/ SPORTS / TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM Oklahoma 29 |39----68 Kansas 44|37----81 Jayhawk Stat Leaders Points Xavier Henry 23 Cole Aldricn 12 Rebounds Assists Sherron Collins 6 Oklahoma
PlayerFG-FGA3FG-3FGARebsAPts
Andrew Fitzgerald8-140-06116
Tiny Gallon3-60-0626
Tony Crocker3-131-5409
Tommy Mason-Griffin6-151-52817
Cade Davis4-92-68313
Ryan Wright0-10-0501
Steven Pledger2-52-4006
TEAM2
Totals26-636-20331468
Kansas Player FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA Rebs A Pts Marcus Morris 4-10 0-0 7 3 10 Cole Aldrich 3-7 0-0 12 0 7 Xavier Henry 9-13 2-4 5 1 23 Sherron Collins 5-12 2-3 0 6 17 Tyshawn Taylor 3-6 1-1 2 1 11 Thomas Robinson 2-2 0-0 2 0 4 Brady Morningstar 1-3 0-1 4 2 2 Tyrel Reed 1-1 0-0 0 2 2 Markieff Morris 2-4 0-1 6 0 5 TEAM 1 Totals 30-58 5-10 39 15 81 Schedule *all games in bold are at home Date Opponent Result/Time Nov. 3 FORT HAYS STATE (Exhibition) W, 107-68 Nov. 10 PITTSBURG STATE (Exhibition) W, 103-45 Nov. 13 HOFSTRA W, 101-65 Nov. 17 Memphis, St. Louis, Mo. W, 57-55 Nov. 19 CENTRAL ARKANSAS W, 94-44 Nov. 25 OAKLAND W, 89-59 Nov. 27 TENNESSEE TECH W, 112-75 Dec. 2 ALCORN STATE W, 98-31 Dec. 6 UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif. W, 73-61 Dec. 9 RADFORD W, 99-64 Dec. 12 La Salle, Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center)W, 90-65 Dec. 19 MICHIGAN W, 75-64 Dec. 22 CALIFORNIA W, 84-69 Dec. 29 BELMONT W, 81-51 Jan. 2 Temple, Philadelphia, Pa. W, 84-52 Jan. 6 CORNELL W, 71-66 Jan. 10 Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn. L. 76-68 Jan. 13 Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb. W, 84-72 Jan. 16 TEXAS TECH W, 89-63 Jan. 20 BAYLOR W, 81-75 Jan. 23 Iowa State, Ames, Iowa W, 84-61 Jan. 25 MISSOURI W, 84-65 Jan. 30 Kansas State, Manhattan W, 81-79 Feb. 3 Colorado, Boulder, Colo. W, 72-66 Feb. 6 NEBRASKA W, 75-64 Feb. 8 Texas, Austin, Texas W, 80-68 Feb. 13 IOWA STATE W, 73-59 Feb. 15 Texas A&M, College Station, Texas W, 59-54 Feb. 20 COLORADO W, 94-74 Feb. 22 OKLAHOMA W, 81-68 Feb. 27 Oklahoma State, Stillwater, Okla. 3 p.m. March 3 KANSAS STATE 7 p.m. March 6 Missouri, Columbia, Mo. 1 p.m. KANSAS 81, C Xavier finally pulls through for Jayhawks BYTIM DWYER tdwyer@kansan.com MEN'S BASKE' Henry went 7-of-7 from the field, including 2-of-2 from long range, and hit both of the free throws he attempted to start Kansas' game with a flawless 18 points in the first half. The rise and fall and rise again of freshman guard Xavier Henry has been well documented. Monday night, it didn't matter what Henry had done over the past four months of basketball, because for a little more than 20 minutes, he was perfect. "I was hitting shots and taking it to the rim." Henry said. Henry's first-half dominance of Oklahoma senior Tony Crocker forced a defensive adjustment by the Sooners that opened up the floor for backcourt mates Tyshawn Taylor and Sherron Collins, who took over in the second half. "Hes gotten better in his decision making," Collins said. "I think he's understanding shooting a guarded shot versus shooting an open shot. He's getting open, he's creating space. We don't care about him shooting. We want him to shoot it, because it helps all of us" scored off the bounce, one or two dribbles, and he obviously scored off the catch. He was pretty good tonight, on a night we needed him to be good in the first half” The most impressive part of Henry's performance was the way he carried his points. They didn't all come from outside. They didn't all come off catch-and-shoots. They didn't all come off the dribble or posting up. It was a combination of all of Henry sheepishly admitted that his performance Monday was about as complete a game offensively as a wing can have. "I was just trying to be efficient and take what they gave me, and that's what I did." "I thought he was great. Well, he was great." Self said. "He scored in traffic. He scored by posting. He XAVIER HENRY freshman guard "Yeah, there's not too many other ways to score," Henry said with a laugh. "I was just trying to be efficient and take what they gave me, and that's what I did." the above; an all-but-perfect storm of scoring ability from a wing with a loaded offensive repertoire. Irene was already somewhat familiar with Oklahoma's roster after growing up a couple hours away from the Oklahoma campus in Putnam City, Okla. He said he played with or against "pretty much all" of the Henryv was Oklahoma lineup sometime in his high school career. I'll try to provide as much accurate information as possible. Let's re-read the image carefully. The text is: "It helps a little bit, because you already know how they play." Henry said. "It wouldn't even matter if I didn't cause we already do so much film work and we prepare for them so well." Henry's ability to create shots for himself, and in doing so open up the floor for others, has long reaching implications for the Jayhawks. In Henry's slump, which started with Cornell and lasted 10 games until he scored 15 points at Texas, the Jayhawks' margin of victory was an even 10 points per game. That's still a dominant number, but it's not even half of what Kansas has averaged overall this season. "Last two games we've come out scorching," Collins said. "I hope it stays like that, and we'll continue to feed him." Edited by Anna Archibald Weston White/KANSAN Junior center Cole Aldrich high-fives freshman guard Xavier Henry after a made bucket by Henry. Kansas moved to 27-1 on the season and remained perfect in the Big 12 at 13-0 following the 81-64 victory. RECAP (CONTINUED FROM 1B) In a sluggish second half, the Sooners made their way to within 12 points of the Jayhawks with just over two a row, narrowing the lead to single digits. The Jayhawks rebounded, thanks to the perfect first half by Xavier Henry, and went into halftime up 44-29. minutes to play,but the Jayhawks toughed it out. There are three games left on the schedule and the Jayhawks have no reason to fear any of them. On a night like this, Self said the goal of the coach is to win the league, and they did that tonight in satisfying fashion. "Your goal every year is to be the best team in your respective league." Self said. "That's who you have to compete against and to do it six straight years is an unbelievable accomplishment." Edited by Anna Archibald ESPN The Magazine announced the winner Monday, making Aldrich the second Jayhawk to win the award, along with Jacque Vaudhn in 199 Aldrich also becomes KU's 14th basketball first team Academic All-America selection and the firs since Ryan Robertson in 1999. Junior center Cole Aldrich can add CoSIDA Basketball Academic All-American of the year to his list of accomplishments. Aldrich wins Academic All-American of the year "Until we can string six together that really matter I'd say that team is still the best team we've coached since we've been here." Self said, "but this team I've said all along can get to that point, but were not there yet." that regard. "There is something about this group that continues to impress our staff," Bill Self said. "We play better when situations are at their toughest. This team was able to win at places that team couldn't against quality competition." VOSBURGH (CONTINUED FROM 1B) — Edited by Kristen Liszewski That confidence will be the Jayhawks ace in the hole when situations get tough in the NCAA Tournament. Corey Thibodec