LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- Even when somebody tries to take one of
their most prized possessions, Kansans are forgiving.
Just six months after he tried to lure Roy Williams back to
North Carolina, Dean Smith received the Kansan of the Year Award on
Friday night. On Saturday Smith got a standing ovation in Allen
Fieldhouse.
While watching No. 4 Kansas romp past Kansas State 92-66, Smith
also got a pointed reminder of why he wanted his former assistant
to coach the Tar Heels.
Kenny Gregory led five Jayhawks in double figures as Kansas
(17-1, 6-0 Big 12) beat the Wildcats for the 20th straight time and
hiked Williams' record in the heated state rivalry to an
overwhelming 30-4.
"We were able to visit some last night and then again this
morning," said Williams, who agonized for a week last July before
finally telling Smith he wanted to remain at Kansas.
Smith, an Emporia native and 1952 Kansas graduate, got a long
standing ovation when he was introduced from the stands.
But Williams insisted he was not rattled knowing his mentor was
watching.
"As soon as they started warmups, I was only thinking about
what we had to do to win," he said. "I think coach Smith would
have been disappointed in me if I'd been thinking about anything
else."
Kirk Hinrich had 18 points, Nick Collison 15, Jeff Boschee 12
and Drew Gooden 10. The Jayhawks, the only team unbeaten in Big 12
play, shot a sizzling 62 percent while mounting a 17-point halftime
lead over the Wildcats (8-9, 2-4).
Phineas Atchison had 28 points and saved the Wildcats from even
greater embarrassment.
"I had the rhythm," said Atchison. "It just kind of came to
me. I was a little fatigued, but I just kept on shooting and I got
it to fall."
Kansas State, which earlier this season broke an 0-for-35 string
against ranked teams, made seven straight shots in the lopsided
first half but still trailed 41-25 because the Jayhawks had made
six in a row.
The 92 points are the most Kansas has scored against the
Wildcats in the oldest consecutively played series West of the
Mississippi,
"That first half was about as good as we can play," Williams
said.
Atchison, who was 10-of-19 from the floor, hit a pair of baskets
to slice the lead to 12 points, 66-54, midway trough the second
half. But that was as close as the Wildcats would get as the
Jayhawks went on a 26-7 run, capped by Hinrich's 3-point bucket.
The Jayhawks, who came into the game leading the nation with a
51.4 field goal percentage, shot 49.3 percent against a Kansas
State defense that had held opponents to a Big 12-best 32.2
percent.
"We really did a poor job with our defensive transition game,"
said Kansas State coach Jim Wooldridge. "And that opened up the
flood gates."
After hitting a short jumper five minutes into the second half
to make it 59-46, Atchison had half of Kansas State's total points.
"He had a great game," Wooldridge said. "He's one of those
guys that if he misses it, it doesn't bother him."
|
|
ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Kansas State Clubhouse
Kansas Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Kansas Kirk Hinrich converts an incredible steal into a spectacular two-point play.
avi: 906 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Kansas Kenny Gregory throws down the strong two-handed slam.
avi: 1074 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Kansas Kirk Hinrich dishes to Kenny Gregory for the layup.
avi: 663 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
|
