4B
OSU 61, KU 60
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2008
BASKETBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Collins' knee injury. The sophomore guard played only 11 minutes and missed his only shot.
Self said Collins practiced only 15 minutes the entire week.
"He's a shadow of what he can be," Self said. "Hopefully, he'll get back where he can help us. I certainly would have played him more, if he was capable."
With Collins sidelined, it was Oklahoma State's bowling ball point guard, Eaton, who took control of the game.
Eaton repeatedly drove to the basket and drew fouls on Kansas' big men. And it was Eaton, who shot 16-18 from the free-throw line, who made the game-winning free throw with nine seconds left after driving into the lane and drawing a foul on Sasha Kaun.
MEN'S BASKETBALL WRAP-UP
"He's the MVP of the game," Jackson said. "We couldn't contain him at all. He got it in his mind that he was going to take over the game, and that's what he did."
The Jayhawks did show some resiliency in the second half. Down 48-39 with 10:20 left in the second half. Rush sparked a 19-6 run that gave Kansas a 58-54 lead.
"We had the game sealed," Rush said.
Rush's performance mirrored the Jayhawks' day. The junior was abysmal in the first half, going scoreless and missing all five of his shots. Rush rebounded in the second half with 12 points, but his miss in the waning second sealed Kansas' loss. Rush said the last-second play was designed to give Chalmers an opening to the basket.
Rush's second-half performance wasn't enough for Self.
"He had a terrible day," Self said of Rush. "But we just didn't play as a group."
Jackson echoed his coach's feelings.
"I don't know what it is," Jackson said. "But we need to find it out and work through that, so we can all stay on the same page. We played terrible."
Edited by Katherine Loeck
Two Jayhawks endure family tragedies
Stewart's, Jackson's focus on game affected by deaths
BY RUSTIN DODD dodd@kansan.com
STILLWATER, Okla. — Darnell Jackson stood somberly amid a mass of reporters with notepads after Kansas' 61-60 loss to Oklahoma State Saturday. Back in his home state, in the presence of more than 30 family members, Jackson — with a baseball cap pulled over his eyes — leased his
head toward the ground.
As Kansas dealt with its third loss of the season, two Jayhawks dealt with family tragedy.
Jackson's cousin, 19-year-old Kasey Corie McClellan, died Wednesday after being shot last
week at an Oklahoma City nightclub. On the same day, senior guard Rodrick Stewart's 21-year-old adopted brother, Allen, was murdered in Stewart's hometown, Seattle.
"Anytime one of your family members loses their life, it's hard to just try to put that to the side and focus on a game."
mates had come to his aid the last few days.
"It was hard" Stewart said. "My head was not in it today. I'm going to be real."
Stewart, who played 11 minutes Saturday, said he'd been leaning on Jackson for support.
"They are always checking on me to make sure I'm focused and make sure I'm not drifting away," Jackson said softly.
"It's easy for me to talk to Darnell because he can relate to the same thing I'm going through," Stewart said.
RODRICK STEWART
Senior guard
For Jackson, his cousin's death is another one in a series of tragic family events.
Jackson, who played 36 minutes and scored 16 points, said his team-
Jackson's grandmother, Evan, was killed in a car accident in 2005, and his mother, Shawn, was seriously hurt in the same accident. Jackson's uncle was also the victim of violent murder.
Kansas coach Bill Self said held never had a team that had been through such a tragic week.
"We've got a lot going on. It's not the players' fault they're distracted."
Self said. "We had two murders this week with immediate family."
"I've never coached that before," Self said. "I don't know the coaching manual on some of that stuff"
Jackson —
his hat still low
walked through
and his face calm — walked through a crowd of lajhawk fans to meet his family. The senior center then paused to pose for a photograph and cracked a smile.
"He's been through a lot and he just keeps smiling," Stewart said. "That's the first time I've seen him smile since the incident."
With Jackson surrounded by family. Stewart stood and reflected on the week.
"I was trying the best I could," Stewart said. "Anytime one of your family members loses their life, it's hard to just try to put that to the side and focus on a game."
Stewart, who will return to Seattle and miss Wednesday's game at Iowa State, shrugged his shoulders.
"I gotta go watch my brother get buried on Wednesday," he said. "It's a part of life, I guess."
Edited by Sasha Roe
Junior guard Mario Chalmer leans in to Oklahoma State guard Bryon Eaton during a drive to the basket during the first half. Chalmer scored 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting from the floor, including 1-of-3 from three-point range, in 25 minutes. Chalmer also battled foul trouble throughout the game, picking up his fourth foul with more than five minutes to go in the game.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Senior forward Darnell Jackson struggles to get a look at the basket around the arm of Oklahoma State forward Martavius Adams during the first half. Jackson led the Jayhawks with 16 points, on 5-for-6 shooting from the floor and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, and 10 boards for the game. Jackson also committed five of the 21 Kansas turnovers.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
Senior center Sasha Kaun grabs a rebound during the first half. Kaun grabbed five rebounds and scored four points in 17 minutes. Kansas lost despite outrebounding the Cowboys 34-21 for the name.
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