The 14-year run of Big 12 titles by Kansas basketball has come to an end, so let’s take a minute to reflect and appreciate this incredible run.
Kansas was manhandled from start to finish on Tuesday night in Norman, Oklahoma and the 14-year streak of Big 12 titles has come to an end.
The loss had more meaning though as it meant the Jayhawks streak of 14 consecutive Big 12 titles would not extend to 15 this year. Kansas State and Texas Tech will now play for either a share or an outright championship this weekend.
Jayhawk fans are spoiled. There are middle school students in Kansas who weren’t even alive the last time Kansas didn’t win the Big 12.
I think the early years of the streak should be more appreciated than the latter years. Think about it, Kansas had to go through the likes of Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin (even though he was magically hurt both times Oklahoma played Kansas), Acie Law, Deandre Jordan, LaMarcus Aldridge and an entire Missouri team that refused to just roll over and die.
Speaking of Acie Law, how about his performance in Allen Fieldhouse on Feb. 3, 2007, you know back when the Big 12 actually had 12 teams. The Big 12 South was 0-31 against Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse. When Texas A&M and Acie Law walked out of that building they were 1-31. Basically forcing head coach Billy Gillispie to give him the ball down the stretch and hit a go-ahead three over Brandon Rush. It was undoubtedly one of the greatest performances by a visitor during the streak.
That was the last KU home loss before they went on to win 107 of their next 109 home games by the end of the 2012-13 season.
Quite possibly Bill Self’s greatest coaching job came in the 2011-2012 season. Self had to replace six of his top eight scorers from the previous season, and three of his top recruits were declared ineligible before the start of the season. A season where they had to play Kentucky, Duke, Ohio State and Georgetown. It didn’t matter as they finished the regular season 26-5 and made it all the way to the National Championship before falling to Kentucky.
Kansas has had some incredible players come through Lawrence. From the Morris twins to Ben McLemore all the way to Devonte Graham and Frank Mason. Every single team and player got the conferences best shot on a nightly basis. And they responded every single time.
It’s hard to believe it took Udoka Azubuike tearing ligaments in his hand, LaGerald Vick leaving the team, a top 10 recruit effectively no-showing for three months and Kansas being absolutely abysmal on the road just for Kansas to not win the conference.
Even then Kansas wasn’t necessarily bad this year, they’re most likely going to win 12 conference games. Kansas State and Texas Tech were just that good, and KU simply wasn’t good enough when they needed to be. If they had bothered to show up in Ames, or in Austin or not decided to totally wet the bed the final three minutes in Morgantown then we are talking about a 15th consecutive title.
So while the streak is over the rest of the conference should enjoy it while it lasts, because Kansas will be back sooner rather than later.