Big 12 title on line

By Gary Bedore     Mar 3, 2007

It’s pretty simple, really.

If Kansas University’s basketball team beats Texas in an 11 a.m. tipoff today at Allen Fieldhouse, the Jayhawks will be crowned undisputed Big 12 regular-season champs. They’ll grab the top seed for next week’s Big 12 tournament and continue their quest toward a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAAs.

If, however, the Jayhawks (26-4 overall, 13-2 Big 12) lose today, they’ll share the league crown with Texas (22-7, 12-3) for sure, and likely Texas A&M (24-5, 12-3 entering home game against Missouri), drop to the No. 3 seed in the postseason tourney and be a longshot for a No. 1 in the NCAAs.

“We don’t want to share anything with anybody,” KU freshman guard Sherron Collins declared.

That’s why the Jayhawks, who chant “Big 12 champs” when they break the huddle after every practice, figure to put everything on the line today.

“This game is for all the marbles as far as the Big 12 goes,” junior guard Russell Robinson said. “I don’t want to share anything. I just want to go out and win it for ourselves.”

That’s a common theme up and down the roster.

“It’s a pretty big game. We’re not trying to share the Big 12 championship,” sophomore Brandon Rush said.

The Jayhawks, who tied for the title the past two seasons, would love to clip the nets today. That will happen only if KU wins. Nobody will be in the mood to climb the ladder with scissors in hand if KU only ties for the crown.

“Our goal since Day One is to win the league. It’s been our focus,” KU coach Bill Self said. “It’s the second season (after nonconference schedule). As soon as Saturday is over, we’ll talk about the postseason.”

Still, Self admits he can’t help but think about seeding implications today’s game will have on his team.

No. 1 seeds are mighty tough to come by.

“If I said no, I’d be lying,” Self said when asked if he was concerned about his team’s postseason seed. “That may not be the right word, but coaches are more anxious to find out. I’m not sure there’s much difference between a 1 and 2 except the exposure it brings to your program.

“I don’t know what we are. I think there’s a great chance we can help ourselves a bit by playing well Saturday and next week and always a chance we could hurt ourselves quite a bit by not finishing as strong.

“We’ve got a lot to play for. If you told me after the A&M game (69-66 loss on Feb. 3) we could be in this position I’d say, ‘Ooh, we’d really have to turn it up (for that to happen).”‘

KU has won seven straight games since falling to the Aggies in Lawrence.

With so much at stake today, Self expects an energized atmosphere in the building.

“I hope it rivals the best atmosphere we’ve had since I’ve been here,” he said. “Three games stand out to me: Michigan State my first year (81-74 win), Oklahoma State here a couple years ago (81-79 win) and the Georgia Tech game (70-68 overtime win in 2005) was unbelievable. I’d have to believe our fans would be just as excited or more excited for this game for a lot of reasons.”

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