THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON REVIEW
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4,2007
3B
Down,but rarely out
Kansas used numerous comebacks to secure victories
BY MARK DENT
Sherron Collins drove the lane fearlessly and shoelessly. Mario Chalmers stroked a game-tying three-pointer without a hint of emotion on his face. Brandon Rush calmly laid the ball off the glass to seal a game.
Kansas' star players appeared to breathe confidence in close games, even on the verge of defeat.
But on the inside, the butterflies were swarming.
"You can't tell me we weren't nervous and anxious when we were down 32-10 and down in the last game at the fieldhouse," Kansas coach Bill Self said of his team's two games against Texas this season. "I don't think that's all bad though. That nervous excitement can sometimes create an edge for you."
It created an edge for Kansas several times. The Jayhawks converted their nerves to confidence this year when facing huge deficits. They won six games this season after trailing in the second half, including two post-season games.
This ability to come back became apparent early in the conference season. Kansas trailed Iowa State for most of the game in Ames, Iowa, before winning in overtime. It happened again two days later against Missouri at Allen Fieldhouse.
Tigers guard Stethon Hannah tried to give his team a chance to win, but Collins wouldn't let him. Collins outplayed his former high school rival down the stretch. He sweoped in past Hannah for a layup with 29 seconds left. He lost his shoe, but he won the game for Game 80-77.
"I don't know if I remember one individual taking a big game over like Sherron," Self said after the victory.
Collins wasn't the only Jayhawk to step up when Kansas trailed this season. Actually, everyone but Collins
came through against Texas in the last regular season game.
The Jayhawks fell behind by 16 points late in the first half largely because of Texas' Kevin Durant's 25-point performance. Kansas used a 22-6 run to open the second half and held on at the end for a 90-86 victory. Six Jayhawks scored seven or more points.
"Even though we were getting our butts kicked pretty good, they didn't panic," Self said afterwards. "In the postseason you're going to be behind. You need to understand the importance of getting stops at key times and stuff like that."
Self couldn't have been more right about the postseason. Texas came out even hotter against Kansas in the Big 12 Championship game. At one point, the Jayhawks were down 32-10.
Just like in the first game, Kansas battled back. The Jayhawks pulled to within five by halftime. In the second half, Rush, Collins and Chalmers took turns making big plays. Chalmers sent the game to overtime with a three-pointer from the top of the key with 15 seconds left. In the extra period, junior forward Darnell Jackson blocked Texas' DJ. Augustin and made two free throws to help seal the 88-84 overtime victory.
"I knew it was going to be a tough game," Collins said. "I had to get my head right and my mind right. It took heart to come back from a 22-point deficit and win in overtime."
Later in the postseason, Kansas faced another uphill battle. For 20-plus minutes in the Sweet Sixteen against Southern Illinois, the Salukis battered and bruised the Jayhawks on the perimeter. Kansas couldn't find an open look, and Southern Illinois had a six-point second half lead. It looked like the Jayhawks would become an upset victim of a Missouri Valley Conference team for the second year in a row.
Then Self told his players to use their speed. Rush, Robinson and Chalmers continually beat their men off the dribble to score baskets, get to the free-throw line or find Jackson or Arthur inside. Kansas quickly took charge and Rush gave Kansas the hard-earned victory for good on a layup with 25 seconds left.
"We've been through some tough times, and we've persevered and bounced back," Robinson said.
But will Kansas be able to bounce back from a crushing Elite Eight loss to UCLA next season? If the Jayhawks have as much success with handling adversity as they did this season, they shouldn't have any problem.
"We've got a little taste of it right now," Chalmers said. "We know if we come back next year we can do the same thing but get a little further."
Kansan sportswriter Mark Dent can be contacted at mdent@kansan.com.
Edited by Ryan Schneider
High flier
Freshman forward Darrell Arthur vaults for a shot against Iowa State on Feb. 24 at Allen Fieldhouse. Arthur scored 15 points and had a game-high 11 rebounds in the 89-52 victory.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
KANSAN.COM
comebacks
Who's in your Fave 5?
Game Deficit Outcome
iowa State, Jan. 13 30-27 68-64 (OT)
Missouri, Jan. 15 65-60 80-77
Texas, March 3 51-35 90-86
Texas, March 11 32-10 88-84 (OT)
Southern Illinois, March 22 33-27 61-58
2. ___
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