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KANSAN.COM
SPORTS
Senior guard Frank Mason III motions to the crowd during the first half against TCU on Feb. 22. Kansas won, 87-68.
Missy Minear/KANSAN
'More to come': Mason eyes further success
► JORDAN WOLF
@JordanWolfKU
In the thick of the postgame celebration of No. 3 Kansas' 13th-straight Big 12 title, senior guard Frank Mason III grabbed the mic.
No one told him to speak, he just thought he needed to. Donning the brand-new "13 Straight" t-shirt and having just hoisted the Big 12 Championship trophy with his teammates, he was overcome with emotion. His mind raced as he tried to string together his thoughts.
"We're blessed," Mason said. "We're just thankful to have a great coach leading the way for us. We appreciate you [fans]. Jay-
hawk Nation!"
Mason was instrumental in the Jayhawks' win, an 87-68 drubbing of TCU. He finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting (4-of-6 from three), and dished out four assists as well.
It's Mason's fourth Big 12 title as a Jayhawk. Having come to Kansas in the middle of the streak, the expectations to keep it going certainly lingered. But Mason knew that, and made sure that it wouldn't come to an end on his watch.
"Before the conference [season] even started, I was just telling the guys, 'We can't be that team to end the streak,' Mason said. "I like the way the
guys responded, and here we are today, 13 in a row."
Across his four years contributing to the streak, his role has increased dramatically over time. From being a backup as a freshman to being the team's leader and receiving consideration for National Player of the Year as a senior, perseverance has been the fuel to his rise to glory.
Even as the accolades continue to pile high for Mason, he's making sure to stay humble and credit those responsible for his success.
"Coach did a great job of preparing us every day for this," Mason said. "I think we do a great job of bringing energy to practice and
locking in to whatever our goal is ... I'm just proud of my teammates, coaching staff and the fans for the unbelievable energy they bring every night."
Coach did a great job of preparing us every day for this."
Frank Mason III Senior guard
The last time Kansas didn't win the conference, Mason was in the third grade. While he probably doesn't have any distinct memories of the Jayhawks at the time, he joked about where he was at in his career to put the streaks length in context.
"I was playing in the elementary league," Mason said. "I was going crazy."
Kansas coach Bill Self was appreciative of Mason's performance after the game. But with the conference title locked up and the postseason just around the corner, he's making sure to stay focused. He sees that Mason is too, and commended him for such.
the fans know that as well
"The thing about Frank is, he was so efficient tonight, I thought he played great again," Self said. "But he understands, this is great and we're happy and everything, but there's still bigger fish to fry, so to speak. He knows that."
"We've still got more to come," Mason said over the Allen Fieldhouse loudspeakers.
Mason made sure to let
Edited by Allison Crist
1.
Washington's 36 points silver lining in loss
▶ SEAN COLLINS
@seanzie_UDK
Staring at coach Brandon Schneider, redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington knew what was coming next. Washington, wearing her protective mask, exited the game.
As she jogged over to the sideline to take her seat on the bench, the crowd in Allen Fieldhouse rose to their feet in ovation for Washington's exit, just a minute before the Jayhawks lost to the Iowa Sate Cyclones, 90-75.
While Washington has exited early in many games this season during a loss, this one felt different.
"She looks like Russell Westbrook, and that's the way she played," Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly said.
After sustaining a nose injury on the road, Washington wears the mask, and it may be exactly what she needs. Washington scored a career-high 36 points on 12-of-19 shooting on Tuesday. It was the best game of her college career, and looked fierce doing so.
While the loss was upsetting for the Jayhawks, Washington's performance offensively was one to behold. She couldn't miss all night long. From the free-throw line, in the paint and from deep, Washington was on fire.
It was clear the mask didn't affect her shooting
ability,but she knew that before the game started.
Schneider wasn't happy about giving up 90 points. The missed assignments had the team running in circles trying to catch up to shooters as they knocked them down from outside. Washington's offensive production provided a silver lining.
"Honestly, it's just something that you have to adapt to," Washington said. "It wasn't hard and it doesn't bother me. Our trainers do a really good job of fitting it perfectly to my face and it's not affecting me in any way."
While the mask had no effect on Washington, it's conceivable that it intimidates whoever is guarding her. Washington insisted that the mask didn't make her better, but it certainly didn't hurt her. Did it affect her defenders?
["Washington] had a terrific night. She was just aggressive and got to the line," Schneider said. "I know that she was really disappointed in how she played in Ames. It's nice to see her really respond."
In Ames on Jan. 8, she went 1-for-9 and scored four points.
"Who knows? It makes me look tough," Washington said with a chuckle. "I was tough before the mask though."
The Jayhawks have one more home game left in
Miranda Anaya/KANSAN Junior guard Jessica Washington goes up for shot vs Iowa State on Feb. 21. Iowa State defeated Kansas 90-75.
the season; the sunflower stressed that it is import- to get into a defeat-Kansas showdown. Washington ant for her and the team State mindset.
Co-Sponsored by Center for Global & International Studies Department of English Department of History Department of Theater Center for Civic & Social Responsibility KU Honors Program Kansas African Studies Center International Programs Department of Women Gender & Sexuality Studies Institute for Haitian Studies Langston Hughes Center Kansas African Studies Center