KU to meet improved Kentucky team: ‘They definitely have turned around their season’

For Kansas to avoid its first four-game men’s basketball losing streak since the late 1980s, the Jayhawks on Saturday night must defeat an unranked Kentucky Wildcats team that has won four consecutive games — including an impressive victory at then-No 4 Tennessee — after opening the season 10-6.

“They definitely have turned around their season,” KU junior forward Jalen Wilson said of the Wildcats, who have rattled off victories over Tennessee, Georgia, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt heading into Saturday’s 7 p.m. (Central) SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup against the No. 9 Jayhawks.

KU (16-4, 5-3 Big 12) has dropped consecutive contests against Kansas State, TCU and Baylor.

“We are looking for a win just like they are. It’s not really about what streak they are on,” Wilson added. “Who is going to be the better team that day? If we can limit points in the paint, if we can limit touches in the paint, we’ll be fine on that (defensive) end.”

Wilson realizes KU faces a tough task in trying to slow 6-foot-9, 260-pound senior forward Oscar Tshiebwe, who averages 16.6 points and 13.9 rebounds per game.

However, Kentucky also is equipped with three-point firepower from guards Antonio Reeves (46 of 116 threes, .397), Cason Wallace (36 of 91, .396) and CJ Fredrick (29 of 82, .354). As a team, Kentucky has knocked down 146 of 396 threes (.369) to KU’s 151 of 423 (.357).

“We need to play defense and the rest will come,” Wilson said. “Teams have been scoring on us pretty easily. Teams have gotten on us early. We’ve got to focus on keeping that to a limit as much as we can and starting out strong.”

The Jayhawks hope to avoid a recent trend that has seen them trail by double digits in the first half of the last three games (all losses).

KU trailed Baylor by 13 points (20-7) eight minutes into a 75-69 loss on Monday night in Waco, Texas. KU trailed TCU by 20 points (33-13) midway through the first half of an 80-63 loss to the Horned Frogs on Jan. 21 at Allen Fieldhouse. KU trailed Kansas State by 14 (31-17) with 9:29 left in the first half of a 83-82 overtime loss to the Wildcats on Jan. 17 in Manhattan.

“Probably just come out with more intensity, more energy and having more fun out there, not really worrying about what the last game was and who we are facing,” Wilson said of the key to a better start. “Just playing our game, not worrying about what they want to do and how they want to do it.”

The Jayhawks may need bounce-back efforts from point guard Dajuan Harris and big man KJ Adams in order to win Saturday.

Harris has scored five points total in the last four games on 2-of-18 shooting. He has 29 assists to 13 turnovers in that span.

“He’s doing great. His energy has been terrific being the point guard he is,” Wilson said of Harris’ performance at practice. “His spirits are more uplifting. He’s ready to win. After losing three in a row we are all just like, ‘What do we need to do to win?’ I think our energy has been the main thing that’s picked up as we get ready for a big game.”

Adams has eight points the last two games combined on 2-of-11 shooting. That follows a stretch in which he scored in double figures in 11 straight games. Adams has eight rebounds combined the last two contests. He’s had four or five fouls in four of the last six games.

“KJ has been great. He’s a winner. He’s always going to find a way to get better and win, especially in tough times like this,” Wilson said of the 6-7, 225-pound five-man. “This is when we all come together as a team and show how unified we are and how determined we are to turn things around.”

KU may be catching Kentucky at an inopportune time. The Wildcats have appeared to be clicking of late.

“Having a guy that averages 15 rebounds a game probably jumps out first,” Self said of Tshiebwe. “This is a different Kentucky team than one that was playing a month ago because they all can shoot. They will have three guys out there — sometimes four — who can make threes at all times. Then you are playing around a big guy who is probably the best big man in the country, certainly the best rebounder in the country.

“I always thought with Cal’s teams (John Calipari) they made you beat them. I never thought they’d help you at all. They’re not going to help you this year. They are going to play the way they play. They’ll take good shots. If they make shots that stretches the defense and makes it even harder to guard Oscar. We’re going to have to go play.”

John Calipari on Kansas

Kentucky coach John Calipari offered his take on KU on Wednesday on his weekly radio show.

“Really good,” he said. “They’ve lost a couple games. They are still what they are: (That’s) Kansas, reigning national title, champions.

“Bill is a heck of a coach. They play fast. They play five-out, four-out. They don’t have the (David) McCormack kid. If they had McCormack they’d be playing traditional. They don’t have McCormack so you play with what’s there.

“When you are playing basketball and playing another team that is being really competitive,” Calipari added, “you take what they give you. You don’t walk in a game and say, ‘We’re doing this.’ What if their plan is to stop that and you have to go to something else? You can’t say, ‘We’re taking 30 threes this game,’ or, ‘We’re taking 10.’ I can’t tell you. What I’m saying to our team is you take what they give you and roll with it.”