If the Kansas softball players thought last weekend’s trip to the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., would grant them respite from brutal Kansas winter weather, they thought wrong. Temperatures grazed the 70s in Lawrence while the Jayhawks endured a windy Saturday and rainy Sunday in the southwest.

The unfortunate and unexpected conditions must have motivated Kansas, as it defeated No. 7 Arizona and No. 9 Northwestern in back-to-back contests.

The victory against Arizona, which came Friday evening, was Kansas’ first against a ranked opponent in nearly two years. The Saturday-afternoon defeat of Northwestern gave the Jayhawks their first back-to-back triumphs against ranked teams in almost three years.

Senior third baseman Val Chapple ignited the Kansas offense in the two contests, going 3-for-6 with a double, and senior Valerie George showed why she’s considered the team’s top pitcher. George went the distance against Arizona, allowing one run in eight innings. The next day, she stepped in and pitched two scoreless innings to seal the game against Northwestern.

Kansas lost to UTEP and No. 11 Stanford over the weekend to leave the Jayhawks at 2-2 overall, and 2-0 against Wildcats. Bad news: The Jayhawks won’t face any Wildcats among their five opponents this weekend at the UCF Invite in Orlando, Fla.

BIG 12 COACH OF THE MIDSEASON

In doling out midseason Big 12 basketball awards last week, we overlooked the coaches. And they’re pretty important guys. So better late than never, Bill Self takes the Big 12 Coach of the Midseason trophy.

Missouri coach Mike Anderson has the Tigers buying into his relentless system and Kansas State has won five straight under Frank Martin to make the Big 12 North en vogue once more. Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel is pulling off a miracle considering the number of average players on his roster (it helps to have forward Blake Griffin, of course). But compare Kansas near the beginning of the year to Kansas today and Self’s skill is evident. The Jayhawks grew out of their road-game nervousness to take games at Colorado, Iowa State, Nebraska and Baylor.

Kansas leads the Big 12 in offensive points per possession and points allowed per possession, basketball’s standout stats. Only Missouri and Oklahoma — both veteran squads with at least two senior starters — come close to Kansas. Bill Self knows how to coach.

TUESDAY YOUTUBE SESH

Watching the Grammys — even in small intervals — can be taxing. Sunday’s show entailed three-ish hours of performances by the Jonas Brothers, Kenny Chesney and Sugarland (I didn’t know Sugarland existed before last night; ignorance was bliss). In case you didn’t make it through those numbers, don’t worry. The good stuff is on YouTube.

The best five minutes of the night was Radiohead performing its ambitious and off-kilter “15 Step” with the assistance of the University of Southern California marching band. Another moment worth searching for is nine-months pregnant rapper M.I.A. providing backup vocals for Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and T.I. on “Swagga Like Us.”

— — Edited by Susan Melgren