Stats, facts: KU is 3-2 all time in NCAA tournament play in Atlanta. The Jayhawks’ 33-4 record was the team’s best mark since 35-4 in 1997-98. KU’s 20-point deficit with over six minutes left was KU’s largest deficit in a game all year. Previous deficit was 15 at UCLA. Steve Blake tied an opponent high with 11 assists. T.J. Ford of Texas also had 11. . The crowd of 53,378 was second largest in KU history. Gooden pulled down his 900th rebound. Aaron Miles has 252 assists, passing Ryan Robertson for second place on KU’s all-time single season assist charts. Miles set career highs in free throws made (10) and attempts (12). Boschee finished in ninth place on KU’s all-time career scoring list (1,560), passing Calvin Thompson and Kenny Gregory.

Ex-Jayhawks in attendance: Some former KU players in the crowd Saturday: Scot Pollard, Jacque Vaughn, Eric Pauley, Milt Newton, Greg Gurley, T.J. Pugh, Billy Thomas, Sean Pearson, Bud Stallworth, Ron Franz, Bob Kenney, Roger Morningstar, Al Kelley, Bill Hougland. Former KU coach Ted Owens also attended.

Parents in the crowd: Floyd and Rosann Boschee; Ray and Suzan Carey; Jim and Nancy Hinrich; Ulla Lear (Drew Gooden’s mom); Andrew Gooden II; Dave and Judy Collison; Bryant Nash, Sr., and Grendia Forshee (Bryant Nash); Wayne and Margaret Simien; Andre Langford and Charlene Taylor (Keith Langford); Mark and Arnella Miles; John Lee, Sr.; Larry and Barb Ballard; Frank and Cecelia Harrison; Ron and Shelley Zerbe.

Jordan loves Roy: Former Jayhawk point guard Adonis Jordan, who reached the Final Four in both 1991 and ’93, of course has been rooting for KU coach Roy Williams to win his first national championship.

Jordan, you recall, signed with Kansas in 1989, despite the fact KU was facing probation. Williams has never forgotten the loyalty Jordan showed in honoring a commitment, trusting Williams the probation would not be severe.

“You have to get away from it or in my case play for other coaches to see the difference, to see how good he is,” Jordan said. “If you take all the ingredients you want in a coach, he’d be close to perfect.”