THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013
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TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Chris Hybl
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Senior guard Travis Reifeld got fouled during the first half of the game against Texas Tech yesterday in Allen Fieldhouse. Reifeld scored 13 total points with five rebounds, contributing in the Jawhawks' 79-42 victory against the Red Raiders.
MEN'S BASKETBALL REWIND
--johnson admitted of Kansas' rather routine alley-oops "There are other people who can take care of those points better than I do"
Elijah Johnson shares his spotlight with the team
It was supposed to be a night that all of the Kansas seniors enjoyed together. Elijah Johnson was just too busy sharing the moment to think about capturing one for himself.
BLAKE SCHUSTER
bschuster@kansan.com
Those "other people" are center Jeff Withey, forward Kevin Young and guard
"I'd rather be the person sitting back watching like the crowd,"
Playing for the last time in Allen Fieldhouse, the Jayhawks' point guard dished out 12 assists, half of which went high above the rim only to be forced through the net in thunderous fashion.
Ben McLemore. Each had two vicious dunks via an Elijah Johnson lob during Kansas' 79-42 victory over Texas Tech.
Perhaps that was the point for Johnson during this annual celebration of Kansas' most tenured players. Twenty years from now when he remembers playing in Allen Fieldhouse, he'll think about the feeling of the building when the offense he ran couldn't be stopped.
And against Texas Tech, that was certainly the case.
"Not many teams throw as many lobs as we do. That's part of our offense. That's who we are."
"It started off with Elijah throwing lobs," senior guard Travis Releford said of the Jayhawks' explosive play. "It brought more energy to the team."
Indeed, when Johnson tossed Kansas' first alley-oop of the night
to Young, the layhawks led 15-10 midway through the first half. When he tossed up another to Ben McLemore with fewer than two minutes to play, Kansas had soared ahead to a 43-18 lead.
"He's seeing the floor better," Self said. "He didn't look to score, though. I told him to shoot the ball."
As Kansas coach Bill Self would later confirm, Johnson was the key to everything for the lajwhaws.
That might be a concern for a team with scoring trouble, which
is a thing of the past for these Jayhawks.
BILL SELF
Basketball Coach
With the exception of Johnson, who had seven points, every Kansas starter finished with double-digit points - Withey led the team with 22.
Of course, the points don't come sweeter than when it looks like kids experimenting on a playground.
"Not many teams throw as many lobs as we do," Self said. "That's part of our offense. That's who we are."
Well, not quite.
When Withey tried to return the favor with a lob early in the second half, Johnson missed his chance to throw it down.
"I don't know how I would've celebrated that," Johnson joked. "I think that's why I missed."
other player had a chance to get across half court, Tharpe caught Johnson in stride, allowing him to slam it home with one hand.
However, Johnson would grab the Allen Fieldhouse rim one last time. Midway through the second period, freshman forward Jamari Traylor came up with a steal and gave the ball up to sophomore guard Naadir Tharpe. Before any
Still, Withey felt Johnson needed to have his final chance to soar through the air above lames Naismith court while another Jayhawk
found him afloat.
"I thought it was a perfect throw," Wrhey said of his lob to Johnson. "I thought it was going to be a perfect finish, too. We'll get it next time."
Edited by Taylor Lewis
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
KEY PLAYS (FIRST HALF)
9:54 - From behind the 3-point line, senior guard Elijah Johnson tosses a reverse alley-oop to senior forward Kevin Young, which was the first of five alley-oops for Kansas in the first half. (15-10 KU)
5:54 — From the free throw line, Johnson finds Young, who converts a one-handed alleo-op. (29-12 KU)
5:20 - Senior center Jeff Withey makes the only 3-point attempt of his career from the top of the arc. (32-12 KU)
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
KEY PLAYS (SECOND HALF)
8. 48 – On one possession, Kansas misses three 3-point attempts, but a guard corrals every rebound, leading to a Withey jumper. (65-35 KU)
7.54 — For the final time in Allen Fieldhouse, Withey posterizes,
an opponent on a dunk. (69-35 KU)
4. 45 - Kansas' starting five of Ben McLemore, Young, Jeff, Johnson and senior guard Travis Reieford are individually subbed out for the last time at home. (77-38 KU)
Kansas 45 | 34 — 79 Texas Tech 20 | 22 — 42
JAYHAWK STAT LEADERS
WITHEY 22
Points
WITHEY
Rebounds
9
Assists
JOHNSON
KANSAS
JOHNSON
12
Player Pts FG-FGA Rebs A TO's
Kevin Young 14 5-6 6 1 1
Jeff Withey 22 8-9 9 0 0
Elijah Johnson 7 3-8 3 12 2
Ben McLemore 13 5-14 5 2 0
Travis Releford 13 2-3 5 2 0
Naadir Tharpe 0 0-0 1 1 2
Rio Adams 1 0-0 1 0 0
Perry Ellis 6 0-1 7 2 2
Totals 79 24-45 45 18 15
TEXASTECH
Player Pts FG-FGA Rebs A TO's
Dejan Kravic 0 0-6 4 0 2
Jordan Tolbert 16 5-9 3 0 0
Josh Gray 4 1-6 2 1 3
Dusty Hannahs 7 3-9 1 1 0
Jamal Williams 4 2-4 3 0 3
Jaye Crockett 5 2-7 6 3 1
Clar Lammert 0 0-1 0 0 0
Kadar Tapsoda 2 1-3 2 0 1
Totals 42 14-53 21 7 13
Johnson
UNSUNG HERO
Elijah Johnson, guard
Withey
Enjah Johnson, guard
In his final home performance, Johnson set a career-high 12 assists. He dished out five alley-oops in the first half. He had 10 assists against West Virginia on Saturday, making him the first Jayhawk since Aaron Miles in 2004 to have consecutive games of at least 10 assists, according to Kansas Athletics.
GAME TO REMEMBER
The senior scored 22 points, the second outing this season where he reached the 20-point plateau. He also had nine rebounds and four blocks.
Jeff Withey, center
QUOTE OF THE GAME
"I knew it was going to go in. I was telling the guys before, how am I going to celebrate it? It's awesome. Me and Scot Pollard both are 100 percent 3-point percentage."
Withey
Senior Center Jeff Withey on his first career 3-pointer
KEY STATS
12
26. 4
Senior guard Elijah Johnson set his career high with 12 assists, and he has 22 assists in his past two games. According to Kansas Athletics, it's the most assists by a Jayhawk since Aaron Miles had 12 against Kansas State on Jan. 28, 2004.
22
Texas Tech shot only 14-53 from the floor, for a patry 26.4 percent.
The Jayhaws outrebounded Texas Tech by 22, for a total of 45-23.
9