By Gary Bedore, Sunday, January 9, 2000
KU's Jeff Boschee, right, shares a laugh with Kenny Gregory late in the Jayhawks' 84-69 victory last season at Colorado. The Buffs play host to the Jayhawks again tonight.
KU defeated Colorado, 84-69, to register the program's 1,700th victory.
Box score: Kansas 84, Colorado 69
Kansas University chancellor Robert Hemenway tracked down the game ball and presented it to KU coach Roy Williams on Saturday night at Coors Events Center.
You better believe KU's players and coaches were considering bronzing the basketball after an 84-69 come-from behind victory over Colorado -- the 1,700th victory in school history.
"It is a big deal to me," Williams said after the Jayhawks joined Kentucky and North Carolina as the only programs with 1,700 wins. KU has 726 losses.
"I'm one of those guys who appreciate the tradition and history that we have. To be the third program with 1,700 wins means basketball has been important to you and your people a long time. I'm happy about it. I congratulated the kids for being part of it," Williams added.
A lot of sweat went into win No. 1,700.
The Jayhawks were able to overcome some serious foul problems and a 39-35 halftime deficit to win the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.
"It means a lot to get 1,700 ... especially to have a comeback win. The way we did it showed a lot of heart and character," KU sophomore point guard Jeff Boschee said.
After going scoreless and picking up two fouls in the first half, Boschee scored seven points in a 25-4 run that upped KU's narrow 57-56 lead at 10:41 to 82-60 at 2:20. Kenny Gregory (13 points) had six points and Eric Chenowith (11 points, six boards) four apiece in the run, which featured the Jayhawks' point zone defense.
Colorado, which led by eight points early in the second half, bricked 10 of 11 shots in the surge and in one second-half stretch hit just one of 15 shots overall. The zone defense, which also sparked KU in victories over Saint Louis and Georgia this season, completely frustrated the Buffaloes and sharpshooter Jaquay Walls, who hit nine of nine free throws but missed all nine attempts from the field.
"I feel comfortable coaching man-to-man. I also try not to be dumb," Williams said, noting the zone was needed because of foul problems.
Chenowith and Ashante Johnson picked up three fouls in the first half, while five Jayhawks had two apiece.
"We played zone in the first half to and were awful in it," Williams added, noting Nick Mohr canned two threes against the point zone.
"Whether zone or man, they have to miss some shots. They were 3-for-12 the second half (from three-point land) and made their last two, so they were missing some shots.
KU swingman Nick Bradford -- who had five blocks, six rebounds and 11 points -- said the zone is merely part of KU's arsenal.
"We're definitely a man-to-man team," Bradford said. "but sometimes we get in foul trouble and I have to go to the zone. It gives the other team some new looks and we played it effectively."
Boschee, who finished with 11 points, hit a three-pointer in an 11-2 run that turned a 45-42 KU deficit into a 53-47 lead with 13:15 left. Drew Gooden had four of his 10 points and Marlon London grabbed one of his seven rebounds and put in a stickback in that run.
Mohr hit a three, however, and Jamahl Mosley two free throws for two of his 16 points -- to go with 11 boards -- as the Buffs immediately cut the gap to 53-52 at 12:25.
"You have to give Colorado credit. They came back a couple times on us, too," Bradford said.
The game remained close until the 25-4 Jayhawk outburst that coincided with the Jayhawks employing the zone defense.
A Boschee three at 3:33 after two more Colorado misses put the dagger in the Buffaloes and assured KU of its 12th win in 14 tries. CU fell to 9-4.
"I mean three-pointers are back-breakers," said Boschee, who hit three of nine threes to tie Gregory for team-high scoring honors with 13 points.
"Mentally it breaks down a defense a bit. Our offense flourished in the second half."
Colorado led, 39-35, at halftime following a first half that featured a batch of KU fouls and some poor early shooting by both teams. The Jayhawks hit just one of 12 threes the first half, its fourth-worst three-point shooting percentage in a half in history (minimum 10 attempts), and 31 percent overall after a 3-of-17 beginning.
"I talked to the kids (at halftime), said we have not had a game where we've been down at halftime," Williams said. "The first half they were more aggressive, more attentive. They beat us to all the loose balls. The second half we were on the loose balls."
Noted Chenowith, "Both teams wanted it," "We worked hard the second half and were able to beat a good, physical Colorado team. It was big for us."