10 years of Big 12 supremacy: 2007

By Staff Mar 4, 2014

KUsports.com graphic by Janella Williams

*From the time of Big 12 divisions, through realignment and the subtraction/addition of teams and a new 10-team format, one thing has remained constant in the conference for the past decade: Kansas University’s men’s basketball team has always finished in first place.*

*All week long, we’ll be looking back at KU’s 10 consecutive Big 12 championships by highlighting the top players and moments of each conference schedule, from 2005 to today.*

*Our five-day blog series will feature two seasons daily, Monday through Friday, so check back each day for more.*

2007
—-

**Big 12 record:** 14-2

Kansas guard Brandon Rush pumps his fist during the first half of Saturday's game against the Longhorns at Allen Fieldhouse.

Top 5 scorers:
————–

**Brandon Rush (so., G), 13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists**

**Mario Chalmers (so., G), 12.2 points, 3.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 steals**

**Julian Wright (so., F), 12.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists**

**Darrell Arthur (fr., F), 9.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks**

Kansas' Mario Chalmers lays one in against Iowa State on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

**Sherron Collins (fr., G), 9.3 points, 2.9 assists**

3 memorable moments
——————-

[No. 1 — 1900: OUTRIGHT!: Jayhawks celebrate title win][1]

– The Jayhawks cut down the net at Allen Fieldhouse following a 90-86, comeback victory over Texas that clinched the Jayhawks’ title outright. Kevin Durant scored 25 of his 32 points in the first half, and KU trailed by eight at the break. But Mario Chalmers made all five of his three-pointers on the way to 21 points, and Julian Wright and Russell Robinson added 17 apiece in the 1,900th victory in program history.

> “It was a great stage, a perfect
> setup. You win, you win the outright
> Big 12 at home in front of all the
> fans against a team that’s hot with a
> great player. We had to take
> advantage. No way we could let it
> slide and share it with two teams.”
>
> — Russell Robinson

Kansas forward Julian Wright chases down a loose ball as Kansas State guard Clem Stewart watches from the floor in the second half.

[No. 2 — Oh, happy day: Reunion, rout lead to fun-filled fieldhouse][2]

– With members of KU’s 1952 national championship team, including legendary North Carolina coach Dean Smith, watching at Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas destroyed Nebraska, 92-39, with Brandon Rush (13 points), Darrell Arthur (13), Sherron Collins (12), Mario Chalmers (10) and Julian Wright (10) all contributing double figures.

> “When I had a chance to meet with
> Coach Smith yesterday, I said, ‘Did
> you ever have a bad practice the day
> before a game?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He
> said, ‘A lot of people think if you
> practice bad, you play better. I don’t
> believe in that.’ So he had me pretty
> worried going into today.”
>
> — Bill Self

[No. 3 — Rush hushes Hilton: Great late, Kansas silences Cyclones in OT][3]

– Brandon Rush hit crucial shots late and played a key defensive role to help Kansas win, 68-64, in overtime at Iowa State. Rush finished with 12 points and nine rebounds after producing four of the Jayhawks’ 10 points in the extra period.

Kansas forward Darrell Arthur looks to put back a rebound around Kansas State guard Lance Harris during the second half of Monday night's game against the Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum.

> “If you study the game, Iowa State was
> going to win the game until Brandon
> guarded No. 24 (Mike Taylor). You
> never say one guy wins or loses a
> game, but Brandon did an unbelievable
> job on No. 24 Then the shot (dunk) he
> made off Mario’s pass and then the
> steal. That was Brandon Rush in
> overtime.”
>
> — Bill Self

2007 BIG 12 STANDINGS
———————

Kansas, 14-2

Texas A&M, 13-3

Texas, 12-4

Kansas guard Sherron Collins glides in for an easy layup as Missouri guard Keon Lawrence watches during the second half of Saturday's game against the Tigers at Mizzou Arena.

Kansas State, 10-6

Texas Tech, 9-7

Missouri, 7-9

Oklahoma State, 6-10

Iowa State, 6-10

Kansas University basketball players hoist their newly-earned Big 12 regular season title trophy. The Jayhawks defeated Texas in March 2007 to take the regular season title outright and notch the program's 1,900th victory.

Oklahoma, 6-10

Nebraska, 6-10

Baylor, 4-12

Colorado, 3-13

**10 years of Big 12 supremacy**

*Monday: [2005][4] and [2006][5]*

*Tuesday: 2007 and 2008*

*Wednesday: 2009 and 2010*

*Thursday: 2011 and 2012*

*Friday: 2013 and 2014*

[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/mar/04/outright/?mens_basketball
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/feb/18/oh_happy_day/?mens_basketball
[3]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/jan/14/rush_hushes_hilton/?mens_basketball
[4]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/3/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2005/
[5]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/3/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2006/