PAGE 4B
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2012
THE UNIVERSIT
Kansas 26 | 47----73
Texas 21 | 42----63
JAYHAWK STAT LEADERS
KANSAS 73
Points
Robinson 25
Rebounds
Assists
Robinsor 14
Tavlnr
KANSAS
Player Pts FG-FGA Rebs A TO's
Thomas Robinson 25 10-19 14 2 3
Tyshawn Taylor 22 7-11 4 4 4
Jeff Withey 9 1-3 6 1 2
Elijah Johnson 9 3-7 6 2 0
Travis Reeford 5 2-5 5 2 0
Conner Teahan 3 1-3 0 0 2
Kevin Young 0 0-1 0 0 2
Justin Wesley 0 0-0 0 0 1
Totals 73 24-49 36 11 15
4
OPPONENT
Player Pts FG-FGA Rebs A TO's
J'Covan Brown 33 9-18 5 3 4
Clint Chapman 10 5-9 7 0 1
Julien Lewis 8 3-5 1 0 0
Sheldon McClellan 6 2-10 2 2 1
Alexis Wangmene 4 2-4 4 0 1
Jonathan Holmes 1 0-2 2 0 0
Jaylen Bond 1 0-1 3 0 1
Myck Kabongo 0 0-7 3 6 3
Totals 63 21-56 29 13 12
OPPONENT
GAME TO REMEMBER
Thomas Robinson, Junior forward
Tyshawn Taylor was excellent on his senior night, but it was Robinson who added an exclamation point to his player of the year campaign. After a sluggish first half (we've seen those before) Robinson finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds. The unexpected ovation after the game was the cherry on top.
Robinson
GAME TO FORGET
Travis Reløford, Junior guard
This isn't about Releford's five points. That's what Self probably expects from him. No, this is about J Covan Brown's 33 points. While El吉汗 Johnson played a role here, Releford was the primary defender on Brown. Self said after the game that Releford's lack of aggression has led to poor defensive outings such as this one.
Releford
QUOTE OF THE GAME
"It was a pretty fitting way to finish the season. Now we have to make it a special season in postseason play."
Bill Self, coach
Self
30-16
Kansas outscored Texas by this margin near the basket.
52. 4%
Taylor converted all eight of his free-throw attempts.
KEY STATS
Texas guard J'Covan Brown scored this percent of his team's points.
The Jayhawks shot this percentage from the field in the second half.
8-8
All 13 players on the roster played on Saturday.
62.5%
13
NOTES
- Kansas is the only Big 12 team to finish the conference season undefeated at home.
- Kansas finished the regular season undefeated at home for the 17th time in school history.
- The Jayhawks have now won on senior night 29 years in a row.
- The Jayhawks finished with 16 conference wins for the second time ever. (2002-2003).
- Thomas Robinson tallied his 22nd double-double of the season, which leads the Big 12
MEN'S BASKET FINAL FAREWELL
KORY CARPENTER
kcarpenter@kansan.com
Coach Bill Sell said he received numerous letters from fans leading up to Saturday night's game against Texas, urging him to allow junior forward Thomas Robinson to share a few words alongside the three seniors who would be honored before and after the final home game of the season.
It's obvious to most everyone that Robinson has played his last game in Allen Fieldhouse and considering his special circumstances, some thought he should be an exception to the time-honored senior night festivities.
"Paul Pierce didn't do it," Self said of the possibility of letting Robinson speak. "All the other guys that left early didn't do it. I don't think you make exceptions on
"I think he knows he kind of got off to a slow start," senior guard Tyshawn Taylor said. "Coach wanted him to do different things, and I think he picked it up."
Robinson traded in a 30 percent first half shooting performance for seven of nine in the second half.
listened to Juvenem and Teahans speeches.
As the crowd prepared to shower Taylor with a standing ovation, Self took the microphone.
He grabbed defensive rebounds and turned into a de facto point guard at times, driving for a layup or pulling up for a mid-range jump shot.
Robinson finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds. He's
"He played like the player of the year." Taylor added.
Senior Night to do that."
He's ballooned from a potential All-American to one of the All-Americans, a leading candidate for the National Player of the Year Award and a near-lock to be chosen in the top ten of this summer's NBA draft.
"It was shocking," Robinson said. "I was looking around to see if any one else knew about it. Then I was thinking I had to speak, and I was going crazy at that point."
Robinson wasn't his usual self in the first half. He went to the locker room at the break with seven points and five rebounds as Kansas held a 26-21 lead over the Longhorns.
After the 73-63 victory over Texas, a short video montage of the senior class — Jordan Juenemann, Conner Teahan, and Tyshawn Taylor — played on the video board above center court. Robinson sat on the floor in front of the Kansas bench with his teammates and
But senior night at Kansas is a special thing. All of the national media praise and future riches couldn't hide the fact that Robinson is still just a junior.
now averaging 18 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, this is his first season of getting serious minutes.
Self brought the packed house to a roar when he told Robinson to stand up and be acknowledged. He stuck to his guns, though, and didn't allow him to speak.
Robinson called it a special moment regardless.
"I do think he's definitely worthy of being recognized," Self said after the game. Then he smiled and said, "And if he wants to talk, like I said, he can come back next year."
- Edited by Caroline Kraft
CHRIS BRONSON /KANSAN
Senior guard Tyshawn Taylor drives the ball down the court during a fast break in the second half of Saturday's game against Texas where Taylor had 22 points in the Jayhawks 73-63 victory.