10 years of Big 12 supremacy: 2012

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.*

2012
—-

**Big 12 record:** 16-2

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson delivers a dunk before Kansas State players Thomas Gipson (42) and Jamar Samuels (32) during the second half on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 at Bramlage Coliseum.

Top 5 scorers:
————–

**Thomas Robinson, 17.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals**

**Tyshawn Taylor, 16.6 points, 4.8 assists, 1.3 steals**

**Elijah Johnson, 10.2 points, 3.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals**

**Jeff Withey, 9.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 blocks**

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor passes through a trap by Oklahoma State defenders Markel Brown, left, and Brian Williams during the second half on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

**Travis Releford, 8.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals**

3 memorable moments
——————-

[No. 1 — Kansas claims epic win in Border War finale][1]

– Kansas ended its longstanding Border War with Missouri with a thrilling, 87-86 overtime victory in front of a hysterical Allen Fieldhouse crowd. Down 19 to their rivals early in the second half, the Jayhawks came back to life in the closing minutes to clinch at least a share of an eighth consecutive Big 12 title. Forward Thomas Robinson (28 points, 12 rebounds) saved the day with a three-point play on offense and a blocked shot for the ages in the final seconds of regulation.

> “I’m not the most emotional guy, but
> that’s as good as it gets. It’s as
> exciting of a game as I’ve ever been
> part of. It’s the best home win I can
> remember us having.”
>
> — Bill Self

Elijah Johnson (15) breaks free down the middle for a layup during the second half of the Jayhawks 66-58 win over the Aggies of Texas A&M, Wednesday, February 22, 2012, in College Station, TX. Johnson scored a team high 21 points.

[No. 2 — CELEBR-EIGHT: Kansas clinches outright crown][2]

– Tyshawn Taylor and Thomas Robinson combined for 44 points in a 70-58 Kansas victory at Oklahoma State that sealed the Jayhawks’ eighth straight Big 12 title outright.

> “We knew what we had before we hit the
> floor (this season), before the whole
> world saw it. I knew our guys weren’t
> scared to work hard. Proving ourselves
> to people was motivation to us. I
> think it had everything to do with it,
> to prove to everybody we could come
> back and defend our title.”
>
> — Thomas Robinson

[No. 3 — Emotional rescue: KU, Thomas Robinson hold it together, edge Texas][3]

– On the one-year anniversary of the death of his mother, Lisa, Thomas Robinson helped Kansas win, 69-66, at Texas, where he produced 17 points and nine rebounds, and Tyshawn Taylor led KU with 22 points.

Jeff Withey gets a hand on a shot by Baylor forward Perry Jones.

> “I wouldn’t say it was too emotional.
> No disrespect or anything, but that’s
> something I have to live with every
> day. For the media, it’s the
> anniversary, but for me it’s every
> day.”
>
> — Thomas Robinson

2012 BIG 12 STANDINGS
———————

Kansas, 16-2

Missouri, 14-4

Baylor, 12-6

Kansas guard Travis Releford defends a shot from Iowa State guard Scott Christopherson during the second half on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012 at Hilton Coliseum.

Iowa State, 12-6

Kansas State, 10-8

Texas, 9-9

Oklahoma State, 7-11

Oklahoma, 5-13

Kansas forward Thomas Robinson carries out the Big 12 Trophy after KU defeated Oklahoma State, 70-58, on Monday, Feb. 25, 2012, at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.

Texas A&M, 4-14

Texas Tech, 1-17

**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][10] and 2012*

*Friday: 2013 and 2014*

[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2012/feb/26/kansas-claims-epin-win-border-war-finale/
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2012/feb/28/celebr-eight-kansas-clinches-outright-crown/
[3]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2012/jan/22/emotional-rescue-ku-thomas-robinson-hold-it-togeth/
[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/
[10]: http://www2.kusports.com/weblogs/all_eyes_ku/2014/mar/6/10-years-of-big-12-supremacy-2011/