2008 KANSAS BASKETBALL
15
KANSAS 83 59 IOWA STATE
JANUARY 23,2008
Jackson's leadership, points give team energy
Jon Goering/KANSAN
BY MARK DENT mdent@kansan.com
Sophomore forward Darrell Arthur rises above the Iowa State defense to sink a shot Jan. 23.
Bill Self wanted to go crazy on his team at practice. It had been way too long since he had chewed anyone out.
So, he went nuts on Darnell Jackson for a few minutes. The senior forward glanced at him and broke out a big smile.
"He's just enjoying everything," Self said. "I can't get under his skin even if I tried."
And Self has to be getting enjoyment out of Jackson, too. His breakout senior season continued Jan. 23 in Kansas' 83-59 victory. Jackson finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Earlier this season, the stat-line would have been a surprise. Now, it's normal. Jackson was the team's second-leading scorer and top rebounder.
"It was the same routine," Jackson said. "I just try to do what I can."
The energetic, fun side of Jackson on display didn't exist two years ago. Self said Jackson would've thought he was crazy if he lashed out at him in the past. That's changed.
His mind is freer because it was his senior year, and several family problems are finally out of his head. The attitude change has allowed Jackson to become Kansas' main leader in the locker room. The teams feed off his energy. So did the crowd.
"It's a win-win," Self said. "Darnell can bring up the mood in any room."
The Jayhawks needed Jackson's points and leadership Jan. 23 in a game where Self said they lacked energy. Kansas (19-0, 4-0) won big and kept its perfect record intact.
"That wasn't the same team that was jacked up against OU," Self said. "We didn't have the same level defensively."
The Cyclones' defense also made transition baskets hard to come by. They routinely sent just one or two players to the glass on offense and had three or four players go back to slow Kansas' fast break. The game plan made senior guard Russell Robinson's job a lot tougher.
That was apparent given Kansas' inability to force turnovers. The Cyclones only turned the ball over 11 times, and the Jayhawks only had seven steals.
"It seemed like every time there was an
outlet pass," Robinson said, "there was no transition game."
The Jayhawks were still able to turn a 10-point halftime lead into a 22-point advantage early in the second half, but they needed Jackson and fellow big men Darrell Arthur and Sasha Kaun to do it. Iowa State limited Kansas' running game and its guards' scoring opportunities. Kaun, Arthur and Jackson nullified the defense's attempts by combining for 43 points.
But Jackson didn't stand out Jan. 23 just because of his scoring. His 11 rebounds gave him his first double-double of the season. It was about time, too.
Assistant coach Danny Manning started calling Jackson "trick" because he continually flirted with a double-double.
Now, with a care-free Jackson happy about his play and his team's undefeated record, it shouldn't be a surprise that he enjoyed the double-double.
Finally, Jackson got one. Two years ago who knows if Jackson would have even wanted to soak in the moment.
"I just looked at him," Jackson said, "and smiled."
Husker defeat not enough to think about K-State
Mindv Ricketts/KANSAN
Nebraska coaches Philip Mathews, left, and Doc Sadler show their disappointment as the Jayhawks defeat the Cornhuskers 84-49 Jan.26.
BY MARK DENT.mdent@kansan.com
A letdown would have almost been natural.
It was just two weeks ago that the Jayhawks tormented Nebraska on the road. Why take them seriously this time? A date with rival Kansas State loomed as the next game on the schedule. Shouldn't that be more important? With those circumstances, no one would have blamed the players if they lollygagged around to a 15- or 20-point victory.
But they didn't. Instead, the Jayhawks (20-0, 5-0) again showed why they are one of the best, most focused teams in the country with an 84-49 pounding against Nebraska. Not counting a six-point win against Missouri, and the Jayhawks are dispatching conference opponents by more than 27 points a game.
"Everybody just does their job," senior forward Darnell Jackson said, "and we get energy from that. You don't want to lose. You don't want to go out there and disappoint the coaching staff."
Actually, Kansas was more energetic than usual. The energy that wasn't quite there Jan. 23 against Iowa State reappeared against Nebraska. In a hurry.
By halftime, Kansas forced seven
steals and had 10 points in transition. The Jayhawks only had seven steals for the entire game against the Cyclones. Their 10 fast break points were more than they had scored the past two games combined.
The small problems that bothered Kansas were solved. The Jayhawks could run and steal again. Sophomore guard Sherron Collins said it was about time.
"Coach said we have to start forcing turnovers on the defensive end," Collins said. "Like I said, we're fine where we're at, but we have to take more steps to get more pressure. But I think we did a pretty good job today."
Of course, this wasn't against the best competition in the conference. Actually, it was against the worst.
Nebraska proved no match for sophomore forward Darrell Arthur, who scored 18, and junior guard Brandon Rush, who made five three-pointers. Senior guard Russell Robinson finished with four steals, and Collins scored in double-figures for the first time since Jan. 8. The whole team seemed to be on a level above Nebraska. That's the way Huskers coach Doc Sadler saw it.
"I'm not convinced that a superior perfect game is good enough to beat these guys for us," Sadler said.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN