10 years of Big 12 supremacy: 2011

By Staff Mar 6, 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.*

2011
—-

**Big 12 record:** 14-2

Kansas forward Marcus Morris floats a bucket past the Oklahoma State defense during the first half on Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Top 5 scorers:
————–

**Marcus Morris (jr., F), 17.2 points, 7.6 rebounds**

**Markieff Morris (jr., F), 13.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks**

**Tyrel Reed (sr., G), 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals**

**Tyshawn Taylor (jr., G), 9.3 points, 4.6 assists**

Kansas forward Markieff Morris delivers a dunk before Texas A&M forward Ray Turner during the second half on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

**Josh Selby (fr., G), 7.9 points, 2.2 assists**

3 memorable moments
——————-

[No. 1 — Uplifting experience: Robinson heroic vs. ‘Cats][1]

– Grief-stricken, Thomas Robinson returned to the Kansas lineup three days after his mother, Lisa, was buried. The backup power forward struggled early on before finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds in a 90-66 rout of Kansas State at Allen Fieldhouse.

> “I played tonight because I cannot sit
> around too long. I knew my mother
> wouldn’t want me to sit around crying
> about it forever.”
>
> — Thomas Robinson

Kansas guard Tyrel Reed pulls up for a shot over Missouri guard Marcus Denmon during the first half on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

[No. 2 — Seventh heaven: Jayhawks beat Missouri, claim league title outright][2]

– Marcus Morris went for 21 points and 10 rebounds as Kansas closed out the regular season with a 70-66 win at rival Missouri, snapping a 17-game home court win streak for the Tigers and clinching KU’s seventh straight Big 12 title outright in the process.

> “We think of it as, a lot of teams
> can’t win one (title), so to get to
> two all the way to seven, that’s a big
> deal, especially when you have some
> legendary coaches telling you that’s a
> big deal. It speaks for itself. It’s
> Kansas. We do some impossible stuff
> here.”
>
> — Elijah Johnson

[No. 3 — Fitting tribute: KU basketball pays ‘respect’ to Lisa Robinson in win over Colorado][3]

– The initials “L.R.” were worn on KU’s jerseys as the Jayhawks honored Lisa Robinson, the mother of forward Thomas Robinson, just days after she died unexpectedly. Marcus Morris paid tribute to his friend’s mother by tapping the initials before every free throw, and hit two late to help Kansas win, 82-78, at Colorado.

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor salutes after a three-pointer against Colorado during the first half on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

> “Me, Kieff and T. Rob were sitting in
> the room. He got a voicemail from his
> sister. She said to call him, and it
> was serious. He called back. He said
> he didn’t want any more bad news (his
> grandmother died in December and his
> grandfather a couple of Sundays
> earlier). She told him. He dropped
> down in tears. He felt he lost a big
> piece of everything in his life.”
>
> — Marcus Morris, on Thomas Robinson
> learning his mother, Lisa, had died

2011 BIG 12 STANDINGS
———————

Kansas, 14-2

Texas, 13-3

Texas A&M, 10-6

Kansas guard Josh Selby (32) shoots against Oklahoma State during the second half Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas State, 10-6

Missouri, 8-8

Colorado, 8-8

Nebraska, 7-9

Baylor, 7-9

Kansas players Josh Selby, Thomas Robinson, Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris (22) collide in celebration on the court after defeating Missouri 70-66 and clinching the outright Big 12 conference championship Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Mizzou Arena.

Oklahoma State, 6-10

Oklahoma, 5-11

Texas Tech, 5-11

Iowa State, 3-13

**10 years of Big 12 supremacy**

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

*Tuesday: [2007][6] and [2008][7]*

*Wednesday: [2009][8] and [2010][9]*

*Thursday: 2011 and 2012*

*Friday: 2013 and 2014*

[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2011/jan/30/uplifting-experience-robinson-heroic-vs-cats/
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2011/mar/06/seventh-heaven-jayhawks-beat-missouri-claim-league/
[3]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2011/jan/26/fitting-tribute-ku-pays-respect-win/
[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/
[6]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/4/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2007/
[7]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/4/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2008/
[8]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2009/
[9]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/5/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2010/