16 SEASON IN REVIEW
KANSAS 80 68 TEXAS
FEBRUARY 8,2010
Big first-half run puts Longhorns away early
By Corey Thibodeaux cthibodeauxkansan.com
AUSTIN, Texas — Marcus Morris sat after the game tapping his dislocated finger on the table.
"I can't really feel it; it's cool!" he said about his right middle finger. "It's not going to stop me from playing. I tore something."
Despite the damaged digit, Morris continued his Big 12 surge, leading the Jayhawks with 18 points and eight rebounds in their 80-68 victory against Texas Monday.
But it wasn't as competitive of a game as most expected. In the first five minutes, Texas looked like the better team,and Kansas could do nothing except turn the ball over.
All of a sudden, trailing 8-14, the Jayhawks came alive, going on a 22-0 run with solid defense and mistake-free offense.
Finally, after a series of games where the
Jayhawks looked anything like No.1, they showed it against the Longhorns.
Xavier Henry had a strong showing with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting, but didn't notice his team was taking over the previously ranked No.1 Longhorns.
"I didn't even know we went on a 22-0 run. I was just excited to be playing," he said. "I knew we were scoring and playing good defense. I was just watching."
They also showed on the glass, where the Jayhawks outrebounded the Longhorns 45-34 even though both were regarded as two of the biggest teams in the nation.
"We have a lot of fault on our team as far as rebounding and defending," Morris said. "I think we came out real aggressive. I think we took the first punch and never let up."
The length of the Longhorns did make life difficult for Cole Aldrich, Aldrich, who did have six blocked shots, went 2-of-10 from the floor and ended up fouling out with just under four minutes to go.
He blamed his unsuccessful night on Texas' Dexter Pittman.
"There's a few I should have kicked out, but there are some big guys down there," he said.
Aldrich was hit with a technical for throwing an elbow after the play was blown dead. He said it was unintentional.
Free throws off the technical and anandone play by Texas brought the Longhorns within eight with about 3:40 to go.
But the Jayhawks held on in a drawn-out finish to an otherwise uncompetitive game.
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Coach Bill Self said he was glad to get through a game like this, as weird and unpredictable as it was.
Weston White/KANSAN
"It didn't have any rhythm either way, which probably helped us," Self said. "But it feels good to win a muddy game."
FEBRUARY 13,2010
Aldrich puts up big numbers on road
By Corey Thibodeaux cthibodeaux@kansan.com
AMES, Iowa — The things ailing Cole Aldrich earlier this season don't seem to affect him anymore.
The All-American version of the junior center made one of his rare appearances this season, leading the Jayhawks with 19 points and 11 rebounds in their 84-61 victory against the Iowa State Cyclones Saturday.
For the past few months, life took its toll on Aldrich. Bronchitis slowed him down earlier this season and his grandmother, Ann Aldrich, passed away last weekend after struggling with lung cancer.
After the game, Aldrich displayed his characteristically upbeat attitude.
"It just feels good to be back," he said. "I've been through a lot of slumps this year and been through a lot of stuff. It's tough. It weighs on me. But I'm just going out and giving my heart."
Now Aldrich is healthy and has had time to grieve for his grandmother's passing. Coach Bill Self said those factors are the main reasons for his resurgence.
"I do think that's a big part of it with him," Self said. "He's got a bit of a freer mind now."
Aldrich even admitted this has been a disappointing season thus far.
"I would say other than one game, I really haven't played up to my standards or the guys on the team's standards," he said. "Other than that Memphis game, I've been sub-par, but it's coming back for me."
The other reason for his big performance Saturday was the attendance of his family, Aldrich said. His parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and more traveled from Bloomington, Minn., to Ames, Iowa as they do every year to see Aldrich play.
"I don't even know how many family I had here," he said. "They're probably all sitting out there wearing some crimson and blue."
THE WAVE APRIL 7,2010
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN