By Gary Bedore, Sunday, February 26, 1989
Members of the 1989 Kansas University basketball team cheers from the bench in this file photo. The Jayhawks picked up the program's 1,400th victory in February 1989, defeating Colorado to end an eight game losing streak.
The losing streak -- Kansas' eight-game, month-long basketball bummer -- is history.
"Honestly, I didn't want to go 0-for-February and I know those kids didn't want to, either," first-year KU coach Roy Williams sighed after the Jayhawks' 111-83 skid-ending slaughter of Colorado on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.
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The Jayhawks' last win had come on Jan. 25 -- a 20-point decision over Wichita State.
"I'll enjoy tonight with my family," said an emotional Williams who sent his players into the stands to shake hands with the fans after the end of the second-longest losing streak in school history.
"During the past four weeks, I've gotten quite a bit of mail, some from students. There were a couple bad ones (letters), but 99 percent were supportive," added Williams, who also wanted to share the school's 1,400th win -- only North Carolina and Kentucky have won more games -- with the crowd of 15,200.
"At 7 this morning I decided to run inside and punish myself. There were students outside the door standing in line waiting to get in. Maybe it's bush-league or sentimental ... I don't give a crap. I want to show the people we appreciate 'em.
"I told 'em (players) with 1:09 to play, when play had been stopped. They looked at me like I was an idiot," he joked. "Sometimes I do things spur of the moment. If it wasn't spontaneous, I probably would have thought not to do it."
KU's players enjoyed the outpouring of emotion.
"I went behind the bench to the students. They're my favorites, along with ones on the other side -- the "Alfreakas,'" Milt Newton said.
Newton scored 18 points on eight of 14 shooting, including three of four in the second half when Kansas hit 26 of 30 shots. Newton's only miss followed a wild, 360-degree spin under the hoop.
"Coach does nice things like that," Newton added. "He's the type of guy that is appreciative. I thought it was a nice gesture."
"I went behind the scorers' table and shook about 40 hands. I got people they call 'the alumni,'" grinned guard Kevin Pritchard, who scored a game-high 19 points and had six assists.
Six Jayhawks -- Pritchard, Newton, Mike Maddox (18), Jeff Gueldner (14), Mark Randall (13) and Freeman West (11) -- scored in double-digits.
"I thought it was a great idea. Somebody might think it's corny, but I appreciate the poeople. It made me feel good," Pritchard added.
"I went to the other end and shook as many hands as I could," said West, who led KU with seven rebounds. "I wanted to shake more, but it looked like the team was leaving and I figured it was time for our team meeting. I love our fans."
Chances our the fans "loved" KU's play the final half. Leading 46-39 at halftime, Kansas cashed nine straight shots and led, 65-52, with 14:30 left.
At 65-56, the Jayhawks took off, scoring 19 straight points. When the ferocioius 25-2 run was complete, KU led, 90-58, dooming CU to its 44th consecutive Big Eight road loss.
KU hit just about everything it attempted during the 65-point half.
"We shot well tonight and that was the difference," Pritchard said.
Ku, in fact, hit a season-high 70.4 percent to CU's 46.7.
I saw everybody else shooting well and said, 'Maybe it will fall in the ocean of me, too.' At times this year, that thing (rim) hasn't looked like 24 inches or whatever it is," Pritchard smiled. "We also got after it defensively. For us to win, that's the most important thing."
KU also outrebounded the Buffs, 35-21.
"We were active. That's what rebounding is," Williams said. "There was a lot of pent-up frustration after four weeks."
"We're last in the league in rebounding, explained Jeff Gueldner who scored a career-high 14 points. "We pride ourselves on defense and boxing out. We did a better job. A lot of us got the monkey off our backs."
The monkey was a gorilla.
"These kids have played their tails off for three and a half to four weeks," Williams remarked. "I'm so happy for the kids, and I guess, myself, too."
He's had some sleepless nights.
"The amazing thing is that last Wednesday, we came back from Iowa State late. Thursday morning I was sitting at breakfast and my little girl didn't say anything. She just hugged my neck which I thought said a lot.
"There were hugs in the locker room today," he added, grinning.
KU, now 17-11 and 4-8 in the Big Eight, will face Nebraska at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday in Allen Fieldhouse.
CU, 7-18 and 2-10, will try to snap a five-game losing streak Wednesday at home against Iowa State.