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2008-2009 KANSAS BASKETBALL
COMMENTARY
This team wasn't just bridge between titles
Kansas coach Bill Self strolled into the Naismith Room on the second floor of Allen Fieldhouse last October and plopped down in a seat at the podium. It was Media Day — the first opportunity for Self to discuss the 2008-2009 Jayhaws.
But before Self could even get situated and comfortable for the 30-minute briefing, he encountered his first question.
"Have you thought about last year at all," someone asked, referring to the 2008 National Championship team.
Five months later, Self was walking away. He had spent 20 minutes talking with reporters after Kansas' 67-62 defeat to Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
But before Self reached the doors to the Kansas locker room, he encountered his last question.
"Could it be motivation knowing that if the
It seems this is how the 2008-2009 Kansas basketball season will be remembered. It will be viewed as a bridge between one of the program's finest years in 2008 and one with similar potential in 2010.
season ended here next year, it could be a hell of a year," someone asked, referring to the fact that the 2010 Final Four would also be played at Lucas Oil Stadium.
That's a shame. Don't look at it that way. The
Because who knew the stubborn point guard from one of the worst areas of Chicago could be what Self calls "one of the greatest individual success stories?"
2008-2009 season deserves better than that. It was special in its own way. Consider it the year of surprises.
Because who knew the wiry kid with a funny Minnesotan accent from a year ago could turn into one of the nation's most imposing frontcourt forces?
Because who knew the fast-talking final piece of the 2008 recruiting class would score more points in a game and win more Big 12 Rookie of the Week awards as a freshman than Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Julian Wright and Darrell Arthur ever did?
Because who knew the unheralded 23-year-old local boy would become the Jayhawks' best on-ball defender?
But the individual stories of those Jayhawks — Sherron Collins, Cole Aldrich, Tyshawn Taylor and Brady Morningstar if you were lost — were not as unlikely as the season itself.
Sure, a run to the Sweet Sixteen wasn't totally unpredictable. But having a better Big 12 Conference record (14-2) than last year's national championship team (13-3) certainly was.
Obliterating a hated rival and eventual Elite Eight team, Missouri, by 25 points three weeks after losing to it certainly was.
The lasting memory should always be that this team won another conference championship. Kansas' fifth straight. It's 52nd in school history.
This season doesn't need to be grouped with last year or next year. Self knows it. And he showed it in his response to the last question of the season.
"It was a hell of a year this year," Self said.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3. Duo returning
4. UMKC Florida Gulf Coast Washington
5. Syracuse Coppin State Kent State
6. New Mexico State Jackson State
7. Massachusetts Temple at Arizona
8. Albany Tennessee Siena
9. at Michigan State Kansas State
10. at Colorado Texas A&M
11. at Iowa State at Nebraska Colorado
12. Sherron Collins
14. at Baylor Oklahoma State
15. at Missouri at Kansas State
17. at Oklahoma Missouri
16. Iowa State Nebraska
19. at Texas Tech Texas
20. Baylor
21. North Dakota State Dayton
22. Michigan State
23. No Regrets
Weston White/KANSAN
The Jayhawks hold up the Big 12 regular season championship trophy after clinching its fifth-straight title against Texas on March 7. Kansas went on to finish the season by losing to Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen, finishing with 27 victories.
spring 2009 kansan staff
Editor Managing editors
Managing editor, Kansan.com
Sports editor
Associate sports editor
Designers
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Brenna Hawley
Tara Smith
Mary Sorrick
Kelsey Hayes
Andrew Wiebe
Taylor Bern
Drew Bergman
Nick Gerik
Liz Schubauer
Mark Stevens
Kelly Stroda
Laura Vest
Dani Erker
General manager, news adviser Malcolm Gibson
Sales and marketing adviser Jon Schlitt
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The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. This special section chronicles the 2008-2009 Kansas men's basketball season.
APRIL 27, 2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN