Kansas will erase ‘sour taste’ with national title
Jayhawks motivated by loss to Michigan St., and have nation's best rotation
Jamie Squire / Getty ImagesSherron Collins has thought about last year's NCAA tournament defeat to Michigan State constantly.
Aldrich and Collins were all Self had left from the 2008 championship team after Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur, Darnell Jackson, Russell Robinson and Sasha Kaun graduated or took off for the NBA. The two became the focal point of everything the Jayhawks did on the way to a 27-8 record in 2009. Although there was disappointment in a Sweet 16 exit, Self won national coach of the year honors for getting so much out of a team that was reloading.
Things are drastically different this season.
Twin forwards Marcus and Markieef Morris, often frustrated and mistake-prone freshmen last season, have matured and become part of a tremendous frontline. Marcus starts and is one of the most improved players in the country. There is a chance he could be headed for the NBA after this season.
Both players worked hard in the off-season, getting their bodies physically ready for the competition inside. Andrea Hudy, KU’s strength and conditioning coach, gets as much credit for their transformation as she did with Collins two years ago, when she helped him control his diet and maintain his proper playing weight.
Sophomore Tyshawn Taylor, in Self’s doghouse more than once this season for attitude problems, social network problems and his role in the fall fights with between basketball and football players, has been a more consistent contributor in the final month of the season. He plays an important role as a defender and can be a slashing scorer in the transition game.
The biggest difference between last year and this season is freshman Xavier Henry, who gives the Jayhawks a three-point threat and an athletic rebounder on the wing. Henry slumped midway through the season and Brady Morningstar picked up the slack with his solid basketball IQ, passing and defensive ability. Guard Tyrel Reed comes off the bench to provide additional three-point firepower and ball handling.
That gives the Jayhawks the best eight-man rotation in the country. Freshman Thomas Robinson comes in handy when the big men experience foul problems and freshman guard Elijah Johnson can run the point in a pinch. Self did such a good job recruiting, he could afford to redshirt guards Mario Little and Travis Releford, two outstanding prospects who just wouldn’t have found any playing time in a rotation this season.
Self admits the Jayhawks need to get more out of Aldrich offensively. There’s a good chance his teammates will look for him more during tournament play. At times he will need to ignore his unselfish tendencies and simply dominate inside. But other than that, and a tendency to have turnover problems, this is a well-oiled machine. Not as pretty as 2008, but very gritty and tough. That’s always a blessing in the tournament.
Those two losses came on the road to talented teams that needed victories to save their seasons at that particular point. Oklahoma State shot 60 percent against Kansas, a rare meltdown for a defense that doesn’t get enough credit. The Jayhawks rank second in the nation in field goal percentage defense and fifth in scoring offense, a winning combination that characterizes KU’s success in the simplest of forms.
In close games and on the road, when Kansas needs a champion to take over and make winning plays, the Jayhawks always turn to Collins. He is glad to accept the role. Self says there may have been players with more points or more assists in Kansas history but he’s not sure there’s ever been a better competitor to wear the KU uniform.
Six more victories in that uniform and the plan will be complete. This is the business Collins and Aldrich returned to complete. That second ring is calling them back to Indianapolis — this time to cut down the nets the way they did in San Antonio in 2008.
“That’s really what drives people,” Aldrich said. “We’re telling the younger guys that this is as much fun as you will ever have playing sports. It’s just so fun to be one of those teams in the Final Four with everybody back home rooting for you.”
Tough road or not, that’s what the Jayhawks expect to do.
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