OKLAHOMA CITY ? Another year, another early exit in the NCAA Tournament for Kansas.
“I am angry. I am frustrated. I am disappointed. It happened again. We lost,” Kansas junior point guard Ryan Robertson said after the No. 1-seeded Jayhawks’ 80-75 loss to No. 8-seed Rhode Island in a second-round Midwest Regional contest Sunday at The Myriad.
The way Kansas (35-4) lost was reminiscent of some tourney defeats in the recent past. KU hit just 5 of 28 three-pointers against the Rams (24-8), who were paced by lightning quick guards Tyson Wheeler and Cuttino Mobley, who combined for 47 points on 8-of-20 three-point shooting.
In 1996, No. 2-seeded KU hit 4 of 25 threes in a season-ender to Syracuse. In 1995, No. 1-seeded KU canned 2 of 21 threes in a setback to Virginia.
Last year, the No. 1-seeded Jayhawks hit 10 of 25 threes, but were victimized by Arizona’s equally athletic backcourt of Miles Simon and Mike Bibby.
“In the regular season, we beat everyone,” senior forward Raef LaFrentz said after scoring 22 points on 11-of-17 shooting, but scoring just six points the last 14:08.
“In the tournament, everybody either plays over their heads or not up to their potential. I am as emotionless now as I’ve ever been. I don’t know what to say. It happened three times; now it’s happened four.”
Future NBA lottery pick LaFrentz joins Jacque Vaughn and Scot Pollard as KU players who didn’t compete in a Final Four. Paul Pierce (23 points, 0-of-7 three-point shooting) may or may not have missed out. He’s unsure whether he’ll turn pro or return for his senior season.
“It’s unbelievable how luck is never on our side,” said Billy Thomas. KU’s senior shooting guard hit 2 of 13 three-pointers and 2 of 15 shots overall while scoring eight points.
Coincidentally, Thomas, responsible for dozens of KU wins during his career, was 5 of 34 from three-point land in his four NCAA Tourney losses.
“We’re supposed to be the good guys. Our program — we do everything by the book and still we lose. Someday we’ll get over the hump,” Thomas said.
“It seems every year teams have players who get in trouble. You hear about suspensions and probation. At Kansas we are known as the perfect angels. We are the model program. We win a bunch of games during the regular season. But everything we’ve tried in the NCAA Tournament has not worked,” Robertson noted.
On Sunday, Kansas had a shot at overcoming the uncanny shooting of Mobley and Wheeler, who sparked a 17-5 run that gave the Rams a 55-48 lead at 11:00.
The Rams upped the lead to a game-high 10 points (65-55) at 8:20. Pierce scored down low, Lester Earl slammed, Pierce hit a free throw and Earl scored again and KU lagged just 65-62 at 6:09.
KU immediately missed four three-pointers sandwiched around a Mobley trey at 5:11. Luther Clay scored at 2:56 and Rhode Island held a comfy 70-62 lead at 2:56.
After slicing the gap to three points at 6:09, KU hit 1 of 12 threes and 5 of 17 shots overall the rest of the way.
Ouch.
“We probably got impatient. We probably took too many threes when we got down by three,” Robertson said. “But I can understand the reason we did that. It’s human nature to want to shoot a three to tie it up.
“It’s tough when they are hitting and you are not.”
KU wasn’t finished until late. Nursing a 72-68 lead at 1:59, Mobley hit a shot in the lane with Pierce all over him at 1:25. Following a Robertson miss, Mobley canned two free throws at 1:09, upping the lead to 76-68.
“Their guards were awfully good. Everytime we made a run, Mobley seemed to hit hit a big shot,” Robertson said.
“I think it’s the best tandem we faced all year. They had that deadly combination, really quick guards but ones you can’t leave alone.”
Point guard Wheeler, who had five points the first half, finished with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Shooting guard Mobley, who scored nine the first half (KU led 30-28 at the break) , finished with 27 points on 10-of19 shooting.
“Their quickness in the backcourt was something I was concerned about and it bothered us,” KU coach Roy Williams said. “We tried zoning a couple of times and they made a three-point shot right in front of the bench with one second left on the shot clock. It’s one of those moments kids dream about. They were able to step up and make big plays.”
Wheeler, who stands, 5-10, didn’t seem fazed by the 6-5 Robertson. Mobley, who stands 6-4, wasn’t bothered by Pierce, who stands 6-7.
“Their guards were very, very good. You have to congratulate them,” Williams said.
KU’s coach has congratulated many players in recent postseasons.
“I really can’t (rate it),” Williams said of the setback. “I told the kids in the locker room I was sorry if I had caused them some problems by me openly talking about my desire to win a national championship. If that has put any extra pressure on them and my ability has put any extra pressure on them, then I apologize. It’s too early to tell the effect of this one.
“I sort of get tired trying to grade the effects, to tell you the truth. Grading hurts. Grading the pain you have is something I don’t enjoy doing right now.”
Oh the Jayhawks felt pain Sunday after hitting 42.5 percent of their shots to Rhode Island’s 50 percent mark. KU did outrebound the Rams 41 to 39.
“It’s frustrating because I think if we played again we’d win,” LaFrentz said. “You gotta come with your A-game every night.”
“I just cannot believe we lost,” Pierce noted. “This tournament is a one-game deal. You don’t show up one night, that’s it. The best team doesn’t always win.”
