As the Big XII men’s basketball season rolls on toward the midway point, Kansas and Texas Tech are riding high coming out of a busy weekend of basketball.
The Jayhawks recovered from a Big Monday beating at Iowa State with one of their better efforts of the year, pulling away from Texas down the stretch to win 75-62 in the Erwin Center. While the Longhorns left the game with more questions than answers, Bill Self’s team showed that it’s not going to give up the conference title without a fight. [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] Big men Cliff Alexander, Jamari Traylor and Perry Ellis, who were dominated by top-ranked Kentucky early in the season, more than met the challenge of squaring off with Texas’ super-sized frontcourt.
Self called Kansas’ performance the best he’s seen in quite a while away from the friendly confines of Allen Field House, writes Rustin Dodd in the Kansas City Star.
In pulling away from Texas, Kansas played nearly perfect basketball. The Jayhawks didn’t turn the ball over after halftime and erased a 44-39 deficit with relentless effort at the basket led by the freshman Alexander.
“We haven’t seen Cliff run like that all year,” Self said. “I think he got four dunks blocked, and still he took it right at the rim every time. He was impressive.”
If Texas can remember that its strength lies in the paint, as coach Rick Barnes lamented afterwards, the Longhorns may still be there to challenge Kansas for the regular season title despite three losses so far, two at home.
“Barnes does not want his players acting ‘robotic’ on the floor, and he’s not going to disapprove of an open 3-pointer that comes in natural flow,” writes Brian Davis in the Austin American-Statesman. But why his guards won’t get the ball inside is just puzzling.”
“I’m disappointed in the fact that we just settled for so many outside jump shots,” Barnes said after the game. “I don’t even think we had a post entry until about the 13-minute mark.”
Texas settled for 18 three pointers against Kansas, making only three. On the season, Texas shoots just 33 percent from three-point range on the season. When the Horns went inside against Kansas, they shot 50 percent from the floor.
Texas Tech, winless in conference play heading into Saturday, scored the biggest upset, shocking 9th ranked Iowa State in Lubbock 78-73. A 15-1 first-half run gave the Raiders a lead they’d never relinquish, reported Diego Gaytan for the Daily Toreador.
“I liked their energy level today, it was a big win for us against a ranked team,” Raiders coach Tubby Smith said. “It livens their spirit and gets guys believing that they’re better.”
The loss sent Iowa State into a Big Monday meeting with Texas reeling. Another slow start, reports Randy Peterson for USA Today, left ISU coach Fred Hoiberg shaking his head.
“We somehow have to find a way to get off to a start that at least gives us a chance,” Hoiberg said. “I wish I could tell you why it happened. We’ll figure it out.”
In another battle of ranked teams, 21st ranked Baylor extended 19th ranked Oklahoma’s struggles with a 69-58 win in Waco Saturday. After beating Texas two weeks ago, the Sooners have managed just one win in their last four games, writes Ryan Aber for the Oklahoman.
“We’ve been struggling all these games in conference,” said Sooners guard Buddy Hield. “We’ll get our swagger back, though. We just have to get back on board and start clicking again.”
According to the Waco Herald Tribune’s John Werner, the Bears finished with a flourish, including several rim-rocking dunks from rebound machine Rico Gathers, to pull away.
“I was really proud of how the guys executed down the stretch,” said Baylor coach Scott Drew.
The closest game of the weekend came in Morgantown, W.V., where the Mountaineers held off TCU in overtime, 86-85. The game featured a controversial ending, at least according those in Fort Worth, wrote John Raby for the Associated Press.
The Frogs took an 85-84 lead with two seconds left only to be whistled for a foul a second later as WVU’s Jevon Carter missed a layup. Carter made the free throws to give the Mountaineers the win.
“Then I looked at the ref and he had his hand up and I was like, ‘Thank the Lord,’” Carter said.
According to Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail, TCU got caught celebrating Trey Zeigler’s basket late in overtime.
“Carter’s free throws followed a basket by TCU’s Trey Zeigler that could have won the game, but actually cost the Horned Frogs dearly,” he wrote. While TCU celebrated close to its basket, Carter got behind the defense and caught teammate Daxter Miles’ pass.
Kansas State wrapped up the weekend’s games by beating Oklahoma State 63-53 in Manhattan. Nino Williams had his third straight virtuoso performance to lead the Wildcats, wrote Kellis Robinett for the Wichita Eagle.
The Cowboys couldn’t overcome another slow start, wrote John Helsley for the Oklahoman. Kansas State led 31-17 before Oklahoma State picked up its play.
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