Self might be on to something as long as sticky defense remains intact, even with the Jayhawks playing a rematch at last-place Iowa State on Saturday before traveling to ninth-place Kansas State on Feb. 17.
"Our next two-to-three games are definitely dire and big for us," said McCormack, Kansas' most consistent performer in the last five games with averages of 18.0 points and 7.4 rebounds during that stretch.
Following a 79-76 loss Tuesday at TCU, sixth-year coach Steve Prohm recognized his Iowa State job could be in jeopardy after also failing to finish above .500 in Big 12 play the previous three seasons.
"Obviously, there's no question about it. This isn't what the fan base deserves," Prohm told the Des Moines Register. "This isn't what the administration deserves. It wasn't what anybody signed up for. Disappointed, no doubt about it. There's nobody bothered by it more than me and my family."
It doesn't help that the TCU defeat began a stretch of seven games in 15 days, but that at least affords the Cyclones little time to dwell on negatives.
Rasir Bolton leads four Iowa State scorers averaging double figures at 16.6 points per game.
--Field Level Media