Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.
’08 – ’09 Results: 27 – 8 (14 – 2 Big 12) Lost to Michigan State in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, 67 – 62.
Coach: Bill Self 169 – 40 (6 seasons at Kansas) 376 -145 (16 seasons)
Key Returners:
Sherron Collins – 18.9ppg, 2.9rpg, 5.0apg
Tyshawn Taylor – 9/7ppg, 2.2rpg
Brady Morningstar – 6.5ppg, 3.0rpg
Marcus Morris -7.4ppg, 4.7rpg
Cole Aldrich – 11.0ppg, 8.0rpg
Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 12/6 at UCLA, 12/19 vs. Michigan, 12/22 vs. California, 1/2 at Temple, 1/6 vs. Cornell, 1/10 at Tennessee
Stat of Identity: 38.3% field goal percentage defense 5th in the country.
By Paul Gotham
Controversy can have a polarizing effect. Kansas coach, Bill Self, hopes his teams off-season shenanigans will convert to wins.
Fights and off-the-court problems have clouded the Jayhawks recent happenings. Self instituted a boot camp to focus his troops.
Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins lead as talented a Kansas lineup the Phog Fieldhouse has seen – and that includes the recent national champions.
Self’s best recruiting efforts might have been getting these two to return to Lawrence. Aldrich established himself as an indefatigable force in the paint last season. Some of the junior’s best performances came against the toughest opponents – 15 points and 20 rebounds versus Oklahoma and 19 points and 14 rebounds against Missouri.
Collins had 1.5 assist to turnover ratio to go with 39 last year. The senior scored double figure points in all but two contests a year ago.
Brady Morningstar led the Jayhawks in assist to turnovers at 2.0. The junior will return from suspension after the first semester.
Tyshwan Taylor and Marcus Morris round out the starting five.
Freshman, Xavier Henry, Elijah Johnson, and Thomas Robinson will find playing time difficult to earn in this loaded lineup.
25 | 23t | 23t | 22| 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2
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