February 25: News Headlines Digest and KU vs Oklahoma Post-game Round-up
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From The Wichita Eagle
Posted on Mon, Feb. 24, 2014
Jayhawks win share of 10th straight Big 12 title
By RUSTIN DODD The Wichita Eagle
The ball swung to the wing and Andrew Wiggins set his feet. It was in the final minutes at Allen Fieldhouse on Monday night, and No. 5 Kansas was minutes away from clinching a share of its 10th straight Big 12 Championship.
Ten straight. It’s a dizzying feat in the modern era of college basketball. But in this moment, as the Jayhawks led by just five points and the anxiety began to grow, nobody was really thinking about the streak. Well, that’s not quite right. It’s safe to say probably everybody inside Allen Fieldhouse was thinking about the number 10.
In one sense, this was what this whole Andrew Wiggins-led experiment was all about. The Jayhawks had lost all five starters off last year’s team — four seniors and lottery pick. Kansas coach Bill Self had lost his five leading scorers for the first time. It was time for another turnover. So Self simply added the most heralded recruiting class in school history, and now his Jayhawks were going to win another conference title.
“I’m happy a bunch of young kids are growing up,” Self would say.
So here was Wiggins, lining up his feet, stepping into a three-pointer that could give the Jayhawks an eight-point lead and ice the victory with more than two minutes left. The shot went down, of course. Inside Allen Fieldhouse, they usually do.
No. 5 Kansas 83, Oklahoma 75.
“Just winning this whole championship,” Wiggins said. "It was just a great feeling on the court.
The Jayhawks, 22-6 and 13-2 in the Big 12, can clinch the Big 12 Championship outright with a victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday. That would be sweeter than sharing, of course. And the Jayhawks have larger goals on the horizon.
“When you win the league, it’s a good year,” Self said. “Now we need to make it a great or special year.”
But for a moment, this was history. Kansas became just the fifth program to win at least 10 straight conference championships. And just the second from a power conference since UCLA won 13 straight Pac-8 and Pac-10 titles in the 1960s and 1970.s
Nearly nine years ago, on March 2, 2005, the streak began in earnest in a senior-night victory over K-State. Self clinched his first title at Kansas. Senior forward Wayne Simien savored senior night by speaking for more than 30 minutes after the game. And a core of freshmen that would grow to be seniors on Self’s 2008 NCAA championship team barely played.
##“We like to be known as winners,” then-senior guard Aaron Miles said after the game.##
On Saturday night, it was the latest generation of Jayhawks leading the way. Wiggins would finish with 15 points, including 10 during the second half. Junior guard Naadir Tharpe closed out Oklahoma (20-8, 9-6) in the final minutes while finishing with 19 points and five assists.
The lane kept opening up, so Tharpe kept driving.
“The last 10 minutes,” Self said. “I think that’s as good as Naadir has played since he’s been here.”
In the moments after the game, Tharpe stood near half-court, waving his arms as the Kansas crowd began to chant. “10 straight! 10 straight!” The crowd stuck around for a party, and Self exited into the Allen Fieldhouse tunnel, flashing all 10 fingers.
“It’s just a beautiful feeling,” Tharpe said.
Just two days earlier, Kansas had flashed its A-game in an 85-54 rout of second-place Texas. The Jayhawks had pieced together their most complete performance of the season, a blend of highlight-driven offense and lockdown defense, and it was easy to imagine Kansas using Monday night as another Big 12 coronation. The Jayhawks, of course, could only win a share of the title with a victory. But with another home game against Texas Tech coming next week, the Jayhawks didn’t seem to be into the sharing stuff.
Late on Saturday night, Self wasn’t so sure. He didn’t want to concede that Kansas was rolling — not yet, anyway. Just two weeks ago, the Jayhawks couldn’t escape K-State with a victory. And this was still the same team that needed a last-second bucket to win at Texas Tech.
“There’s a lot that needs to happen for us to go on a roll,” Self said.
Fast forward to Monday night. Midway through the second half, and Kansas trailed Oklahoma 58-54. The Jayhawks had led 42-33 at halftime after a late run in the opening 20 minutes. But now that lead was gone.
Maybe this is what Self meant. For a moment, the Big 12 title streak was on the back-burner. Boos were echoing through Allen Fieldhouse. And the Jayhawks were just looking for a run.
It came in bits and pieces: a bucket from Jamari Traylor, an off-balance jumper from Tharpe. And then Wiggins capped an 11-3 run with an old-fashioned three-point play with 7:12 left.
Once again, Kansas’ freshmen were rising to the moment.
Kansas had opened Big 12 Conference play with a gritty 90-83 victory at Oklahoma on Jan. 8. The performance had been a turning point, a sign that the growing pains were close to over. Maybe the young Jayhawks could grow up and win another Big 12 Championship. On Monday night, Wiggins’ shot went down, and the Jayhawks pushed the tradition into the future. .
“We’ve had so many good players,” Self said. “It’s been a great run. You don’t win unless you have better guys than the other guys and we’ve had better guys.”
KU: Percentages: FG .446, FT .867. 3-Point Goals: 7-16, .438 (Selden, Jr. 3-5, Tharpe 1-1, Ellis 1-1, Wiggins 1-3, Mason 1-4, Greene 0-1, Frankamp 0-1). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked Shots: 5 (Embiid 3, Ellis, Wiggins). Turnovers: 11 (Embiid 4, Traylor 2, Mason, Selden, Jr., Tharpe, Black, Wiggins). Steals: 6 (Embiid 4, Tharpe 2). Technical Fouls: None.
OU: Percentages: FG .443, FT .750. 3-Point Goals: 6-14, .429 (Hield 3-6, Clark 1-2, Woodard 1-2, Neal 1-2, Hornbeak 0-1, Booker 0-1). Team Rebounds: 2. Blocked Shots: 1 (Cousins). Turnovers: 11 (Neal 2, Cousins 2, Booker 2, Woodard, Hield, Hornbeak, Bennett, Spangler). Steals: 5 (Booker 2, Bennett, Clark, Spangler). Technical Fouls: None.
A—16,300. Officials—Mike Stuart, Tom O’Neill, Duke Edsall. Reach Rustin Dodd at rdodd@wichitaeagle.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rustindodd.
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Although Coach puts up a good front and generally doesn’t show a lot of nerves, the pressure of winning 10 straight Championships has had to weigh on him somewhat for the past several weeks.
I wonder if we’ll see a looser coach and team from here on out?
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Booker was making cocky expressions from the bench midway through the game. I guess he hasn’t heard, “He who laughs last, laughs best.”
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I am going to risk banishment from all things related to KU basketball, probably even get my degree revolked.
Here goes. I don’t get that excited by it. We’ve won 57 conference titles according to ESPN last night. Yes I do recognize the achievement, but it just doesn’t strike me as being that remarkable.
Our conference lacks a consistent challenger that year in and year out is our equal. Duke has UNC, Wisconsin has MSU, OSU. Other than Texas, Bill Self has not faced a league foe that’s even been to the final four if memory serves correctly.
Since the 80’s when I came to KU, I’ve seen KU teams in 86, 88, 91, 93, 02, 03, 08, and 12 make it to the final four. I rattled those off without hardly thinking about it. Those are what makes me go. It’s better to be known as the big 12 champs, but it’s even better to be known as a final four, finalist and champion. Sorry to be a wet blanket on this celebration, but it just doesn’t rile me up too much.
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@wissoxfan83 - It’s good to aim high! There’s one sentence in your post that says it all for me:
" Our conference lacks a consistent challenger that year in and year out is our equal. "
My point, and sincere belief, is that you could say that about Kansas no matter what conference we were in.
Fifty-seven conference titles and TEN straight - that’s a big fat, hairy deal. Heck, I’d even be impressed if WSU won ten in a row in their cream-puff conference. I won’t have to worry about it, because it’ll never happen, but it’d still be a big deal if it did.
Obviously, I wouldn’t be enthused if we won the Conference title and nothing else, but as you point out, we have a nice run of Final Four appearances and two NC’s in the last 25 years, which not many schools can boast.
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@wissoxfan83 - I would agree completely, except for one minor point.
The simple fact of consistently being at the top, year in, year out, is impressive. All of the events, players, coaches, bad luck, good luck, etc., that could occur in 10 seasons – and every season, we win the league. I do think that’s impressive at least. It is a testament to coach Self and his consistency. But it’s like a nice salad before the meal.
Now, to your real point – what makes you “go.” I can’t agree with you more. For me, while I can try to enjoy the ride and the fun of the season, if we don’t win the title, it taints the season for me. That’s how it is. Title or bust. Title or pain. Title or crap.
I choose Title.
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I guess I could add to my post that I’m much more impressed by dancing every year since 1990.
@nuleafjhawk I respectfully disagree with what you wrote. There are programs in other conferences that if we were battling them every year winning 10 in a row would be huge.
HEM, I see the point of consistency being impressive. When I attended KU, I’d guess we won the league one of the three years but were in two final fours.
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KU had better bring their AFH Texas game when they take the court at Gallager-Iba as Mr Smart has really stepped up his game since his suspension. He knows Okie St needs to win out or win the conf tournament to make the dance. If they don’t make the dance his bypassing the draft last year is all for naught. TEN-tastic!!! RCJH (beer)
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@wissoxfan83 Come on wissox, we supposed to be celebrating. You remind me of the blankets I’ve got covering my well to prevent freeze after the past couple of weeks of rain. Old, wet and soggy.
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I know Brooks, I’m a wet blanket on the party! I’ll say this, it’s better to win the league than not winning the league!
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okie lite went to the FF in HCBS first year here. WVU went just a few years ago. And texas hasn’t gone in the Self era.
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@Kip_McSmithers I don’t want facts to get in the way of a good theory!
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Share, share, share…I don’t like sharing titles.
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Final four teams during the Bill Self tenure.
SEED TEAMS2013 1, 4, 4, 9 L’Ville, Syracuse, Michigan, Wichita State
2012 1, 2, 2, 4 Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio St., L’ville
2011 3, 4, 8, 11 UConn, Kentucky, Butler, VCU
2010 1, 2, 5, 5 Duke, W. Virginia, Butler, Mich. St.
2009 1, 1, 2, 3 UNC, UConn, Mich. St., Villanova
2008 1, 1, 1, 1 Kansas, Memphis, UNC, UCLA
2007 1, 1, 2, 2 Florida, Ohio St., Georgetown, UCLA
2006 2, 3, 4, 11 UCLA, Florida, LSU, G. Mason
2005 1, 1, 4, 5 UNC, Illinois, Louisville, Mich. St.
2004 1, 2, 2, 3 Duke, UConn, Okla. St., Ga. Tech
Lots of success by one seeds. Champions in bold.
Texas was in the 2003 final four one year pre-Self.
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Congrats to the players, coaches, university and fans!
““I said we’d do it when and if we win it outright,” Self said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to celebrate in Stillwater on Saturday.””
Can we expect Wiggins to do a back flip on the court?
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@wissoxfax83
This is from the Sporting News article that JNewell had quotes from. By Mike DeCourcySporting News
##How good is Self? This is his 13th year as a high-major coach, starting in 2000-01 at Illinois. In the previous 12 years — since the NCAA selection committee shafted his last, brilliant Tulsa team with a No. 7 seed — he never has coached a team that earned an NCAA seed lower than No. 4. There have been five No. 1s, a No. 2, two No. 3s and four No. 4s. That’s ridiculous.##
We expect performances such as this from Self and Kansas, though because it’s what they deliver, every year. That does not mean it is not extraordinary.
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Thanks for posting that… amazing what it tells us when looking at frequency to make it. We’ve only been there twice under Self… interesting to see what teams made it more than us.
Frequency:
UCLA 3 1 NC)
UCONN 3 1 NC)
L’Ville 3 1 NC)
UNC 3 (2 NCs)
Duke 2 (2 NCs)
Kansas 2 (1 NC)
So on the national level… all those teams have outperformed us when looking only at the Final Four (last 10 years). The graphic above is wrong… Duke has made it to the FF twice, winning both times.
We’ve done better in other areas… 10 consecutive B12 Championships… and 24 consecutive appearances in the NCAA tourney (longest current streak).
Other NCAA records we currently own at #1:
- most winning seasons in Division I history (95)
- most non-losing seasons (.500 or better) in NCAA history (98)
- most conference championships in Division I history (57)
- most First Team All Americans in Division I history (21)
- most First Team All American Selections in Division I history (29)
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Maybe this has been said before and I missed it but maybe Fran should refrain from calling games in which he carries a bias in. I wondered last night if he was wearing a #13 jersey while calling the game.
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Christian Garret and Nikko Roberts each have 4 championship rings.
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@Kip_McSmithers And Muffberger too! Did you hear him say something along the lines of… “My My look what 8:50 has got us? Tied game. (and rather sarcastically) The Jayhawk crowd is quiet.” I wanted to (punch) them.
I’m surprised we didn’t hear every scenario as to how Iowa State or Texas was going to tie us. They sure didn’t talk about OSU impoding. Just talked about how good Smart is NOW.
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I generally like Fraschilla, I can’t stand “mushed burger”
Did anyone watch the OSU game last night? Smart was wearing #43 instead of #33. Apparently his Jersey did not make it to Texas…talk about an equipment manager in trouble.
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Quote:
In East Lansing, Mich., the Spartans can’t wait until they get healthy. In Syracuse, N.Y., the Orange can’t wait until their offense comes around. In Lexington, Ky., the Wildcats can’t wait until the kids put it all together. That's not the case in Lawrence, Kan. The Jayhawks simply can’t wait until March.Seriously?! We are NOT ready for March yet! And I noticed he left Florida out of that scenario.
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Florida is being overlooked and may end up being the sleeper. Lunardi has Arizona as the overall #1 seed based on their win at Colorado…really?
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@RockChalkinTexas I know how good Self is! He’s amazing, the best thing to happen to KU basketball since Roy who was the best thing since Larry. I love KU basketball!! It still doesn’t change what I wrote! I want championships. I couldn’t tell you what years KU won the league championship besides the last 10 years. But I can tell you what they did in the tourney just about every year.
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@JayHawkFanToo Lunardi clearly doesn’t know what he is doing. Florida is way tougher than 'Cuse, Az or Wichita st. That said, if we rematch with them in the tourney, KU will beat them.
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I agree, I like our chances against Florida. In the previous game we spotted them 15 points in the first half and beat then by 9 in the second half.
KU has won (or tied) the second half of every game they have lost.
KU does not lose, they just run out of time.
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@JayHawkFanToo I love the spin on this classic Michael Jordan quote “KU does not lose, they just run out of time” well played.
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I understand where the sentiment of NC or bust (WiSox and HEM) comes from. But I think the NC in 08 and the Finalist in 12 count for a lot. Yes…a final four or a NC is what everyone shoots for. We just need to sprinkle them in often enough. Certainly I would like to see Self get another NC which would then, I think, validate him further as a truly great coach…not many have multiple NCs. While it was a good win last night I thought some disturbing trends continue. It seemed like we could not stop OU in the 2nd half. Every time they came down the court I felt like they were going to score. Fortunately we did stop them at a few key times late. As for OSU this Saturday…you can bet Smart and OSU will feel like they have something to prove and play with a vengeance. They are fighting for their tournament lives. Under those circumstances…I don’t like our chances.
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@Hawk8086 what better to win there and celebrate there! Revenge on the flip!
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Link to AllAccessJayhawks’ video of game highlights that includes, SNACKS doing the Nae Nae in the locker celebration.
I don’t know how to post videos here, so I turned it into a tiny url.
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@RockChalkinTexas The last time Kansas didn’t win the Big 12, my whiskers were still brown - not gray! (Ok, white)
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@nuleafjhawk Maybe. But I think the guy wants another ring very very badly and He’ll do anything to get it, Including using his unseasonally deep bench. He is using nearly 10 guys a game. I don’t recall him ever doing that this late in the season
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@Lulufulu85 I think you want to win all games! Why not have a reward for it before the tournament! Conference champs! It’s nice to be rewarded and it’s nice to reach goals! Bill is blessed w/ so much talent this year, more than he ever has. Our bench has won games for us this year, I think that is our biggest advantage during the tourney!
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Goal one: grow together as a team in the non-conference. Check
Goal two: Big 12 Champions. Check
Goal three: strong Big 12 tournament. TBD
Goal four: National Champions. TBD
