For 20 minutes, an obscure guard from UNC Greensboro named Jay Joseph did an uncanny impression of Kobe Bryant.

Joseph. a 6-foot-4 junior from New Wales, Pa., made nine of 11 shots, including four of five from three-point range, and scored 22 points in Friday nightâÂÂs Preseason NIT quarterfinal in Allen Fieldhouse.

âÂÂThatâÂÂs happened to me in a couple of games,â Joseph said. âÂÂI felt I was in a zone. I got in a rhythm.âÂÂ

Not in the last 20 minutes. Kansas exploded from a 48-31 halftime bulge and routed the Spartans, 105-66.

âÂÂIn the second half, I ran out of gas a little,â Joseph said. âÂÂTheyâÂÂre a big, physical team, and they take a lot out of you. They get down the court so quick. They play you at both ends and make it a long game.âÂÂ

In the second half, Joseph made two of seven shots and settled for five points. Still, he collected a career-high 27 points.

âÂÂIâÂÂm proud of him. He kept us in it,â UNCG coach Fran McCaffery said, âÂÂbut we needed to do a better job of diversifying the offense. We got no offense from virtually anyone else.âÂÂ

No other Spartans scored in double figures even though few were bashful about launching shots.

âÂÂYou canâÂÂt go into Allen Fieldhouse and quick-shoot the basketball,â McCaffery said. âÂÂWe talked about that for three days. DonâÂÂt quick-shoot the basketball. ThatâÂÂs what upset me. We came in here and did it anyway.âÂÂ

Not only did the Spartans quick-shoot, they quickly turned the ball over – 25 giveaways in all with 17 coming in the second half. Back-up point guard Ray Bristow was charged with seven gaffes and starting point guard Ronnie Taylor five.

âÂÂKansas gets down the floor as fast as any team in America,â McCaffery said. âÂÂTheir big guys run so well, and we couldnâÂÂt stop the tide.âÂÂ

Or as center Luke Boythe said: âÂÂItâÂÂs a lot different running down the court on the break than it is running back on defense on the break.âÂÂ

Boythe, a 6-7 senior from Charlotte, N.C., was just one of the UNCG big men who couldnâÂÂt handle the Jayhawks inside.

âÂÂTheyâÂÂre tough guys,â Boythe said. âÂÂItâÂÂs all you can do to keep your position underneath. And we wilted under their pressure a little bit. Their intensity is unbelievable. ItâÂÂs whole different level.âÂÂ

ItâÂÂs different than what UNCG is accustomed to seeing in the Southern Conference, thatâÂÂs for sure.

âÂÂThey battle on every possession,â McCaffery said of the Jayhawks. âÂÂFor us, itâÂÂs an education of what championship basketball is all about.âÂÂ

While KUâÂÂs intensity wore UNCG down in the second half, Keith LangfordâÂÂs shooting ruined McCafferyâÂÂs plans in the first half. Langford made six of seven shots, including a couple of three-pointers.

âÂÂLangford is known as a slasher, but I think heâÂÂs expanded his game. He looks like he worked on it this summer,â McCaffery said. âÂÂHe really got their offense going. We felt if we do a good job on (Nick) Collison and (Kirk) Hinrich, weâÂÂve got a shot.âÂÂ

Still, it was the Jayhawksâ patented relentless defense that prevented the Spartans from having any shot at all.

âÂÂIn my opinion,â said Boythe, âÂÂtheyâÂÂre the best team in America.âÂÂ

Moreover, Boythe added, Kansas has the best arena heâÂÂs ever seen.

âÂÂIâÂÂve been to Duke and IâÂÂve been to New Mexico and played in The Pit,â he said. âÂÂAnd IâÂÂve been to Ohio State. IâÂÂm from North Carolina, and this place is unbelievable.âÂÂ