Kansas vs Kansas State Basketball Recap

Kansas 81, Kansas State 79 (OT)

Basketball is a team sport, but after his stubborn and gritty performance against the din of a hostile crowd, Sherron Collins underscored the fact that he is the face of the Kansas Jayhawks.

Yes, Cole Aldrich (18 points and 13 boards) and Marcus Morris (13 points and 10 boards) registered double-doubles. Yes, Brady Morningstar contributed clutch baskets and a pair of game-sealing foul shots in the final five seconds of overtime. But when Kansas needed moments of magic against the Kansas State Wildcats, Collins was the man who lifted the KU crew to a heartstopping road triumph inside a raucous Bramlage Coliseum. Despite back spasms and cramps which were severe enough to land the senior guard on the bench with 2:44 left in overtime, Collins pulled his damaged body off the pine and delivered the dagger that killed K-State's hopes of contending for the Big 12 regular-season title.

Collins had already done more than his fair share to help Kansas remain unbeaten (6-0) in conference play. While the rest of his teammates were standing around and watching, Collins - in a span of over eight minutes midway through the second half (16:04 to 7:40) - was the only Jayhawk to hit a field goal. By holding his team together in the face of fierce Kansas State defense, Collins allowed the Jayhawks to take the equivalent of a deep breath and re-gather their resources for the finish line. KU took a 69-66 lead into the final minute and had possession of the ball, but a turnover by guard Tyshawn Taylor, shortly followed by an old-fashioned (and-one) 3-point play from KSU's Rodney McGruder, enabled the Wildcats to force overtime. Collins had spilled his tank, but he'd have to pour out even more effort in the extra stanza, and when he struggled off the court at the 2:44 mark of overtime, Self and the rest of his coaching staff had to wonder if Kansas would have its stone-cold killer available for the stretch run of this delicious donnybrook.

In the final minute, Collins did re-emerge with a champion's flair for a well-timed contribution.

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Slicing through KSU's defense with dribble penetration from the right wing, Collins adjusted his body in mid-flight and dropped an angled layup high off the glass while drawing a foul with 13 seconds left. The ball fell through the bucket to give KU a 79-76 lead, and even though Collins missed the subsequent foul shot, Aldrich - an imposing big man who played terrific late-game defense despite being saddled with four fouls - was there to rebound the miss. Morningstar received a pass from Aldrich, nailed two free throws with four ticks left on the clock, and the Jayhawks established a two-game conference lead over a Texas squad that suffered a shocking home loss to Baylor earlier in the day.

Saturday was a great day to be a Kansas Jayhawk. It was an even better day to be Sherron Collins. As long as his back doesn't give out in the coming months, KU will be a prime favorite to reach Indianapolis in April, and book Final Four reservations for the second time in three seasons.

By: Matt Zemek
Big 12 Fans Senior Staff Writer