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Monday, February 26, 2007

Second half free throws help KU get over another Big Monday hump

By Ryan Greene

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Update #10: Final, KU wins 67-65

Julian Wright continued to bail KU out offensively, as he hit a spinning two out of the timeout, and then grabbed a big defensive rebound off an OU miss. But Sherron Collins got out of control downcourt and turned the ball over while collapsing towards the baseline.

On the other end, Nate Carter got himself to the 20-point mark by hitting his 11th and 12th free throws of the night, pulling OU back within three points with less than three minutes to play.

KU tried to float a pass into Sasha Kaun on the offensive end, but it turned into a turnover as it went off his fingers and out of bounds. Luckily for KU, OU returned the favor, And Kaun was given a chance to make up for his miscue by following a Brandon Rush miss with his 10th and 11th points of the game, putting KU up 60-55 with 1:19 to go.

Brandon Rush pulled down a defensive rebound from a Longar Longar missed tip and got to the free throw line. He hit both attempts to put KU up seven points and let the KU bench breathe a sigh of relief with less than a minute to go.

Michael Neal came down off a ball screen and kept OU's hopes alive with a deep three atop the key, and Brandon Rush hit just one of two free throws on the other end, with the Sooners still within range down just five. Longar Longar took a feed inside and slipped two off the glass to make it a three-point game.

OU gave itself one last shot, as Bobby Maze snuck in a putback on a Nate Carter missed three-point attempt. It pulled the Sooners within three points with just under eight seconds to go.

Russell Robinson hit two huge free throws to ice the victory. A late OU three-pointer from the corner was nothing but cosmetic, as KU escaped with a 67-65 win. Julian Wright and Mario Chalmers led KU with 18 points each. While Wright was huge in KU starting the game strong, Chalmers was big in the second half as far as free throws were concerned. He was 10-of-12 from the stripe for KU, and Sasha Kaun chipped in 11 points and nine rebounds. KU, now 13-2 in the league, put the pressure on Texas A&M to win its Wednesday contest at Texas to keep up with the Jayhawks atop the Big 12 standings. KU hosts Texas for its regular season finale Saturday at 11 a.m. in Allen Fieldhouse.

Update #9: 3:55, second half, KU leads 56-53

Bounces continued to go away from KU, as Darnell Jackson missed a pair of free throws out of the television timeout. But OU lost the ball out of bounds, and Julian Wright, now back in the game, hit a hanging two in the lane to give KU a little more breathing room with just under seven minutes to go and a five-point lead.

Taylor Griffin continued to be the Sooners' energy guy, drawing a foul on a putback attempt and hitting a pair of free throws, pulling OU back within three. The Sooner defense then forced KU into a five-second call before inbounding the ball. Michael Neal hit a three on the inbound, making it a 12-3 Sooner run and tying the game, 51-51.

KU almost grabbed the lead back out of a timeout, as Brandon Rush's putback of a Russel Robinson missed jumper circled the rim on a full lap and fell out. The ball came back to KU, and Rush got to the free throw line, hitting one of two to give KU a one-point advantage.

After Nate Carter missed a mid-range jumper, Mario Chalmers was fouled while running down a defensive board by Taylor Griffin. It was the fourth foul on Griffin, and was a double bonus trip for Chalmers, who hit both to put KU up 54-51.

After Russell Robinson was called for an offensive foul charging into the lane, Bobby Maze drove to the lane and floated one in high off the glass to cut the lead to one point once again. Mario Chalmers came back down to get back to the free throw line. He hit both free throws again, making him 8-of-10 from the line on the night.

Update #8: 7:48, second half, KU leads 49-46

Darnell Jackson poured in two points out of the timeout, giving KU back-to-back field goals for what must have felt like the first time in forever. Nate Carter came back with a baseline jumper, and after forcing a KU turnover deep on the offensive end, Carter drew the fourth foul of the game on Julian Wright with plenty of time left to go. After Carter took a seat on the bench with 9:13 left, Carter hit a pair of free throws. Immediately after, the foul call was given to Collins instead of Wright, but the sophomore forward remained on the bench.

KU continued to look sloppy and sketchy on offense, as Sherron Collins' scoreless performance is proving to be a difference-maker. After another turnover, Taylor Griffin put a one-hander off the glass while fading away, drawing a foul with it. The free throw pulled OU within three points at the 8:05 mark.

Update #7: 10:24, second half, KU leads 46-39

Neal missed his hard-earned free throw, but Taylor Griffin was able to get back to the stripe himself while getting hacked on the putback. He hit one of two, cutting KU's lead to nine points.

KU turned the ball back over, though, and Griffin then drew another foul on Julian Wright, giving KU's leading scorer a trio of infractions on the night. Griffin hit both free throws this time, pulling OU within seven, as KU's offensive flow has disappeared in the second half.

The Jayhawks turned the ball over again, this time with Sherron Collins trying to swing the ball to the corner for Brandon Rush. The pass was high, though, and KU called a timeout with the ball heading back in the other direction.

OU continued to grind its way back out of the timeout by getting to the free throw line yet again. This time it was Carter, drawing the third foul of the game on Darrell Arthur. Carter hit both, pushing OU's run to 8-0.

KU was able to get to the free throw line itself, with Sasha Kaun drawing a touch foul in the paint while going up, and he hit just one of two free throws, and he did it again while going for a putback after a failed Sooner offensive push. Kaun this time hit both, getting KU back up by eight.

OU's free throw fortunes then took a turn south, as Michael Neal missed from the line, as KU was given another chance to extend its lead in what is turning out to be another grinder of a game. Russell Robinson hit a free throw to give KU four straight points, keeping up the lead growing slowly.

Robinson came back down to work himself to the free throw line again, this time drawing another foul from Longar Longar. But this time he missed both. Longar responded with two points between a pair of KU defenders on the offensive end. Longar then swiped a Mario Chalmers baseline drive as the sophomore guard went up for a layup. Bobby Maze came down to hit a baseline jumper for OU, again making it a five-point game.

KU called another quick timeout, but turned it over while trying to get too cute with touch passes. Though after OU committed the same sin, Mario Chalmers threw down a one-handed dunk in transition to put KU up 46-39.

Update #6: 15:42, second half, KU leads 40-30

KU drew a foul on Taylor Griffin out of the halftime break, but after that, things didn't go so well. After Sasha Kaun pinned a Bobby Maze layup in transition off the glass, it was followed by an easy two off the glass. Michael Neal then stole the inbounds pass and fed David Godbold for a three, quickly cutting the KU lead to nine points.

Julian Wright scored KU's first points of the half on a left-handed finger roll cutting across the lane, giving him 14 points on the night. Godbold came back down to get to the free throw line after a foul, but hit just one of two, with the defensive board on the second being pulled away by Brandon Rush.

Both teams then swapped turnovers, and Mario Chalmers was able to get himself to the free throw line for the first time on the night. He hit both, putting KU back up by 12 points.

Nate Carter continued to hit back for Oklahoma, hitting a couple of free throws, as the Sooners have shown much more production ability in the second half on offense. That turned into a more spirited defensive effort, as Taylor Griffin forced a KU turnover on the other end, but he handed it right back on the opposite baseline.

Jeff Capel, though, handed back some emotional momentum for KU, earning a technical foul on the OU bench after the refs made a non-call against one of his players. Chalmers hit one of the two technical charities, and KU then drew a foul on Michael Neal after inbounding the ball at midcourt.

Chalmers compounded it with a slashing layup, putting KU up by 13, but Michael Neal hit a corner three while drawing a foul, pulling the Sooners within 10 points.

Update #5: Halftime, KU leads 33-19

Mario Chalmers scored two on a jumper after a pair of missed Tony Crocker free throws, but KU couldn't bump the lead any more after turning the ball over in a three-on-two fast break situation.

Crocker came back to hit Oklahoma's first three-pointer of the game with just under a minute to go in the half, snapping a streak of 10 straight Sooner misses from deep.

Oklahoma got one last chance at points before the half, but couldn't capitalize off of a Sherron Collins missed layup.

Julian Wright led all scorers with 12 points in the first half, scoring in a multitude of ways. He also was pretty diverse on the stat sheet, with a couple rebounds and a couple of assists. Oklahoma has been hampered by a 1-for-11 showing from three-point land.

Update #4: 2:30, first half, KU leads 31-16

Tony Crocker took advantage of a back-door feed from Longar Longar after Mario Chalmers was well off on a three out of the timeout, but Wright hit a lengthy jumper afterwards. He then flushed a pair of free throws, giving him a game-high 12 points.

Longar scored his first points of the game in retaliation, dumping in a hoop inside, but couldn't make it four straight after an offensive foul on Brandon Rush, as he missed a baseline jumper. Rush came back to finish a four-on-two opportunity with a one-handed dunk off of an Austin Johnson miss. It put KU up 29-16.

Oklahoma continued to be stone cold from beyond the arc, as a Michael Neal miss nearing the three-minute mark made the Sooners 0-for-10 from three-point range. Sasha Kaun threw down a two-handed dunk on the way back down, putting KU up 15 as OU has struggled mightily to produce points.

Update #3: 6:59, first half, KU leads 23-12

Robinson scored his first points of the game on an inbounds play right out of the break, putting the Jayhawks back up by nine points as the came passed the 11-minute mark in the first half. After that, the ball was turned over after Julian Wright and Sasha Kaun forced Longar Longar into an uncomfortable-looking turnover in the paint.

Robinson's name kept being called, but it wasn't for anything positive in the next minute. First, he was short on a three from the corner, and Oklahoma got the ball after Brandon Rush forced a tie-up with Longar on the rebound. Robinson then picked up a foul on the defensive end, but Sasha Kaun scooped a defensive board off of a David Godbold three-point miss, and then scored on a reverse layup on the other end.

Nate Carter continued to be Oklahoma's most effective offense with an old-fashioned three-point play, but it was answered with a Russell Robinson layup - his second of the game. Carter came back and again earned his way to the free throw line, and drew the second foul of the game on Darrell Arthur, putting him on the bench for more than likely the final eight minutes of the first half. Carter hit one of tw free throws, and Julian Wright one-upped him with a put-back layup off of a Mario Chalmers miss, giving himself eight early points and KU an 11-point lead.

Wright continued to fill the stat sheet with a swat of Nate Carter, but he couldn't capitalize on a baseline jumper on the offensive end, keeping KU up by 11.

Update #2: 11:49, first half, KU leads 15-8

Nate Carter hit a couple free throws out of the game's first television timeout, and Griffin came back into the game after leaving earlier with a back tweak.

Darnell Jackson, returning to his home state, answered back by tipping in a missed Darrell Arthur fading jumper.

Griffin then slashed down the baseline to reannounce his presence with a two-pointer, cutting KU's lead to seven points. Austin Johnson drew a foul on Arthur right before the game headed to another break.

Update #1: 13:47, first half, KU leads 13-4

Taylor Griffin opened the game with a dunk for the Sooners, but Julian Wright was able to tie the game in the first minute with an inside layup.

Following a Michael Neal three-point miss, Wright hit another jumper, giving KU a 4-2 lead. Kellen Sampson, son of former OU coach Kelvin Sampson, missed his first shot of the game, getting a start on Senior Night. Wright followed it up with yet another two, starting this game much like he did against Nebraska a couple weeks ago, when he scored the game's first eight points.

Nate Carter was able to answer with a long two, but the Sooner celebration didn't last long. After Brandon Rush aired a three, KU took a missed three from Carter the other way, and Julian Wright redirected a long pass downcourt to Mario Chalmers for an easy layup. Rush then got his revenge with a swatted shot inside. After the block, Sasha Kaun scored his first points of the game on yet another assist from Wright.

Brandon Rush then made up for the airball with his first made three of the game, forcing the Sooners into a timeout with KU leading 13-4. After the timeout, Russell Robinson entered the game for KU after missing Saturday's game with a sprained right foot.

Pregame

Of course, it doesn't live up to the legendary status of the "Sports Illustrated Jinx," which KU fell victim to earlier this season when the magazine picked the Jayhawks as the nation's top college hoops group.

But over the past seven days, an unnamed curse has fallen upon teams ranked in the Top 5. It started last week with top-ranked Wisconsin falling Monday at Michigan State. After that, No. 3 Florida fell on the road against LSU, and Sunday night it was No. 5 North Carolina dropping an 89-87 decision to ACC rival Maryland.

The Jayhawks jumped to No. 3 Monday in both the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll and the Associated Press poll. They also face a road test which could be viewed by some as a trap game, tipping off tonight in Norman, Okla., against the unranked Sooners.

KU (25-4 overall, 12-2 Big 12) is riding a six-game winning streak down south, but all six of those wins came against Big 12 North opponents. Tonight, KU faces the fifth of six Big 12 South opponents it will see this year. The last encounter was a 69-66 home loss to Texas A&M on Feb. 3.

But not only has KU won six straight, they have been doing it in convincing fashion left and right. The most recent victim was Iowa State, who was downed 89-52 in Allen Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon, with six Jayhawks scoring in double figures.

Tonight's foe, Oklahoma (15-12, 6-8), was once a rising prospect for an NCAA Tournament berth, but now the only way those dreams can have a chance at coming to life would be with a win tonight over KU. Under first-year head coach Jeff Capel, OU brings a solid inside-outside combo to the table in forward Longar Longar and guard Nate Carter.

Carter, who has been one of the league's hottest guards in Big 12 play, carries a season average of 11 points per game, while Longar leads the Sooners in both scoring (11.2 ppg) and rebounding (7.4 rpg).

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Comments

optimator (anonymous) says...

I think I've seen this posted on here before, but does anyone know a good place to listen to the game online?
Thanks

February 26, 2007 at 8:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

brfts (anonymous) says...

105.9 the Lazer.

February 26, 2007 at 8:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

optimator (anonymous) says...

For some reason that it wont load. I heard there was another one too. Thanks for the help

February 26, 2007 at 8:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

brfts (anonymous) says...

no problem. it seems to be working for me. about the only other station that i can think of would be KJHK 90.7.

February 26, 2007 at 8:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

landon_2003 (anonymous) says...

looks like the refs want to make this close...

February 26, 2007 at 9:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

turdferguson (anonymous) says...

Time Warner Cable is absolutley killing me. no sound the entire first half. They got it fixed by the start of the second half, and now with 14:54 to go it goes out again. It wouldn't be so bad if I could listen to the radio, which I can, but the radio is like 5 seconds ahead of the tv. this blows!

February 26, 2007 at 9:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

Both teams in the bonus with over 13:00 minutes to play. Going to be a long half.

February 26, 2007 at 9:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkjayhawk4ku11 (anonymous) says...

KU is playing like s#$t right now!!! 10: 30 minutes to play if we dont do some thing... i dont know what i'll do!!

February 26, 2007 at 9:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

here we go again!!!! free throws are turnovers! out coached again!!!

February 26, 2007 at 9:54 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

LOL! I've heard it all now. Missed free throws are the coaches fault.

February 26, 2007 at 9:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fansincewilt (anonymous) says...

Coaching doesn't have anything to do with the way the Jayhawks are playing. They need this kind of game. It is the only way possible of getting them to toughen up. I know how frustrated Self has to be with the lack of mental toughness in his players. Chalmers really playing well.

February 26, 2007 at 10:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

Collins playing like a freshman, Rush doing a disappearing act, no shooting from beyond the arc, just above 60% free throw shooting...but more importantly they are playing without emotion.

February 26, 2007 at 10:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

turdferguson (anonymous) says...

I 100% agree Wildfire. The lack of emotion really bothers me. We are the faster, stronger, more athletic team, yet OU has all the energy.

February 26, 2007 at 10:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

brfts (anonymous) says...

Seems like this always happens when we get in the Top 5. Anybody else notice this?

February 26, 2007 at 10:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fansincewilt (anonymous) says...

Get the ball to Chalmers.

February 26, 2007 at 10:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

Yeah, he is the only one making his free throws :)

February 26, 2007 at 10:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fansincewilt (anonymous) says...

That's the kind of game we have to win if we are going to have a great season. They have won several close ones. Good sign!

February 26, 2007 at 10:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

lucked out this time. why oh why can,t they hit free throws early on?

February 26, 2007 at 10:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jonas (anonymous) says...

whew. . . .

ugly, but still a number in the w column

February 26, 2007 at 10:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

youngconts (anonymous) says...

yes, i get to keep my hair!!!!!!!!

February 26, 2007 at 10:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

Shut up, Speedy. How stupid. OU's Senior Night and a close game on the road and the "Bill Self sucks! We got outcoached!!!!" idiots come out of the woodwork. A close game on the road... "the sky is falling!"

Bottom Line.
KU: 26-4
Heading toward another Big XII Title and a #1 seed.

Adding each and every one of the Bill Self hating idiots to the SUCK IT list.

February 26, 2007 at 10:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayloco (anonymous) says...

Yes folks, we missed free throws, yes we had a lot of silly turnovers, yes, Sherron had that "deer in the headlights" look all night, BUT, we came out with a W. Good teams find a way to stop the momentum and stay in front. I don't think OU ever led. We can focus on the negatives, but bottom line, on senior night in THEIR house, we found a way to get the W. It was ugly, but we pulled it out. Way to scratch it out Hawks. This may sound stupid, but this type of game could have been just what the doctor ordered as a tune up to that TU game Saturday and for tourney play in March. It was nice to see the boys tested for the first time in a while. I had to pull out the TUMS, but I got through. Can't wait for that game on Saturday!

February 26, 2007 at 10:32 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

Maybe since we dont have any seniors for senior day we can celebrate J.R. Giddens and Giles not being on the team.

February 26, 2007 at 10:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkjayhawk4ku11 (anonymous) says...

Even if we did win this game it was dissapointing to watch.
- Rush needs to step up alot and start making some baskets
- Arthur and Collins both did not have a good game but they usaully do so im not gonna say anything about that
- Chalmers had a great game in my opinion
- Wright had good game (just dribbles the ball to much)
- Jackson was really aggressive, which was good but he just needed to knock down some shots
- and Kaun is just Kaun
a win is a win
Good luck at Texas!

February 26, 2007 at 10:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

vwskywalk (anonymous) says...

Here's a positive. Jackson saved our a$$. It's a nice feeling to know he's over on the bench when things aren't going right with Julian, Sasha, and Darrell.

February 26, 2007 at 10:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkjayhawk4ku11 (anonymous) says...

i agree

February 26, 2007 at 10:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

chell (anonymous) says...

Whew. Now, can they beat Texas? Not if they play like this. But maybe they'll learn from this.

February 26, 2007 at 10:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kutravis (anonymous) says...

this is for anyone who wants to listen to the game online...... ive also tried numerous sites including the lazer (105.9) and found it not to work. KJHK is students and not part of the jayhawk radio network. if you want to listen to bob and the chris piper go to the following link....

http://www.kkle.com/

once at the website click on the KWME link and you will be able to listen to the games as they are on the jayhawk radio network. living in las vegas ive experienced great success with this site. hope this helps for all those who wish to follow the greatest team on the planet. go hawks~

February 26, 2007 at 10:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

janeyb (anonymous) says...

Great win! Hawks looked tired in the first half and out of rythmn in the second. Russell needs to start, and Collins come off the bench. Knew the team was coming that would make Collins look like a Freshman--hell of a good freshman--but a freshman. Mario has really stepped up. Can't wait until Saturday.

February 26, 2007 at 10:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

apeoples410 (anonymous) says...

What's up with the headline of this article? Second half free throws help???? Are you kidding me???? We tried our best to give the game away by missing so many free throws in the second half.

What is it about this team? The same day we finally get some national respect in the polls and they almost give away a 17 point lead to a very sub par OU team. I realize that it was senior night so the intensity of the OU players was high, but come on!

I don't think Self was necessarily outcoached. I think that the players get big heads everytime that they get national respect in the polls. There was no intensity in the second half by the Hawks.

Hopefully this will act as a wake up without having to chalk up another loss to a team outside of the RPI 50.

Go Texas on Wednesday and Go Hawks on Saturday!

Time to prepare for Durant and the Longhorns!

February 26, 2007 at 10:40 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rushlover22 (anonymous) says...

Let me just throw this out there.....Oklahoma has only lost once at home...now twice. The only team they lost to besides KU is Texas A&M. They are obviously good at home and it was Senior night. Tough game with a lot of mistakes but they won. That's all that matters is that number going up in the win column. They have a long week to prepare for Texas plus Texas is a home game. Let's go get another win Saturday. rock chalk jayhawks!!!!!!!!!!

February 26, 2007 at 10:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

86finalfour (anonymous) says...

perfect wake up call with out a loss.

February 26, 2007 at 10:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

The free throw shooting on this team is at times painful to watch.

February 26, 2007 at 10:44 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayloco (anonymous) says...

Not dissing on the disappointed faction of Hawk fans, but remember this was Senior night in their house. I don't care where you play in America, if you play someone on senior night, you are gonna get a fight most times(Colorado and Baylor might be the exception in the big xii). It was good to see these guys struggle for a change. Things were coming too easy. Nice to see them have to sweat a little and show some grit.

I am a little worried that the BIG XII simply hasn't provided the level of competition that KU needs to be ready for tourney play. It has to be good for ACC and Pac 10 teams that face solid competition more often than not. I am not sure we got much prep from MU, KSU, Nebraska, and ISU. A&M and Tech obviously did and TU will on Saturday. Just hope we have been tested enough this year...

February 26, 2007 at 10:46 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

apeoples410 is absolutely right. They were absolutely horrible at the free throw line in the 2d half. That is a huge reason they came back. Everytime we went to the foul line it was the equivalent of a turnover. This simple problem could cost us dearly in March.

February 26, 2007 at 10:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

Agree with 86 and Jayloco. Wish the conference was deeper from top to bottom for tournament prep...

Good, gritty close game win.

February 26, 2007 at 10:50 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

landon_2003 (anonymous) says...

kaun played well also for all you who thinks he didnt....11 pts and 9 boards and 2 blocked shots...solid effort. and by the way...both teams in the double bonus with 13 minutes to go in the game....looks like the refs WANTED the game close. go hawks and we SHOULD be a number 1 seed being ranked 3rd in the nation....UNC can kiss off they are number 8 now and better NOT get a number 1.

February 26, 2007 at 10:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BorderRat (anonymous) says...

I'll take the blame for this one. Over the protests of my daughters I changed the traditional watch KU basketball meal from Pizza to Brats and burgers on the grill. Sorry, it won't happen again.

February 26, 2007 at 10:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayloco (anonymous) says...

Landon 2003-don't be surprised if the Hawks get dissed. All the talk is that we simply don't have a solid enough resume to land the #1 seed. I don't agree with that and say if we beat Texas and get to Sunday of the BIG XII tourney, we deserve to be a #1. I would be happy with a solid 2, maybe in Wisconsin's bracket.

February 26, 2007 at 10:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTamale (anonymous) says...

A couple things to take from this game:

1) I ONLY trust Mario Chalmers at the freethrow line.

2) Julian Wright was our leader on the floor...we would love to see more of that.

3) Had this game been played in Dec or Jan, then the Hawks would have lost (we've come a long way since then).

4) Capel couldn't pull a Billy Gellespie because Sasha had a bloody nose at the end of the game

5) Brandon Rush disappears entirely way too much.

6) We didn't attempt a 3 pointer in the second half.

7) We needed to win a game like this.

Overall, if you would have asked me at the begining of the season I would have gladly taken it. Good win Hawks and go Horns against A&M

February 26, 2007 at 10:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kuhawksr1 (anonymous) says...

By no means do I hate Self. Not even close! BUT ... he has a tendency to react a bit slowly from time-to-time as the game unfolds. Capel told us as they headed into the break what they were going to do (drive to the basket and draw fouls) and guess what ... KU let them do it, they got back in the game and our Hawks (coach included) made Capel look brilliant!! The Hawks didn't have an answer and had Griffin not fouled out, we lose! This isn't all on coach, though. Brandon's offense is officially MIA. Sherron looked like a freshman. We hit only 1 three (with not many good looks) and in a tight game we missed 4 of 5 free throws late before recovering. A repeat of this performance soon and we'll either finish without a regular season title, come back early from Okla City and/or get only a bitter taste of the Sweet 16. How on earth do you give up a 17 point lead (with the ball!!)?? I want consistency! Would rather win every game by 5 to 10 points instead of 30+ blowouts and then surviving by 2. Inconsistency will catch up with 'em.

February 26, 2007 at 10:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

calstones (anonymous) says...

if we play like that against texas we are gonna get our butts kick

February 26, 2007 at 11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayloco (anonymous) says...

Big Tamale:
1) WORD.

2) Definitely like JW in "BEAST" mode.

3) Might disagree a little bit, but see where you are coming from on this note.

4) lmao-very good point!

5) i think realistically, Brandon needs another year of college ball before making the jump. Where is this guy most of the time? Don't jump on me and say I am a Rush hater fellow Hawks, I really like Brandon. However, he goes way too often without being heard from. Very troubling.

6) Interesting point. We couldn't hit jack in the 1st half, about the only sour note of the half. I wonder if Bill said feed the big boys and drive to the hoop.

7) My point as well in previous points.

It would be nice to get some help from Texas Wednesday night. Would set up real nice for Saturday's game. I got tickets so I would love to be in AFH to watch the Hawks possibly secure an outright, undisputed big xii Championship!

February 26, 2007 at 11:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

klineisanazi (anonymous) says...

A win is a win is a win.... Good games from Julian, Sasha, and Mario....where oh where has Rush gone? Like Coach Self said "Brandon was not a factor". Thank God Sasha was there to pick up the trash on maybe the biggest shot of the game.

Lots of turnovers, few steals, shaky free throw shooting, air balls on 3 pointers. A game to forget. But, a win nonetheless.

I think the energy should be back on Saturday with CBS in town and the opportunity to earn at least a conference co-championship.
Anyone wanna bet the Big 12 poo-bahs are rushing around to get a trophy to Lawrence? They had better not screw it up again. Of course, the Jayhawks better not screw it up on the court.

February 26, 2007 at 11:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigTamale (anonymous) says...

Have fun at the GAME Jayloco...

Scream your guts out and make sure that Durant only trip to AFH is a loss!!

Go Hawks!

February 26, 2007 at 11:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jcsmith (anonymous) says...

It was stated in the broadcast tonight:

"You cannot expect to get 100% of your players, 100% of the time. Its is not virtually impossible, it IS impossible."

Mr. Rush has not done well the last 2 games. Mr. Collins and Mr. Arthur didnt play up to their potential either. We didnt have 4 or 5 guys in double figures as we average. But we DID have 3 guys step up and play for the lack of others and end in double digits. We DID have a higher ft percentage in clutch time. We DID go on the road to OU on their senior night and win. We DID pull out a win in yet another hostile environment.

It may not have been as pretty as the 30 and 40 point blowouts as of late but hey, look at it on the bright side, we could have lost like UNC or Florida this past week. But, we didnt. We kept up the play, and pulled out what was needed. How about some praise for the effort as of late instead the degrading of one off game.

Anyone else getting a little irritated with the officiating after the collins, maze bicker or was it just me. I can see trying to keep things so that attitudes dont start flaring but when you call every little brush of wind as a foul, that does nothing but add to the temperment. Call a ligit foul, but dont blow your whislte just to try to get a point across.

February 26, 2007 at 11:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says...

This was one of those games where KU didn't play good. KU was bad on Defense. KU couldn't play without fouling. OU had open shots first half just like Self said, but they didn't fall.

No team will play great every game. You have to win games you play bad. Give KU all the credit...Uncle mo was on OU's side and they tied it with a 3 at 51 and KU responded and won. KU sucked at free throws, but hit some late to seal it.

Sasha Kaun was 3 for 4 at the FT line and what a late put back late when he got mugged and busted in the face. Jackson was solid to.

Rush is going to have nights were shots don't fall, but he turned the ball over 4 or 5 times in the back court because he looked so scared! He honestly looked like he was about to S$&t himself and just stood there. Throw the ball in bounce...dribble it up court, just don't stand there like a special olympian!

Collins was also very off. If he hadn't been playing so well I would just say he was having a freshmen night. He has been so good, but tonight he was picking up the dribble in the back court?

KU needs to improve FT's. Robinson more so than Kaun. Robinson is a guard and he should be better than 68%. Rush is also not that consistant. Julian has gotten better at FT's but he had some go in and out.

Glad to see KU scrap and get it done though.

&*)(&)#$ )*O$#$)#* Big East game again. 16 points under a minute and Gtown is full court press and fouling. Switch the game please ESPN!

February 26, 2007 at 11:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

dek9219 (anonymous) says...

I know everyone likes to pick on Kaun, but truthfully, he is the only one that always seems to give it his all. Sure, it isn't always pretty, but without him tonight we don't win this ugly mess. Brandon is in his end of season meltdown and yes, Russell has to start and Collins needs to come off the bench. This was awful but it was a win. Need to snap out of it Sat.

February 26, 2007 at 11:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

deepind (anonymous) says...

I would have loved to see if Bill Self had the guts to stand by his words... and put Kaun in the game during the last few possessions. (If I remember correctly coach said that he wanted Kaun to have the experience of making free throws at the end and that's why he didn't pull him out of the A&M game!)

February 26, 2007 at 11:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

I agree with the earlier post who said if this game was played in Decemeber, or even early January, we probably would have lost.

No matter what the reason was why we played as poorly as we did...an off night, playing down to the level of the opponent, over confident, etc...we pulled out a win. The last couple of years we would have ended up losing a game like this.

Personally I think it was a bit of over confidence. They have been blowing teams away and they proceed to get up by double digits early on and they think another blowout is in store and they can play the game on auto pilot. Slowly the game gets closer and closer and the "igniter" wasn't on tonight to fire the engine up.

But they did enough to pull out a win, in a place that has given us trouble the last five years or so, on senior night. All while probably looking a wee little bit ahead to the Texas game. Luckily for them OU just doesn't have the talent this year as like year's gone by and couldn't get over the hump.

If we play a game like this against Texas, or A&M, or any other Top 25 caliber team we probably lose. But then again I think if they were playing a ranked team they would have come out with more emotion and been ready.

A game like this hopefully gets us ready for the first round of the tournament...playing against a team with less overall talent and size but who do a lot of little things and play with energy and gain confidence with each moment that ticks off the clock and they are still in the ball game.

I'm throwing this game out as an abberation and am only going to take the positives...make that the only positive thing that happened, getting the win. Then again, if we lose to Texas this weekend because we played poorly and with little emotion we are back at square one.

February 26, 2007 at 11:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

youngitized (anonymous) says...

The main thing is 26-4, 13-2. However, Julian's passes were the most lazy passes I have seen in a long time! Bill Self said it during the post game interview...we played horrible and without any energy or emotion. Put this one behind us to move on against #15 Texas on Saturday.

February 26, 2007 at 11:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kufankam (anonymous) says...

I hate all the posts that are itemized lists of who didnt show up and how this or that guy needs to play better... SHUT UP and be a fan. cheering on your team is a lost concept to so many people.

Of course some didnt perform well tonight but who are we to go on and on about it? A few weeks ago, Mario was down, Sherron was up-people decide to voice their opinions about Mario. Now, Mario is playing solid and Sherron had a hiccup... it happens to 18, 19 and 20 year olds.

Mario did not start playing well becuase he got on to kusports.com and read your critique of his performance. He is playing better because he is a competitive kid and I for one am glad that he, and everyone else on our team is on the roster. NO ONE wants to play flawlessly more than our guys... they dont mean to play bad.

Quit listing all areas you feel like our guys need to get better at. We are fans (most of us) and our jobs is to cheer for them and celebrate their desire, effort and success.

our team, again, TEAM won a fight tonight, celebrate them and save your desktop opinions and trust that they will show up. Mario has proven that our guys are primed to rise to occasions out of slumps.

Anyone who was there tonight knows that, just like every other "White Out, Black Out & Theme Night games we face on the road, it is tough to win. It was a great game and let's go get Texas!!

February 26, 2007 at 11:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

ugly...

just ugly...

February 26, 2007 at 11:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Am I the ONLY person who thinks the guy who appeared to intentionally try to break Kaun's nose should have been charged with a technical and ejected from the game? That seemed one of the most overt acts of violence without a technical that I've seen in several years. And even if the refs don't call it, Capell, if he had ANY character, should have pulled the guy and sent him to the showers!

Inference: Capell appears a coach of violence pretending to be a Dukie coaching hard nosed ball. This is just the same kind of cheap shotting that Knight and Coach Mike Krockofeceski at Duke have appeared to have been teaching their entire career. Play fair until you're down far enough that the only chance to pull out a win is to begin hurting people, then hurt them.

I have to say, I never thought I would live to see a Bill Self coached team intimidated almost completely off the floor, as happened in this game.

What will Self do about it?

February 27, 2007 at 12:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Other thoughts:

Collins stinks up the floor.

Thank heavens for RR.

Julian showed a little range with the J and he's increasingly a guy who can create a basket.

Shady disappeared.

Rush disappeared.

Were we hot on the treys or what? 1 of 7.

February 27, 2007 at 12:20 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

Intimidated off the floor? Maybe you didnt see the final score? Let me help you out-
KU-67
OU-65

February 27, 2007 at 12:22 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

rushlover-Ive got to correct one of your statements. OU suffered there third home loss. A&M, Texas, and now the Hawks.

February 27, 2007 at 12:50 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jklein38 (anonymous) says...

It was ugly, yes. But really a win is a win. Senior night and OU has pretty much owned us in there place the last 2 years I believe.

The one thing that stuck out to me in this game was the ungodly amount of airballs. More airballs in 1 game than I think I have seen in the last 2 years.

Yes they missed free throws, but no on pulled a Moody late in the game.

To me it seemed that KU was almost playing not to lose as OU snuck closer and closer.

Lastly, did the call of the refs seem oddly similar to the Bradley game of last year? So many fouls it never let the Jayhawks get into any type of rhythm offensively.

February 27, 2007 at 1:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kufankam (anonymous) says...

Jaybate...

I hope for your sake, you have been drinking A LOT tonight. If not, you have no excuse other than you are a absolute moron.

I guess your right, Capel has no character and Self and his team get intimidated. That is it.

Lets just get crazy though and ponder one option from left field... what if we called this a hard fought victory on the road in which some breaks didnt go our way... and we didnt create any breaks for ourselves... thus making it hard to come out with a win... and yet, we still got the win.

I know that sounds almost impossible, but if you can sober up and/or grasp intelligence for a second, you might realize that you're missing the excitement of college basketball.

If you want blowouts with every player stat line maxxed out, sit your lazy self in front of your TV and get crackin on your XBOX (that fake world where you can run up the score and your numbers every time) while the rest of us enjoy our boys take on Durant and the horns!

February 27, 2007 at 1:28 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

turdferguson (anonymous) says...

The only problem I had with the face slap Kaun took was that there was not a foul called. You don't see the guy shooting the ball get hit in the face and not have a foul called very often.

Also, Fabio and Rushlover, It was OU's 4th home loss overall. They also lost to Villanova in the non-con by 16.

Is anyone else tired of hearing analyists call us "this year's Florida"? Considering we are better than the actual this year's Florida team, I'm not sure why the comparison. At this point last year Florida had 6 losses and was ranked 14th & 17th. So this 4 loss, ranked 3rd KU team is just like them? WHAT?

February 27, 2007 at 9:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Lebowski (anonymous) says...

I agree with turd. That hack told me all I wanted to know about the booty-green officiating in the game! How does a ref respond to a guy who says "I was fouled" as blood streams down his face.

Jaybate. You are very capable of some keen and unique insight. I don't understand why the need to state the blatantly obvious. Everyone can see that Arthur and Collins struggled, and I'm sure that is unanimously agreed upon. I'd rather see some opinions on how this matters, or what you think the underlying causes are or some bold predictions about who's going to go off, how you expect players to respond, etc, etc. I'll be one of the first to disagree at times, but I'm working on trying to respect everyone's opinion....

Except speedy. Speedy is too much of a moron.

February 27, 2007 at 11:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

One of the things I hope that the coaching staff stresses over the couple of practices is game management and smart decisions.

I think it was with about 3:00 left to go, maybe even later in the game, where Wright was the only KU player across half court when he pulled up and took about a 10' jumper that missed. No one even close to being in rebound position. Pull it out and hold it for a guard to come and get and run your offensive set. At the very least you run a few more seconds off the clock and shorten the game.

I don't want to take anything away from Julian's game because we all know what a force he can be but I think there is a time for that and in that instance the prudent move would have been to pass on the shot and wait for some guys in blue to come and help.

February 27, 2007 at 12:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

kufankam,

Me thinks thou dost project too much.

I'm a teetotaller.

Level. What's your poison? Only guys in the bag accuse others of being drunks on these kinds of web sites. I'm willing to find you the next AA meeting though.

What do you say?

Regarding KU, of course they were intimidated off the court. How do you think a basically second rate team even staid close.

I frankly am apalled that you're not man enough to stand up for Kaun being mugged. What are you afraid of? Does everything look exaggerated through the bottom of an empty 750ml bottle?

February 27, 2007 at 2:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Lebowski,

Fair complaints. I'll stop mastering the obvious for you. How's this?

Three to one odds that the guy who appeared to try to break Kaun's nose, will appear to catch an incredibly wicked elbow in the next KU-OU meeting?

February 27, 2007 at 3:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kufankam (anonymous) says...

Jaybate...

Never tried the bottle... sorry bud... not holier than thou or anything, just never tried it.

I am sorry that I am not A MAN because I dont defend our center when someone tries to block his shot and catches him accross the nose. Sasha is a tough kid and will be fine without me calling for Capel's head (as you have so MANLY done). That is what MEN do, they get on message boards and make assnine accusation at up and coming coaches.

Furthermore, I think that every ku player would smirk and tell you a story of how Sasha has caught them with an inadvertant elbow. He is known to be one who bangs around and hurts people unintentionally in practice, so I think he will understand that those things happen. Should it have been a foul? Sure. Should we go calling the ghost of Gabe Mouneke? No. Grow up and realize that you're sounding like a bad excuse for Bob Knight crying about things that are a part of the game.

February 27, 2007 at 8:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabio (anonymous) says...

home crowd, senior night, big monday, the Kansas bullseye on our jerseys, KU came out tired and sloppy, Calvin Sampson in attendance. In College Basketball upsets and close games are the norm.
KU was not intimidated off the court. They went on the road on very short rest and beat an emotionally charged team. A hell of a lot more than any critique on here can say. Give credit were it is due.
If you dont like close games you better close your eyes for the next 30 days or so.

February 28, 2007 at 3:24 a.m. ( | suggest removal )