Manhattan ? When you look at the words “killer instinct” literally, they have a menacing, disturbing connotation.
Not in sports, though, not when you’re talking about a football team or a basketball team or even a field hockey team. “Killer instinct” merely means putting a team away when you appear to have it horse-whipped.
Those aren’t words we can use to characterize Kansas University’s men’s basketball team, however. At least, not if the Jayhawks’ last two Big 12 Conference road games are any indication.
Eleven days after struggling down the stretch at Texas A&M, the Jayhawks virtually dejvu-ed all over again against Kansas State Wednesday night by building a 21-point second-half lead, then hanging on for a 78-70 triumph.
How eerily similar Wednesday night was to that recent afternoon at Texas A&M. Kansas bested the Aggies, 71-65, despite making only 13 of 22 free throws and surrendering an astonishing 19 offensive rebounds to the Aggies.
Against the Wildcats, KU made 14 of 22 free throws and surrendered an even more astonishing 22 offensive rebounds. Look familiar? The numbers are almost identical.
Good thing the Jayhawks shot 51 percent against the ‘Cats. By the way, guess what the Jayhawks’ shooting percentage was at A&M. Would you believe 51 percent? Yep, it was. Another coincidence.
“We haven’t been able to put a team away completely,” KU point guard Aaron Miles. “Colorado was probably the best, but we’ll get better.”
Three weeks ago in Boulder, the Jayhawks did indeed show their best finishing kick on the way to a 77-62 victory. Motivation was a factor in the Flatirons. A year earlier, the Buffaloes had handed KU its first league loss in three years.
Not that the Jayhawks weren’t pumped Wednesday night. They played as good a first half — only one turnover, if you can believe that — as they’ve played all season.
In theory, you would expect Kansas to go into Bramlage Coliseum at less-than-fever pitch because of The Streak, the fact K-State hasn’t defeated KU in Manhattan since the Boxer Rebellion, or thereabouts.
Isn’t all the pressure really on Kansas State to try to end The Streak? Shouldn’t KU come into Bramlage with supreme confidence?
Fact of the matter is, though, that none of the Kansas players wants to be saddled with having it said he was on the KU team when The Streak ended. That’s motivation enough, but there also is the Rivalry Factor.
When the Jayhawks came out for pre-game warm-ups to thunderous booing, I noticed Miles was smiling. Then when the Jayhawks returned prior to tipoff, I saw Miles shove a KSU male yell leader, who was too far out on the court, out of the way.
“I do like playing here,” Miles confirmed afterward, “because of the intrastate rivalry and because when we come out they boo us. It gets me excited. It feels good to disappoint them.”
With less than 12 minutes remaining, it appeared Miles and Co. would humiliate them, too. But it didn’t happen, mainly because of K-State stick-backs and partly because Miles missed five of 11 charities in the last 2 1/2 minutes.
Those five misfires were the only negatives in an otherwise terrific stat line — thirty-eight minutes, 13 points, 12 assists and just one turnover. How often do you see a 12-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio?
“If he made his free throws,” KU coach Bill Self said, “that’s as good a line as a point guard can have.”
In his role as coach on the floor, Miles also spoke like a coach when he said: “Regardless of the stat line, as long as we get the victory, that’s all that matters.”
In the two-plus seasons Miles has been the starting point guard, the Jayhawks’ record in the Big 12 Conference regular season is 35-2. Specifically, that’s 16 wins two years ago, 14 last year and five already this season.
Sure, Miles has had plenty of help over that stretch, but he is clearly playing a higher-profile role this season and, for the most part — the loss to Richmond would be an exception — he is thriving.
And the beat goes on …
6Sports video: KU extends winning streak
See the photos: KU-KSU photo gallery
Hear Bill: KU-KSU postgame audio