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KU vs. UMKC

Taylor's big steal

Freshman point guard Tyshawn Taylor, who started the second half, hit a layup, then had a steal following the inbounds pass and cashed another layup to boost a narrow 42-37 lead to nine points with 14:41 left.

"He just lost it," Taylor said of a UMKC player. "I was there. It seemed it changed momentum. Everybody got hyped. It seemed we started rolling from there."

'A struggle'

UMKC, which lost its opener to North Dakota on Friday, led a jittery KU team, 16-9, with 11:35 left in the first half. The Kangaroos led most of the half, KU finally tying the score at 32 off a Brady Morningstar layup with a couple seconds left on the clock.

"It was a struggle," KU coach Bill Self said. "Travis (Releford) sparked us at the end of the half, and we went on a 6-0 run and got it tied. It was pretty frustrating, but we hung in there.

"I'm not that discouraged at all. I thought we played a good second half. We're not near as good a team without Cole (Aldrich, who played just three minutes the first half after picking up his second foul; he scored 13 points the second half). When we got Cole in there the second half, we actually looked a lot better and defended a little bit better. It wasn't picturesque, (but) I've seen a lot worse. I'm not remotely discouraged."

Aldrich's two fouls in the first 3:17 were ill-advised, Self said.

"Cole obviously makes a huge difference, but how about the three fouls that he had? I know he is just a sophomore, but he can't do that. They were all silly fouls," Self said.

Banner ceremony

Fans are asked to be in their seats by 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, when the national championship banner will be unfurled in the north rafters. The game against Gulf Coast will start at 8.

"It should be special. It'll be broadcast nationally as well," Self said of the ceremony being part of ESPN's all-day coverage of hoops in the U.S.

Johnson to sign today

Elijah Johnson, 6-2 senior from Cheyenne High in Las Vegas who has orally committed to KU, will sign a national letter of intent with KU in a noon ceremony today at his high school.

Pollard in stands

Former KU center Scot Pollard attended the game. He was wearing his brand-new Boston Celtics 2008 world championship ring on his right hand.

"I came here for the weekend to see football, basketball and volleyball. I'm 0-for-2. We need a win," Pollard said before the UMKC game.

Pollard has his Web site - planetpollard.com - up and running. He's not officially retired and is staying in shape in Indianapolis in case a team calls for his services. Pollard has homes in both Indy and Lawrence.

Stats, facts

Tyrel Reed had 12 points, six in the early going when nothing else positive was going on for the Jayhawks. ... Quintrell Thomas was the first freshman to start a season opener since Sherron Collins started against Northern Arizona in 2006. ... The Jayhawks went without a field goal for nine minutes, seven seconds in the first half, until a steal by Collins led to Morningstar's layup. ... KU opened the second half on a 14-2 run to grab a 46-37 lead. KU hit 11 of its first 13 shots the second half. ... The second half starting lineup was: Aldrich, Marcus Morris, Reed, Collins and Taylor.