A look back at the Big 12 title streak through jersey numbers

By Matt Tait     Feb 29, 2016

Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) gets up to dunk against Kentucky forward Skal Labissiere (1) in overtime, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at Allen Fieldhouse.

Everybody likes lists. And everybody likes photos, as well. So we figured, why not put together a blog entry that combines the two while also paying homage to the ridiculous streak of consecutive Big 12 regular season championships that the Kansas basketball team just added to over the weekend?

During the streak of 12 titles in a row, which dates back to the 2004-05 season — Bill Self’s second in town — dozens of entertaining and memorable players have slipped on a Kansas uniform and helped bring the title to Lawrence.

Whether that meant leading the team in scoring and earning all-conference honors or delivering a key moment in a single game or even just pushing the starting five in practice, the streak belongs to a bunch of current and former Jayhawks, most who will be remembered for ever and a few who might already have been forgotten.

The following list, which was tossed together by doing something as simple as looking back at the Jayhawks who wore jersey numbers 1-12 during the streak, includes players from both categories.

Not a single Jayhawk wore numbers 6 through 9 during the past 12 seasons, so we had to get a little creative on those numbers, using simple addition and subtraction to make it work.

Kansas guard Conner Teahan pulls up for a jumper over Texas A&M guard Dash Harris during the first half on Monday, Jan. 23, 2012 at Allen Fieldhouse.

It’s nothing profound and won’t give you any insight on how this team will do in March — which arrives tomorrow!!! — but, nonetheless, it’s a nice trip down Memory Lane.

Enjoy!

1 – Wayne Selden, 2013-Present
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Junior guard who helped bring the three most recent titles to town, Selden is enjoying his best season as a Jayhawk and will be a huge part of whatever run KU makes or doesn’t make this March.

2 – Conner Teahan, 2008-12
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Sharp-shooter on the 2012 national runner-up, Teahan was one of those players who got the absolute most out of his KU career.

3 – Russell Robinson – 2005-08
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The glue guy on the 2008 national championship team, the New York native brought a brand of toughness and tenacity, especially on the defensive end, to a team will talent up and down the bench.

Russell Robinson thanks the fans as he exits the court for the final time in his KU career on Monday, March 3, 2008 at Allen Fieldhouse.

4 – Sherron Collins – 2007-10
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Some call him one of the greatest players to ever play at KU. Collins was one of the best leaders during one of the best stretches of Kansas basketball and is still regarded as the toughest player to ever suit up for the Jayhawks.

5 – Jeff Withey – 2010-13
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Everyone remembers the Withey Block Party that accompanied the run to the national title game in 2012.

6 – Devonte’ Graham (2014-Present) + Cliff Alexander (2014)
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Graham has been a huge part of the past two teams and Alexander, though a disappointment overall, had his moments during his lone season with the Jayhawks.

7 – Justin Wesley (2011-14) + Andrew White III (2013-14)
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Two role players who were around for some really good times. Wesley may most be remembered for being Keith Langford’s little brother and Wilt Chamberlain in the movies, but he had game. And Andrew White was an incredibly talented shooter caught on the wrong team.

Kansas guard Sherron Collins gets the Fieldhouse crowd on its feet after a put-back dunk by center Cole Aldrich during the second half.

8 – Evan Manning (2013-Present) + Anrio Adams (2013) + Xavier Henry (2010)
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Talk about slopping one together. Evan Manning is one of the nicest dudes to ever put on a KU uniform, Anrio Adams was one of the most over-hyped and Xavier Henry was a guy who left KU fans wanting more and left Lawrence in tears.

9 – Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (2014-present) — Naadir Tharpe (2012)
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We had to do subtraction on this one (fitting seeing how it included Tharpe) and included one of the true X factors on this year’s team and a point guard who was underrated throughout most of his career and left under less than stellar terms.

10 – Tyshawn Taylor – 2009-12
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One of the most passionate competitors to ever suit up for Self, Jayhawk fans are still looking for a suitable replacement to what Taylor brought the team — on the floor — night in and night out.

11 – Aaron Miles – 2002-05
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One of the first KU guards to play for Self, Miles was one of the best passers in school and Big 12 history and is back with the team in a support staff role for this year’s run.

Kansas center Jeff Withey pumps his fist after a Jayhawk bucket to end the half against Ohio State during the first half on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Superdome.

12 – Brady Morningstar – 2007-11
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The local kid with the sleeves, Morningstar was one of the first players who was so fundamentally sound and made things flow so smoothly that Self could not help but keep him on the floor.

4 + 2 = 6

4 + 3 = 7

5 + 2 + 1 = 8

10 - 1 = 9

Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor pops his jersey as he leaves the court following the Jayhawks' 59-53 win over Kansas State on Monday, Feb. 13, 2012 at Bramlage Coliseum.

KU guard Aaron Miles, who collected eight points and nine assists, celebrates a second-half run.

Brady Morningstar (12) celebrates a three-point basket during the Kansas Jayhawks 64-51 win against Texas A&M Wednesday, March 2, 2011. It was the last home game for KU.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.