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Kansas Basketball: Ranking the Jayhawks’ 12 Big 12-winning teams

By Matt Ostrowski

Feb 27, 2016; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks fans cheer from the stands after the Jayhawks defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 67-58 winning their twelfth consecutive Big 12 titles at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Lawrence, KS, USA; Kansas Jayhawks fans cheer from the stands after the Jayhawks defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 67-58 winning their twelfth consecutive Big 12 titles at Allen Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 27, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Xavier Henry (7) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 108-105. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Xavier Henry (7) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 108-105. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

1. 2009-10 (33-3, 15-1 Big 12)

While the 2007-08 Jayhawks had a bit of luck on their side in winning the championship, this year’s Jayhawks had quite a bit of bad luck on their side in losing in the round of 32 to Northern Iowa. Sherron Collins and Tyshawn Taylor, their starting backcourt, combined to go just 4-of-19 from the floor, and the team as a whole shot 26 percent from three when they were one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country that season.

Seven of the 12 teams in the conference this year went to the NCAA Tournament, yet Kansas nearly ran the table, and won the conference by four games. If you include the Big 12 Tournament, they went 3-0 against Denis Clemente, Jacob Pullen, and Kansas State, who was probably the second best team in the conference. Of the other teams to tie for second at 11-5 (Texas A&M and Baylor), Kansas went 3-0 against them.

Their only conference loss was a late-season loss at Oklahoma State (remember what I said about them never playing well at Gallagher-Iba?), who was desperate for a big win to make it to the tournament while Kansas was already in sleep-walk mode. Acceptable, I’d say.

They had two All-Americans: senior point guard Sherron Collins and center, shot-blocking extraordinaire Cole Aldrich. They had one of the best freshmen in the country, and one of the better three-point shooters, Xavier Henry, on the wing. Tyshawn Taylor cut down on his turnovers to join Collins in the backcourt and provide a dual point guard lineup. Not to mention Marcus Morris, who was extremely efficient and would become an All-American just one season later.

Off the bench, they brought Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar, two more knockdown three-point shooters to stretch the floor for Collins and Taylor. Plus the other Morris twin, Markieff, who was just as efficient and effective as his brother was, but in less playing time.

More busting brackets: NCAA Basketball: 10 Coaches on the Hot Seat

Sometimes, you just have to appreciate the guts it took to take this shot:

And the other 99% of the time, it still hurts.

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