Hoboken native is used to the pressure of big games. Whether it was at St. Anthony high school in Jersey City or in college at Kansas, big performances and even bigger expectations have been the norm.
Before the Jayhawks opened their NCAA Tournament run on Friday night, against Boston University, the junior point guard had been playing maybe the best ball of his career.
“I think he’s been playing well,” said Bob Hurley, Taylor’s coach at St. Anthony. “There have been opportunities given for him to make plays and he’s been more aggressive. We’ve been waiting for these types of performances.”
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Taylor has averaged 9.1 points and 4.5 assists per game this season for Kansas, but he has elevated his game up to a new level in the past week.
In last Saturday’s Big 12 Conference final, Taylor scored a season-high 20 points to go with five assists in an 85-73 win over Texas. One night earlier in the semifinals against Colorado, he had 15 points and four assists.
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“With all the things he does on the court, we’re excited with the way he’s played,” Hurley said.
Taylor’s resurgence comes after one of the most trying moments of his basketball career. A three-year starter at Kansas, Taylor was suspended for a violation of team rules on Feb. 21. Taylor was reinstated after sitting out two games, and initially saw his minutes cut and lost his starting role after returning. He regained his spot in the starting lineup on Sunday and is expected to remain there throughout the NCAA Tournament.
Kansas is the No. 1 seed in the Southwest Region and is one of the favorites to win the entire tournament. Last year, they were a number 1 seed only to be upset in the second round of the tournament. This year Hurley believes Taylor and the rest of the Jayhawks have what it takes to meet the lofty expectations that have been put in front of them.
“I think the team has last year’s experience to build upon,” Hurley said. “They’ve been in big games. With the Morris twins (Marcus and Markieff) and others, the pieces are there for them to make it to the Final Four and win it all.”
If Kansas was to win it all, it would mark the second national championship Taylor has won. In 2007/08 Taylor was a part of a St. Anthony team which went 32-0 and won a high school national championship.
Taylor is one of five players from that 2007-08 St. Anthony team involved in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Dominic Cheek (Villanova), Jio Fontan (USC), Mike Rosario (Florida) and Travon Woodall (Pittsburgh) are also a part of the 2011 Tournament.
Fontan’s USC squad was knocked in Wednesday’s first round after a loss to VCU. Rosario, a transfer from Rutgers, is ineligible to play this season due to the NCAA’s transfer rules.
