LINCOLN, NEB. ? With starters Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison in foul trouble, No. 1-ranked Kansas University could have panicked against Nebraska on Sunday afternoon.
Instead, the Jayhawks prevailed.
While Hinrich, a junior guard, and Collison, a junior forward, both were slowed with four fouls apiece, KU senior guard Brett Ballard came off the bench and played a key role in the Jayhawks’ nail-biting, 88-87 Big 12 championship-clinching victory.
“Once again we proved we’re going to stick together and we’ve got guys who are going to step up,” Ballard said. “Obviously, we’d rather have Kirk and Nick on the floor, but we had some guys step up. I think that’s something we’re definitely going to need as the season goes on, especially in the tournament.
“Somebody getting in foul trouble, somebody stepping up.”
Ballard’s line was less-than-impressive he scored just two points with two rebounds, matched a career-high with three assists and added a turnover in a season-high 15 minutes of action but his lone basket couldn’t have come at a better time for the Jayhawks.
Trailing 85-83 with less than a minute remaining, Ballard bolted down the lane and banged a layup off the glass to forge a tie.
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Three-point goals: 5-12 (Boschee 3-8, Hinrich 1-1, Langford 1-1, Miles 0-1, Ballard 0-1). Assists: 20 (Miles 6, Gooden 4, Collison 4, Ballard 3, Hinrich 2, Boschee). Turnovers: 9 (Collison 3, Gooden 2, Hinrich, Miles, Ballard, team). Blocked shots: 10 (Collison 5, Gooden 3, Langford, Simien). Steals: 5 (Hinrich 3, Gooden, Miles). |
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Three-point goals: 18-37 (Robinson 6-11, Cochran 6-12, Conklin 4-6, Clemmons 2-3, Muhleisen 0-5). Assists: 21 (Robinson 6, Cochran 5, Clemmons 4, Turek 3, Muhleisen 2, Conklin). Turnovers: 8 (Clemmons 3, Robinson 2, Conklin, Thomas, Simms). Blocked shots: none.Steals: 6 (Robinson 3, Muhleisen 2, Clemmons). |
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| Kansas | 41 | 47 | 88 |
| Nebraska | 41 | 46 | 87 |
Officials: Tom O’Neill, Steve Welmer, Mark Whitehead. Attendance: 14,055.
“It was a play we run all the time called ‘sweep,’ where the postman sets a screen in the lane,” Ballard said. “It just kind of opened up for me. Drew (Gooden) sealed off his man and I was able to get a layup off it.”
On the ensuing possession, Hinrich was whistled for his fifth foul, and the Cornhuskers capitalized with two free throws. Kansas came down the floor, and Ballard dished to freshman Keith Langford, who drilled the game-winning three-pointer from the top of the key.
The play wasn’t as picture-perfect as it appeared, though, as Ballard ran the wrong direction and Langford tried to convince him to dish to senior guard Jeff Boschee instead.
Three points is three points to Ballard.
“Coach tried to put us in situations where we can get open shots,” Ballard said. “We ran the play and they denied us to our postman. Our second option was the guy coming off the screen, and Keith made a huge shot for us.”
Ballard, who averages just 3.5 minutes an outing, was inserted because the Huskers weren’t guarding him and freshman Aaron Miles close. KU coach Roy Williams opted for his senior because Ballard is more experienced at getting through screens.
Not that it made much difference against the Huskers, who set a new standard for three-pointers made by the team, made in Devaney Center and made against the Jayhawks with 18. Cary Cochran, John Robinson and Brian Conklin joined forces for 56 points and 16 threes on 29 attempts.
It was Ballard, though, who answered the call late, getting his hand in Robinson’s face on the NU guard’s jumper from the free-throw line in the closing seconds.
“They were unbelievable Robinson, Cochran and Conklin, all of them,” Ballard said. “They just put me in a one-on-one situation. Luckily the shot fell short, but he played real well today.”
With the win the Jayhawks clinched the Big 12 title outright, improved to 25-2 overall and remained a perfect 14-0 in the conference.
“It feels great,” Ballard said. “Nebraska came in and played real well. They shot lights out. They really outplayed us for most of the game, but we were able to come through in the end. I think that’s one good thing about this team: We stick together no matter what, no matter how much we’re down.”
