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NSAN 2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2009
ALCORN STATE 31, KANSAS 98
5B
TBALL REWIND
lied the team with 18 points and 2 assists. The Jayhawks scored 36 points in a row in the game, one point away from an NCAA record.
out. Collins
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Alcorn Sta
JerryWang/KANSAN
te forward Ian Francis. Morris and Henry put up 2
Kansas may be absolutely loaded — maybe more so than any team in recent memory — but no team is so overwhelmingly talented that close games won't occur. And when those close games do happen, free throws can be the difference between an exceptionally talented team, and a championship team. Just ask Derrick Rose, or — painful as it may be to resuscitate the memory — Nick Collison. On the biggest stages, the best things in life really are free.
On the road, in conference?
In the NCAA tournament?
Edited by Brenna M. T. Daldorph
Senior guard Sherron Collins attempts a lay up while guarded by Alcorn State forward Michael Starks. Collins led the team with 18 points and 4 steals. Collins attempted the more shots this game than he has all year at 16. Jerry Wang/KANSAM
Game to remember
Robinson posted an incredible six offensive rebounds in the first half en route to the first double-double by a member of the highly touted 2009 recruiting class. Take that, Xavier Henry. It'd be nice if Robinson shot better than 3- for-11 from the free-throw line, but he promises that was an aberration. "I've never shot that bad before," he said.
Thomas Robinson
Robinson
Game to remember, part 2
Elijah Johnson
Johnson
There wasn't really a game to forget, so we're going with two games to remember. Coach Bill Self is grooming Johnson as a pass-first point guard, and it was on display Wednesday. Johnson finished the game with a best-this-year-for-Kansas nine assists, while scoring zero. Pass first, indeed.
Stat of the night
31
The Jayhawks held Alcorn State to 31 points in the game.It's the fewest the Jayhawks have al-
west the Jayhawks have allowed since 1951, and no team has ever scored less in a game in Allen Fieldhouse. Coach Bill Self was preaching defense all week, and, relative lack of competition noted, it looked like he got it.
Quote of the night
"It opens the game up because coach isn't mad. And when coach isn't mad, there's a little more freedom on the court so everybody's a little more comfortable."
Freshman guard Elijah Johnson on how so many players contributed because of Kansas coach Bill Self's attitude.
Johnson
Prime plays
1ST HALF (SCORE AFTER PLAY)
18:06- After starting the game 0-4 shooting and down four points, Sherron Collins hit a three to get the ball rolling for the Hawks. (3-4)
14:20- After a Cole Aldrich block, Tyrel Reel streaked down the court and Aldrich found him for a quick lay in to put the Jayhawks at 13 straight points. (13-4)
12:11 - After what seemed like a three Jayhawks blocking Keith Searcy on the defensive end, Tyrel Reed found Markieff Morris in the pain on the fast break. He made the contested layup and made the ensuing free throw to keep the Jayhawks going with 21 straight points. (21-4)
9:02 Thomas Robinson blocked Brandon Rogers at the ball's highest point in dramatic fashion. A few seconds later, he made the Jayhawks scoring run continue at 28 with a pretty one-handed dunk. (28-4)
8:02- Xavier Henry made
back to back threes to put the Jayhawks up 30 points while putting the Jayhawks run to 34 points. Those were his second and third threes of the game. (34-4)
2ND HALF
12:35 - Marcus Morris probably had the most powerful dunk in his life with his best one-hand Michael Jordan impression. (69-17)
14:20- After kicking the ball to some unlucky fans and mishandling an easy pass out of bounds, Tyshawn Taylor made up for it with a nice feed to Cole Aldrich for a powerful dunk. (64-15)
900-Tyshawn Taylor found a soaring Xavier Henry for an alley-oop oump. (74-26)
Corey Thibodeaux
4:50-Thomas Robinson flew over 5-10 Alex Savannah for a one-handed dunk. He had to split his legs, but it was a gorgeous move nonetheless. (88-29)
36-0
Key stats
9
The Jayhawks trailed by 4-0 when Sherron Collins knocked down a triple with 18 minutes to play in the first half. It was the start of an incredible 36-0 run, one shy of an NCAA record.
16
Coach Bill Self said Cole Aldrich rebounded like he did last year. That's a scary thought for the Jayhawks' opponents-to-be. Aldrich's 16 boards are the most he's had since pulling down 20 against Oklahoma last February.
Elijah Johnson had a career-high nine assists. No Jayhawk has had more than that in 361 days. Tyshawn Taylor had 11 assists December 6 of last year, which came on the heels of an 11-assist performance on December 3 by Sherron Collins.
61
The Jayhawks had 61 rebounds as a team, the most since grabbing 63 against Oregon in March of 2002.
30
Kansas had 21 steals and nine blocks on the night. The 30 turnovers are the most since Colorado in 2002, and the 21 steals are the second most in team history.
Tim Dwyer
RECAP (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
The Jayhawks started the game 0-4 from the floor and spotted Alcorn State four points until Sherron Collins started the scoring with a three. From then on the Jayhawks went on a 36-0 run.
The run came to an end with 7:09 left to go in the first half by a jumper made by Shaunvanta Ingram. But the Jayhawks didn't let up.
The Jayhawks went into the locker room up 53-12 at the half. At the start of the second
half, Alcorn State didn't score until the 15:30 mark.
The pace of the game slowed in the second half, but Kansas still dominated the game. The Jayhawks owned the turnover battle, committing 17 in their fast-paced style, but causing 31.
Follow Corey Thidodeax at twitter.com/c_thibodeaux.
- Edited by Tim Burgess