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KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 / SPORTS
7B
KANSAS STATE 65
ETBALL REWIND
ting the jersey number of senior guard Sherron Collins , Collins scored 17 points and was teary-eyed before and after the game
Weston White/KANSAN
Weston White/KANSAN
and half. Henry led Kansas with 19 points and shot
Weston White/KANSAN
Sophomore center Markieff Morris grants an offensive rebound Wednesday night against Kansas State. Morris had nine boards in Kansas' 82-65 victory.
COLUMN (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
counter-punches traded by the two teams, the sheer intensity of affairs - that defined the night. Most of all, it was the magnitude of the victory and the emphatic manner in which it was achieved Kansas got the kind of affirming victory that it needed, the kind of statement that answers the questions asked following Saturday's loss.
Make no mistake about it: Kansas State deserves its top five ranking. The Wildcats are a very good team, and they played very well. On another night, in another venue, against another team, their effort almost certainly would have earned a victory.
But not last night, not in Allen Fieldhouse, not against Kansas. Instead of a victory, K-State's efforts earned it only a rather convincing 82-65 beating.
Not because of some superhuman effort from Collins, but because of a fantastic team game played by Kansas. And that's encouraging — even necessary — following the loss at Oklahoma State. When Collins struggled to find his shot in Stillwater, the rest of the Jayhawks couldn't compensate, and they couldn't play the kind of lockdown defense Bill Self's teams are known for. But against K-State, the Jayhawks as a whole excelled, reaffirming their status as one of the nation's best teams.
And that, for this team, is what it's ultimately about, not one player, or one game, or even another conference title. This year, as Collins noted in his postgame speech, is about winning the National Championship.
Last night, Kansas did what it needed to do to get closer to that victory.
Edited by Sarah Bluvas
Player to remember
Collins was ice cold in the first half, knocking down just 1-of-9 shots before the break, but picked it up in the second for his last half at Allen Fieldhouse. Collins hit 4-of-6 from the field, including a mini-run of his own when he connected for seven straight points to build the Kansas lead to 13. Collins finished with 17 points and four assists in his 125th victory as a Jayhawk.
Senior guard Sherron Collins
Collins
Player to forget
Junior center Cole Aldrich
Aldrich
Aldrich was serenaded with chants of "One more year!" from the Kansas faithful, but it's a safe bet that he'll be heading for the NBA once this season runs out. Coach Bill Self said as much, telling the fans, "I'm all for that, but don't hold your breath on that one." Aldrich probably wanted a better finale in the Fieldhouse, though. He finished with just nine points and four rebounds.
Stat of the night
74-2
at home in his freshman year, to Oral Roberts and Texas A&M, and hasn't lost since, in 59 consecutive home games. It's the longest streak in the country, and it's three shy of a school record.
Sherron Collins finished his career at 74-2 in Allen Fieldhouse. The senior point guard lost two games
Quote of the night
"Every time after we met with Sherron, we thought to ourselves, 'What a hardheaded, moody, stubborn, cocky, pain in the butt.' And after coaching him for four years, nothing's really changed. There's guys who've scored more points and guys who've had more assists and steals, but very few Kansas fans who have ever witnessed a competitor like this."
Selt
-Bill Self, introducing Sherron Collins after the game for his senior night speech
Prime plays
1ST HALF (SCORE AFTER PLAY)
16:32- Sherron Collins got his first bucket, slicing his way to the basket. The defense is having trouble with him. (11-4)
17:35- Sherron Collins did his second behind-the-back-because this-is-my-night penetration move and kicked it out to Tyshawn Taylor, who then hit Xavier Henry for a three. (9-2)
15:18-Sherron Collins tried to pass the ball to Brady Morningstar on the fast break for what appeared to be an easy layup. The ball was deflected, but Morningstar touch-passed it to a trailing Marcus Morris. Jayhawks up big early. (15-4)
8:41- The Wildcats looked like they had some rhythm going, but Xavier Henry had a timely and-one layup. He missed the free throw, but Tyshawn Taylor had a beautiful layup right after. (29-19)
4:03- Marcus Morris hit Cole Aldrich with an alley-oop to put the crowd back on their feet. Jayhawks back up by double digits. (40-29)
15:18 Tyrel Reed with another three. The Jayhawks created some distance trading twos for threes. (51-47)
13:25- Sherron Collins stole the ball and hit Xavier Henry halfway down the court, who dunked it, capping the run at nine. (57-47)
16:42- Brady Morningstar hit a three to break the tie. First points for him and first for the Jayhawks in the half. (48-45)
9:40- Sherron Collins hit a three, giving the Jayhawks their double-digit lead back. (65-55)
2ND HALF
4:46. After giving the most horrifying face you will see on a block about a minute before, Cole Aldrich put Jacob Pullen flat on his you-know what with another man-swat. (73-57)
7:56- The floater by Sherron Collins gave the Jayhawks yet another run, this time reaching eight. The Wildcats burn another timeout. (67-55)
Key stats
1-9,4-6
Sherron Collins shot just 1-of-9 in the first half, but finished 4-of-6 in the second half for 17 points on the night.
38
Collins played 38 minutes to night. He hasn't played more in any regulation game this year.
15
6
While Collins was struggling through the first half, Xavier Henry was on fire, hitting 5-of-6 shots for 15 points at the break.
The Jayhawks claimed outright their sixth straight Big 12 title with a victory against the second-place Wildcats.
651-106
The Jayhawks are 651-106 all-time in Allen Fieldhouse.
1.998
The Jayhawks have won 1,998 games in the history of the program.
- Tim Dwyer and Corey Thibodeaux
hawkchalk
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