When Elmarko Jackson stepped onto the court in Kansas' decisive 81-59 win over Oklahoma State, he might not have anticipated playing the rest of the game. However, his immediate impact was undeniable, providing the Jayhawks with a much-needed scoring boost to maintain their lead.
With 17:22 remaining, Darryn Peterson took himself out of the game after Parsa Fallah's and-1 cut KU's lead to just 10 points. Coach Bill Self quickly turned to Jackson, who wasted no time making his presence felt.
On his first play, Jackson received a pass from Melvin Council Jr. on the wing. With a screen from Tiller, Jackson navigated into a 25-foot range, hesitated just enough to throw off his defender, and then drove into the paint for a smooth fading jumper.
It was a move that set the tone for his performance.
Self was full of praise for Jackson, highlighting his smart decision-making and patience. "I thought he was the best player we had tonight over 40 minutes," Self remarked.
"He's not putting himself in as many compromising positions offensively. The ball moves, and when he's got an angle to drive, he takes it.
There's less help defense when the ball moves, so he's not facing double teams. It's about patience."
Jackson's performance was a standout, marking his first double-digit scoring game in nearly a month. He left Gallagher-Iba Arena with 14 points on 3-for-6 shooting, adding four assists, three rebounds, and two steals. His recent aggressiveness with the ball has been notable, as this was his third consecutive game with two or more shots made, a first for him this season.
One of Jackson's key moments was a contested sideline three-pointer in transition, one of two he sank during the game. This scoring burst came at a crucial time, extending KU's lead from 10 to 15 points, effectively quelling Oklahoma State's momentum.
Post-game, Jackson expressed a growing comfort within the KU offense, attributing it to better understanding and timing. "I'm just understanding the offense more," he shared. "Knowing when to be aggressive and when to move the ball."
Throughout the game, Jackson's downhill drives drew fouls, earning him trips to the free-throw line where he went a perfect six-for-six. This aggressiveness was exactly what Coach Self had been urging from the team.
Jackson embraced the challenge, stating, "Just stay aggressive. We're preparing for March, and it's a tight race in the Big 12.
We need to finish games out, understand time, momentum, and become a smarter, more mature basketball team."
Jackson's performance was not just about points but about embodying the strategic aggression and maturity that Kansas will need as they look ahead to the challenges of March.