Wisconsin transfer guard AJ Storr saw an increase in playing time during No. 7 Kansas’ loss to No. 2 Iowa State on Wednesday.
The former Badger saw 10 minutes of action in the 74-57 loss and totaled five points, two rebounds, two assists and one block on two of six shots and zero on two of three.
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This performance is a step forward for Storr, whose role had diminished significantly in recent weeks. Head coach Bill Self publicly denounced him after a Dec. 31 loss to West Virginia, which preceded the star’s transfer by playing just four minutes in the Jayhawks’ 19-point win over Arizona State on January 8.
Those per-minute totals are back in double digits, first in a Jan. 11 win over Cincinnati and now against the Cyclones. He played well during all 10 minutes of action, even sparking a mini-run to cut Kansas’ deficit from 11 to five late in the second half. In succession, Storr blocked a layup attempt, grabbed the defensive rebound, then assisted a layup on the other end. A minute later, he missed a three-pointer that would have brought Kansas within three points.
Storr remained on the field for the final seven minutes of the game as Kansas caused fouls to its big men. Ultimately, his contributions weren’t enough to keep pace with an Iowa State team that appears poised for a deep run in March.
The former Badger’s performance, while a step in the right direction, did not improve his season averages. Those totals currently stand at 17.7 minutes, 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists on 39.8% shooting and 29.7% from three. They’re all below his production as a rookie at St. John’s, and a far cry from his results during a stellar 2023-24 campaign with the Badgers.
Storr and the Jayhawks return to the field Jan. 18 against Kansas State. He’ll look to carry the momentum from this performance, continuing to fight for a consistent role in Kansas’ deep lineup.
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