No. 2 Kansas 81, Holy Cross 57

Nov. 19, 2002 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

Holy Cross gave the Jayhawks a white-knuckle ride in the 2001-02 NCAA Tournament, with Nick Collison scoring five points and Kirk Hinrich suffering a gruesome ankle sprain that sidelined him for all but 18 minutes, but a rerun of that game never materialized as Collison scored a game-high 20 points and Hinrich added 13 to send KU to the second round of the Preseason NIT.

"I think it was in the back of all our minds, the scare they gave us last year," sophomore Wayne Simien said. "They're a good basketball team. They always play us tough. But we definitely didn't want to have another close game like we did in the tournament."

No. 2 Kansas 105, North Carolina-Greensboro 66

Nov. 22, 2002 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

Four starters scored 18 points or more for KU, setting up a Preseason NIT semifinal with North Carolina. KU won despite getting no more than four points out of any of its eight bench players, who shot a combined 2 of 16 from the floor and committed almost half of the team's turnovers.

"Obviously, when we play like we did today, it doesn't matter," senior Nick Collison said of KU's lack of depth.

North Carolina 67, No. 2 Kansas 56

Nov. 27, 2002 Madison Square Garden, New York

A game with soap-opera overtones turned into a full-fledged horror show for coach Roy Williams, who was facing the Tar Heels for the first time since he'd turned down an offer to coach at UNC in the summer of 2000.

KU was miserable from start to finish as UNC, which entered the season unranked and with three freshman starters, led by as many as 21 points in handing the Jayhawks their first Preseason NIT loss in 14 attempts under Williams.

"That," Williams said, "was the most embarrassed I've ever been as a coach."

Besides enduring the humiliation of floundering in a highly anticipated matchup with national TV exposure, KU also suffered a blow when senior Preseason All-American Kirk Hinrich came down awkwardly on a lay-up and strained his lower back.

No. 7 Florida 83, No. 2 Kansas 73

Nov. 29, 2002 Madison Square Garden, New York

Reeling in self-doubt from their loss to North Carolina, Kansas shot 32 percent from the floor and 0 for 6 from 3-point range in falling behind 38-26 at halftime.

While the Jayhawks couldn't come back, they stabilized in the second half to salvage some hope in an otherwise disastrous trip to New York City.

"Finally," Kirk Hinrich said, "we just played with a little fight."

Hinrich scored only five points while playing with a back injury so severe he couldn't tie his own shoes. Nick Collison paced the Jayhawks with 16 points and 13 rebounds, but it went for naught as the Gators sunk 14 3-pointers.

No. 14 Kansas 97, Central Missouri State 70

Dec. 4, 2002 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

Kirk Hinrich was the on the bench resting his tortured back, but the Jayhawks all recuperated a little against the Division II Mules.

Forward Wayne Simien scored a career-high 22 points, 10 of which came on slam dunks. Point guard Aaron Miles added 20 points, also a career high, as KU rebounded from its Preseason NIT flameout.

"This was good for us tonight," coach Roy Williams said. "It's hard to play without Kirk out there."

No. 7 Oregon 84, No. 14 Kansas 78

Dec. 7, 2002 Rose Garden, Portland, Ore.

Kirk Hinrich made an epic comeback, but his teammates didn't come along for the ride.

Despite a team-high 24 points from the Preseason All-America guard, KU missed seven of its last eight shots to suffer a third straight loss to Division I opponents.

"We had our chances," coach Roy Williams said. "We didn't do what we needed to do down the stretch. Those last two, three minutes, we made a lot of big-time mistakes."

KU fell behind 72-61 with 8:40 remaining but gutted out a 13-2 run over the next five minutes to draw even at 74. But with a chance to take the lead, Nick Collison turned down a dunk and missed an uncontested, point-blank shot with just under three minutes. Then came two turnovers and four more missed shots as the Jayhawks limped out of Portland at 3-3.

No. 20 Kansas 89, No. 17 Tulsa 80

Dec. 11, 2002 Reynolds Center, Tulsa, Okla.

Down 40-36 at halftime after Tulsa manufactured a 15-4 run before intermission, KU replaced the disjointedness and fragility it had shown in recent games with toughness and heart as Nick Collison scored a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds to quiet a sellout crowd of 8,555.

In the postgame locker room, the gloom and disappointment of the past two weeks was swept away in an avalanche of euphoria.

"This is the kind of moment," coach Roy Williams said, "that I really coach for."

No. 20 Kansas 113, Emporia State 61

Dec. 14, 2002 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison and Wayne Simien hit 27 of their combined 34 shots as the Jayhawks rolled up their 100th point with 10:03 left.

With the offense rolling, Hinrich spent the game grinning at his teammates and joking with a friend on the ESU bench.

"Lately I haven't been having fun out there," he said. "I was stressing out. So I decided to kick back."

No. 19 Kansas 87, UCLA 70

Dec. 21, 2002 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

By taking a 26-point lead in the first half, Wayne Simien said he and his teammates showed "a glimpse of how good we can be."

Simien gave more than a peek, producing 19 points and 10 rebounds as the Jayhawks drew wave after wave of roars from the sellout crowd of 16,300 at Allen Fieldhouse.

For Nick Collison, the explosive start rekindled fond memories of KU's run to the 2001-02 Final Four.

"The way we came out in the first half reminds me a little bit of last year, just really getting on teams and dictating the tempo," he said.

No. 19 Kansas 80, California 67

Dec. 28, 2002 Oakland Arena, Oakland, Calif.

KU point guard Aaron Miles distributed 11 assists to go with 16 points as the Jayhawks shot 63.3 percent from the field to win its Pete Newell Classic game. All five starters scored in double figures as KU answered an 18-4 second-half run by the Bears with a 16-5 burst that put the game out of reach.

Newell, the former Cal coach who led the Bears to the NCAA title in 1959, visited KU's locker room afterward..

"I said before the season that I thought you were going to be one of the Final Four teams," he told them, "and now more than ever I think I'm going to see you in New Orleans."

No. 18 Kansas 102, North Carolina-Asheville 50

Jan. 2, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

In a performance straight out of a Harlem Globetrotters game, Kansas stormed to an easy win amid a parade of dunks and trick passes against the overmatched Bulldogs.

All but one of the Jayhawks' 13 players scored, and the top four did it with comical ease in combining to hit 30 of 37 shots.

"We were having so much fun, and when that happens, everybody wants to dunk and everybody wants to score," said Keith Langford, whose personal highlight reel included three slams and a 3-pointer in the game's first six minutes.

No. 18 Kansas 100, UMKC 46

Jan. 4, 2003 Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Mo.

The joy surrounding KU's six-game winning streak turned to anxiety with 9:30 left in the first half when Wayne Simien went down with a dislocated right shoulder.

"You've got a model citizen, a model student, a model kid ... it's just a tough situation," coach Roy Williams said. "I don't even know that much about the basketball game."

Simien was hurt when he leaped to block a shot by UMKC's leading scorer, Michael Watson, but jammed his palm into the underside of the rim. The initial prognosis was that he'd miss at least 7 to 10 days. He wound up being sidelined for six weeks, a span of 11 games.

No. 14 Kansas 83, Iowa State 54

Jan. 6, 2003 Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa

With Wayne Simien on the bench in street clothes, native Iowan Nick Collison put the Jayhawks on his back to score a career-high 31 points as the Jayhawks handed ISU its worst loss in the 31-year history of Hilton Coliseum.

"Last time playing here, being able to walk off the court with a smile on your face, getting a big win like that ... it was just a lot of fun," Collison said.

Collison helped KU shrug off not only Simien's injury but an uncharacteristically bad shooting night by Kirk Hinrich, who went 2 of 11 in his last trip to his home state of Iowa.

No. 14 Kansas 92, Nebraska 59

Jan. 11, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

The Jayhawks suffered a letdown after their emotional win at Iowa State, missing five of their first seven shots and repeatedly allowing the Cornhuskers to score in the paint.

Coach Roy Williams hooked his starters after a little more than five minutes, and eventually KU caught fire to run away from lightly regarded NU.

Kirk Hinrich led the Jayhawks with 28 points while Jeff Graves, filling in for Wayne Simien, recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

No. 12 Kansas 98, Wyoming 70

Jan. 15, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

Coach Roy Williams collected his 400th career victory as Nick Collison hit 12 of 14 shots for 28 points while grabbing 11 rebounds.

All five KU starters scored in double figures as the Jayhawks shot 52.2 percent from the field.

"I'm going to look back on it this summer and think it's great," Williams said of the milestone. "I'm proud of my teams, but I wish people would say, 'his staff and his teams,' when they talk about it instead of just me."

No. 12 Kansas 81, Kansas State 64

Jan. 18, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

With KU product Drew Gooden watching from the stands for the first time, the Jayhawks put on a performance that must have seemed familiar to the 2001-02 All-American.

Fueled by a 15-0 start, the Jayhawks won their 25th straight game against the Wildcats as Gooden returned for a jersey retirement ceremony.

The victory was largely orchestrated by two of Gooden's former classmates, Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich, who combined for 42 points.

Colorado 60, No. 6 Kansas 59

Jan. 22, 2003 Coors Events Center, Boulder, Colo.

KU shot only 32.8 percent while yielding 27 points to CU forward Stephane Pelle, as the Buffaloes broke a 27-game losing streak in the series.

"We weren't ready to play," Kirk Hinrich said. "When you play like we did, it's hard to believe we had a chance to win the game."

With back-to-back games against No. 1-ranked Arizona and No. 4-ranked Texas on the horizon, KU's future looked grim.

"If we play like we played tonight," coach Roy Williams said, "we can't beat anybody, much less the No. 1 team in the country."

No. 1 Arizona 91, No. 6 Kansas 74

Jan. 25, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

KU blew the biggest lead in coach Roy Williams' 15 seasons -- 20 points in the first half -- to drop a second straight game and end a 23-game non-conference home winning streak.

"Today, in the first half, we looked as good as anybody in America," Williams said, "and in the second half we looked like a team that can't win another game the rest of the season. It's impossible to figure out, much less explain it."

Arizona stormed to the win behind 32 points from Salim Stoudamire, who ripped the Jayhawks on 12 of 18 shooting overall while canning 6 of 9 3-point attempts.

No. 12 Kansas 90, No. 3 Texas 87

Jan. 27, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

In a performance that drew a rare standing ovation from ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale, Nick Collison hauled in 23 rebounds and scored 24 points as the Jayhawks scored an electrifying, hard-fought victory.

"The coaches were jumping around after the game, and I think they were a little disappointed because we weren't jumping around with them," Collison said. "But we were just too tired."

Kirk Hinrich was a little winded himself after scoring 25 points and suffering a jagged cut through his right eyebrow, a mark that attested to the game's fierce competitiveness.

No. 12 Kansas 81, Nebraska 51

Feb. 1, 2003 Devaney Center, Lincoln, Neb.

A year after hitting a game-winning shot at the Devaney Center, Keith Langford scored 14 points in the first half and 17 overall as KU handed the Cornhuskers their worst loss at the 26-year-old Devaney Center.

Despite the lopsided margin, the Jayhawks were not entirely pleased with themselves.

"Coach says it's human nature, but we've got to find a way to fight that off and be more intense than that," said Nick Collison, who characterized KU's early struggles in missing his first seven shots. "Last year, it seemed like we were consistent every night and were intense no matter who we were playing. We've got to get back to that."

No. 12 Kansas 76, No. 21 Missouri 70

Feb. 3, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

A week after Nick Collison raged his way to 24 points and 23 rebounds against Texas, Kirk Hinrich took his turn in the Big Monday spotlight by scoring 24 points and almost single-handedly turning back a torrent of Missouri runs.

"Without him, we don't win that game," Keith Langford said.

Leadership from Hinrich and Nick Collison, along with three free throws in the last 30 seconds by Michael Lee, helped KU overcome performances that ranged from listless to downright poor by its other starters.

"Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison and Michael Lee," Williams said. "I ain't saying anything positive about anybody else. I'm not saying anything about the coach, either."

No. 12 Kansas 82, Kansas State 64

Feb. 8, 2003 Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan

After trailing by one at halftime and losing Nick Collison for much of the second half to foul trouble, KU's prospects of a 20th straight victory over Kansas State in Manhattan looked dim.

"I was concerned," Kirk Hinrich said. "But I wasn't going to portray that. As a leader of this team, I try to stay confident."

Hinrich did, scoring a game-high 28 points to push the Jayhawks past the Wildcats.

"Kirk Hinrich was absolutely sensational," coach Roy Williams said. "It's amazing that one guy can give so much strength to everybody else."

No. 9 Kansas 79, Baylor 58

Feb. 11, 2003 Ferrell Center, Waco, Texas

When Baylor defeated Kansas at the Ferrell Center in 2001, Keith Langford was a high school senior watching from the stands. In the rematch, he was a KU sophomore who scored nine points in the last 10 minutes of the first half to help KU overcome a plodding start and hand BU its ninth loss in 10 games.

"I think part of it was I had to wake myself up," he said.

"Everything was flat. Everyone can't be standing around, so I got in the lane and created. I'm not going to hurt the team by standing around."

Langford's spurt keyed a 26-9 KU run that spanned the halves and allowed the Jayhawks to avoid a second straight upset loss in Waco.

No. 9 Kansas 70, Iowa State 51

Feb. 16, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

In an ugly game that featured a shoving match and the ejection of ISU coach Larry Eustachy, KU got 19 points apiece from seniors Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich to remain at the top of the Big 12 standings.

The game featured a jersey retirement ceremony for KU All-American Raef LaFrentz and a reunion of nearly 200 Jayhawk lettermen celebrating the 105th year of Jayhawk basketball, but the sentiment didn't find its way to the court.

Tempers flared in the second half when ISU's Jackson Vroman pushed Wayne Simien, who was making his return from an 11-game absence stemming from a dislocated right shoulder. In a brief melee, KU point guard Aaron Miles swatted at Jared Homan's head and drew a technical.

"It was a really screwed-up day," KU coach Roy Williams said. "It was a dysfunctional start of the game. That was how the whole game was played as well."

No. 6 Kansas 94, Colorado 87

Feb. 19, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

KU got its revenge over Colorado by ruling the paint, as Nick Collison and Wayne Simien combined for 45 points and 27 rebounds to help the Jayhawks overcome a 28-point outburst from CU's Michel Morandais.

The Jayhawks led by as many as 23 points in the second half before the Buffaloes rallied to a 92-87 deficit with 10 seconds remaining. But KU held on at the free-throw line, as point guard Aaron Miles hit two shots to seal the victory.

Simien was forced to the locker room in the second half with recurring pain but returned to play a key role in rebuffing the Buffs.

No. 5 Oklahoma 77, No. 6 Kansas 70

Feb. 23, 2003 Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, Okla.

KU's dual personality -- that inexplicable ability to lose a 20-point lead against Arizona, say, or stumble so badly against North Carolina after a promising start to the season -- returned in full flower against the Sooners.

The Jayhawks stumbled into a 32-point hole just after halftime. Nick Collison missed nine of his first 10 shots.

Then the Jayhawks switched gears to cut the lead to five points over the final 15 minutes. But the first-half stumble proved to be too much, as the Sooners hit free throws in the final seconds to secure the victory.

"If we come out ready to play," Kirk Hinrich said, "maybe we have a chance at winning this game."

No. 7 Kansas 85, Texas A&M 45

Feb. 26, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

Kansas led by a mind-boggling 50 points against the Aggies with 2:53 left, as four Jayhawks scored in double figures while the defense didn't allow a single A&M player to score more than nine.

KU's top two scorers, Kirk Hinrich and Keith Langford, nearly outscored the Aggies by themselves as the duo combined for 41 points.

In a game that featured two players racing to become the Big 12's career scoring leader, Nick Collison outpaced A&M's Bernard King 15-7.

No. 7 Kansas 79, No. 16 Oklahoma State 61

March 1, 2003 Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence

Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich closed their careers in Allen Fieldhouse in storybook style, combining for 43 points to carry the Jayhawks to victory in their home finale.

Collison added to his scoring total with 16 rebounds while Hinrich sank a game-high three 3-pointers.

Their efforts drew more than a little notice by OSU coach Eddie Sutton, who ran to KU's bench and embraced the two after they were lifted in the game's final minutes.

"I just wanted to tell them that they brought a lot of class not only to the University of Kansas but to the Big 12," Sutton said.

No. 6 Kansas 65, Texas Tech 56

March 3, 2003 United Spirit Arena, Lubbock, Texas

With Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich drawing double- and even triple-coverage most times they touched the ball, somebody needed to hit the shots left open by Tech coach Bob Knight's defensive strategy.

Keith Langford did just that. Returning to his home state, Langford drilled 10 of his 13 attempts for a career-high 20 points as KU clinched at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title.

"I'm greedy," Langford said. "I want another ring."

No. 6 Kansas 79, Missouri 74

March 9, 2003 Hearnes Center, Columbia. Mo.

Trailing by three with 1:26 remaining, a 23-foot prayer by Aaron Miles and a "guaranteed" 3-pointer by Kirk Hinrich lifted the Jayhawks to a 79-74 victory and sole possession of the Big 12 regular-season championship.

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. That's what Miles was when he threw up his shot -- "a two-handed sinker ball" Roy Williams called it -- with Ricky Clemons in his face.

Hinrich, though, promised Williams that he'd hit the winning shot if he got open. And with 24 seconds on the game clock and just one on the shot clock, he was true to his word.

Hinrich and Collison finished with 20 points each and the Jayhawks finished the regular season at 24-6, 14-2 in the conference.

Source: HawkZone.com 3/11/03