3 Things we learned in the Kansas-Oklahoma 3OT classic
Talk about starting the new year with a bang.
Monday's meeting between No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Oklahoma marked the 40th time in college basketball history the top two teams faced off, and the matchup lived up to its billing and beyond, with the Jayhawks winning the 109-106 thriller in triple-overtime.
There are still two months until the NCAA tournament, but it's going to be tough for another regular-season game to top this.
Here are three things we learned from the Kansas victory:
1. Buddy Hield is the best
Buddy Hield made his case for the best player in the country. After winning last season's Big 12 Player of Year award, Hield isn't resting on his laurels in 2016. He was virtually unstoppable throughout the contest, scoring a career-high 46 points on just 22 shots, and hitting the 30-point mark for the fifth time this season. The rest of the conference combined only has six individual 30-point efforts. There hasn't been a back-to-back conference player of the year since Kansas' Raef LaFrentz won in 1997-98, but it seems almost a lock at this point that Hield will snap that streak.
2. The experience of the Jayhawks showed throughout
Kansas was led by its veteran contingent in the contest, with senior Perry Ellis leading the way with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore Devonte' Graham added 22, and juniors Wayne Selden Jr. and Frank Mason III combined for 36 points and were solid defensively throughout. Oklahoma jumped out to an 10-point lead in the second half, but the experienced Jayhawks didn't wilt.
3. There's no separation between these teams
Nobody can complain with the AP Poll this week, as these squads are worthy of the top two spots. Oklahoma shot 40 percent from the field and 48 percent from beyond the arc. Kansas shot 42 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range. Both teams had 22 fouls against, while Kansas narrowly outrebounded the Sooners 60-55. These teams are as evenly matched as they come, and it would shock nobody if they meet again on April 4 in Houston for the national title.