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2008 KANSAS BASKETBALL
The five 2008 seniors, Darnell Jackson, from left, Rodrick Stewart, Russell Robinson, Sasha Kaun and Jeremy Case, wait to check into the Senior Night game March 3 against Texas Tech.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
SENIORS (CONTINUED FROM 60)
secure their place in history. They needed a Final Four.
"They know at Kansas we're measured at a high level and they want to go out as being recognized as one of the winningest classes," coach Bill Self said earlier this season. "It's hard to do that if you win Big 12 tiles and don't go to the Final Four."
The magical run for the seniors started in the Villanova game last Friday. Kansas had won two games already, but the seniors started making a difference that night.
Before they ran on the court, Stewart told Jackson this couldn't be their last game. Freshman center Cole Aldrich
"I'm not going to let him score on me," Robinson declared, speaking about Villanova star Scottie Reynolds.
heard another senior, Robinson, make a admitted that he didn't quite understand promise. the importe-
Reynolds didn't score until Kansas already held a big lead. Robinson poured in 13 points in the first half.
Another senior, Kaun, stepped up against Davidson two
"But to win the whole thing? Pssh. You're talking about making history, man. That's big right there."
RODRICK STEWART Senior guard
days later. Kaun a game-saving 13-point, six-rebound per-
the importance of the NCAA Tournament in previous seasons. The guy had only been playing ball in America for about six years.
He fully understood it this time because of the sting of last year's Elite Eight loss, so much so that he riled the team up in the locker room then backed up his talk with
formance.
He couldn't have done that last season. Robinson probably wouldn't have played with the same desire either. They did it because they were seniors.
"I don't think you could ever tell a junior that a senior cares more than you until next year when he's a senior," Self said. "And then he'll say I cared more than I did because there's no safety net. There is no next year for these guys, so for all these seniors who have given their heart and soul to the program, there is certainly a different feel than if they have a safety net."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN