ISU win wraps up KU’s 11th straight Big 12 crown

By J-W Staff Report Mar 2, 2015

Nick Krug

Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) and the rest of the bench celebrate a three by teammate Brannen Greene to reclaim the lead late in the second half on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse.

A game in Ames, Iowa, not involving Kansas University has assured the program from Lawrence yet another conference crown.

Iowa State protected its home court on Big Monday against Oklahoma, winning 77-70, meaning KU has wrapped up at least a share of its 11th Big 12 regular-season championship in a row.

The Cyclones (21-8 overall, 11-6 Big 12) knocked Oklahoma (20-9, 11-6) into a three-way tie for second place — which includes West Virginia (22-7, 10-6) entering Tuesday.

KU (23-6, 12-4) stands alone at the top of the standings, with a two-game lead and just two games to go.

The No. 9-ranked Jayhawks could secure the championship outright by beating West Virginia on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

Even if KU loses to WVU and in its regular-season finale on Saturday at OU, the Jayhawks would have six league losses — the same number as the three teams sitting in second.

The conference title for Kansas is its 11th in a row, 15th Big 12 and NCAA-leading 58th overall.

The 11 straight titles, beginning in 2004-05 and all under head coach Bill Self, ranks tied for second all-time on NCAA Division I list with Gonzaga’s 11-straight Big West regular-season championships from 2001-11 and only trails UCLA’s 13-consecutive titles as members of the then-Pac-10 Conference from 1967-79.