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They started 20-0 before dropping three of seven games — all on the road — and calling a players-only meeting on Feb. 24. The Jayhawks then ran off 13 wins in a row, finishing the season as national champions.
It doesn’t get any greater than that.
LOWLIGHT: The Jayhawks fell to Oklahoma State on Feb. 23 in Stillwater, Okla., 61-60. Kansas was clearly the superior team but could not find a way to get going in a disappointing loss. The Jayhawks turned the ball over 21 times and were eaten alive by Cowboys guard Byron Eaton, who had 26 points.
<< TEAM MVP: Brandon Rush. Kansas became a different team during the tournament season because Rush finally decided that he was going to be the guy KU coach Bill Self always thought he could be. It all started with his career-high 28 points against Texas A&M in the Big 12 tournament semifinals, and it continued until the last game in San Antonio. Rush led KU in scoring for the third straight year, and he evolved into the Jayhawks’ most solid defender.
BIGGEST SURPRISE: The emergence of Darnell Jackson as an offensive threat. It was shocking when Jackson started the season with 21 points in the opener against Louisiana-Monroe. It was even more shocking when Jackson had back-to-back big scoring games against Yale (21) and Boston College (25) in the middle of the season. Jackson put in the work in the offseason to replace Julian Wright’s 12 points and 7.8 rebounds, and he came close with 11.2 and 6.7, respectively.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Sherron Collins’ health. Most thought that Rush would be the health question this season, coming off surgery to repair his torn right ACL. But Collins had surgery in mid-November to correct a stress fracture in his left foot, and it took him several months to get back to full speed. Even then, Collins would bump both knees and also fought through a sprained right ankle.
REASON TO HOPE FOR 2008-09: So let’s say the Jayhawks lose Rush, Chalmers and Darrell Arthur early to the NBA draft. They return two McDonald’s All-Americans in Collins and Cole Aldrich. The four true freshmen next year — twins Marcus and Markieff Morris, Travis Releford and Quintrell Thomas — and the two junior-college prospects — Mario Little and Tyrone Appleton — appear to be ready to contribute immediately. And Self says he’s not done recruiting just yet.
REASON TO MOPE FOR 2008-09: The Jayhawks lose five seniors and possibly could have no scholarship seniors on next year’s team, if Rush and Chalmers go pro. They’ll be baby Jayhawks again, which will make for fresh story lines but also painful games to watch. At this point, KU knows nothing about Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed, who will be scholarship sophomores.
DARNELL JACKSON: He improved so much from last season that Bill Self couldn’t keep him out of the starting lineup. A
RUSSELL ROBINSON: He set the pace defensively and offensively, and was almost invisible on the court. His defense of some of the country’s top point guards proved invaluable. A
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