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Kansas runs Purdue off the court with epic perimeter showing

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

One of the major questions entering play before Thursday's Sweet 16 was how Kansas would handle the massive Purdue frontcourt of Caleb Swanigan and Isaac Haas.

The answer? Run the big men off the damn court.

Kansas is as deep as any team in the country at the perimeter positions, and Bill Self's quintet of Josh Jackson, Frank Mason III, Devonte Graham, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, and Lagerald Vick were in top form in front of the home crowd in Kansas City.

Whether it be Jackson throwing down a monster baseline dunk ...

Vick throwing down a massive alley-oop from Graham ...

Or Vick showing off his flair for the dramatics with a crazy 360-dunk off a steal, Self's decision to run the Boilermakers off the court was highly entertaining to anyone not rooting for Purdue.

The dynamic duo of Mason and Graham were unstoppable all night, combining for an absurd 52 total points, with the point guard missing only two shots. Purdue has no answer for the two guards, and when you added the contributions of the other three, it was a battle that was over before it started.

Player Points Rebounds Assists
Frank Mason III 26 7 7
Devontae Graham 26 0 2
Josh Jackson 15 12 2
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 10 3 0
Lagerald Vick 12 0 2

Kansas took advantage of the speed mismatches in a coaching masterclass by Self, and will now advance to the Elite Eight to face Oregon. The home crowd in Kansas City will be just as rowdy on Saturday as it was Thursday, and if the fabulous five can produce like they did against Purdue, the Jayhawks will be headed to the Final Four.

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