KANSAS 59 AM 54 TEXAS A&M
SEASON IN REVIEW 17
FEBRUARY 15,2010
COLORADO
Kansas holds off A&M's upset bid
By Corey Thibodeaux cthibodeaux@kansan.com
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Whenever the Jayhawks have had a game on the line this season, they turned to Sherron Collins. But when his shots weren't falling, Collins' teammates bailed him out.
The Jayhawks gave up 20 offensive rebounds, shot 1-for-10 behind the threepoint line and got just seven points from Collins.
Kansas pulled out a 59-54 victory in front of a hostile crowd at Texas A&M Monday night.
"I think sometimes we put too much pressure on him to make those plays." junior center Cole Aldrich said. "But we've got great guys on our team that can make those plays. Tonight just wasn't his night."
It looked like an upset in the making, but Kansas' other stars picked up the slack.
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Aldrich, sophomore forward Marcus Morris and freshman guard Xavier Henry each scored 12 points.
As a team the Jayhawks had serious issues on the offensive end, shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 10 percent from three.
"Tonight we were a little out of rhythm," Henry said. "It happens every now and then. We just rely on defense when that happens."
The Aggies, who had a chance to beat then-No.1 Texas earlier this season, were up at halftime, 32-30.
The score stayed close in the second half as the Jayhawks failed to put the game away with one of their typical runs.
Texas A&M controlled much of the game but it only went up by as much as four.
Coach Bill Self said he was impressed with his team's ability to scratch their way back into the lead.
And the defense is what sealed the game.
"They never got away from us," Self said. "The place was getting ready to go nuts if they did."
FEBRUARY 20, 2010
Jayhawks roll past Buffaloes at home
By Corey Thibodeaux
cthibodeaux@kansan.com
The three starting guards for the Jayhawks were all jokes and smiles after Saturday's 94-74 victory against Colorado.
Sherron Collins is tied as the winningest player in Kansas basketball history. Sophomore Tyshawn Taylor had 17 points and six assists in a solid return to the starting lineup.
And freshman Xavier Henry is back to his early season high-scoring ways.
But Henry didn't even have an opportunity to respond when asked if his 24-point, six rebound performance was a relief from his previous woes.
"I'll answer it for him," Collins said. "Yes."
Taylor got a jab in too.
"He would have had 30 if he made some more threes,"Taylor said.
This game was nothing like it was in Boulder, Colo. two and a half weeks ago. The Jayhawks led by as much as 27 Saturday and the Buffaloes never got within 10 in the second half.
Weston White/KANSAN
Sophomore center Markieff Morris stretches over a Colorado defender for a dunk during the second half. Morris scored 11 points off the bench during 21 minutes on the floor.
FEBRUARY 22, 2010
Kansas earns Big 12 title with win against Oklahoma
By Corey Thibodeaux cthibodeaux@kansan.com
It was obvious who should carry off the Big 12 Conference Champion trophy.
The Jayhawks, Big 12 champions 10 out of the last 14 seasons, extended their NCAA Division record with their 53rd conference championship.
Senior guard Sherron Collins walked off the court hoisting his fourth regular-season championship — in trophy form. He scored 17 points in the 81-68 victory against Oklahoma, but carrying the trophy was his biggest challenge of the night.
"Of course it was Sherron," freshman guard Xavier Henry said.
"It was heavy," Collins said. "But it felt great just to have it."
"That's one check,'Collins said. 'Now we can move onto the next one.'
Collins didn't say what the next check
was, but if one of them involves becoming the winningest player in Kansas history, he can cross that off with his 124th victory at Kansas.
He has the titles and the awards, but he doesn't have the numbers - and that's alright with him. The senior guard will never go into the history books for the most points, assists or steals, but what he has is worth much more.
"His legacy is only going to be on one thing: wins and losses," coach Bill Self said.
"We're 13-0 and it didn't seem too difficult for us," Henry said. "They say it's a real tough conference, don't get me wrong, but we've been playing good lately and it just seems like we're going to keep running with it."
This was the first accomplishment for the Jayhawks, breezing through a 13-0 Big 12 schedule. The ride, however, isn't over and Henry isn't ready to stop.
Weston White/KANSAN
Senior guard Sherron Collins raises the Big 12 Championship trophy following Kansas' 81-68 victory against Oklahoma on February 2. The victory clinched a share of the Big 12 title and marked the Jayhawks sixth straight title.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE APRIL 7.2010