For N.C. State, 3s the key to beating Kansas Jayhawks

ST. LOUIS — When Duke beat Kansas, at a neutral site, back in November, the Blue Devils made 11 3-pointers, compared to only two for the Jayhawks.

When Davidson beat Kansas, at a neutral site, a month later, the Wildcats made 11 3-pointers, compared to only six for the Jayhawks.

In all six of its losses this season, Kansas — a prototypical inside-out team — was out-scored from 3-point range. And four of those losses came at a neutral site.

If N.C. State needs a roadmap for tonight's Midwest Regional semifinal against the Jayhawks, it just needs to follow the semi-circle, 20 feet and 9 inches from the basket.

In its six losses, Kansas was out-shot from 3, 55 to 26. Its opponents shot 41.9 percent from 3 (55-131) in Kansas losses and 32.5 percent (159-489) in Kansas wins.

The Jayhawks (29-6) are built on the power game of forward Thomas Robinson (17.7 points per game) and 7-footer Jeff Withey (9.9 ppg). Like North Carolina, they are willing to trade 3s for 2s. That means Scott Wood, the top 3-point shooter in the ACC, C.J. Williams, Lorenzo Brown and Alex Johnson will be important for N.C. State's upset chances tonight.

Wood made four 3s in State's third-round win over Georgetown and the Pack is 10-0 when he makes at least four 3s.

Williams broke out of a scoring slump against Georgetown with 14 points — his first double-digit game since Clemson (Feb. 25) and only his second in the past 11 games.

Brown has made 6 of his 10 3-pointers in the postseason and has shot at higher clip than the regular season.

Johnson did not score in the first two NCAA tournament games but he's capable of helping out from 3.

-J.P. Giglio