STILLWATER, Okla. – Larry Brown did not trot out FDR’s famous speech during the throes of the great depression.
Nevertheless, it was obvious here Wednesday night that Brown’s Kansas basketball team now realizes the only thing it has to fear at the free throw line is fear itself.
“We didn’t play scared,” said KU’s Danny Manning, “and that was the key.”
Kansas made 10 of 12 free throws in the last 2:12 and blunted Oklahoma State, 78-68, in front of a sellout crowd of 6,381 in refurbished Gallagher-Iba Arena.
This one could have been a replay of the Nebraska game in Lincoln a few weeks ago. Kansas muffed its free throw opportunities down the stretch – remember when Brown said he saw fear in his players’ eyes? – and lost.
This time the Jayhawks made those charities, and halted a six-game Big Eight road losing streak that had stretched back to last season.
Why the turnaround at the foul line?
“We’re just stepping up now and shooting ’em,” said guard Kevin Pritchard who nailed six of six, four of ’em in the last minute and a half.
“Coach says it’s his responsibility for playing us,” Pritchard pointed out. “He gave us a lot of confidence, so we just step up there and relax.”
Brown confirmed he told his players he’d take the blame if they missed, but he also convinced them that late free throw accuracy is an opportunity for positive pub in the papers.
“I told ’em they (the newspapers) gotta write about your making free throws, not missing ’em.”
OK, here goes. In the last 2:12, Pritchard was 4 of 4, and so was Danny Manning, Jeff Gueldner was 2 for 3 and Otis Livingston 1 for 2.
Gueldner, making his first career start, also had a hand in KU’s other surprising number on Wednesday night.
Kansas was, believe it or not, 6 of 6 from three-point range with Milt Newton potting three, Pritchard two and Gueldner one.
Six is more treys than Kansas has made in a single game since the 19-foot-, 9-inch arch became law last season.
A half dozen made is one thing, but a half-dozen attempted is another. Kansas, after all, was shooting 24.7 percent as a team from three-point range – the worst figure in the Big Eight and one of the worst in the country.
Why were they dropping Wednesday night?
“I can’t explain it,” Pritchard smiled, shaking his head. “If I knew the answer we’d shoot well every game.”
Pritchard had made only three of 23 three-point attempts going in. Newton, meanwhile, had been 7 of 19.
“I was looking for it, and it was dropping,” Newton said afterward. “They were playing zone against us like everybody else, so coach said look for it and I did.”
Newton et al. wasted no time looking for the trey, either. Kansas made five of its first six shots and two were three-pointers by Gueldner and Newton.
Kansas, in fact, never trailed after bolting to leads of 5-0 after two minutes, 12-4 after four minutes and 19-8 after 8 1/2 minutes. KU led, 33-28, at intermission.
Richard Dumas’ goal – the lone two-pointer for the Cowboys’ leading scorer – brought the ‘Pokes within three a half-minute into the second half.
That’s as close as Okie State would come, though, because Newton’s three-pointer at 18:40 put the Jayhawks up by six again.
“Milt really got us going,” Brown said of that moment…but more was coming.
An 8-0 lick a few minutes later – featuring back-to-back Pritchard and Newton three-pointers – boosted the Jayhawks’ lead to a dozen.
“We’ve always thought about shooting ’em against zones,” Brown said. “We just weren’t making ’em.”
They were Wednesday night, and they were also making their free throws at nitty-gritty time.
“We’ve had some good starts this season,” Brown said, remembering that Nebraska game and the Notre Dame game, among others. “We’ve just had slow finishes.”
Wednesday’s victory – KU’s 10th straight against the Cowboys – hiked the Jayhawks’ league mark to 3-4. Kansas is 14-8 overall. Okie State slipped to 3-4 in the league and 12-9 in all games.
Box Score
KU3345-78
OSU2840-68
Kansas: Chris Piper 1-1 6-6 8, Milt Newton 6-10 2-3 17, Danny Manning 8-16 7-9 23, Kevin Pritchard 6-8 6-6 20, Jeff Gueldner 1-2 2-4 5, Otis Livingston 0-0 1-2 1, Clint Normore 1-1 0-1 2, Scooter Barry 0-0 0-0 0, Mike Maddox 1-1 0-0 2, Keith Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Team 24-39 24-31 78.
Three-point goals: 6-6 (Newton 3-3, Pritchard 2-2, Gueldner 1-1). Assists: 17 (Pritchard 6, Livingston 5, Gueldner 3, Newton, Manning, Maddox). Turnovers: 17 (Livingston 7, Pritchard 4, Newton 2, Manning 2, Normore, Barry). Blocked shots: 3 (Manning 2, Gueldner). Steals: 8 (Pritchard 4, Livingston 2, Manning, Gueldner).
Oklahoma State: Richard Dumas 1-12 9-11 11, William Woods 1-5 0-0 2, Syl. Kincheon 1-4 0-0 2, Derrick Davis 0-0 5-6 5, John Starks 7-11 4-4 21, Todd Christian 4-8 0-0 8, Chuck Davis 1-1 0-0 2, Royce Jeffries 7-9 3-5 17, Robert Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Bryan Fowler 0-0 0-0 0, Team 22-51 21-26 68.
Three-point goals: 3-9 (Starks 3-5, Christian 0-4). Assists: 14 (Woods 5, Starks 3, C. Davis 3, Christian 2, Smith). Turnovers: 14 (Kincheon 3, Jeffries 3, Dumas 2, D. Davis 2, Starks 2, Christian, Smith). Blocked shots: 1 (Smith). Steals: 6 (Starks 2, Dumas, Woods, D. Davis, Christian).
