KU hopeful Ellis will be available for Big 12 semifinal versus Baylor
Short-handed Kansas had just enough to get by in its Big 12 tournament opener.
The ninth-ranked Jayhawks, however, may need Perry Ellis in uniform to prevail against No. 16 Baylor in Friday night's semifinal in Kansas City.
Coach Bill Self was hopeful that Ellis, his leading scorer at 14.2 points per game, would be able to play in Thursday's quarterfinal, but he missed a second straight game with a sprained knee. Kansas (25-7, 13-5) defeated ninth-seeded TCU 64-59 without him.
Ellis was still sore after practicing Wednesday and it's not clear if he'll play Friday. He has averaged 16.4 points on 78.6 percent shooting in five career Big 12 tournament games.
The Jayhawks were also without freshman forward Cliff Alexander for a fourth straight contest as the NCAA continues investigating whether his family received improper benefits.
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored a season-high 25 to help Kansas overcame those absences along with 17 turnovers and an 0-for-eight performance from 3-point range against the Horned Frogs.
"We didn't play particularly well," Self said.
Self's squad has shot 13.6 percent from beyond the arc over its last five games, down from what was a league-high 40.9. Brannen Greene is two for 22 in his last seven games after shooting 52.3 percent previously, while Wayne Selden is two for 20 in his last eight. He had been hitting 43.0 percent from deep.
"It's not concerning because we know we can shoot," Oubre said.
Kansas has won four straight meetings, though the Bears won the only two previous matchups in tournament play despite being a lower seed, 81-72 in 2012 and 71-64 in 2009.
The Jayhawks won 56-55 on the road Jan. 7, and Ellis scored 18 in a 74-64 home victory on Feb. 14.
The Bears (24-8, 11-7) have since won six of seven, shooting 51.0 percent or better in three of four, including Thursday's 80-70 quarterfinal win against No. 18 West Virginia.
Baylor committed only 10 turnovers against the Mountaineers' vaunted press and recorded 15 assists on 25 baskets. The Bears, who are 19-1 when compiling at least 14 assists, lead the Big 12 with assists coming on 61.5 percent of their field goals.
"We're all unselfish guys, really, we love playing with each other because we're always going to find the open person," said Royce O'Neale, who scored 16. "Our main goal is to get to the paint, penetrate, find an open person for an open shot. You might have a good shot, but somebody else might have a better one."
Third-leading scorer Kenny Chery had seven assists but continued to struggle with his shot, going one for seven with five points. He has been limited to seven points or fewer in five of his last seven, but totaled 42 and shot nine of 17 on 3s against Kansas this season.
Thursday marked Baylor's school-record seventh win against a ranked team. The Bears trail only Kansas' nine victories against Top 25 schools, a product of playing in the ultra-competitive Big 12.
"That's the great thing about the Big 12, doesn't matter who you play you're in for a battle," coach Scott Drew said. "Playing each team twice, you know a lot about them."
