Thad Allender/Journal-World PhotoFor a while, Kansas University and Georgia Tech seemed to be engaged in an eerie dejvu dance all over again.
Just like in March in St. Louis, Tech bolted to a sizable early lead over the Jayhawks, Kansas rallied to forge a tie at the end of regulation and Geor- … oops, change the script.
Kansas won this time.
“One difference,” KU coach Bill Self said minutes after Saturday’s frenzied 70-68 overtime triumph over the Yellow Jackets. “We get down four in overtime, and we lose. This time we get down four in overtime, and we win.”
Self was referring to his players’ mental toughness, their resolve to overcome the loss of injured All-American Wayne Simien with an all-for-one-and-one-for-all attitude.
And, of course, it helped to have Keith Langford on the floor. Langford had fouled out with 3:45 remaining in that 79-71 OT loss in the NCAA Sweet 16 barnburner at the Edward Jones Dome.
Speaking of barnburners, a combination of unseasonably warm temperatures and the usual plethora of warm bodies turned the venerable fieldhouse into a semi-sauna.
Whether the heat eventually wore the visiting Yellow Jackets down is strictly conjecture, yet there can be little doubt the Jackets were done in — at least in part — by the din.
Allen Fieldhouse, about three months from its 50th birthday, reminded me of the takeoff of the Spruce Goose in the movie “The Aviator” I saw the other night. Imagine the vibration and noise of an eight-engined wooden aircraft with a wingspan as wide as the length of a football field attempting to become airborne.
Were the Yellow Jackets intimidated in the hostile environment? Intimidated may be too strong a word, but the Tech players certainly were aware they weren’t back home in Atlanta sipping a Coke.
KU’s Aaron Miles mentioned that Jarrett Jack, the inimitable Tech guard, commented about the crowd late in the second half.
“Jarrett came to me and said, ‘That’s wild. No wonder you came here,'” Miles related.
Statistically, Kansas probably shouldn’t have won. Georgia Tech had a better shooting percentage (.403 to .391), had a dozen more free throws, blocked 11 shots and outscored the Jayhawks by eight points on turnovers.
Or as ESPN announcer Dan Shulman intoned afterward about the Jayhawks: “I don’t know how they did it, but they did, and they’re still unbeaten.”
Still, if you study the stats carefully, you’ll find at least one answer — Miles.
On the day in which Miles passed Jacque Vaughn and became KU’s all-time assists leader, the 6-foot-1 senior guard’s eight assists were superseded by his four three-point goals in five attempts.
I don’t have to tell you Miles is not regarded as a deadly three-point shooter, but he was death on Tech on Saturday. KU wouldn’t have won without his deep shooting.
“I was open on a couple of shots,” Miles said. “With Wayne out, I’ve gotta shoot it, and I’ve gotta make it.”
Miles, Giddens and Langford have to shoot it, and they have to make it as long as Simien is shelved. Self has told them as much by abandoning his trademark high-low offense until Simien returns.
In the 10 days or so since the Jayhawks met UW-Milwaukee in Kemper Arena, Self has been teaching a crash course in offensive metamorphosis.
“We’ve changed a lot in the last week,” the KU coach said, “and we’re not good at it yet.”
To tell the truth, the Jayhawks looked pretty darned good at it in the second half when they drained eight of 15 three-point attempts, but not so good in the first half when they missed seven of 11 shots from beyond the arc.
In a way, it’s ironic Kansas was able to defeat Georgia Tech without Simien, but lost to Tech in St. Louis when the 6-foot-9 wheelhorse was on the floor for 43 of the 45 minutes.
“Even with an All-American, it’s tough to beat them,” Miles said. “That’s what happened last year. Tech is a very good team. They’re a Final Four team. This shows we’re capable of winning without him.”
Any doubts anyone had about KU’s ability to defeat a quality team without Simien definitely were put to rest Saturday.
“We can do it collectively, and that’s what we did,” Miles said. “That’s the key.”
The key worked in Allen Fieldhouse. A week from today, we’ll know if the key unlocks the same door in Kentucky’s Rupp Arena.
6Sports video: Jayhawks come back from behind
Hear Bill, players: Georgia Tech postgame comments
Photo Gallery: KU vs. Georgia Tech
Get the stats: KU vs. Georgia Tech box score
Scorecard: Grade KU’s performance against Georgia Tech
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