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SEASON IN REVIEW
KANSAS 77 85 OKLAHOMA STATE
FEBRUARY 27, 2010
Cowboys hand Jayhawks first conference loss
Weston White/KANSAN
Junior guard Tyrel Reed sits next to junior center Cole Aldrich on the bench during the final minutes Oklahoma State. Kansas lost 85-77, marking their first loss in Big 12 play.
By Corey Thibodeaux
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
STILLWATER, Okla. — With a 6-7 record against Oklahoma State, coach Bill Self is used to the feelings of defeat from his alma mater.
But his demeanor after the Jayhawk's 85-77 loss to the Cowboys was a sign everything was fine for Kansas, at least in the long term.
"I don't think the thing is broken," Self said. "But I do think we need to evaluate the things we take pride in to be a good team, especially at this time of year."
That pride comes from offensive execution and making defensive stops. None of those were prevalent on Saturday. On offense, the Jayhawks shot 46.6 percent from the field and were outrebounded by 10.
"They were tougher than us tonight."
senior guard Sherron Collins said. "Everything meant more to them than it did to us, which should have been the other way around."
To make matters worse, coming in to the game the Cowboys only shot 35 percent from three-point territory. They shot a blistering 52.6 percent from three, 60.4 percent overall.
From the first TV timeout, the game was in Oklahoma State's hands. The Jayhawks found themselves down 45-29 at halftime, Collins shooting 2-for-8 in the period.
As the lone senior and unquestioned leader of the team, Collins made it clear after the game to not blame the coaches or his team. Despite finishing with 22 points, he put the loss on himself.
"I think coach did a great job preparing us for it," Collins said. "I just didn't have my team ready at the time. I'll take it."
MARCH 3,2010
Jayhawks defeat Wildcats on senior night
By Corey Thibodeaux cthibodeaux@kansan.com
With 30 seconds to go in the game, Sherron Collins buried his head in the stomach of junior center Cole Aldrich and wrapped his arms around him. The senior guard's time at Allen Fieldhouse was up.
"I saw the subs coming," Collins said, "so I knew it was it."
And it was the perfect way to go out, defeating No. 5 Kansas State 82-65 to capture the regular season Big 12 title outright.
But Collins' emotions didn't translate on the court, scoring 17 points on 5-for-15 shooting.
After the game, Self addressed the crowd for Senior Night, sharing his experience with his All-American point guard. Among those was a list of all the faults Collins possessed when he came first arrived at Kansas: moody, hard-headed, brash.
"It's all true," Collins said. "I'm stubborn, cocky, but I think those are my best traits."
Self kept the jokes rolling in the media room after seeing all the attention directed toward Collins.
"Why do you want to interview a guy who went 1-for-9 the first half?" "Self said. "I don't understand that at all."
Collins kept driving and kept shooting, but many of his shots weren't falling. He came out of the game with a purpose, splitting the Wildcats' defense, but he said he was too excited to start the game with all the pressure. Still, Self wasn't about to tell him to stop shooting.
"He can make one and all of a sudden that can become four or five in a row and that's the difference in the game." Self said
And Collins' 17 points actually were the difference — but not the reason — for Kansas' victory.
The Jayhawks started hot, jumping out
to a 18-6. Despite a couple of late first half runs by Kansas State, the Jayhawks went into halftime up 45-38.
At the 17:06 mark in the second half, K-State senior guard Denis Clemente tied the game at 45 with a three-pointer. From then on, it was run after run by both teams, though the Jayhawks never gave up their lead. Kansas made the final, defining run late with a 16-2 burst.
The two other players carrying the load for Kansas were freshman guard Xavier Henry, who had 19 points, and sophomore forward Markieff Morris, who came off the bench for 10 points and nine rebounds. They, too, fed off the energy created by Collins' last home game.
"It was an emotional night for all of us," Morris said. "It's going to be tough not seeing him next year, but we went out with a bang."
Senior guard Sherron Collins drives to the basket for his final basket in Allen Fieldhouse with 33 seconds left in the second half on March 3. Kansas won 82-65.
Weston White/KANSAN
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THE WAVE APRIL 7,2010
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN