Jayhawks silence critics; Kansas tops West Virginia

For the first time since 2013, the Kansas Jayhawks went into the West Virginia coliseum and came out with a win. However, It was improbable.

The game started off weird. Pre-game, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins--famous for his casual look on the sidelines, with just a pull over laid over him while he barks out orders to his players, as the opposing coach paces on the other end of the sidelines in a tight, uncomfortable suit--handed the refs a Kansas Jayhawks pullover, and demanded it be given to Jayhawks head man Bill Self, and he dawn the comfortable attire throughout the game. Self agreed to it.

Once the ball was tipped, it became apparent this game was going to be no cakewalk for Kansas. The Jayhawks began with a 5-second=violation, a pair of turnovers, and a missed layup. The Mountaineers were ready to write home to their mountain mamas about the big win over the top-10 Jayhawks, after a tone-setting 5-block first half from Mountaineers forward Sagaba Konate. The crowd was into it, not only after the magnificent swats by the West Virginia forward, but by a bogus technical foul call on Kansas big-man Udoka Azubuike, after a vicious dunk over the top of a mountaineer.

West Virginia held a 16-point-lead at one time, and carried a 13-point-lead into the halftime break.

From there, the Kansas leadership took-over. A veteran laced team, did not panic after the brilliant West Virginia press, that has earned the school the nickname: Press Virginia, forced 13-turnovers.

Lead by a pair of seniors, Svi Mykhailiuk, and Devonte Graham, the Jayhawks erased the 16-point deficit, and turned it into a 5-point win.

Svi turned in a 17-point effort, to the tune of 3-for-6-shooting-behind-the-arc, 5-assists, pick pocketing the West Virginia offense for a pair of steals.

Graham, with his grandma in attendance, scored 16-points.

The Jayhawks offense scored at a 44%-clip from the field. They only got out-rebounded by 3, while actually forcing West Virginia into 3 more turnovers.

The Kansas Jayhawks, are now atop the Big-12 and will take on the Baylor Bears in Allen Field House, on Saturday evening.

For more news, notes, and opinions, on the Kansas Jayhawks follow: @Rylan_Stiles on twitter.