Jayhawks Win Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Hoops
ChampionshipOK, so we can all agree that Kansas is No. 1, the presumptive NCAA Tournament top seed, the big cheese, the top gun, the most interesting team in the world. The Jayhawks are the Big 12 Conference's regular-season and post-season champions. So, what does that make Kansas State? It says here, it makes the Wildcats a No. 2 seed when the bracket is announced Sunday. And never mind that KU swept Kansas State in three games this season. All that means is that three of the Wildcats' seven losses (against a school-record 26 victories) came against the nation's best team, the team favored to win the national championship. 'Both teams played hard, played with pride and with a lot of respect for each other,' Kansas' Cole Aldrich (6'11''-C-88) said. 'They're such a good team, played us tough three teams, beat some good teams. I'd hate to play �em again and there are some other teams that won't want to play.' Kansas won its seventh Big 12 Tournament title and improved its record to 32-2 with a 72-64 victory over a Kansas State team that would not go quietly into the K.C. night. The Jayhawks mustered one of its best defensive efforts this season to keep the Wildcats from becoming the fourth No. 2 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in the championship game. Game Three in this rivalry was like the second half of Game Two when the Jayhawks' defense stifled the Wildcats in Lawrence on March 3. Kansas was able to enjoy the confetti and cut down the nets in the Sprint Center because it played its best 40 minutes of defense this season. 'I'm kind of stubborn in that regard because didn't play man-to-man the whole game,' Kansas coach Bill Self said. 'We played to the scouting report very well and we competed hard.' Instead of man or zone, the Jayhawks played a hybrid triangle and two - three players in a zone around the basket, two chasing Kansas State guards Denis Clemente (6'1''-G-86) (6'1''-G-86) and Jacob Pullen (6'0''-G-89), who were a combined 12-of-32 from the field and 4-of-14 on 3-pointers. Kansas' defensive effort limited Kansas State to 34.8 percent shooting. Plus, the Wildcats - who lead the nation in free throw attempts - made just 14 trips to the line, making eight. On the other side of the box score, the Jayhawks were 24-of-31 at the line for a 16-point advantage. 'They do a great job of making you shoot over their bigs,' Pullen said. 'You get past their guards and get false hope and then their big guys are there challenging your shot.' Even with their shooting woes, the Wildcats cut it to 40-38 at 13:25 when Clemente made a steal and a score. But over the next 10 minutes, Kansas displayed its depth. Reserve guards Brady Morningstar (6'3''-G-86) and Tyrel Reed (6'3''-G-89) sparked the surge that gave the Jayhawks a sufficient cushion. Morningstar lobbed to Marcus Morris (6'8''-F) (18 points, eight rebounds) for a layup then drove and dished to Aldrich for a three-point play and a 45-38 lead at 12:19. Then it was Reed's turn. A Reed 3-pointer and then three free throws when he was fouled shooting a three countered two Kansas State mini-runs. Reed's layup - courtesy of an Aldrich steal to Sherron Collins (5'11''-G-87) for the assist - gave Kansas a 64-52 lead with 4:50 remaining. 'I can't imagine what they go through, they go through warm ups and then sit on the bench, not knowing when they're gonna play,' said Alrich, who had 10 points and eigh rebounds before fouling out with 35.5 seconds remaining. 'They come in and get an open shot and they're expected to hit it. I have great respect for �em and it's huge what they give us.' Reed finished with a career-high 15 points and was one of four Kansas players in double figures. 'KU's the best team in the country,' Kansas State coach Frank Martin said. 'Every time we made a push they answered. That's what makes them so difficult to beat. We've got to take this as a tremendous experience, competing with the best team in the country.' It is anticipated that Kansas will be sent to Oklahoma City for the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament. If Kansas State is a No. 2 seed, the Wildcats could be joining the Jayhawks in OKC. 'It hurts,' Pullen said of the third loss to Kansas. 'But we get a chance to play next week, get a chance to start over and we just gotta win six games. And we're capable of doing it.' A six-game winning streak during March Madness equals a national championship. Kansas did that in 2008 and hopes to repeat the trick by winning this year's Final Four is in Indianapolis. 'There's nothing like cutting the nets down,' Aldrich said. 'We're hoping we can do it in Indianapolis.' Courtesy of Big 12 Big 12 2009-10 Summary Big 12 Tournament Final: Kansas - Kansas St. 72-64 Big 12 Tournament Semifinals: Kansas - Texas A&M 79-66 Kansas State - Baylor 82-75 Big 12 All-Tournament MVP: Sherron Collins of Kansas Big 12 All-Tournament Team Sherron Collins of Kansas Cole Aldrich of Kansas Jacob Pullen of Kansas St. Denis Clemente of Kansas St.
All-Big 12 1st Team Cole Aldrich of Kansas Sherron Collins of Kansas Jacob Pullen of Kansas State James Anderson (6'6''-G-89) of Oklahoma State Damion James (6'7''-G/F-87) of Texas Donald Sloan (6'3''-G-88) of Texas A&M All-Big 12 2nd Team LaceDarius Dunn (6'4''-G-87) of Baylor Ekpe Udoh (6'10''-F/C-87) of Baylor Craig Brackins (6'10''-F-87) of Iowa State Marcus Morris of Kansas Denis Clemente of Kansas State All-Big 12 3rd Team Tweety Carter (5'11''-G-86) of Baylor Cory Higgins (6'5''-G-89) of Colorado Kim English (6'6''-G) of Missouri Tommy Mason-Griffin (5'11''-G) of Oklahoma Bryan Davis (6'9''-F-86) of Texas A&M All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Alec Burks (6'6''-G-91) of Colorado Marquis Gilstrap (6'7''-F-87) of Iowa State Xavier Henry (6'6''-G) of Kansas Zaire Taylor (6'4''-G-86) of Missouri Willie Warren (6'4''-G-89) of Oklahoma Obi Muonelo (6'5''-G-88) of Oklahoma State Avery Bradley (6'2''-G-90) of Texas John Roberson (5'11''-G-88) of Texas Tech Mike Singletary (6'6''-F-88) of Texas Tech Big 12 All-Rookie Team Ekpe Udoh of Baylor Alec Burks of Colorado Xavier Henry of Kansas Tommy Mason-Griffin of Oklahoma Avery Bradley of Texas Big 12 All-Defensive Team Ekpe Udoh of Baylor Cole Aldrich of Kansas Jacob Pullen of Kansas State J.T. Tiller (6'3''-G) of Missouri Dogus Balbay (6'1''-G-89) of Texas Bryan Davis of Texas A&M Big 12 All-Academic 1st Team Josh Lomers (7'0''-C-87) of Baylor Trey Eckloff (6'10''-F) of Colorado Levi Knutson (6'4''-G-88) of Colorado Cole Aldrich of Kansas Tyrel Reed of Kansas Chris Merriewether (6'3''-G-88) of Kansas State Victor Ojeleye (6'6''-F-88) of Kansas State Beau Gerber (6'8''-F-87) of Oklahoma Dogus Balbay of Texas Damion James of Texas Gary Johnson (6'6''-F-88) of Texas Shawn Schepel (6'3''-G) of Texas A&M Big 12 All-Academic 2nd Team Casey Crawford (6'9''-F-87) of Colorado Laurence Bowers (6'8''-F) of Missouri J.T. Tiller of Missouri Ryan Wright (6'9''-F-87) of Oklahoma James Anderson of Oklahoma Justin Mason (6'2''-G-88) of Texas Alexis Wangmene (6'7''-F/C-89) of Texas Robert Lewandowski (6'10''-F) of Texas Tech Mike Singletary of Texas Tech All-Big 12 Player of the Year: James Anderson of Oklahoma State All-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year: Cole Aldrich of Kansas All-Big 12 Freshman of the Year: Alec Burks of Colorado All-Big 12 Newcomer of the Year: Ekpe Udoh of Baylor All-Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year: Jamar Samuels of Kansas State All-Big 12 Coach of the Year: Frank Martin of Kansas State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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