It was a barn-burner in Tulsa. Roy’s Boys rebounded from a loss at Oregon last weekend by making the Golden Hurricane their first road victom of the season, thereby avoiding its first 3-4 start since 1971. No matter how many times Kansas tried to pull away, the Golden Hurricane kept pulling back into the game.
The Jayhawks looked to take control of the game for good with just over four minutes remaining, converting a Tulsa turnover into an Aaron Miles three-pointer, pushing the lead to nine.
On KU’s next possession, they milked the shot clock, put up a shot and grabbed the rebound – twice. They ran nearly 90 vital seconds off the clock to essentially seal the game. Tulsa kept at it, picking their fouls and putting up good shots. The TU late comeback was helped tremendously by the resurfacing of KU’s free throw woes. Keith Langford missed four in a row.
However, the team as whole stepped up and refused to let the game slip away, regaining their footing – both on the floor and at the line – in time to seal the win.
There were three lead changes in the first three minutes. Kansas has held that lead, but the two teams matched each other shot for shot ever since as they slug it out toe-to-toe. As suddenly as the teams got hot they got cold again, as they were stuck on 12-11 for several minutes. A Keith Langford put-back around the 12-minute mark broke the dual drought and put KU up by three.
Despite leading for nearly the entire first half, Kansas gave up six straight Golden Hurricane points – including a 35-foot buzzer beater – to go into the lockers down by four. The Jayhawks are shooting just 37 percent from the floor, and went 4-for-7 from the fould line.
Even though Kansas held most of the lead, the two teams traded baskets evenly through the entire half: KU’s largest lead was a mere six points. There were about half a dozen lead changes, and just as many ties.
Trying to regain the lead early in the second half, Kansas put up a pair of three-pointers, but missed both. Tulsa, however, picked up where they left off, hitting their sixth bomb of the game. Four minutes into the second frame and eight straight Kansas later and Kansas had pulled ahead.
Kansas continued that run to 12-0 to build a second-half lead they would not relinquish. Their shooting steadily warmed up, ending at over 46 percent for the game. On the other side of the court, Tulsa exploited the Jayhawks’ traditional Achilles heel by hitting eight of their 12 three-pointers.
Final numbers: Nick Collison led all scoring with 26 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Wayne Simien and Keith Langford each added 19. Aaron Miles put in a strong performance, notching 15 points and dishing eight assists. After that, Kirk Hinrich and Michael Lee each contributed four points, and Jeff Graves added two.
Kansas outrebounded Tulsa 41-32, but shot 46 percent to Tulsa’s 51. Where the hosts had success from long-range, the visitors struggled, hitting only three of their 13 three-point attempts.
Up next for Kansas is a home date with Emporia State. Tip off will be 7 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 14. The game will be carried on the Jayhawk Television Network.
For full coverage of today’s game, read tomorrow’s Lawrence Journal-World, and see KUSports.com.
There’s a sense of urgency at Kansas basketball camp this preseason.
That’s partly because, for KU, the 2000-2001 regular-season opens 10 days sooner than a year ago.
KU opens against UCLA on Nov. 9 at the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in New York. A year ago, KU opened on Nov. 19 at home against Fairfield.
“We have 15 practices before our first exhibition game and 20 or 21 practices before our first game, nowhere near what we’d normally have,” KU coach Roy Williams said.
“This makes us push a little more to get (prepared) for game situations. But I’m still trying to be cautious and conservative and make sure we build a good foundation a strong foundation the first two weeks.”
The Jayhawks have had five spirited practices since Late Night With Roy Williams.
“Usually the third week we aim toward some of the set things we do. The third week this year we’ll have to go the fastest,” Williams said.
KU opens the exhibition season on Nov. 1, against the California All-Stars. KU will meet Emporia State in its final exhibition on Nov. 4.
A year ago, KU held its first exhibition on Nov. 6; its second exhibition on Nov. 13.
“One advantage is we are such a veteran club,” Williams said. We’ve mentioned to the kids you can’t take any days off. You’ve got to come out every single day and get ready.”
Physical play: Roy Williams (see column on page 2) has been alarmed at the physical nature of the game of basketball. He and other members of the NCAA basketball rules committee want to see current rules enforced by the refs so rough play is curtailed.
“The way the game is called and officiated is by far the biggest change in the game of basketball in the last 20 years,” Williams says. “Watch one of those ESPN Classic games. The game you watch on that is a completely different game than the game today. You used to be able to drive to the basket. You used to be able to cut across the lane. You used to be able to catch the ball in the post, turn around and had to shoot over somebody, but didn’t have to shoot over them with their forearm in your chest as they push you out of the way.
“We’ve allowed the game to become so much more physical that it is not nearly the smooth flowing game it was 20 years ago. You watch NBA guys running around screens, guys are actually holding them before they take off. If you are allowed to be that physical, what happens is everybody goes to the weight room to try to get bigger and stronger and fundamentals suffer. Shooting suffers. Everything suffers because of the way the game is so physical that you have to be big and strong to be able to survive.
“I hear people talk about guys don’t shoot it well nowadays. I think that’s wrong. I’ve got guys who shoot it as well now as when I played 100 years ago and coached high school 25 years ago. You don’t get free shots any more. People used to say, ‘Let him take that shot.’ Now they don’t let you take it.
“It’s not just the officials fault,” he said. “We as coaches and administrators on the college and pro level have got to help.”
