Originally published January 14, 2008 at 11:03 p.m., updated January 14, 2008 at 11:03 p.m.
It all came down to a play.
Yep, just one – the very first one. Darnell Jackson took the tip off from Darrell Arthur, slammed the ball in the face of Oklahoma’s David Godbold and let out a scream. Over.
“That set the tone for the whole game,” junior guard Brandon Rush said. “He was outhustling everybody and cramming the ball on someone’s head – started the whole game off right.”
Photo Gallery
Kansas Basketball vs. Oklahoma
Photo gallery of Kansas men's basketball game against Oklahoma Monday night in Allen Fieldhouse.
A game did take place after that play, but nothing the Sooners tried really mattered in an 85-55 KU victory. The Jayhawks were on their way and couldn’t be stopped. Each passing minute brought more examples of Kansas’ continuing dominance and balance in the victory, the team’s 17th straight to start the season and one that further cemented its reputation as one of the nation's best.
The Jayhawks followed Jackson’s opening jam with a systematic, routine slapping of Oklahoma. Brandon Rush hit a three-pointer, and Mario Chalmers and Jackson followed with a basket each to make it 9-0 early. It was 20-4 later and 40-20 at half.
The display was as dominant as anything Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel had seen this season. His Sooners played No. 2 Memphis earlier, and the Tigers had nothing on Kansas, in his opinion.
“They are the best team that we have played,” Capel said, “and we have played some really good teams.”
Oklahoma, a winner against top-25 caliber squads West Virginia and Gonzaga, couldn’t compete. Heck, the Sooners didn’t have the bodies to compete for 40 minutes against the Jayhawks. Oklahoma came to town with tired legs (five players got 35 minutes or more of playing time in its game on Saturday) and when stud-freshman Blake Griffin went down and out with a knee injury early in the first half, the Sooners had even less room for error against the Jayhawks.
“If I was OU and their bench, I’m sure that deflated them right there,” said Kansas coach Bill Self of the injury to Griffin. “We didn’t get their best shot.”
Even with a best shot, Kansas would’ve likely won easily. Five players scored nine or more points for the Jayhawks. Stat lines like that have been a common theme this season, but the share-the-wealth attitude reached a new level Monday night. Four of the five players who scored nine or more points recorded at least three assists.
If anyone stood out for the ultra-balanced Jayhawks, it was Rush. Self’s plea for Rush to become more active on offense from last week seems like it took place a year ago now. Rush followed up a 19-point performance and a vow to be aggressive for the rest of the season by scoring 16 points, grabbing nine rebounds and picking up four assists.
“I feel good,” Rush said. “Extra shooting helps. I’ve just been putting it in the hole at practice.”
Monday’s crisp display came just two days after Saturday’s Nebraska thumping. The Jayhawks are 17-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play. No. 1 North Carolina and Memphis are considered the top teams in the country, and there’s no reason Kansas shouldn’t be in the discussion. Capel certainly agrees.
The praise, the rankings, the record – all of them mean nothing to Kansas, though.
“Let’s just get better,” Self said.
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