Volume 125 Issue 61
kansan.com
Wednesday January 23, 2013
COMMENTARY Johnson, Tharpe a dynamic duo
Johnson finished 1-11 against Texas, with most of those misses being layups or short jumpers after aggressive drives to the lane. But he hit his first layup in Manhattan before four minutes had elapsed.
Kansas coach Bill Self employed a four-guard lineup that featured both Johnson and sophomore point guard Naadir Tharpe to help Kansas steal a victory at Texas on Saturday. He quickly trolled out his two point guards onto the court as part of his three-guard lineup at Kansas State Tuesday night.
And Johnson looked like his old self, the one that shot—and hit those shots—with confidence.
Once again Kansas had to battle through a prizefight to stay undefeated in Big 12 play.
Grabbing its 23rd victory in 25 tries at Bramlage Coliseum, the nine-time defending champion proved why Kansas is Kansas and Kansas State is still Kansas State. And with an unexpected but welcome heavyweight in its corner, the lajhayws subjected Wildcat fans to their own dose of doom.
After riding freshman guard Ben McLemore and senior center Jeff Withey for most of the conference season, Kansas finally benefitted from what's become a tepid source as of late - senior guard Elijah Johnson.
And Kansas seemed to benefit from Johnson's poise, especially when the game got tight. His offense took a backseat in the second half, but his pesky defense resulted in two steals, equivalent to gold in this low-scoring rivalry game.
Edited by Brian Sisk
Self has maintained throughout the season that Johnson will eventually start making shots. Johnson shot 3-10 Tuesday night, but they were smarter shots than he's been taking recently, and he played within the offense, rather than forcing it. There's no doubt about Johnson's ability to put his shoes on. He just shouldn't have to try and help his teammates put theirs on as well all night.
It got better from there for Kansas fans. With Tharpe taking on portions of the ball-handling responsibilities, it left Johnson free to knock down a 3-pointer. Minutes later, Tharpe brought the ball up the court and found Johnson for a cutting lupy.
Although these plays simply resulted from running the offense, Johnson didn't have to look for his points while also facilitating the offense. By deferring to Tharpe to bring the ball up the court and establish the offense, Johnson slid back into his role from last year as the lajhwacks two-guard.
With Bramlage Coliseum amped up for the showdown between two ranked teams, Johnson's first half offense helped prevent Kansas State's brief run from turning into an all-out assault.
Johnson appears to relax when he doesn't have to bear the offensive load while also creating offensive opportunities for his teammates. As the point guard, it's been his job to help create opportunities for McLemore, the jayhawks' purest scorer. But when he shares the floor and the ball with Tharpe, Johnson returns into his natural two-guard role, looking for his shot.
Think about it. If Kansas didn't have Tyshawn Taylor running the point last season, especially during the NCAA Tournament, would Johnson have made his clutch three-pointer against Purdue? He very well may have, but so far this season, his play suggests that he plays best when he's part of the offensive flow, not the catalyst for it.
TAMING TOUGHNESS
KANSAS 59 KANSAS STATE 55
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
LEFT: Senior center Jeff Witney drives the ball during the second half of the game. ABOVE LEFT: Senior guard Elijah Johnson celebrates after the Jayhawk's victory over Kansas State. ABOVE RIGHT: Senior guard Elijah Johnson goes for the layup during the second half of the game. BOTTOM: Kansas huddles up after a time out on the floor during the second half of the game against Kansas State at Bramblea Coliseum.
Jayhawk seniors say goodbye to Bramlage Coliseum with win
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
MANHATTAN — A final kiss goodbye, that's all Elijah Johnson wanted.
Johnson delayed his final steps off the court at Bramilea Coliseum to say farewell. He brought both his hands to his lips and blew multiple kisses to the notoriously boisterous Kansas State student section. The kisses were accompanied with the kind of beaming smile that children get as they're given a new toy.
And this was Johnson's last time to get that toy. The senior won his third game in four years in Manhattan after the Jayhawks beat the Kansas State Wildcats 59-15.
"That kiss felt good," Johnson said. "This was a game I always wanted to play in since I was a
freshman, and this was my year to actually go out and produce for our team."
While Johnson didn't have a particularly effective game offensively—shooting 3 of 10 from the field, finishing the game with eight points and turning the ball over five times—he did score five of the Jayhawks first 15 points, helping Kansas avoid the slow start that have recently plagued them.
Really, no player for the Jayhawks was offensively exceptional. This wasn't that kind of game. This was a battle of two former Illinois coaches that preach sermons in sound defense and toughness.
The Big Ten conference is known for playing defensively oriented, low-scoring basketball. And Self believes Kansas winning
"That's a typical Big Ten game," Bill Self said.
"My big belief is, you've got to learn to win games in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s," Self said. "You've got to, and we've been able to accomplish that."
by playing a game of this style was important.
While Self was pleased with the win, the game was a back-and-forth battle that featured two teams playing for the pride of winning the state. With 37 seconds left, the jayhawks had only a 3-point lead.
That's when sophomore point guard Naadir Tharpe was introduced to the pressures of a big time, in-state rivalry. Tharpe was fouled by the Wildcats and sent to the free-throw line to shoot a one-and-one.
If he missed, Kansas State would have a chance to tie the game. They never did, as Tharpe
made both free throws to inch Kansas toward its victory.
"I wasn't nervous at all," Tharpe said. "I just knew I had to take my time and get the free throws."
Tharpe sealed the win for the Jayhawks, and helped give the seniors their final hurrah in a building that Kansas is known for winning in. The Jayhawks now have a 23-2 all-time record in Bramlage Coliseum.
Perhaps that's why it meant so much to those seniors to beat Kansas State on the road for their final time like so many Kansas players before them.
Senior Kevin Young was one of the first players off the court after the final buzzer rang, but he still heard all about Johnson's postgame theatrics.
"They told me about it going in the locker room." Young said.
"They've been here longer than me. It means a lot more to them."
Yes, Johnson was the Jayhawk who so badly wanted to beat Kansas State one last time on the road. Perhaps he wanted the win so bad because it gave the Jayhawks the first place spot in the Big 12 standings at 5-0. Or perhaps it's because he knows he's taking his last tour of Big 12 road venues.
Either way, Johnson's kiss goodbye wasn't just him taunting the Kansas state crowd. There was a bit of sincerity in his final farewell.
"As crazy and weird as this may sound, I'm going to miss Kansas State," Johnson said. "It's probably the most fun environment to play in."
Edited by Dylan Lysen
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Defensive back joins Kansas football team
Kansas coach Charlie Weis announced Tuesday afternoon that defensive back Colin Spencer has enrolled at the University of Kansas and will participate in the football team's spring activities. Spencer graduated early from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas.
FOOTBALL
Spencer, a three-star prospect on Rivals, Scout and ESPN, impressed college coaches and scouts as he had six interceptions and five blocked kicks in his two years of high school.
He is the 11th player to join the Jayhawk football program since the 2012 season ended.
— Farzin Vousoughian