Originally published March 10, 2007 at 5:16 p.m., updated March 10, 2007 at 5:46 p.m.
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Jayhawks didn’t waste any time showering after Saturday’s 67-61 victory against Kansas State.
After Friday’s game, the players immediately headed back to the team hotel. But Saturday, they all poked their head out of the tunnel for a few minutes to enjoy the sight of Texas freshman Kevin Durant.
Durant will try to do what he couldn’t in Lawrence when the Jayhawks and Longhorns meet on Sunday at 2 p.m. with the Big 12 Championship on the line.
To get there, the Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats for the third time this season. After taking an early lead, Kansas gave K-State the basketball equivalent of a stiff arm, letting the Wildcats make runs but never permitting them to get within tackling distance.
Sasha Kaun, junior center, puts a hand in Kansas State player, Akeem Wright's shot while Julian Wright, sophomore forward, attempts to knock the ball away from the basket. Wright and Kaun combined for two blocks and 15 points against Kansas State.
The closest K-State got was within four points, and Kansas guard Brandon Rush had the chance to answer with a three-pointer. He didn’t, though, and on the other end of the court Wildcat forward Cartier Martin was ready for his big shot. But Martin couldn’t get it to fall, and the Jayhawks sealed the game shortly after that.
“Our guys weren’t ecstatic after the game,” coach Bill Self said. “They were very businesslike. We came down here with the idea that can win another championship, and I think their focus is that.”
To do that on Sunday, the Jayhawks will have to have a more complete game rebounding. In the first half, they outrebounded the Wildcats 21-8, but by the end of the game the stats were almost even, with Kansas winning the battle on the boards 34-31.
“In the second half, I really don’t know,” Self said. “It seemed to me that they were getting every loose ball for a 5 or 7-minute stretch. So much of rebounding is not blocking out, it’s chasing down loose balls and just being active.”
The Jayhawks made up for their lack of rebounding by hitting shots. They made 44 percent of their three-pointers in the second half, including two big ones for Sherron Collins, who broke out of a recent slump from behind the arc.
“I felt relieved,” he said. “It helped me relax a little bit.”
Relaxation is good, but it probably won’t last long. After putting up 26 points against Oklahoma State, Kevin Durant is waiting for the Jayhawks.
View from press row:
—This may not have been a true neutral-court game. The Jayhawk fans in Oklahoma City far outnumbered the Wildcat fans, who may not have expected big things out of their team in this year’s tournament.
—Several coaches this week have mentioned how ridiculous it is that there’s a conversation about whether K-State is in the tournament, which I think is nothing more than a ploy to influence the selection committee. Just saying they deserve to be in isn’t nearly as strong of a statement as saying it’s ridiculous to even talk about it.
—The Jayhawks improved to 73 percent from the free-throw line, but stubbed their toe down the stretch. With one minute to play, Mario Chalmers missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Russell Robinson went one-for-two immediately following that.
— Kansan.com will have complete basketball coverage all weekend long.
Dent: New K-State coach a mixed blessing
K-State might be good in spite of Martin next season, but success ...
Morning Brew: Wildcat hype worth taking notice
After enduring some tough breaks, K-State appears to be back on top ...
Texas A&M faces an uphill battle
Kansas could lock up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament ...
Big 12 hits many highs this season
The Big 12 Conference season has ended, but the big moments still ...
Morning Brew: Martin’s extension beneficial
Kansas State secures coach for another five years and Kansas keeps a ...
Beneficial rivalry
K-State's emergence has also benefited Kansas basketball.
Morning Brew: Don’t hate the coach, hate ...
Rivalry should not impede respect for Wildcats coach Frank Martin.
Good run still possible for Jayhawks
Big 12 Championship and high seeds in the NCAA tournament should be ...
Beasley presents challenge for Kansas
K State’s star player could give Kansas a run for their money.
Top 10 important sporting events this semester
Here are the ups, the downs and the record-setting events that left ...
Round three in OKC
In case twice wasn’t enough, basketball fans in Kansas will get a ...
Race for the Big 12 title
The Big 12 Conference regular season has reached its halfway point. The ...
Chance for three-peat
K-State falls from tournament
Wisconsin advances to play Davidson Friday at 7:10 p.m. in the Midwest ...
Self guarantees toughness in rivalry game
When Kansas and Kansas State last played, KU had a perfect record ...
With KU out, some still support Big ...
Students point to state ties, among other reasons, to support Kansas State.
Just how good is Kevin Durant?
The Texas freshman is being compared to Kansas great Danny Manning. See ...
Jayhawks beat Tigers and head for the ...
This week’s victory brings the volleyball team closer to the NCAA Tournament.
Expect a slugfest in Manhattan
Jayhawks face tough road game at Kansas State
KSU’s accuracy, strength prove fatal in Big ...
In the Jayhawks’ season opener against the Wildcats, inconsistencies and a weak ...
Opponent doesn’t matter
Baseball doesn’t control its postseason
The Jayhawks' hopes are dependent on how Oklahoma, Baylor and Texas Tech ...
Baseball enters key weekend against Alabama A&M
The Jayhawks are trying to leap over Kansas State for the final ...
Dodd: Mangino’s flash of emotion tells a ...
An uncharacteristic display of passion by the Kansas coach gives clues to ...
Kansas State has incentive tonight
Keefer: Cats wanted it more
Kansas’ loss to rival team doesn’t affect morale for future games.
K-State forward contributes to Wildcat victory in ...
Junior Marlies Gipson went up against Kansas center Krysten Boogaard for a ...
Men's basketball wrap-up
A wrap-up of the men's basketball victory over Colorado.
Davison: Huggins departure bad news for Kansas
Huggins departure could spell bad news for future of K-State program.
Texas’ Augustin disappoints in neck and neck ...
Augustin’s teammates picked up the slack and pushed for 72-69 against Kansas
Women’s tennis finishes winless in Big 12
Kansas will look to rebound in Big 12 Championships.
Davison: Something's missing
The melting pot that is the Big 12 tournament has rivals sitting ...
Tennis team gears up for final Big ...
The Jayhawks, who haven’t won a single Big 12 game, will play ...
Battle for the Big 12
Senior Night game against K-State will be a challenge for Kansas.
The week ahead
Sports writer Tim Dwyer gives his lists of players, teams and games ...
Nystrom: The guarantee of a Wildcat
Wildcat’s head coach supports his player’s guarantee to beat the Jayhawks, but ...
Fans on the wrong campuses
What it’s like to be a Wildcat fan at the University and ...
The week ahead
Check out what games and players to watch for this coming week ...
Davison: Durant owns the Big 12
The best month of the year is here and the right way ...
No respect at all
Big 12 coaches are tired. Sick and tired of the unfair treatment ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID