THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012
PAGE 9
BIG 12
Title to Jayhawks despite early season doubt
KORY CARPENTER
kcarpenter@kansan.com
kcarpenter@kansan.com
Way back in October, coach Bill Self straddled a motorcycle at center court in Allen Fieldhouse in front of a packed house for Late Night in the Phog. He gave a short cookie-cutter speech about the off-season, thanked the fans for showing up and supporting the team and rode off the court with one piece of advice: Enjoy the ride.
it didn't seem like coach speak
because at the time, the layhawks faced more question marks than any Kansas team in recent memory. Freshmen Jamari Traylor and Ben McLemore were ruled ineligible for the season and a so-so recruiting year by Kansas standards left the team without its usual deep pool of talent to draw from.
"Even when we started out one-and-two in the league, you could look out there and see Chalmers and Rush and Wright and those other cats, they're pretty good. It'll
be just be a matter of time before the light comes on." Self said after beating Missouri last Saturday to clinch a share of the Big 12 regular season title. "I didn't know if the light would come on. I didn't even know if it would flicker after early in the season."
A Dec. 19 loss to Davidson in Kansas City raised more doubts about an eight straight Big 12 championship and Self said that heading into Christmas, he and his players didn't really like each other.
He even questioned if the players liked one another.
They rattled off 10 straight victories after the Davidson game with a bump in the road at Iowa State on Jan. 28 and a tough loss at Missouri a week later.
That's been it thought least for now — and the outright conference title was clinched Monday night against Oklahoma State.
"It itels amazing because a lot of people didn't think we would be this good this year," senior guard
Tyshawn Taylor said Monday night. "I think if you asked us at the beginning of the year, our goal is to always win the Big 12 championship."
Thomas Robinson said he didn't want the run of seven straight conference titles to end on his watch and he had plenty of smiles after continuing the streak.
"We got eight baby, we got eight," Robinson said on Monday. "This one feels good too."
The trophy was presented to the
team in the visitors' locker room Monday night and it will probably make another appearance for senior night festivities Saturday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
"The one thing about our players is, just because the roster changes, the expectations don't." Self said. "And they committed to it. They've amazed me, to be real candid."
—Edited by Amanda Gage
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Signee Perry Ellis to watch for next year
If you're a Kansas basketball fan and you're not thinking about next year just yet, don't worry. Sports illustrated is doing it for you.
Sports Illustrated chose Kansas' 2012 signee Perry Ellis as one of the "Faces in the Crowd" in Wednesday's issue. The section, which highlights some of the top high school athletes for accomplishments in the classroom and on the court, has run in the magazine every week since 1956.
Ellis, from Wichita Heights High School, was named a McDonald's All-American in 2011-12 and maintained a 4.0 grade point average. He is a three-time Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and 6A state champion and is averaging 25.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this season.
He signed his letter of intent on Nov. 9, 2011, choosing Kansas over Kentucky, Wichita State and Kansas State. Coach Bill Self has described Ellis, who is ranked No. 24 overall on Rivals.com, as a hybrid forward who can thrive on the perimeter and by the basket. Ellis will begin playing for Kansas next season.
Max Rothman
FOOTBALL
Football team allows students to try out
The Jayhawks will allow any Kansas student that has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or above to try out for the team.
The Kansas football team is opening its doors and looking to the Kansas student body to possibly join the Jayhawks' roster.
Monday, March 12, position players will report to the Anderson Family Football Complex to get their measurements taken. The tryout itself will begin on Tuesday, March 13, and run through Thursday, March 15.
Kickers, punters, long snappers and other specialists have been asked to come to the Anderson Family Football Complex the following week. Starting Monday, March 26. Specialists will be measured that Monday and the tryout will begin on Tuesday, March 27.
All times are currently scheduled for 5:45 p.m.
Mike Vernon
BIG EAST
Bearcats' hope for tournament play after win
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CINCINNATI — JaQuon Parker scored a career-high 28 points in a take-it-to-the-hoop attack on Wednesday night, leading Cincinnati to a 72-61 victory over No. 8 Marquette that embellished the Bearcats' NCAA tournament chances.
The Bearcats (21-9, 11-6) have won six of their last eight, including home victories over then-No. 17 Louisville and Marquette (24-6, 13-4). The Golden Eagles had won five straight, including a 95-78 drubbing of the Bearcats in Milwaukee on Feb. 11.
The rematch was a total reversal.
Cincinnati repeatedly drove through Marquette's defense for layups, with Parker leading the way. Dion Dixon added 21 points for the Bearcats. Cincinnati's front line dominated with nine blocks, including seven by Justin Jackson.
Darius Johnson-Odom scored 18 points, and Jae Crowder added 17 points and 12 rebounds for Marquette, which never got the lead under double digits in the second half.
Cincinnati improved to 5-3 against ranked teams this season. It was Cincinnati's most lopsided win over a top 10 opponent since it beat No. 4 Louisville 101-80 on Feb. 22, 2003.
Marquette sat three starters, including Johnson-Odom, for the first half of a 61-60 win at West Virginia on Saturday, punishment for violating unspecified team rules. All were back against Cincinnati.
The Bearcats honored seniors
Dixon and Yancy Gates before the final home game. Gates set a tone early, getting five rebounds before picking up his second foul on a charge at the 16:16 mark.
Even without Gates, Cincinnati dominated the boards — it had a 10-3 advantage early — while pulling out to a 19-11 lead. Dixon had a pull-up jumper, a layup and a finger-roll basket during a 10-0 run.
Parker took advantage of Marquette's perimeter defense, driving past step-slow defenders for layups as Cincinnati pulled away in the closing minutes of the first half. His 3 from the left corner with 1 second left pushed the lead to 42-26 and left Parker with 16 points.
Marquette made its first three shots — all from behind the arc — but missed nine of its next 10, including two air balls. Cincinnati blocked seven shots in the first half, six by jackson.
The offensive surge was notable. The Bearcats were coming off their worst scoring game of the season, a 46-45 loss at South Florida on Sunday.
During its winning streak, Marteau routinely pulled itself out of deep first-half deficits. The Golden Eagles never made a run after halftime, with Parker and the Bearcats refusing to let up.
Parker had a fast-break layup and 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 52-33 in the opening minutes of the second half. Marquette went to half-court pressure to try to force turnovers, but never rattled the Bearcats, who finished with only seven turnovers.
BEARCATS
3
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BIG 12
Cincinnati guard Dion Dixon (3) drives against Marquette forward Jae Crowder (32) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 29, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati beat Marquette, 72-61.
Missouri win seals their No.2 ranking
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Michael Dixon scored 21 points to lead five Missouri players in double figures and the sevent-ranked Tigers beat Iowa State 78-72 on Wednesday night, clinching the No. 2 seed in next week's Big 12 tournament.
Dixon's driving layup with 3:36 left gave Missouri (26-4, 13-4) a 66-46 lead it wouldn't relinquish. Marcus Denmon followed with a 3-pointer and Phil
Pressey had a steal and layup with 1:23
remaining to cap a 7-0 run.
It was Missouri's 13th Big 12 win, the most in school history as it prepares to leave for the Southeastern Conference next season.
Scott Christophers scored eight points in the final minute, including a 3-pointer with 25.5 seconds remaining to close the gap to 76-72. Dixon added two free throws with 15 seconds left.
Royce White led Iowa State (21-9, 11-6) with 20 points and nine assists.
Associated Press
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