monday, april 5, 2004
men's basketball
the university daily kansan 3B
that was
By Ryan Greene, Kansan sportswriter
FEB.2,2004
No. 20 Kansas –
65 Missouri – 56
In the first of three meetings with their bitter border rival Missouri, Kansas played a solid defensive game and escaped with an emotional victory. Each team's starting five played a majority of the minutes in this slugfest, but Missouri's three-point ineptitude eventually cost the Tigers. Simien again led the way for Kansas with 18 points.
Jared Soares/Kansan
Junior point guard Aaron Miles celebrated with junior forward Michael Lee at the conclusion of their victory over Missouri.
MARCH19,2004
4 Kansas – 78 #13 Illinois-
Chicago - 53
Kansas - 76 #13 Illinois-Chicago - 53
Granted with a home atmosphere as a No.4 seed in Kansas City, Mo.'s Kemper Arena, the Jayhawks took full advantage, Kansas pushed and shoved the undersized Illinois-Chicago until it couldn't take it anymore. J.R. Giddens led Kansas with 17 points and plenty of emotion stemming from two huge second-half dunks. The Jayhawks moved past the first round with ease and plenty of momentum. In the locker room following the game, the Jayhawks were tongue-lashed by coach Bill Self for turning the ball over 25 times.
MARCH 26, 2004
No. 4 Kansas -100 No. 9 UAB -74
No. 4 Kansas - 100 No. 9 OAB - 74
Kansas picked the right opponent to hit the 100-point barrier against.
The Blazers' constant pressure and speed were expected to give the
Jayhawks all night, but missed shots by UAB and well-timed fast breaks by Kansas made the game a laugher. Wayne Simien hit the 30-point barrier for the second time in two weeks, and J.R. Giddens was again clutch with 18 points.
Nick Bane, freshman guard, jumped up and down in celebration during the second half of Kansas' Sweet 16 game against UAB. The Jayhawks beat the Blazers 100-74.
Nick Bahe, freshman
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
FEB.2 FEB.7 FEB.9 FEB.15 FEB.18 FEB.21, FEB.23 FEB.29 MARCH3 MARCH7 MARCH12 MARCH 13 MARCH 19 MARCH 21 MARCH 26 MARCH 28
FEB.9,2004
No. 10 Oklahoma State - 80 No. 12 Kansas - 60
Just two days after demolishing Texas Tech, Kansas got it in return from the Cowboys at Gellagher-tba Arena. All five Cowboy starters scored in double figures and executed perfectly all night on offense. Kansas struggled to catch up as Bill Self was defeated by his coaching mentor Eddie Sutton. Simien again led Kansas with 25 points, but no one else really helped out.
MARCH 13, 2004
No.11 Texas-64 No.18 Kansas-60 Kansas' trip to Dallas for the Big 12 Conference Tournament was cut short by a familiar foe. The Longhorns physically punished the Jayhorns all day just as they did in the teams' first meeting. Texas' platoon of big men was too much for Kansas to handle and senior guard Brandon Mouton again took care of the scoring with 18 points. The loss left Kansas unsure of whether it had a chance of playing in Kansas City, Mo. for the NCAA Tournament opening rounds.
No.21 Kansas - 84 Missouri - 82
MARCH 7,2004
No. 21 Kansas - 64
In the final game at Missouri's Hearnes Center, Kansas played the uninvited guest that spoiled the party. In this fast-paced shootout, Kansas had to overcome a career-high 37-point performance from Missouri's Arthur Johnson. He dueled all afternoon with Simien, who scored the majority of his 22 points in the second half. The game came down to the wire, when Aaron Miles hit a clutch three-pointer to put Kansas up by two. After Missouri tied the game on a Jason Conley dunk, David Padgett hit an awkward turnaround jumper to put away the Tigers.
MARCH21, 2004
No. 4 Kansas -78 No.12 Pacific -63 After shocking No. 5 seed Providence in the opening round, Pacific hoped for another miracle against Kansas. The Tigers again played a tough game, but the Jayhawks' size inside was too much to overcome. Despite 22 points from Guillaume Yango, Pacific had a tough time staving off a late Kansas run, keyed by Wayne Simien and J.R. Giddens. The victory advanced Kansas to its fourth straight Sweet 16 appearance.
MARCH 28, 2004
No. 3 Georgia Tech - 79 #4
Kansas - 71 (OT)
Kansas - 71 (OT)
Kansas was left just a few bounces shy of a third consecutive Final Four trip thanks to Georgia Tech. Despite five Jayhawks scoring in double figures, the Yellow Jackets' depth at the guard position left the banged-up combo of J.R. Giddens and Keith Langford aching all day and Aaron Miles over-worked. Jarrett Jack scored 29 points for the Yellow Jackets, and Luke Schenscher added 15 points in the paint. The Jayhawks' long bus ride home from St. Louis forced them to think about next season a week earlier than they wanted to.
Omar Wilkes, freshman guard, peeked through his fingers as Georgia Tech shot free throws during the last few minutes of regulation.
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
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Thanks for a great season, 'Hawks.
call 843-3000
Congratulations Coach Self and the men's basketball team on a great season. Love, the women of AAI