Norm Roberts was the unsung hero of the Kansas Jayhawks win against West Virginia on Thursday. While the entire team showed poise and a strong work ethic, Roberts’ scouting and strategy were instrumental in the Jayhawks 78-61 victory.
Head Coach Bill Self was absent from the game as he had checked himself into a hospital for a “standard procedure”. Roberts took over as acting coach for the tournament opener and his knowledge and experience of the game showed in the strategy and play calling.
The Jayhawks’ win was a direct result of the attention to detail that Roberts gave to the team. Days before the game, he showed the team clips of West Virginia tearing up KU on the glass. The players took the scouting report to heart and held West Virginia to just four offensive rebounds and one second-chance bucket, both of which were season lows.
When Self called in after the game, he was complimentary to Roberts and mentioned the defensive rebounding that was a direct result of his scouting.
It was clear on Thursday night that Roberts had filled the role of head coach seamlessly. The players showed poise and effort that was a testament to the preparation and scouting Roberts had done in the days leading up to the game.
The Jayhawks will be facing Iowa State on Friday and Roberts will be at the helm for the remainder of the conference tournament. It is clear that the strategy and preparation he has done will be instrumental in the Jayhawks’ success in the tournament.
