KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY. NOVEMBER 22. 2010 / SPORTS
3B
KANSAS 93, NORTH TEXAS 60
MEN'S BASKETBALL REWIND
Second half run is big factor in win
Win matches school's record home streak
BY TIM DWYER
tdwyer@kansan.com
For the entirety of the Bill Self era at Kansas, the Jayhawks have had a couple of staples. The first is being almost comically difficult to beat at home, as evidenced by the fact that Self has as many home losses (six) as Big 12 conference titles.
Another is the Jayhawks' ability to buckle down for extended periods of time and taking opponents out of the game with debilitating runs.
How fitting, then, as the Jayhawks blew past North Texas 93-60 to tie the school-record 62-game home winning streak, it was largely on the strength of a 31-8 run in the first 8:50 of the second half.
"We couldn't withstand the run that they made and we never recovered from it," North Texas coach Johnny Jones said. "It was just a long night."
Marcus Morris led the charge with 10 points in the first five minutes after the break. He finished the game with 20 points, 16 of them in the second half.
"I got very fired up in the locker room," Morris said. "Coach told me that I needed to come out strong, and that the second half was my half and that I needed to get the team going."
Morris picked up two fouls early and was largely ineffective in 10 minutes in the first half. Tyshawn Taylor and Markieff Morris dealt with the same issues, and despite the Jayhawks bolting to a 21-8 lead, the Mean Green trailed by just nine at the half.
"I don't know if there was a real message, but I wasn't pleased at halftime," Self said. "You get a team down, you've got to finish them."
While most of the Jayhawks' devastating runs are triggered by stringing together several defensive stands, the most impressive part of their 31-8 run against the Mean Green was the ridiculous shooting efficiency. The Jayhawks hit 12-of-13 shots — all five attempts from behind the three-point line and both free throws.
"We are a good shooting team," Self said. "We just haven't shown it yet. It's nothing to get giddy over, but it's certainly the best we've played so far."
Kansas will try to continue the streak Tuesday night against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Elijah Johnson, who finished with 11 points and zero turnovers in his first game of the season, said the Jayhawks felt like they needed to keep it going because of all the tradition that came before them.
"I feel like it was something we owed them from before we were born," he said. "Everybody cares about this program, and it has great tradition."
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Edited by Clark Goble
Junior forward Marcus Morris makes a two-handed dunk in the second half Friday against North Texas. Morris led the team with 20 points in the victory.
Johnson plays well in his first game
BY MIKE LAVIERI
mlavieri@kansan.com
Coach Bill Self said sophomore guard Elijah Johnson needed to perform better when it actually counted.
In his first game of the season, Johnson took advantage of every opportunity when he was on the court.
"It felt real good," said Johnson, who said it was kind of different from when he was cheering from the bench.
Johnson learned to stay focused while he was not out on the court.
In 17 minutes of work, Johnson scored 11 points and had zero turnovers.
Self said he was pleased with Johnson's play.
"Elijah played well" Self said. "Elijah was certainly a bright spot tonight."
Self said was upset, however, with Johnson because he was
people to get into position.
"Coach Self said some stuff to me on the side," Johnson said. "He made it seem like it was a story for somebody else."
"He should be yelling at himself to get into position before yelling at anybody else," Self said.
"Elijah was certainly a bright spot tonight."
Johnson, who was disciplined
Johnson did play aggressively for his first game back. Self said that Johnson did some good things backing up junior guard Tyshawn Taylor at the point.
BILL SELF coach
for locker room issues, was glad to put it behind him.
Johnson said that his success on Friday was because Self was supportive.
said. "Just a small little lesson. Sometimes you got to make examples out of players and I just happened to be that player that time."
"S t u f f between the teammates and coaches," Johnson
With freshman guard Josh Selby officially cleared on the same night as Johnson's return,
Self has a good problem with five players who can handle the ball.
"Whether this was the first game of the streak or the game to break the streak, it feels good, regardless, to play on the Fieldhouse court," Johnson said.
Johnson was happy not only to get the win but also to be a part of the team that tied the school record for consecutive home wins, with 62.
He said that the fan base has been very important.
"I feel like it was something we owed them from before we were born," Johnson said. "Everybody cares about this program and it has great tradition."
Edited by Clark Goble
Game to remember
Brady Morningstar: Morningstar got the starting nod because coach Bill Self said, essentially, that he just felt like starting Morningstar, despite his lackluster play in the first two games. Morningstar responded well with easily his best game of the season. The 47th-year senior (not really, it's just five years) had seven points, 10 rebounds and four steals. He also hit his first three of the season.
Morningstar
Game to forget
Travis Releford: Releford lost his starting job — Self said he hadn't been blown away by Releford's play yet — and responded with what was probably his worst game of the season, at least statistically. He was 1-of-4 from the field and finished with four points and just one rebound and one assist against two turnovers. With Josh Selby coming back, the already crowded rotation of guards will add another body.
Prime plays
First Half
18:35: Tyrel Reed does a good job with help defense, getting back to block Shannon Shorten's shot. (4-2)
18:12: Tyshawn Taylor sets a nice backdoor pick for Markief Morris who is fed for the ally-oop from Brady Morningstar (6-2)
1:33: Jeff Withey slams home a missed Brady Morningstar runner. He makes Kansas' first field goal since the 11:24 mark. (33-23)
Second Half
13:35: Back-to-back-back three pointers by Elijah Johnson, Brady Morningstar and Marcus Morris stretch the Kansas lead to 24. (57-33)
18:55: A steal by Reed, leads to a face break led by Morningstar, who dishes to Marcus for a two-handed slam. (40-27)
Notes
Josh Selby was cleared before the game. He is suspended for nine games and will return on Dec. 18 against Southern California.
The win coupled with North Carolina's loss to Minnesota leaves both schools ranked second on the all-time NCAA victory list with 2,006 wins apiece.
Key stat
Kansas won its 62nd consecutive home game, tying the school record set from 1994-1998.
Quote of the night
"He's disappointed that it's that many games, but he's excited to know that he will be in a Kansas uniform before too long."
— Kansas coach Bill Self on Josh Selby and his nine game suspension
Schedule
Date Opponent Result/Time
11/23 vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi 7 p.m.
11/26 vs. Ohio 9:30 p.m.
12/02 vs. UCLA 8 p.m.
12/07 vs. Memphis 6 p.m.
12/11 vs. Colorado State 5:30 p.m.
12/18 vs. USC 11 a.m.
12/22 at California 10 p.m.
12/29 vs. UT Arlington 8 p.m.
1/2/11 vs. UMKC 7 p.m.
1/9 at Michigan TBA
1/12 at Iowa State 8 p.m.