6A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006
KU83-A&M73
Zone
CONTINUED FROM 12A
"Mario and Russell really got comfortable to start the second half, and they keyed it without a question. I thought that they played great," Self said.
Robinson said that he and Chalmers fed off of each other and that both were able to score.
Chalmers and Robinson set the tone early in the second half and helped dictate the play during the remainder of the game. After the 16-0 run, the game slowed down, because the officials began to call a much tighter game. They called 38 fouls in the second half and sent the Jayhawks to the line 36 times.
The Jayhawks shot 75 percent from the line last night, and Robinson missed one, getting 12 of his career-high 24 points at the stripe.
In other games this season, the Jayhawks have died at the free-throw line. Wednesday night, they lived.
Jackson scored 11 first-half points, five of which came from free throws when he was aggressive inside.
Consistently, Jackson found himself on the receiving end of perfect feeds from the guards, which he either laid in or
slammed home.
"I just try to keep focused and take open shots and let the game come to me." Robinson said.
The Aggies' leading scorer, Acie Law, got off to a fast start in the first half, scoring seven points in the first seven minutes of the game.
With so many fouls being called, Self chose to switch from a man-to-man defense to a three-two zone in the middle of the second half. The zone gave the Aggies fits, and they were unable to get any offense going.
Robinson, after hitting a three-point shot early in the first half, didn't score again until the second half. It was his defensive pressure, however, along with Chalmers' eight assists that enabled Kansas to move to 3-2 in conference play.
Kansas got solid production from its post players, especially sophomore Darnell Jackson who scored 12 points with nine rebounds.
Self said that going to the zone was a major factor in limiting Law's ability to get into the paint and draw fouls.
Sophomore center CJ Giles appeared to be more active on the offensive and defensive end than in previous weeks. Giles altered shots and got to the net where he slammed home an allyoop off of an in-bounds play.
It was downhill from there though. Law had just 10 points in the rest of the game.
"Russell is a good kid and he and Hawk (Jeff Hawkins) did a good job collectively on him the rest of the first half," Self said.
Basketball Notes:
Freshman Julian Wright made his first career start but played just six minutes. Self said Wright's minutes were limited because Self wanted a bigger lineup.
Sophomore guard Rodrick Stewart saw his most significant time of the season, when Self inserted him into the game midway through the first half.
◆ The fans in attendance attempted to "white out" Reed Arena, with nearly all fans wearing white. The 12,110 fans in Reed arena were the season's largest crowd.
Kansas radio broadcaster Max Falkenstein was recognized before the game and was presented with a basketball, signed by the Texas A&M team. This will be the final time Falkenstein will be in College Station for a game.
♦ The Kansas victory against Texas A&M makes the Jayhawks 11-0 all-time against the Aggies.
Kansas attempted 44 free throws, the most since the 1997 season. The 33 made free throws were also the most since 1997.
Edited by Cynthia Hernandez
Sophomore center CJ Giles grabs one of his three boards against Texas A&M last night, with freshman forward Julian Wright looking on in the background. The Jayhawks outscored the Aggies by 12 points in the second half.
JP Beato III/THE BATTALION
Sophomores Bo Russell of Atlanta, right, and Stephanie Zannata of Shawnee, sing the Rock Chalk chant at Buffalo Wild Wings on Messaschusetta St. Students filled the restaurant to watch the Jayhawks beat the Aggies 83-73.
Lisa Lipovac/KANSAN
Freshman forward Julian Wright leaps up to block the shot of Texas A&M's Eddie Sh
Wade Barker/THE BATTALION
Sophomore center CJ Giles goes up for one of his two blocks, as Apte Law attempts a left-handed layup. Giles played 18 minutes and added two points in Wednesday night's victory.
--ith