Kansas-Colorado Matchup Provides a Chance for Jayhawks to Improve

The Kansas Jayhawks (5-0 conf. 16-4 ovr.) will face the Colorado Buffaloes (1-4 conf. 9-10 ovr.) for the second time in two weeks on Saturday. The Jayhawks will be looking to right some of the wrongs that occurred in Lincoln on Wednesday night that resulted in 13 first half turnovers.

Pace was largely a part of the problem against the Huskers early. The Huskers defense sped up the way the Jayhawks were running their offense, which led to the 13 first half turnovers.

It was not a sight I expected to see, to be honest. The Jayhawks had been cruising through their conference schedule with ease, other than letting Craig Brackins go off in Ames when they came to Lincoln.

From the get-go, Kansas looked surprised that the Huskers didn't fill their usual role of punching bag on the way to another Big 12 regular season title. They sputtered out of the gate for what was really the first time against Big 12 competition (KU started 18-0 against K-State, 24-8 against Texas A&M, and 14-5 against Iowa State).

Perhaps what was even worse than the 13 turnovers in Lincoln was Cole Aldrich's first half line. Let me read it to you: It said zero points and zero rebounds. I am as confused by those numbers as the next fan, especially the rebounds, since there wasn't a single big man on the floor for the Huskers.

Aldrich made up for his poor first half showing by becoming Mr. Windex, but the real hero of the game in my mind was Terrell Reed. The guy doesn't get a whole lot of praise because when Sherron Collins and Brady Morningstar aren't in foul trouble, he is usually riding the pine.

However, both Collins and Morningstar were in a bit of foul trouble, and Reed found himself on the floor for 20 minutes and hit the two biggest shots of the game for the Jayhawks.

With 6:44 left in the second half, Reed hit a three-pointer to put the Jayhawks ahead by one. After a defensive stop Reed hit another three, this time to extend the lead to 54-50. The Jayhawks did not relinquish the lead after that.

Hopefully the Jayhawks will learn from their early first half mistakes, and the scare in Lincoln will push them to take care of the basketball. Kansas has just one more back-to-back road trip this year, and after coming out of the first one 2-0, the Jayhawks are in good position to make a legitimate run at making the race for the Big 12 regular season title competitive.

With the Buffaloes coming to town on Saturday, Kansas will be looking to build on their mistakes from Wednesday's game and will also be looking to extend the nation's longest home winning streak. KU beat Colorado 73-56 in Boulder after pulling away in the second half in what really wasn't an outstanding performance by the Jayhawks.

I would venture to guess the Jayhawks will have a much easier time with the home crowd behind them tomorrow.

A win not only extends the home streak; it will also guarantee a place in the AP Top 25 for the first time since the Jayhawks lost to UMass earlier in the season. A win also primes the Jayhawks for a very important trip for Big Monday in Waco when they face a solid Baylor squad.

First thing's first though; have to beat the Buffaloes in Lawrence.