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KU 80 - UT 68
MONDAY, MARCH 13. 2006
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Kansas has now made a three-point shot in 207 straight games.
Matt Slocum/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Texas forward PJ Tucker tries to get a shot at the basket as Kansas CJ Giles and Brandon Rush defend in the first half in the Big 12 Men's Championship basketball game, Sunday in Dallas.
Key plays:
Kansas has improved to 13-1 since freshmen Julian Wright, Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers have started games.
— Ryan Colaianni
Sophomore guard Russell Robinson had 22 assists during the three-game tournament.
- Freshman guard Mario Chalmers averaged 16 points per game during the three-game tournament and was the first KU player since former guard Jeff Boschee to win the MVP award.
Kansas scored on back-to-back possessions early in the first half, thanks to crisp passing by freshman forward Julian Wright. Wright fed sophomore center Sasha Kaun for easy dunks on both possessions.
Kaun got a nice pass from senior guard Jeff Hawkins midway through the first half, and he proceeded to dunk it over Texas' Brad Buckman, who also was whistled for the foul.
Freshman guard Brandon Rush took a change late in the second half with Kansas down one. Kansas coach Bill Self responded to that play by pumping his fist.
Chalmers hit two three-point shots to start the second half to give Kansas a five point lead. Texas responded and took the lead back a few minutes later.
Texas took a four-point lead via an 8-0 run midway through the second half. Kansas responded with three-point shots from Hawkins and Chalmers to tie the game.
Texas scored just three points during a five-minute stretch late in the second half to help Kansas take the lead and notch the victory.
Ryan Colaiani
Basketball notes:
Kansas 12 three-point shots made on Sunday set a Big 12 Tournament record.
Kansas reached the 25-win plateau with the victory on Sunday. The 25 victories are the most since the 2003 season, when Kansas reached the national championship game.
Kansas' tournament title is its fourth in the 10-year history of the Big 12 Conference.
Texas forward Brad Buckman holds his eye after being elbowed in the first half against Kansas in the Big 12 Men's Championship basketball game on Sunday in Dallas.
Tony Gutierrez/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Hawkins CONTINUES FROM PAGE 18
Sophomore guard Russell Robinson made a three on the next possession to give Kansas a two-point advantage.
"I just kind of lost myself into the game," Hawkins said. "I can't remember where I shot the ball at. I can't tell you that, I kind of erased that from my memory and put it all into the celebration."
After Texas forward PJ Tucker made two free throws, Hawkins grabbed an offensive rebound and dished to Robinson who was fouled and made two free throws. Texas answered and went back up one point at 61-60.
Hawkins wasn't done making big shots. Again, with Kansas trailing by two points and Texas on a 4-0 run, Hawkins made another three-point shot to give Kansas the lead.
Hawkins then made his final three-point shot of the game to give Kansas a 63-61 lead. Kansas didn't trail the remainder of the game.
"I have a lot of confidence in him right now," Self said. "When another
Kansas coach Bill Self said he was pleased with the way Hawkins played the entire tournament and said he was an important part of the team heading into the NCAA tournament.
team plays zone, Hawkins becomes very, very valuable and Texas played a lot of zone which allowed him to get some shoulder squared jumpers. Fortunately for us, he made them. He played very well the entire three day weekend."
Hawkins said it was especially gratifying for him to have such a good weekend after the problems he had had in his five years at Kansas. Hawkins was suspended last season before the season began for behavior issues and was involved in a incident this year when he was in a car accident at a McDonald's.
"I know I have some critics, and I probably deserve them," Hawkins said. "People make mistakes, and I just try to learn from them."
Hawkins was the last player to cut down the net after Kansas' championship victory and was still wearing it around his neck in the locker room.
Fellow senior Christian Moody, forward, said he was proud of Hawkins for coming up so big in the game.
"Jeff has stepped up incredibly," Moody said. "He has been through a ton with coach and a lot of other people. I'm so proud of him. He always has such a good attitude and is a great leader for this team."
— Edited by Vanessa Pearson