2008-2009 KANSAS BASKETBALL
23
Jayhawks finish with no regrets
Fifth-straight Big 12 title highlight for young squad
BY CASE KEEFER ckeefer@kansan.com
Perspective is hard to find in the loser's locker room after a season-ending defeat.
Players talk about what could have been. They stammer. They mumble. They look down.
Kansas' locker room at Lucas Oil Stadium after losing to Michigan State two weeks ago definitely fit that description. For 30 minutes after the loss, junior guard Sherron Collins struggled to find the right way to wrap up Kansas' 2009 season.
In the end, five of Collins' words turned out to be the most telling.
"It was a fun ride," Collins said.
Fun, according to Collins, because the lajahws were able to get to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. They became the 26th team in school history to reach the Sweet Sixteen.
But Collins' best memory from this season will be Kansas' winning its fifth consecutive Big 12 Conference championship. Despite being picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 at the beginning of the season, Kansas won its 52nd conference championship.
"To come to the Sweet Sixteen and win the league with the team we had," Collins said, "no one expected it."
Kansas gathered plenty of awards to commemorate this season. The Associated Press named Collins, who averaged 19 points and five assists per game, a third-team All-American. Sophomore center Cole Aldrich, who averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds, received honorable mention. It also awarded Kansas coach Bill Self with Coach of the Year recognition.
"To come to the Sweet Sixteen and win the league with the team we had, no one expected it."
Not a bad haul for what some called a rebuilding year after Kansas lost seven of its top eight players and all five starters from 2008's national championship team.
"I don't have any regrets at all about this team's season," Self said.
SHERRON COLLINS Junior guard
Neither do the rest of the Jayhawks. Aldrich, freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor and freshman forward Marcus Morris all gave the same response to what they would remember best about this season: how far they came.
All three of them mentioned the beginning of the year, when Kansas went on a Labor Day weekend trip to Ottawa, Canada, for three exhibition games. They all look back and laugh about it now.
The Jayhawks weren't so good back then. It took some late-game heroes from freshman guard Travis Releford and sophomore
guard Tyrel Reed to beat one of the Canadian teams, Carleton, by one point.
Although it should be noted that Collins and the Morris twins didn't play in Canada, Aldrich was still amazed that the same team lost by five points to the eventual national runner-up six months later.
"These guys are phenomenal."
Aldrich said of his teammates
"Being so young this year and doing what we did this year, who knows what we can do next year."
"We came and practiced and every day worked hard and battled until the end."
Sure, it got bumpy along the way. For as many positive memories as the Jayhawks have, there are also a few moments theyd like to forget — including but not limited to a 61-60 defeat to Massachusetts at the Sprint Center and a 19-point shellacking at Texas Tech.
MARCUS MORRIS Freshman forward
But ask the Jayhawks and they'll tell you that's part of growing up. Five of Kansas' top
nine players this year were newcomers.
"Being so young this year and doing what we did this year," Morris said, "who knows what we can do next year?"
Collins has an idea. Collins and Aldrich came back for another year instead of entering the NBA Draft, hoping Kansas could get back to Indianapolis.
Next year, Lucas Oil Stadium
doesn't have the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. It's the host of the Final Four.
It's always easier to look ahead. But Collins said there were plenty of reasons to remember Kansas' 2009 season.
"I don't think it's a disappointment," Collins said. "I think it's a success."
Weston White/KANSAN
Junior guard Sherron Collins hoists the championship trophy after Kansas defeated Texas to win the Big 12 title outright.
Freshmen Marcus Morris, left, and Travis Releford pop their champions t-shirts after Kansas' 83-73 victory against Texas
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
APRIL 27, 2009