College Station, Texas — With 33 seconds left in Kansas’ 72-55 victory against Texas A&M, Bill Self could finally relax. Kansas’ coach marched down the sideline, and high-fived each player along the way. As Self passed senior Darnell Jackson, the senior forward held up four fingers. Jackson’s four-fingered salute translated to mission accomplished. Self and his seniors can call themselves Big 12 conference champions for the fourth consecutive year.

“I think you develop your identity away from home,” Self said after Kansas improved its Big 12 road record to 5-3. “This was probably the most complete road game we’ve played.”

Photo Gallery

Kansas Basketball vs. Texas A&M

A photo gallery of the Kansas men's basketball game against Texas A&M at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas.

Complete might have been just the right word. If the Jayhawks had made a to-do list before Saturday’s game, they probably could have checked off nearly every item on the list.

1. Play through their big guys. Check. Sophomore Darrell Arthur scored 16 points, which helped Kansas to 44 points in the paint.

2. Pressure Texas A&M’s guards. Check. Russell Robinson, Mario Chalmers and Sherron Collins spent most of Saturday harassing the Aggies backcourt, forcing 15 turnovers and finishing with 13 steals.

“That’s who we are,” Self said. “Our guards need to be able to get after other people.”

3. Be balanced on offense. Check. Kansas had at least five guys in double-figures for the second consecutive game, including junior Mario Chalmers, who tied Arthur for a team-high 16 points.

4. Have a healthy Sherron Collins. Check. Kansas’ sophomore guard played a season-high 32 minutes and finished with 13 points and seven assists.

5. Send the seniors out right. Check. Kansas’ four seniors walked out of Reed Arena with the Big 12 regular season trophy in tow. “Emotions were flying high,” Collins said. “We just wanted to do everything possible to send them out with a bang in a perfect way.”

The game started in the perfect way for Kansas when senior guard Russell Robinson found Arthur for an alley-oop off the opening tip. Arthur stayed active against a lengthy Texas A&M frontcourt that featured 6-foot-9 senior Joseph Jones and 7-foot freshman DeAndre Jordan. With Kansas trailing 15-14, Arthur, a Dallas native, scored six of Kansas’ next eight points to help Kansas stake a 22-14 lead. Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon called time-out, and Kansas never trailed again. Arthur’s 16 points came on 8-of-10 shooting, and Self credited his guards for most of Arthur’s easy looks.

“We didn’t get much from our big guys except off guard penetration,” Self said. “Our guards did a real good job of getting into the paint.”

Arthur exploited Jones and Jordan on offense, but he also helped contain them on defense. Kansas double-teamed Jones and Jordan whenever they touched the ball. Jordan attempted only three shots in 26 minutes, finishing with five points, while Jones made two of his seven shot attempts and managed just seven points.

The defensive tactic seemed to frustrate the Aggie big guys.

“Anybody’s going to get frustrated if you’ve got two guys – every time you catch the ball -- coming and swarming you,” freshman forward Cole Aldrich said.

The Jayhawks extended their defense to the entire Texas A&M roster in the second half, holding the Aggies to 24.1 percent shooting after the break, and 31.9 percent for the game.

Meanwhile, Kansas shot 50 percent from the floor despite making only 2-of-11 three-point attempts. Kansas’ offense wasn’t flawless, but it executed when it mattered.

“We’re still first in the league in three-point shooting,” Self said.

Yep, It was sure tough to nitpick the Jayhawk’s performance Saturday. When it was over, the Jayhawks were presented with their Big 12 championship trophy in a locker room celebration; a ceremony that’s become quite standard for Kansas — especially this senior class.

“There’s no lottery picks in that group, and there were no McDonald’s All-Americans,” Self said of his seniors. “To win four in a row in such a competitive league is such an incredible accomplishment.”

Robinson, however, left Reed Arena thinking about bigger titles.

“It’s just one of those things you have enjoy right now,” Robinson said. “And just know, it’s not the only thing we want.”

—Edited by Sasha Roe