Self’s handling of Taylor genius
Reed’s first dunk earns high marks from teammates
‘One More Year?’
Fans in Sprint Center chanted “One More Year” as the Morris twins clipped the nets after Saturday’s Big 12 tournament title win over Texas.
“I mean, it’s definitely nice to know people want us to come back,” Marcus said. “We’ve not made that decision, not thought about that decision (to possibly turn pro). I grinned knowing they want me back. They are special fans.”
Noted Markieff: “I definitely heard it. It definitely sunk in. We’ll just see what happens.”
‘Ferrari’ is back
Tyshawn Taylor, who scored a season-high 20 points after returning to the starting lineup, had a funny line on the court after the game.
“I’m back. The Ferrari is back,” Taylor said of one of his nicknames. He’d just been congratulated by coach Bill Self, who told junior combo guard Taylor he’d played his best game since he’d been in college.
All-tourney team
KU’s Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris were joined on the all-tourney team by Texas’ Jordan Hamilton and Tristan Thompson and Colorado’s Alec Burks.
Today’s the day
Today is NCAA Tournament Selection Sunday. CBS will reveal the bracket from 5 to 6 p.m.
“I think Texas should be a No. 2 seed. I think they had that locked up before the game. I think we are a No. 1, and that was locked up before the game. I think today’s game was for pride,” Self said. “I’ll tell you this: This tournament wouldn’t mean as much if it ended Sunday with so much going on. The conference moving it to Saturday is great for the players. This is their day to enjoy this tournament.”
Of Selection Sunday, Self said: “I want there to be a little day of celebration being in the tournament. We should never take it for granted.”
Recalling UNI
Self was asked how he could best motivate his team for the NCAAs. “Maybe we’ll draw Northern Iowa. That would probably do it,” Self joked of KU’s loss last season in the second round.
Talking about talking
Self was asked about Markieff Morris apparently running into Texas’ players in an arena hall Friday night and informing the Longhorns the Jayhawks wanted them in the final.
“You know what, there’s probably some Texas guys saying stuff to our guys, too. These guys know each other, text each other all the time. That kind of stuff can be done in fun,” Self said. “That doesn’t bother me. These kids know each other from back playing AAU.”
‘T’ for T-Rob
Thomas Robinson was hit with a technical foul late in the first half after a Tyshawn Taylor dunk.
“I was just shouting,” Robinson said. “I screamed, ‘Let’s go.’ The refs gave us a warning earlier. It was a good call. I deserved it after that.”
Faces in crowd
Former KU great Walt Wesley was on hand with ex-Jayhawks Aaron Miles, Brett Ballard, Wayne Simien and Matt Kleinmann.
Reed dunks
Self on Tyrel Reed’s vicious one-handed dunk. “It’s his first dunk he’s had since he’s been here. He’s a two-foot jumper. He got it off one-foot. It’s fitting it came today.”
This ‘n’ that
KU has 32 victories for the fourth time in the last five seasons. … KU won its eighth Big 12 Championship title and 12th overall conference tourney postseason title. … KU is 12-5 in tourney title games. … KU is 18-7 against Texas all-time. … KU finished with six players in double figures for the third time this season. KU is now 3-0 when six players score 10 or more points. The entire starting five recorded 10 or more points in addition to sophomore forward Robinson off the bench. … KU’s 48 first-half points were the most scored by a Texas opponent in the opening frame this season.
Appleton perseveres
Kansas University’s 60-43 victory over Dayton put a smile on the face of junior guard Tyrone Appleton, who has been mourning the loss of his buddy Dennis Williams, who was murdered late last week in Gary, Ind.
“It’s been tough, real tough,” Appleton said after scoring one point versus the Flyers.
“He’s one of my closest friends. I talked to him an hour before he died. He always told me to give my best no matter how much time I get, whether it’s 30 minutes or 30 seconds. I’ll never forget the things he told me. I’ll keep him in my head as long as I live. He’ll always be in my mind.”
Appleton, who played six minutes in Friday’s victory over North Dakota State, flew back to Indiana following the game.
He attended his buddy’s funeral Saturday afternoon and was back in Minnesota by 8:30 Saturday night.
“It was tough going back home, flying back, waking up today to play the game,” Appleton said. “I’m just so happy we won. Sherron (Collins) and Cole (Aldrich) were great, and now we move to the Sweet 16. I’m looking forward to going to Indianapolis.”
On to Indy
KU advances to the Sweet 16 in Indianapolis, where the Jayhawks will take on Michigan State at 8:45 p.m. Friday.
The Spartans beat KU, 75-62, on Jan. 10 in East Lansing, Mich., in KU’s final game of an 11-4 nonconference season.
“I think everybody in the locker room wants to play Michigan State because we feel like we have something to prove,” KU freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor said. “They beat us pretty bad the first time, and we are a totally different team. We will be hungrier this time around.”
“We are definitely looking for a little redemption,” freshman forward Markieff Morris said. “They are a team like Dayton, but they shoot the ball better.”
Noted Mario Little: “The last time we played them we came out OK in the first couple possessions, then let it slip away. We need to make sure we stay focused on the defensive end and execute.”
Michigan State senior Travis Walton said the first matchup has nothing to do with this one.
“We are different now. They are, too,” he said. “They are playing great basketball. They always find a way to get things done and to get a win. Both teams will play hard just like the first game. It should be a great game.”
Tough D
KU’s Brady Morningstar took his turn guarding Dayton’s Chris Wright, who missed 12 of 16 shots and scored 10 points with nine boards in 28 minutes.
“You can close out on shooters long, and you feel like if they drive, Cole will block the ball or contest the shot. He helps a lot. He’s so dominant in the paint,” Morningstar said.
Dayton hit just 16 of 72 shots for miserable 22.2 percent. The Flyers made four of 19 threes.
“I guess their flight team, or whatever they call it, wasn’t flying,” KU’s Collins quipped, referring to the athletic Flyers faring so poorly offensively.
Flyers’ guard Mickey Perry shook his head when asked about the offensive woes.
“It was their defense to a certain extent,” Perry said. “They did defend well, and I thought we defended them well, too. Our shot selection was so poor that it enabled us to not be in proper defensive position to get back and stop easy breaks.”
KU coach Bill Self’s take? “Our defense was pretty good but we also were fortunate because they missed some shots,” Self said.
In good shape
Aldrich was asked in the interview room about his physical conditioning now compared to high school.
“Junior year of high school, the most I weighed was 263,” Aldrich said. “I came in as a freshman in the beginning of the summer at 254, 255ish and had a 14.9 percent body fat, and now I am 235, 240 with a 6.5 percent body fat.”
“Anything else you want to tell them?” KU coach Self said, drawing laughter from all involved.
Poor charity work
KU won going away despite hitting just 11 of 22 free throws.
“It could have opened up the game more,” Morningstar said of KU hitting freebies. “That’s how it goes sometimes.”
Little effective
Little scored five straight points in the first half. He hit a deep two and a three that gave the Jayhawks a 19-11 advantage at 9:11.
“Coach said to be aggressive and just play. I think I did that today,” said Little, who scored seven points and had six boards in 16 minutes.
“This team … our level of confidence has grown each game,” Little added. “For us, the first one (Friday against North Dakota State) was the tough one. We were more confident after that against an athletic team like Dayton.”
How sweet it is
The Jayhawks were giddy after reaching the Sweet 16 despite losing five starters from last year’s national-championship team.
“Coach was basically celebrating, said he was proud,” Little said. “He also is making sure we stay focused.”
“It feels great knowing nobody expected us to get this far,” Marcus Morris said. “It’s a great accomplishment for us.”
Stats, facts
KU advanced to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year and the seventh time in the last nine seasons. … KU has won eight straight NCAA Tournament games and 11 of its last 12 in the last three years. … KU is 8-3 all-time as a No. 3 seed. … Collins (25) and Aldrich (13) combined for 38 of KU’s 60 points. The two have scored 93 of KU’s 144 points in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. … Aldrich scored KU’s first six points before Collins scored the Jayhawks’ next eight and Little scored the following five. Collins then scored the next six points for KU. The three combined for 28 of KU’s 29 first half points as Taylor made a free throw.
Bumps, bruises
Kansas University’s Sherron Collins said he banged his left leg in the second half.
“I didn’t adjust to a screen, and we (he and an unnamed Bears player) ran into each other. It didn’t bother me. It didn’t have an effect on the outcome,” Collins said. “It’s the time of season you don’t have your legs under you all the time. I’m all right.”
KU’s Mario Little took a shot to the stomach in the second half. “I’m all right. It knocked the wind out of me,” he said.
Zone trouble
KU’s Cole Aldrich hit three of five shots and two of two free throws for eight points with 14 rebounds.
KU’s perimeter players had trouble feeding him the ball against Baylor’s zone defense.
Coach Bill Self said KU had trouble feeding Aldrich, but that Aldrich shouldered some of the blame, too.
“I think it is a tribute to their zone. I think it is a tribute to our perimeter not doing a great job. Cole has to take responsibility for it, too,” Self said. “Guys have to find a way to get the ball. This was a game in which he labored probably as much as he has at any point in time this year.
“What a zone does — and that was a stretched-out zone where the middle was open — it creates doubt. We weren’t aggressive. We didn’t get to play up against it. I don’t know how many shots we had the second half that we took a step outside our shooting area. We didn’t drive nearly enough. They gapped it and made you drive it.
“It also took us away from second-chance points for whatever reason. We didn’t do a good job on the offensive glass that you would think we would when we shoot that poorly against a zone where it is tougher to block out. All in all, (it was) just a pretty poor performance offensively.”
Dunn shines
LaceDarius Dunn burned KU for 24 points off 9-of-16 shooting, including six of 11 three-pointers.
“We let him get comfortable,” Self said. “Very very discouraging. It is something you tried to hang your hat on and something we did a very poor job of.”
Newbies
Little was enthused playing in his first Big 12 tourney. “I was real excited. I thought we were going to come down here and play hard and try to take the tournament,” he said.
Freshman Tyshawn Taylor noted: “I was excited. I felt we worked real hard to get here (as No. 1 seed). We started slow, then we played real well. It’s a game we knew we had won. We let it go.”
Stats, facts
KU was the second No. 1 seed to lose in a first-round Big 12 tournament game. Baylor beat No. 1 Iowa State in 2001. … KU is now 12-1 in first-round Big 12 tourney games. The Jayhawks are 25-7 all-time at the event. … KU is 15-2 all-time versus Baylor. The Bears snapped a seven-game losing streak versus KU. … KU is 5-2 in Ford Center. … KU, which was down, 37-33, is 3-4 when trailing at the half. … KU tied a season low with four steals, while Baylor tied a Kansas opponent season low with seven turnovers. … Collins tied a Kansas Big 12-tournament record with 20 field-goal attempts and 12 three-point field goal attempts. His 12 three-point attempts are also a career high. … Aldrich went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line and has now made 16 straight free throws dating to Feb. 23 at Oklahoma.
Injury update
Kansas freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor fell to the floor in the final two minutes and limped off the court.
“I jammed my left big toe when I hit the floor. It’s fine,” said Taylor, who scored 11 points in 28 minutes.
Cole Aldrich, who has been wearing a boot on his left foot of late, sprained his right ankle late.
“It’s fine. It’s another little thing. I’ll get treatment and be back on it,” Aldrich said.
Left at home
KU junior guard Tyrone Appleton did not make the trip because of a bout with the flu.
Sorry setback
KU suffered what is believed to be the fourth-worst loss in coach Bill Self’s six years at KU. KU lost by 25 to Texas in 2006, 21 to Villanova in 2005, 20 to Oklahoma State in 2004 and 19 to Nebraska in 2004.
Sherron says …
Sherron Collins on the loss: “We didn’t have it today. We weren’t ready to play. Nobody played good today. Everybody played bad.”
Jayhawks honored
KU senior Matt Kleinmann and sophomore Tyrel Reed were named to the first-team Academic All-Big 12 basketball team, the conference office announced Wednesday. Sophomore Cole Aldrich made second team.
To be named to the first team, one must have a grade-point average of 3.2 or better. To make second team, one must have a GPA of 3.00 to 3.19. Kleinmann majors in architecture, Reed in exercise science and Aldrich in communications studies.
To qualify, athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or in the two previous semesters and have participated in 60 percent of his team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence.
Woolridge team wins
Future KU shooting guard Royce Woolridge scored 31 points to lift Phoenix Sunnyslope High to a 78-65 victory over Avondale Agua Fria in Tuesday’s Arizona Class 4A Div. II state championship game.
Woolridge, a 6-3 junior who has committed orally to KU, scored 19 points in the third quarter — including 13 straight in the first five minutes — in helping Sunnyslope to its first state crown since 2002.
Sunnyslope finished with a 24-5 record.
OSU coach on his future
Oregon State coach Craig Robinson had a wild response in an interview with the Oregonian newspaper about his future in the sport.
He said he was happy at OSU, but …
“Of course, if somebody said Bill Self has decided to go pro and Kansas wants you, you have to say, ‘OK, let me talk to them’ … you know what I mean? But I’m not (looking) … it would be hard for me to keep hopping around.”
His sister is First Lady Michelle Obama.
Collison witnesses Cole’s effort
Kansas University sophomore Cole Aldrich’s 20 rebounds passed his old career high of 18 set against Oklahoma State on Feb. 7.
It seems Aldrich was pumped up to hit the boards hard after seeing a former KU great and current Oklahoma City Thunder player sitting in the stands.
“I saw Nick Collison in the crowd behind the bench, and I thought I’d go for every rebound. I had to knock Quintrell (Thomas) out of the way for one of them,” Aldrich said with a laugh.
“I knew I had a lot of rebounds at halftime and said, ‘I’ll try for it and go after every rebound.”’
“It” was Collison’s 23-rebound effort against Texas on Jan. 27, 2003.
“They’re playing great, especially Cole. He’s really doing a great job,” gushed Collison, who gave KU coach Bill Self a hug after the game.
Collins honored
Kansas University’s Sherron Collins and Oklahoma State’s James Anderson on Monday were named Big 12 co-players of the week. Oklahoma’s Willie Warren was named rookie of the week.
Collins, who has snared the honor twice this season, averaged 22 points in victories over Iowa State and Nebraska. He hit 17 of 29 shots (58.6 percent), including six of 10 threes. He also had 10 assists against no turnovers.
On Griffin:
OU coach Jeff Capel wanted it made clear that OU’s medical staff made the decision to sit Blake Griffin (concussion) on Monday night.
“Blake would play if it was left up to him,” Capel said. “He wanted to come back in the second half the other day (after suffering concussion in first half at Texas). He wanted to give it a try. You don’t want to mess around with anything like this.”
Capel said he didn’t think any teams in the future would try to pop Griffin in the head to gain a competitive advantage.
“I hope not. You are talking about someone’s career, someone’s future,” Capel said. “I think it’d be a pretty crappy person or coach or player that would do that. You have to continue to play hard and do what you do. I certainly don’t think anyone in our league especially would go out of their way to inflict more damage or something like that.”
As far as past teams’ treatment of Griffin in the paint, Capel said: “I don’t think anybody in our league has been particularly dirty. There have been hard fouls. That’s part of basketball. I don’t think anybody in our league has been with the exception of maybe one game been malicious or anything with any intent to cause damage or hurt him.”
What game was that, coach?
“No comment,” Capel said.
Stats, facts
KU is 12-1 in the Big 12. It’s KU’s best conference 13-game record since the 2001-02 team went 16-0 … KU has won at least 12 conference games for nine straight seasons. … KU has won five straight versus OU. … OU had a 19-game homecourt win streak snapped. OU had won 10 straight league games at home. … KU is 15-15 at Noble Center. … Oklahoma, at No. 3 in the AP poll, was the highest ranked team KU has beaten this season and the highest-ranked since beating Memphis (No. 2) in last year’s National Championship game.
Kansas University’s students made it clear they want Lance Stephenson to play basketball for the Jayhawks next season.
Students made several banners recognizing the presence of the 6-foot-5 Brooklyn, N.Y., Lincoln High guard, who sat behind KU’s bench as part of his official recruiting visit.
“We Like Lance-A-Lot,” one banner read.
“Born Ready to Rock Chalk,” read two others.
One student held up an oversized picture of Stephenson’s face and had Stephenson sign the back of the picture.
What’s more, the fans chanted “Rock Chalk Stephenson” in the final seconds of the game and cheered wildly as he exited with coach Bill Self and KU’s players out of the northwest tunnel following the final horn.
The Jayhawks were intent on making sure the McDonald’s All-American, who is considering KU, St. John’s, Maryland, USC and UCLA, had a great time this weekend.
“We’ll go watch the (OU-Texas) game, but we’ve got a recruit in town. We’ve got to show him a good time,” Sherron Collins said. “We’ll take him out to eat and probably do something with him, let him know we’re trying to get him here, too.”
Collins said he had “an ESPN site on my iPhone,” to “check in” on the progress of the OU-Texas game.
Tooth talk
Cole Aldrich, who had his front left tooth knocked out in a game against Kansas State on Jan. 13, lost his temporary tooth on Friday.
“It came out yesterday,” Aldrich said, sporting pearly whites Saturday.
Did it happen eating an apple as Self theorized? “No,” Aldrich said with a smile.
Boo, boo
KU fans booed NU point guard Cookie Miller every time he touched the basketball.
Miller and KU’s Mario Little fought for a loose ball in KU’s game Jan. 28 at Nebraska.
Miller tugged and tugged and finally ripped the ball away. ESPN announcer Doug Gottlieb at the time said Miller “acted like a punk” following the tie-up in Lincoln.
“It’s funny. Every time he touched the ball, they booed him just because of what he did to Mario,” KU’s Collins said. “I will support our fans, so I guess it was great.”
Another tie-up
This time, Little and Paul Velander had a similar wrestling match for the basketball in the second half. After Little ripped the ball away, Velander approached and gave him a hug. Little broke into a big smile, and the fans chanted, “Awww.”
Stats, facts
Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini attended and sat behind the Cornhuskers’ bench. … KU’s 11-1 start in league play is best since an 11-1 mark in the 2002-03 season. … KU has won 13 straight over NU and has won five straight season series against the Huskers. … KU upped its Allen Fieldhouse win streak to 39 games. … Aldrich recorded his 100th career blocked shot and recorded his 15th double double of the season. … Collins has 1,154 points and ranks 36th in school history. … Matt Kleinmann’s late dunk was his first dunk of the season. He scored his first points since Dec. 30 against Albany. … KU is the fourth team to score 70 points on NU. … KU had 23 second-chance points to NU’s two. … NU’s four offensive rebounds were fewest by a foe all season. It’s the fewest by an opponent since Baylor had four on Feb. 18, 2004.
Uncalled for
Cole Aldrich fell victim to a cruel prank by a Kansas State fan this week.
The fan — who said he cell-phoned Aldrich to harass Kansas University’s big man in days leading up to the KU-KSU game — claimed Aldrich called back and left an obscene message on the fan’s phone.
The fan, who faked Aldrich’s voice, even put the obscene message on youtube.com. It received play on deadspin.com and even in Bloomington, Minn., native Aldrich’s hometown newspaper.
“No, that was not me,” Aldrich said after scoring 21 points and grabbing seven rebounds while playing 36 minutes in KU’s 85-74 victory over Kansas State on Saturday in Manhattan.
“I heard it a few times. My buddies called and said, ‘Did you do that?’ I said, ‘Hey, you know who I am. Do you think I have the character to do that?’
“I think it’s one of those things that the rivalry does. Students get a little carried away, say, ‘Let’s find a way to pump our team up.’ It’s how that was. It’s unfortunate something like that has to happen, but it happens.”
New mask worked well
Aldrich wore his new Richard Hamilton-like face mask for the first time Saturday. He’d worn a more intrusive mask for four games since busting his nose on Jan. 28 at Nebraska.
“I like both masks. Both are good,” said Aldrich, who said he wasn’t sure if he’d wear a mask Wednesday against Iowa State (7 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse). “One shot today I think (Luis) Colon whacked me in the face. I was like, ‘Oh, I didn’t even feel that.’ It’s working really well.”
What a lob
Aldrich caught a deep lob from Sherron Collins and slammed, giving KU a 53-49 lead with 14:11 left.
“I threw it and knew it was the right pass. I was just waiting on Cole to throw it down,” Collins said.
Aldrich noted: “I got to halfcourt, Tyshawn (Taylor) gave me a little push in the back that gave me a little energy to run. I saw the ball out of the corner of my eye. I tried to grab it and throw it down. I don’t even know how I caught it.”
Russell in the house
Former KU guard Russell Robinson, who plays for Reno (Nevada) in the NBA’s Developmental League, attended and sat behind KU’s bench. Former Jayhawks Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush, who are on NBA all-star break and also back in town, did not attend, though Chalmers was at KU’s women’s game versus Oklahoma on Saturday night.
“I’m more nervous watching than playing,” Robinson said. “Those guys are young. They’re doing great.”
He started the year playing pro ball in Turkey.
“I wouldn’t say I hated it, but I didn’t like it there,” Robinson said. “There was a culture shock. It’s fun to play in the D-League. I have hopes of playing in the NBA someday, and it’s a way to get there.”
Of KU, he said: “I watch the games whenever I can. I’m an alumni. I miss college. I miss the fans. I wish I could be here, but I’m moving on with my career.”
Calf bruise
Brady Morningstar iced his lower-left leg after the game.
“I bruised my calf. It’s fine,” Morningstar said after hitting four threes in as many tries and finishing with 12 points in 32 minutes.
KU vs. KSU in Okie City?
K-State’s Jacob Pullen, who scored 22 points off 5-of-11 shooting (4-9 threes), was asked if he wanted another shot at KU. The ‘Cats lost to their rivals by 16 in Lawrence and 11 Saturday.
“As a team, we know we’re capable of beating them, and we know we get another chance in Oklahoma City (site of Big 12 tournament),” he said.
Coach Frank Martin said: “I don’t like getting swept by anybody. You beat me … that’s OK if I get to play you again. It’s the opportunity you are looking for. It’s kind of the approach our team has taken. We let a great opportunity slip out of our hands.”
Martin on Morris
Martin said it about Marcus Morris, who scored 15 points with seven rebounds and four assists:
“That’s a credit to Bill (Self) and that young kid. He’s a freshman, and he’s so much better than he was in November and December.”
KU’s Collins on Morris: “That’s the real Marcus, aggressive, making plays, hitting threes, jumpers, posting, doing it all. He keeps teasing us, showing glimpses of it, but he is coming around, turning the corner. I look forward to seeing more of that from him.”
Celebration
Collins asked Taylor for the ball before the final horn. He tossed it into the air and stared at Kansas State’s loud student section in celebrating the victory.
“They were taunting us the whole game. I just gave a little of it back,” Collins said.
Morningstar on the crowd: “I don’t know if our crowd is as angry. It’s an angry crowd. It feels good to get a win and leave this place.”
Stats, facts
KU netted its 20th victory. It’s the Jayhawks’ 20th consecutive 20-win campaign. … KU is 9-1 in the Big 12 for the first time since the 2004-05 season. … KU is 20-1 in Bramlage Coliseum. … KU started the group of Collins, Morningstar, Aldrich, Tyrel Reed and Mario Little for the first time. It marked Reed’s second start and Little’s third. Little played just one minute the second half, giving way to Marcus Morris, who went 19 minutes the final stanza. … Multiple Jayhawks (Morningstar and Taylor) fouled out for the first time since the Michigan State game. … KU was outrebounded by K-State, 29-27, marking just the fifth game KU trailed in the category.
T talk
Kansas University freshman Marcus Morris picked up a technical foul after committing a personal foul, barking at official Scott Thornley just 39 seconds into the second half.
Saddled with four fouls, Morris sat the rest of the game.
“I would say at the time it was a momentum deal,” KU coach Bill Self said, noting MU cut KU’s 14-point lead down to eight just three minutes into the half. “We got it back to 11 twice after that. It didn’t have much to do with it (loss).
“I’m not positive what was said,” Self added. “I know that Scott would not have given him a ‘T’ unless he deserved it. Scott had every right to do it if our guy acted in a way he shouldn’t have. I don’t know what happened. Scott told me he deserved it. That’s good enough for me.”
Collins gassed
KU’s Sherron Collins, who missed two free throws with 1:48 left, might have been a bit tired playing 36 minutes on a night MU pressed the entire game. He played 19 minutes the final half.
“No, I will not use that (as an excuse),” Self said. “The way the game was going, we wanted to do different things to rest guys. We didn’t rest him the second half. I wasn’t going to take him out under eight. He made some careless plays I don’t think because of fatigue.”
Collins, who said he felt fine physically, said it was a tough loss to swallow.
“It will linger because it’s Mizzou,” he said. “But it’s something we’ve got to move on. We look forward to playing them in the fieldhouse (March 1), but we can’t look forward to that now. We have another tough game coming up at K-State Saturday.”
Stats, facts
KU’s 27 turnovers were third most by a KU team since the 1988-89 season when specialty records were kept. KU had 27 against Arizona in 2005. … MU has won 16 straight at Mizzou Arena. … DeMarre Carroll led MU with 22 points off 8-of-13 shooting. … The 122 total points are the second-lowest total in the KU-MU series in the Big 12 era. The previous low was 121 in 2004, a 65-56 KU victory.
KU’s Little honored
Kansas junior forward Mario Little and Missouri junior guard Zaire Taylor on Monday were named co-Big 12 rookies of the week. Carroll was selected as the league’s player of the week.
Members of Missouri’s rowdy student-cheering section, The Antlers, have been known to dial the cell phone numbers of Kansas University’s players and coach Bill Self in the days leading up to the KU-MU game in Columbia, Mo.
They made their first contact with Self early Saturday morning. The two teams meet at 8 p.m. Monday at Mizzou Arena.
“Coach said he got a call at 2:30 in the morning,” KU freshman Tyshawn Taylor said, noting he had not received any calls … yet.
“I’m hoping and praying nobody calls my cell phone. Coach said to be ready,” Taylor added.
Self confirmed the calls.
“They started last night. They were great, very friendly,” he joked.
How the heck do the Antlers get the KU players’ numbers?
“Probably from some girls we gave them to, not knowing who they were,” Taylor theorized. “If it gets too annoying, I’ll just turn my phone off.”
Self says …
Self, on the KU-MU rivalry: “They don’t care for us much, and the feeling is very mutual.”
Good D
KU’s Sherron Collins, who scored 12 points, held OSU’s Byron Eaton to an eight-point outing off 2-of-6 shooting Saturday.
“He’s a good guard. You can’t take anything away from him. Today wasn’t one of his good days,” Collins said of Eaton, who had 26 points versus KU last season in an OSU victory in Stillwater.
“I think I did a good job on him in the first half (zero points, 0-for-3 shooting). In the second half, he got going a little bit. Late in the game, we lost concentration and let him do things. Overall, we did a good job on him as a team,” Collins said.
Collins tried to not take it as a personal battle.
“It takes a lot from my teammates when I get in a one-on-one competition with someone else and try to outplay them. I’ve been getting my teammates involved and letting them help me. I think that’s the best thing I can do,” Collins said.
Appleton plays
KU reserve guard Tyrone Appleton had an assist and two turnovers in a three-minute stint the first half. He entered after Taylor picked up his second foul. Reserve forward Travis Releford had five points in seven minutes.
“Tyrone had two turnovers in three minutes. I thought he did OK,” Self said. “I thought Travis made the most out of his minutes.”
All-out effort
KU’s Little and Tyrel Reed had the best hustle plays of the game. Reed stole the ball at midcourt, then stumbled on his way to the hoop, where he scored, was fouled and hit a free throw to complete a three-point play in the second half. Shortly after, Little dove on the floor chasing a rebound and passed to Cole Aldrich for a slam.
“We usually do play hard,” Self said. “We don’t always play smart, but we play hard.”
Pete Goering dies at 60
Former Topeka Capital-Journal sports editor and executive editor Pete Goering, who covered Kansas University sports for many years, died Saturday after a two-year bout with cancer. He was 60. Visitation and funeral service times had not been announced as of Saturday night.
Stats, facts
KU, which has won eight games in a row, stretched its homecourt win streak to 37 games. KU is 91-6 at home under sixth-year coach Self. … KU’s 8-0 record in the conference is its best mark since 2004-05, when the Jayhawks went 9-0. … KU hit 11 of 15 free throws. Over the past three games, KU is 46-for-55 (83.6 percent). … Aldrich’s 16 defensive rebounds were most by a KU player since Drew Gooden had 20 against Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament on March 9, 2002. … Brady Morningstar matched a career high with six assists. … Little is now shooting 69 percent during the conference season (27-for-39) after a 6-for-8 effort versus OSU … Eaton’s 10 assists were the most by a Kansas opponent since D.J. Augustin had 13 on March 3, 2007.
— Gary Bedore
Collins has off day
Sherron Collins, who missed 12 of 16 shots, including nine of 10 three-pointers, simply chalked it up as a bad day.
“It was one of those days my teammates carried me when I was struggling,” Collins, Kansas University’s junior point guard, said after scoring 11 points with four assists and three turnovers in Saturday’s 66-61 home victory over Colorado.
“I was going to keep shooting. Everything felt good coming off my hand. A couple rimmed in and out. I missed some shots I usually hit. It’s all right, though,” he added after KU improved to 6-0 in league play and 17-4 overall.
Despite his struggles, the 5-foot-11 Collins managed to come up with one of the biggest plays of the game. With the shot clock down to one, he hit a floater to up a 62-59 lead to five points with 23 seconds left. His two free throws at 4.8 seconds upped a 64-61 margin to five points again.
“I was able to get past the first guy, elevate and make the shot,” Collins said of the floater. “At least that was one of my shots I knew was going in today.”
Collins played with a sleeve on his left arm with a pad protecting his non-shooting elbow.
“I have a contusion they call it, a bruise. It didn’t bother me. I just didn’t want it to get hit again,” Collins said.
Collins went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line, stretching his streak to 29 makes without a miss. School record is 34 by Wayne Simien (2004-05). Calvin Thompson made 33 straight free throws in the ’83-84 season.
Cutting it close
KU coach Bill Self kept his cool on the bench, but was sweating a bit when the Buffs whittled a 21-point deficit to two.
“I was worried, obviously,” Self said. “Tyrel made the three, and that let us breathe (giving KU 57-52 lead). I felt like all along we were going to win. But we had lost all momentum. We didn’t have any juice defensively. We didn’t create havoc, and we let them get comfortable. I bet you they scored 10 possessions with the shot clock under eight seconds.”
Gym shoes
Coaches from KU and Colorado wore tennis shoes in support of Coaches Vs. Cancer. Also, the officials used special Coaches Vs. Cancer whistles. It is Coaches Vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers awareness weekend.
Stats, facts
KU holds a 167-39 series lead over Colorado. The Jayhawks have won 13 in a row and 39 of 40 games versus the Buffs. … KU has won 36 consecutive games in Allen. … KU has won six straight games heading into Monday’s game at Baylor. BU has lost three in a row. … CU had a season-low seven turnovers. CU had eight against Iowa State. … CU has lost 24 straight Big 12 road games. … KU hit 19 of 20 free throws. It was KU’s top effort since making 22 of 23 against Princeton on Dec. 22, 1999. It was KU’s best effort in a conference game since going 17-of-18 against Oklahoma on Jan. 8, 2008. … Markieff Morris scored a career-high 10 points. He was 4-for-5 shooting with four rebounds. … Brady Morningstar played a career-high 39 minutes. …. CU outshot Kansas, 47.1 percent to 41.2, marking the second time the Jayhawks have won while being outshot this season. The Jayhawks have been outshot in only five of 21 games. … KU had 37 rebounds to CU’s 24. KU’s bench outscored CU, 20-2. … The Jayhawks were held without a field goal for 7:10 and scoreless for 5:30 during the middle portions of the second half. … Colorado shot 65.2 percent in the second half, the highest mark against KU in a conference game since Oklahoma shot 68.4 percent on January 18, 1989. … Perry Ellis, a 6-foot-8 freshman recruit from Wichita Heights, attended and sat behind the KU bench.
Bowl winners
KU’s football team was honored for its Insight Bowl victory over Minnesota at halftime.
Recruiting flap
The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader reported Monday that Kansas University basketball coach Bill Self had inappropriate recruiting contact Saturday with John Wall, a 6-foot-4 high school senior point guard who is rated as the Rivals.com’s top-rated prospect.
According to columnist Allen Vaughan, Self spoke with Wall, who was playing in a tournament in Springfield, after he exited the winning locker room and said, “Johnny, great win man. You really played well.”
After Wall thanked him, Vaughan said Self added, “I’m not supposed to be talking to you, and you know that, but I just wanted to tell you that was a great win.”
According to USA Today, this is a no-contact, evaluation-only period in which NCAA recruiting rules prohibit “any face-to-face encounter that is prearranged (e.g., staff member positions himself or herself in a location where contact is possible) or that takes place … at the site of organized competition or practice … regardless of whether any conversation occurs.”
They also bar “any dialogue … in excess of an exchange of a greeting.”
KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said Monday that he was aware of the incident and that the university is currently looking into the details of the matter before deciding whether to turn it into the NCAA, apparently as a secondary violation.
“Bill has already told us about it, and we are discussing it internally,” Marchiony said.
Self addressed the issue after Monday’s victory over Texas A&M.
“Basically, it’s accurate,” Self said of the paper’s report. “I don’t know if the exact quote was accurate, but basically it’s accurate. I was at the game, when it was over, like I always do, like every coach always does, (I was) trying to catch a plane, so I went back to tell the coach congratulations, good win. I was approached, shook a hand and said, ‘I can’t talk to you, but you played really well.’
“If that exchange — which is what it was — is a problem, our administration will deal with it. I certainly by no means am going to deny what happened, but the reasons I was back in there (by locker room) was to say hi to the coach.”
Wall, a senior at Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, N.C., has KU, Baylor, Duke, North Carolina State and others on his final list.
Taylor honored
Kansas University freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor on Monday was named Big 12 Conference rookie of the week Monday for his performance in victories over Kansas State and Colorado. Taylor has won the award three times this season. He’s the first Jayhawk to take the honor three times in a campaign since Brandon Rush won it three times in 2005-06.
No letdown this time
Cole Aldrich on KU not having a letdown after a fast start: “We talked about that at halftime again. We said we can’t have one of those games. Sometimes we get ADD or ADHD and let it slip through our fingers.”
Stats, facts
Sherron Collins ended the night with 999 career points. … KU is 14-1 versus A&M. … The Jayhawks have won 35 straight at home.
D.J. the Cavalier
Former Kansas University power forward Darnell Jackson, who attended Saturday’s game, has averaged 7.9 minutes per game in 17 games his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jackson has made 11 of 27 shots for 40.7 percent. He has made three of seven free throws and has 27 rebounds.
“I’m not playing that much. Whenever they put me in, they put me in,” Jackson said.
He smiled and said “nah” when asked if he ever was upset with his minutes.
“You can’t be mad about not playing every game because you are still getting paid for it,” Jackson said.
The ever-emotional Jackson may have needed the hugs he received from former teammates and coaches Saturday in Boulder.
“I’m missing being around these guys, joking and playing around,” said Jackson, who informed Cole Aldrich and former teammate and current staff member Jeremy Case he was coming to the game.
“Hopefully, one day I can get back to Lawrence, sit in the fieldhouse and get to experience that again,” Jackson said.
KU coach Bill Self learned Saturday morning Jackson would fly in from Cleveland for the game.
“I thought, ‘Why would he come?”‘ Self said, wondering if the Cavs had a game in Denver, which was not the case. “I guess he got permission to come. He wanted to come to our Michigan State game last week, but weather got him stuck in Cleveland. It was great to see him.”
Reed excels after half
KU sophomore guard Tyrel Reed missed two shots — both threes — and didn’t score in an 11-minute first-half stint.
He went 4-for-4, including 3-for-3 from three in 10 minutes the second half, his 11 points sparking KU in its 73-56 victory.
His 11 points came in the final 11 minutes.
“I’m called on to shoot when open. It’s my role on the team. I hit some shots. Guys found me when I was open. That was that. Nothing too spectacular,” Reed said.
Of Colorado’s effective 1-3-1 and 2-3 zone defenses, Reed said: “They did a great job of contesting shots and flying out at people. We can’t turn it over like that (18 times). We are fortunate we came out on top.”
Reed tweaked an ankle late in the game. “I stepped on somebody’s shoe. I’ll be fine,” he said.
Chipped tooth
Aldrich revealed after the game he chipped one of his front teeth in Tuesday’s victory over Kansas State.
“I got an elbow. It’s this one right here,” he said, pointing to a front tooth. “It happens. That’s what happens when you play sports. You get a little nicked up.”
The chip might have been worse had he not been wearing his mouthpiece.
Aldrich on Colorado
“They proved they can play today,” Aldrich said. “Their zone was a little confusing. They did a good job with it.”
On the pro-KU crowd: “Matt (Kleinmann) … it’s his fifth year. He said that’s probably been the most (KU fans) he’s seen here. It’s great to see those people. They can’t quite get into the fieldhouse. There’s a lot of western Kansas farmers, diehard Jayhawk fans. They get the opportunity to come here and watch us. We appreciate it.”
On KU’s 1-2 road record: “A lot of people are saying we can’t win on the road. This is one little steppingstone we can take and continue throughout the conference.”
Turg coming to town
KU will meet Texas A&M at 8 p.m. Monday in Allen Fieldhouse. It’ll be the return of former KU point guard Mark Turgeon, the second-year Aggies’ coach. KU beat Turgeon’s Aggies twice last season — once in College Station, Texas, and once at the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
Stats, facts
KU has won 12 in a row over CU and has a 116-39 series advantage, including a 38-26 mark in Boulder. … KU is 1-2 on the road this season. … KU scored 25 points off 18 turnovers, the most since the team tallied 26 points against Jackson State (Dec. 6). … KU hit a season-best 61.4 percent of its shots. CU hit 37.2. … KU hit nine of 17 threes for a season-best 52.9 percent mark. … Sherron Collins is 17 points shy of 1,000. … Collins has made 16 straight free throws. … Brady Morningstar had a career-best eight rebounds, passing his former personal high of seven against Coppin State. … Mario Little made his second straight start.
Windy City buddies
Chicago natives Sherron Collins and Jacob Pullen talked to each other a lot during the game.
Collins finished with 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and four turnovers; Pullen had 13 points, two assists and no turnovers.
“We were more making jokes than talking smack,” Collins said. “I hit the floor, he said, ‘Ah, he’s all right.’ He pulled my shirt. I pulled his shirt. No hard feelings. It’s fun.”
Withey on board
Jeff Withey, KU’s 7-foot freshman transfer from the University of Arizona, sat on the bench. He can practice but not play in games until the conclusion of first semester next December.
“I’m excited to be here. It was a great game. The crowd was great,” said Withey, who hails from San Diego. “I just wish I could play now in front of them (fans). They are amazing.”
Of the 225-pound Withey, KU coach Bill Self said: “I think Jeff will be a big asset to us. You guys can see he’s very tall and very long, and he’s a great shot-blocker. He can alter shots, can run and has a great touch. You can also physically see he needs to put on some weight. I think he can easily put 20 pounds on by the time he’s eligible to play.”
Withey said he’d like to be 240 by next season.
Glove is gone
Mario Little didn’t wear a protective glove on his left hand for the first time this season.
“I’ve been missing with the glove. I was kind of late for the shootaround so I had to hurry up and go out there. I didn’t really want to wear the glove so I said forget it,” he said. “They tried to get me not to wear the glove in the Michigan State game. They’ve been wanting me to not wear it. It was kind of my decision.”
Taylor the Dow Joneser
Self had a good quip after the game. Referring to Tyshawn Taylor, Self said: “He’s been, as (Dick) Vitale would say, a Dow Joneser. Although recently all down,” Self said. “I’m not talking about Tyshawn, but the economy. He’s shown flashes of being the best freshman around. That was arguably his best game.”
Stats, facts
KU leads the all-time series, 176-90. KU has won 36 of the last 38 versus KSU dating to the 1994 season. … KU has won 34 straight home games. … KU has won 18 straight league openers. … The 18-0 run to start the game was the largest since KU started 18-0 versus LSU on Nov. 25, 1996. Kansas won that game, 82-53.
Little still undecided
Mario Little, who must decide by Tuesday night whether to apply for a medical red-shirt this season, hoped to test his left leg Saturday at Michigan State.
“I really didn’t get to do anything,” said Little, who because of foul problems had a short, seven-minute stint in the Jayhawks’ 75-62 loss.
“I’m not even hurting right now. I was. I mean, I had been,” he added of some problems with the stress fracture in his lower-left leg after the Tennessee game eight days ago.
“Defensively I can move better than I thought I could. It’s something I really have to do a lot of thinking,” Little added.
He already has discussed pros and cons of red-shirting with several individuals.
“A lot of people are telling me this, telling me that,” he said. “I want to come back strong next year and help the team. I also want to help right now. Sherron (Collins) needs some help out there.”
KU coach Bill Self isn’t ready to make the final call.
“I was hoping I could watch Mario play today. He played seven minutes. I thought he moved OK, but I thought he was very ineffective based on not ever getting in the flow,” Self said of Little, who had three rebounds and no points. “I don’t think today really told me anything concerning his future status applying for a medical hardship or playing on.”
Little’s braintrust back home in Chicago — led by uncle O’Keefe — said there’s a “strong possibility” Mario will red-shirt so he can play two healthy years at KU.
“No sense going 45 to 50 percent,” O’Keefe Little said. “I don’t like what I saw the last two or three games. He has a swagger (normally). He doesn’t have the swagger. He has pain in the leg. He’s trying to shoot with the glove (on left hand to protect broken bone). I want him to be fully informed, but the decision is his and his alone.”
Snowy roads
O’Keefe Little and two of Mario’s cousins braved snowy weather to attend Saturday’s game. The three-hour drive from Chicago took five hours.
“After a couple of figure eights (on snow packed highways), we made it here,” O’Keefe said.
Mario’s grandmother, Hazel, could not attend. She is in a Chicago hospital with a case of internal bleeding.
“She has taken a turn for the worse. They gave her seven pints of blood,” O’Keefe said. “We need to get back and see how she is doing.”
Ref hurt
Referee Steve Welmer was injured in the first half. He hobbled out of the arena with a boot on his foot.
This ‘n’ that
Collins and Cole Aldrich scored 63 percent of KU’s points. … MSU has won nine games in a row, 27 straight at Breslin. MSU has won 39 straight against nonconference foes. … The series between KU and MSU is tied at 4. … Aldrich had his third straight double-double and ninth overall this season. Aldrich also shot 75 percent (6-for-8) from the free-throw line and blocked three shots. Aldrich has recorded multiple blocks 12 times this year. … Kansas trailed, 37-18 (19 points), at halftime. It marked the Jayhawks’ largest halftime deficit since Feb. 23, 2003, when KU trailed, 47-26 (21 points), at Oklahoma. … Kansas’ 18 points in the first half were KU’s fewest points in a half since Feb. 28, 1999, when KU also scored 18 points in the second half at Iowa State.
Little scores three points
Kansas University junior Mario Little hit three of four free throws and had two assists and a turnover in his five-minute stint. It was his second game since returning from a stress fracture in his left leg as well as a broken bone in his left hand.
“I think physically he’s doing fine,” KU coach Bill Self said. “I didn’t think he was as big a factor tonight (as he was Saturday versus Tennessee with five rebounds). Physically, I don’t see a problem. He may be a bit sore.
“How could he play great?” Self added. “He’s practiced four or five days now and been off six months. He wants to (play great). He has to understand how he can help the team until he gets his rhythm back. I don’t think he did anything tonight remotely negative. He made one pass I think the lady in the sixth row could have caught. Other than that, he did fine.”
King Cole
Self gave high praise to Cole Aldrich, who had 13 rebounds to go with his career-high 24 points.
“He’s doing a fabulous job,” Self said. “His effort on the offensive glass is stellar. If we can get the others to give effort like that we could be a great offensive rebounding team because he’s about as good as I’ve seen at that.”
Moment of silence
A moment of silence was held for former Jayhawk players Claude Houchin and Norm Cook. Houchin, who lived in Wichita, died Dec. 3 at the age of 83. Cook of Lincoln, Ill., died Dec. 22 at the age of 53.
Faces in crowd
Ex-KU player Christian Moody attended and sat behind the KU bench. Moody said he’d attend KU Med School in July … Jim Hinrich, dad of former KU player Kirk Hinrich sat next to Moody.
This, that
KU has won 33 straight games in Allen Fieldhouse … Self coached his 500th game as a head coach. He’s 153-35 at KU and 360-140 overall. … Freshman Travis Releford hit his third three-point basket of the season as part of KU’s 25-1 run in the first half. Releford is now 3-of-4 from behind the arc. … Tyrel Reed recorded a new career-high with 14 points. Reed’s previous high was 12, which he scored three times this season, the last being on Dec. 30, against Albany. Reed also set a career high in free-throw attempts and free throws made going 6-for-6 from the line. … Markieff Morris tied a career high with three blocks. … Siena set Kansas opponent highs this season for field goals (32), field-goal attempts (67) and assists (19) … Siena’s Ronald Moore recorded seven assists in the second half. His seven assists marks the most assists in a half by a Kansas opponent since D.J. Augustin dished eight in the first half on March 3, 2007.
Barnes in the barn
Harrison Barnes, a 6-foot-6 junior forward from Ames (Iowa) High School, attended on an unofficial recruiting visit and sat behind KU’s bench. Before the game, Barnes left his seat to shake hands with Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl, who had wandered to KU’s side of the court to visit with the Jayhawk coaches. KU and Tennessee are on Barnes’ list of schools, with Duke, Iowa, North Carolina and others.
Dunk you very much
KU sophomore Cole Aldrich had seven of KU’s 10 dunks. Tennessee had just one dunk.
“I try to go up and rip the rim down every time I get the chance,” the 6-foot-11 Aldrich said.
“I am a big fan of that particular shot,” KU coach Bill Self said of the slam. “I think we played Albany and got zero dunks in the game (Dec. 30). I don’t know when the last time that happened at Kansas is.”
Aldrich tied a career high with six blocks.
“I just try to do that every game. I try to go up and block shots, and if I can’t get it, I try to alter it. Not many teams are used to having a big guy who can really block shots. Once in a while we would get beat, and I was able to help and block shots,” Aldrich said.
Self gets a ‘T’
Self was hit with a technical foul with 4:42 left in the first half, with KU up, 35-22. He was incensed Quintrell Thomas was called for a foul while setting a screen.
Did Self deserve it?
“Probably,” Self said. “If he (ref) thinks he’s right, (and) I think I’m right, I’m OK with that. That’s no big deal. What was said between us bothered me more than the call. I certainly thought I was right on that one … must not have been, though.”
Tennessee’s Tyler Smith was called for a ‘T’ for making contact with the ball as Brady Morningstar tried to inbound in the second half.
Withey update
Jeff Withey, KU’s 7-foot freshman transfer from the University of Arizona, tells Rivals.com he will officially make the move to Lawrence on Jan. 18. He plans to attend the KU-K-State game as a fan on Jan. 13. Withey can practice with KU’s team but not play in games until December, 2009.
Production
Sherron Collins and Aldrich combined for 48 of KU’s 92 points. However, KU’s first 15 points of the second half were scored by Tyrel Reed (eight), Marcus Morris (four) and Morningstar (three).
“It’s very significant,” Self said, adding, “Cole and Sherron will play better if they feel they don’t have to do most of the things.”
Stats, facts
Collins’ 10 free throws in the second half were the most makes by a Jayhawk in a half since Wayne Simien made 11 in the first half against Colorado in February of 2005 … Tennessee’s 10 blocks were the most by a KU foe since Colorado swatted 11 in January, 2006. Wayne Chism’s six blocks tied UMass’ Tony Gaffney for the most by a KU foe this season. … Aldrich had career highs in field goals (10) and attempts (14).
Top rookie
Kansas University freshman Tyshawn Taylor on Monday was named Big 12 rookie of the week. Taylor scored 11 points and had eight assists in Saturday’s 71-59 victory over Temple. He has won the award two times this season.
Front and centers
Tonight’s Kansas-Arizona game will feature a matchup between centers Cole Aldrich and Jordan Hill.
“He’s really good. He averages 12 rebounds a game. He will be a real force on the boards for them,” said KU sophomore Aldrich, who averages 14.0 points and 10.5 boards.
Hill, a 6-foot-10 junior from Atlanta, averages 18.5 points and 11.9 boards.
“It’s fun. It’s always a good thing going against a great center,” Aldrich said. “I played one or two minutes against him last year. It’s exciting going against a good big guy.”
Aldrich didn’t score in one minute of action in KU’s 76-72 overtime victory over the Wildcats last Nov. 25 in Allen Fieldhouse. Hill had five points and five boards in 24 minutes.
Coaching ties
Arizona interim coach Russ Pennell and Kansas coach Bill Self worked two years together on Eddie Sutton’s Oklahoma State staff in the early 1990s.
“He’s won every place he’s been,” Pennell said of Self at Monday’s Fiesta Bowl Classic news conference. “He’s a great recruiter and a very good X and O guy.”
Of Pittsburg High grad and former Pitt State assistant Pennell, Self said: “I’ve always thought he had a good basketball mind, and he’s a good people person. At the core, he cares about people, and I’ll bet his players certainly see that when he communicates with them.”
Pennell, by the way, said he grew up a fan of both KU and Kansas State.
Shorts weather
The Jayhawks, who are staying at Ventana Canyon Resort, are loving the warm 70-degree weather here.
“We were back home in the blistering cold walking to the gym, and the wind’s blowing. We were like, ‘Jeez, it would be nice to have 50 degrees. Even 25 degrees,'” Aldrich said at the news conference.
It was nearly 70 degrees Monday.
“Just walking outside this morning was great,” Aldrich said.
‘Blah game’
Last year’s KU-Arizona game was the game in which, inexplicably, the northwest corner of the fieldhouse was empty.
“It was the day after the Missouri football game (in KC’s Arrowhead Stadium). The students were definitely hung over that game. I don’t mean literally hung over,” Self said with a laugh. “I mean hung over from the disappointment of not winning that (football) game. It was a blah game. They hung around and basically controlled the game. We played well down the stretch.”
First road test
Nobody knows what to expect from the young Jayhawks during their first road game of the season.
“I enjoy playing on the road. This is where teams get made,” Aldrich said. “Getting tough wins on the road is important. This will be a good experience for us, a big challenge for us. Last year we had all our losses on the road. Besides the K-State game, they were all within a few points.”
Self said: “I look forward to it. We’ll know a lot more about our team (after tonight). It’ll be fun for me to learn how they will react on the road in certain situations. The thing I love about coaching is no matter what the situation, you know what to expect from your team. I am not there yet with this team. We’ve been emotionally up and down.
“We’ve given one (game) away, possibly two away where we should have come away with it. When you give them away, you’ve got to get it back somewhere else. That is the road and hold serve at home.”
This, that
KU leads the all-time series, 7-3. The Jayhawks won five of the first six in the series. … The Jayhawks will return via charter right after the game, not arriving until 5 a.m. The players will head to their hometowns early Christmas Eve and return to Lawrence for practice on Saturday.
Flu bug hits Aldrich
Kansas University sophomore center Cole Aldrich scored 13 points off 6-of-8 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds despite being weakened by the stomach flu.
“His stomach was cramping the whole game. It took a lot of courage to grab 11 rebounds and score 13 points. We need him. We all tipped our hat to him,” KU guard Sherron Collins said.
Aldrich said he never considered skipping the game.
“That never even occurred to me. Sherron wasn’t feeling well last week and played. You’ve got to fight through it. Not feeling well is no excuse. (Michael) Jordan had 50-something when he was sick. Sometimes that’s when you are the most focused,” Aldrich said.
Twin talk
The Morris twins combined for 17 points off 7-of-12 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds in contributing to the victory against their hometown school, Temple.
“I definitely got bragging rights,” said Marcus Morris, who came off the bench. His starting role was taken over by Markieff Morris, who opened his first game since Florida Gulf Coast (Nov. 18). “Dionte (Christmas, fellow Philadelphia native) might say something like he scored 21, but he put up 100 shots.”
Christmas scored 21 points off 6-of-14 shooting. The two-time Atlantic 10 scoring leader made six of 12 threes.
“He’s an awesome player, a great player, a pro,” Marcus added.
Markieff hit three of four shots and two of three free throws en route to his eight points.
“I was real comfortable (starting). Coach said, ‘Don’t worry. Go have fun,”‘ Markieff said. “We needed a new start. Coach emphasized we were starting over after the UMass loss.”
Marcus, who hit four of eight shots and had nine points, said: “This is the first time I think I did play as hard as I could. I felt I was in the game from the start watching my brother. I think my energy off the bench helped a lot.”
Point guard Collins cracked the joke of the day when asked about the twins faring well at practice lately.
“When Matt Kleinmann is not starting, it’s a good week,” he said with a smile.
Kleinmann started the Jackson State game in place of the Morris twins.
Kleinmann shines
Kleinmann, a senior center, grabbed a career-high four rebounds in a four-minute stint in the first half. He was called upon with Aldrich, Markieff Morris and Quintrell Thomas saddled with two fouls each.
“I thought Matt was our second best big man the first half. I was happy for him,” KU coach Bill Self said.
Self on the Morrises
“(Marcus) has a hard time finishing. He long jumps instead of high jumps. He did some good things. One thing ‘Kieff showed today is he can run.”
Christmas plans
The Jayhawks will travel to Arizona after practice today, play the Wildcats on Tuesday night, then arrive back in Lawrence at 5 a.m. on Christmas Eve. The players will head immediately to their hometowns for Christmas, then return late afternoon Dec. 27. The Jayhawks’ next home game is Dec. 30 versus Albany.
Unofficial visit
Perry Ellis, a 6-foot-8 freshman standout from Wichita Heights High School, attended with his family members and sat behind KU’s bench.
Stats, facts
Because of final exams, the Owls didn’t arrive to Lawrence until 2 a.m. Saturday. … KU has won 30 straight games in Allen. … Self won his 150th game here against 34 losses. … KU led 13-2 just 41/2 minutes into the game. Temple rolled, 16-7, over the next 7:50. KU broke open the game with a 27-12 run from the 15:08 mark to 3:12. … The Jayhawks shot 52.7 percent from the field, marking their second best percentage of the season. … Dionte Christmas hit six threes, most by an opponent since Arizona’s Chase Budinger made six last November. Christmas’ five three-point makes in the second half marks the most since Texas’ Kevin Durant made five in the first half on March 3, 2007.
‘We’re not tough right now’
Kansas University junior guard Sherron Collins bemoaned KU’s “lack of toughness” Saturday against Jackson State.
“We’re not tough right now. Call it like it is. We outrebounded them by one (39-38). Think what it’ll be like when we play Texas. We need to get better, quick,” Collins said.
“We have to get a swagger to ourselves that we are tough and believe it,” added Collins, who scored 17 points with five rebounds, five assists, four turnovers and three steals in 37 minutes.
“We have to go after balls with two hands. Our freshmen are not used to doing that. You can’t blame them. Coach even knows you can’t blame them. They’re not used to boxing out against somebody who can jump as high as they can. They have to learn to get a motor, believe every ball is theirs.
“We’ve got to get this straightened out,” Collins added.
Coach Bill Self, who has challenged his big men repeatedly at practice, was asked when toughness first became a major issue with him.
“I grew up on the rough streets of Edmond, Okla.,” he joked.
“I’ve always felt that way. Am I going to get 70 percent of the 50/50 balls or am I going to get 30 percent? Those extra possessions win or lose games. We’re a team that gets 30 percent now. It’s an area we have to get better in.”
Recruiting talk
Self was asked his plans for Saturday night after the matinee victory.
“I’m going recruiting,” he said.
He was spotted Saturday night at the Wichita East-Wichita Heights game contested at Wichita State’s Koch Arena. Heights is led by freshman phenom Perry Ellis.
In other recruiting news, Dominic Cheek, a 6-5 senior from St. Anthony High in Jersey City, N.J., will choose between KU, Villanova, Pitt, Memphis and Rutgers this week.
Charity work
KU made three of four free throws the first half to JSU’s 12 of 17.
“I asked the officials about that a few times, and they obviously thought that we fouled more than they did,” Self said, asked about the Tigers getting to the line. JSU hit 21 of 29 charities to KU’s 14 of 17.
Stats, facts
KU has won 30 straight home games and 1,950 games overall. … KU trailed 10-4, before embarking on a 17-0 run. … Tyshawn Taylor’s 11 assists were most by a KU freshman since Aaron Miles had 15 against Texas Tech on March 9, 2002.
Freshman ejected
Kansas University freshman Markieff Morris was ejected early in the second half for committing a flagrant foul after diving on the floor for a loose ball. It appeared one of Kent State’s players — perhaps Chris Singletary — fired an elbow at Morris, who may have swung back at him.
The incident never came close to erupting into a fight.
Marcus Morris said his brother said a KSU player “hit him in the mouth.”
“He showed toughness not backing down, but you’ve got to be smarter than that,” KU’s Sherron Collins said. “Next time he’ll do a good job of that.”
Morris was not ejected for fighting, so he’s eligible to play in Wednesday’s game against New Mexico State.
“Markieff said he got hit, then he said he got hit first. It made it sound to me like he retaliated there,” KU coach Bill Self said. “It was a flagrant foul, the same as going in for a layup and hitting him.”
Self was asked the proper way to respond.
“You always have to think of the team first and the next play. I’d be disappointed if we didn’t stand up to it, but I’m not sure a melee should ensue. To me, it’s always think the next play (and retaliate by play on the court).”
Alley-oop wiped off board
Marcus Morris completed an alley-oop pass to Cole Aldrich on an out-of-bounds play, which Aldrich dunked to close the half. The officials waved off the 40-foot pass from the side and slam, which came with .2 of a second remaining.
It was waved off because Aldrich caught the ball and dunked instead of just tapping it in. With .3 of a second or less left, a player cannot “possess the ball” and take a shot, just tip it in.
“It was the right call probably not to count it,” Self said. “I was proud of our kids. We had not worked on that (play).”
Self did think there should have been 1.1 seconds on the clock instead of 0.2 and said an official agreed with him.
“I’m not placing blame. If the battery packs (to stop and start clock) are not accurate, we should not be using them,” Self said.
Rankings
KU is ranked 25th in the USA Today/ESPN poll and unranked in the AP poll.
“I’m glad we were in there. It wouldn’t be a bad deal if we weren’t,” Self said.