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Kansas
No. 1 Kansas tops No. 14 Men's Basketball, 80-68
02.08.2010 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2010
| AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Kansas gave Texas a lesson in not only what it takes to get to No. 1, but how to stay there.
It started with a big early run and a rally-killing finish as the top-ranked Jayhawks beat No. 14 Texas 80-68 on Monday night, easily handling a team that a few weeks ago was supposed to challenge them for the Big 12 title.
"Going into the season, we were ranked one and they were two," said Marcus Morris, who overcame dislocating his right ring finger in the first half to lead Kansas with 18 points. "We circled this game on our calendars. We were ready from day one to play this game."
It showed as Kansas (23-1, 9-0) outmuscled and outhustled Texas (19-5, 5-4) in just about every way.
Kansas, No. 1 for the second straight week after three weeks out of the top spot, outrebounded a physical Texas lineup 45-34, held the Longhorns to 37 percent shooting and scored 27 points off 17 turnovers.
And when Texas finally staged a late rally, Kansas slammed the door behind senior point guard Sherron Collins, who had 15 points, five assists, four steals and made several key plays down the stretch.
When the final seconds finally ticked off, Collins punctuated the win by slamming the ball down hard with a yell, bouncing it high in the air.
"We've put ourselves in pretty favorable position [in the Big 12]," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "Somebody can get hot and run the table, but it puts pressure on us to keep playing."
It's better than favorable as every other team in the league has at least three losses.
Texas seemed game for a good one until a 22-0 Kansas run in the first half seized momentum and took the buzz out of the raucous home crowd. The Longhorns never recovered and the team that a month ago looked like a national title contender now simply looks lost.
Texas started the season 17-0 to earn the first No. 1 ranking in school history in early January, but has since lost five of its last seven.
Kansas was No. 1 in the preseason poll and for the first eight weeks of the regular season before its only loss, at Tennessee.
Freshman J'Covan Brown led Texas with 28 points, scoring most of them in a late burst that cut Kansas' lead under 10 late before Tyshawn Taylor made two free throws. Collins then bulled through two defenders to fire a sharp pass to Tyrel Reed for a layup that ended the rally.
Damion James had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Texas but as has been the case in Texas' previous losses, he was the only reliable scorer when the game was close.
Texas tried to muscle up Kansas by inserting forward Gary Johnson into the staring lineup for the first time. But his 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting couldn't make a difference.
Texas led 14-11 early before Markieff Morris' long 3-pointer started Kansas' big run that left the Longhorns looking bewildered at both ends of the court.
Collins zipped a pass to Marcus Morris and he made a nifty grab in a dead sprint for a layup. Taylor made a 3-pointer before two Texas turnovers led to easy Jayhawks baskets. Collins' long 3-pointer from the left wing made it 30-14.
Texas went scoreless for more than 11 minutes and missed 12 straight shots before James banked in a 3-pointer. Kansas led 34-24 at halftime.
"I didn't know what was happening. It happened so fast," James said of Kansas' run. "They showed why they are No. 1 team in country. If we want to be there we have to watch this game and see what we can do to make things happen."
Kansas opened the second half with an alley-oop pass from Collins to Xavier Henry and the Jayhawks' stifling defense continued to force wild shots and turnovers.
When Texas guard Dogus Balbay mishandled the ball in the backcourt, all his teammates had already run to the other end. With four Jayhawks under the basket, Collins coolly tossed it to Marcus Morris for an empathic two-handed dunk and a 50-34 lead.
Everything seemed to be working for Kansas at that point. Brady Morningstar stroked a 3-pointer and Collins spun through the lane for a behind-the-the back pass to Cole Aldrich for a dunk. Even a botched alley-oop pass to Marcus Morris worked when the ball bounced right back to him on the other side of the basket for an easy putback.
"We were terrible on offense for long periods of time, and we helped them," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "You go back, 27 points off turnovers. That's been the biggest killer in us for every game."
Head Coach Rick Barnes
On not being able to get the ball inside to Dexter Pittman: We knew they were going to double the post. What we wanted to do was to get him the screen and roll back, make him become more of a screener. He was settling on just posting up and letting them push him up the lane. We knew they were going to come double. Again, we needed him to move and screen so we could get better post position. I think when he gets tired in a high level game like this, his instincts are to go there and plant himself. He can't do that.
On what he told the team after the game: I told them if we could understand one aspect of this game we could be the team that we want to be. That is assists to turnovers. If we could just understand that part of the game, we could be so much better. I thought we had some shots and decisions that weren't good. We were late putting the ball in areas of the court that we needed to get it there.
Freshman Guard J'Covan Brown
On his comfort level: Coach talked to me and said, "Big players step up in big games." (Assistant coach Rodney) Terry came in and told me the same thing. It hit me. I want to be a big player. It's the time to do it.
On his effort at the end of the game: I've been watching film lately. Damion says that he hasn't been doing it all himself, but I think he has been. He doesn't mean to. We all have to go out there and do what we came here for.
Senior Forward Damion James
On Kansas' 22-0 run: I don't even know what happened. It happened so fast. They showed why they're the number one team in the country. If we want to be that, we've got to watch this game and see what we've got to do to make things happen.
On if he is disappointed in this game: I think we put ourselves in a position to be all right, but they went on a 22-0 run. That's unacceptable. We can score the ball. We dig ourselves a hole a lot and try to make up for it. It's tough. With that being said, we've got to see what it is that we've got to do. We've still got the whole month of February and March to play. This is the worst we're going to play. I know that. This is the worst we're going to play. Once we get going on that high hill and get back up the hill, it's going to be great. We'll look at this film and see what we've got to do.
KANSAS QUOTES
Head Coach Bill Self
Opening statement: We didn't turn it over. Even though we didn't attack crisply all the time, we didn't turn the ball over. We made them go against five guys which was very effective until J'Covan (Brown) got hot late. I thought our defense was really good. We didn't guard Damion (James) in the first half but other than that we played great. My staff told me it was a 22-0 run in the first half. On the road against a team like this that doesn't happen very much.
On Kansas' rebounding effort: We were definitely better on the glass than last time (in Austin) when Damion (James) out-rebounded our whole team in the second half.
On the efforts by Xavier Henry and Marcus Morris: I thought Xavier played the best game he's played in league play by far. He and Marcus (Morris) were by far our two best players today. He was good and Marcus was great. We used him to break the pressure down a little bit. I would have never thought we could come to Texas and win and have our two best players go five-of-23. I thought we really guarded them well in the first half.
Freshman Guard Xavier Henry
On the team's focus on rebounding tonight: We knew they were a good rebounding team. The coaching staff talked about them being a good rebounding team. We just had to rebound and be tough.
On his performance tonight: I've been practicing hard lately. I've been making sure I got my shots in after practice. I knew eventually they would fall, it's just they weren't falling at that time.
Sophomore Forward Marcus Morris
On the team's performance tonight: We have a lot of fault on our team as far as rebounding and defending. I think we came out real aggressive. I think we took the first punch and never let up.
On Kansas' depth and versatility: That's a main part of our team. We've got a lot of guys you can go to. Xavier (Henry) stepped up big today. I know he's been missing a couple shots but the thing about Xavier is that he keeps shooting. We needed him to step up today. Sherron (Collins) stepped up at the guard position and Cole (Aldrich) got in early foul trouble but he rebounded big. Markieff (Morris) gave us good minutes and I did okay.
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM
- Had its six-game win streak in home games against AP Top Five teams snapped
- Texas matched a team record for most blocked shots in a Big 12 game with 12. The Horns had done it on three prior occasions
- Texas' bench outscored its opponents bench for the 21st time in 24 games (28-17)
J'Covan Brown
- Scored a career-high 28 points, topping the 21 points he scored against North Carolina (12-9-09)
- Scored 20 or more points for the second time this season
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 12th time this season
- Made a career-high nine field goals, topping the six he made against North Carolina (12-9-09)
- Tied a career-high with eight made free throws, equal the mark he set against Rice (11-29-09)
Damion James
- Made his 130th career start, improving on his school record
- Played in his 132nd consecutive game, tied with Justin Mason for third on UT's all-time list behind only Brian Boddicker (134 - 2001-04) and James Thomas (134 - 2001-04)
- Recorded his 13th double-double (24 points, 10 rebounds) of the season and the 50th of his career (132 games)
- Scored 20 or more points for the 13th time this season and the 22ndd time in his career
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 21st time this season and the 90th time in his career
- Reached double figures in rebounding for the 13th time this season and the 61st time in his career
- Made a career-high four three-point field goals, topping the three he had on five prior occasions
- Equaled a career-high with five blocks, matching the total he logged against TCU on Jan. 2, 2008
Gary Johnson
- Made his first start since Feb. 16, 2009 (at Texas A&M)
- Reached double figures in scoring for the 10th time this season and the 31st time in his career (78 games)
Justin Mason
- Played in his 132nd consecutive game, tied with Damion James for third on UT's all-time list behind only Brian Boddicker (134 - 2001-04) and James Thomas (134 - 2001-04)
