Kansas City, Mo. — There’s something about Syracuse’s basketball team that turns Kansas University’s players into bricklayers from the free-throw line.
“Yeah, I’ve heard the history,” KU sophomore center Cole Aldrich said, referring to the Jayhawks making just 12 of 30 free throws in the 2003 NCAA title game loss to the Orange.
“It’s not quite the best history. We were hoping to change it around. Tonight we weren’t able to,” Aldrich said after the Jayhawks made 11 of 20 charities in an 89-81 overtime loss to the Orange in the finals of the CBE Classic at Sprint Center.
The 6-foot-11 Aldrich actually made five of six free throws; his teammates made six of 14.
However, Aldrich’s big miss, which followed a make with 19.2 seconds left, kept the Jayhawks’ lead at three points, 72-69. It allowed the Orange an opportunity to tie, which Jonny Flynn did by hitting a three from the side over Aldrich with six seconds left.
That three, followed by a Sherron Collins 14-foot miss at :02, forced overtime, which the Orange won handily, 17-9.
“I guess it’s how the ball rolls,” said Aldrich, who finished with 16 rebounds and 15 points. “The one I missed was a tough one. It could have made it a four-point game. The ball just didn’t go in. It’s how basketball goes sometimes.
“It could have made the game end there,” he added of his charity miss. “We shouldn’t have found ourselves in that situation. Syracuse kept fighting. It’s a tough one to swallow.”
KU led by a game-high 13 points (51-38) with 15:21 left. However, the Orange used a 19-5 run to get back in the game and actually grab a 57-56 lead at 8:31.
KU also had a comfy 67-60 lead at 3:51 before the Orange rallied.
“Tough game,” KU coach Bill Self after the Jayhawks saw a nation’s best 16-game winning streak come to an end. “It’s a game we had under control for the most part. We had a couple dry spells, and Syracuse made some big plays down the stretch.
“Our inability to make free throws and put the game away led to them having a great win, because it was a great win for them.”
The star of the game and MVP of the tournament — Flynn — finished with 25 points off 6-of-12 shooting and 11-of-16 free throwing. His big three with six seconds left came with Aldrich guarding him.
Self planned to sub for Aldrich defensively had he made the second free-throw try on the previous KU possession.
“We were switching ball screens. I got switched on,” Aldrich said. “I thought I did a fairly decent job trying to contain him. He got a half step on me, pulled up and hit a tough shot.”
Another big key was Syracuse scoring first in overtime and grabbing the momentum. Arinze Onuaku scored an inside bucket and hit the free throw following a Marcus Morris foul.
KU regained the lead at 76-75 following two clutch Aldrich free throws at 3:08. But Syracuse scored 10 straight points, the Jayhawks committing a turnover on a Marcus Morris pass to Aldrich that was picked off, an airball three from Collins, and missed threes by Reed and Conner Teahan in the stretch.
“We can’t give away three points to start the overtime,” Collins said. “As the leader I feel I let the team down. We made a lot of mistakes you can’t make if you want to beat a team like Syracuse.”
Self noted: “We were in hang-on mode as opposed to attack mode. We had to make some free throws to win the game and didn’t get it done. Last night we made them (15 of 18 in a victory over Washington). Today we didn’t get it done.”
KU will meet Coppin State at 7 p.m. Friday in Allen Fieldhouse.
Comments
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jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
No big deal, if we learn. Freethrows, better passes, protect the ball. Most of it was rookie mistakes, except some horrific playing by Collins when we shook apart for a bit in the second half. It seemed like he got too directly competitive with Flynn, took too much on himself, and made like 3 boneheaded turnovers in a row, then some really bad shots down the stretch. But new team, and the game was fun as hell to watch. Think we'll do pretty well come March, and next year should be a fun ride.
rtwngr (anonymous) says…
This group is going to lose some tough ones. This will not be their year. They are a very talented group though. Cole Aldrich is a man beast.
nobody1793 (anonymous) says…
Not to mention missing like ten layups at the start of the game! Just need to learn to play a whole 40 minute game and they'll be fine.
nergie (anonymous) says…
Tough loss, and I hate that it had to come against Boheim and the rotten Orange. This is the third time this guy has gotten us, 1996, 2003 and yesterday. What is about FT against these guys maybe guys did not have legs.
newmedia (anonymous) says…
Tough loss but I'm excited about this year. I think the kids have already shown they won't back down from anybody.Let them play together a little longer and look out ! Great talents that just need to learn the coach Self system. Rock Chalk
walter_sobchak (anonymous) says…
This is not Vietnam this is bowling there are rules
lawrenceguy40 (anonymous) says…
Self has been so lucky in the last 16 games. That ended last night.It's going to be an ugly season!
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
It drives me crazy that so many stupid fans leave the game early. Who cares if you're disappointed? How do you think the team feels when your sorry butt gets up and leaves early? All of you should be banned from ever buying another KU ticket.
morganlefay (anonymous) says…
Lawrenceguy, you don't know what you're talking about, so you need to shut up. Luck did not get KU the national championship last year, it was great & tough play by those kids and one hell of a coaching job by Self. Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU!!!
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
"Self has been so lucky in the last 16 games. That ended last night."Chuckle. And apparently in all of his previous games, of which he has won with a better percentage than anybody else. Moving on. One thing I've liked so far with this team is that they haven't displayed that horrific apathy that would sometimes seem to come on our team from last year throughout their 3 seasons. Where they come on and seem exhausted already or depressed or something. I'm glad I haven't seen that. Of course, it's still early.
biggunz (anonymous) says…
Yeah, he sounds like the dork on the other article saying Self should be fired. If only people like that understood how dumb they look perhaps they wouldn't spout off in public.
nergie (anonymous) says…
There are a lot of positives to take from the this game and HCBS will build on them. He will also use the negatives to teach the guys. Watching the game last night, Flynn should have ended up in the first row of seats, he should have never had an opportunity to take the shot. I am still bitter we had to lose to Boheim, the guy looks like he is always whining.
JackRipper (anonymous) says…
The fanatical distractions continue while the noose tightens.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
Really, though, a charged atmosphere, last second three to put it into OT, OT dominance. It's payback for the championship game.
BABBOY (anonymous) says…
They will be fine. They were not going to be a number one seed anyway. Get better each week and get in the madness at the end of the year as a middle seed and anything can happen.They have talent. Not like the last few years. But, that will be fixed next year. They are good enough to make a six game run at the end of the year however. And that is all it takes to be NC (see 1988).
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
If there is a rematch with Syracuse come tournament time, I like KU's chances.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
logicsound: As will I, believe me.
SMe (anonymous) says…
I'm wagering they'll make the Elite Eight. Which ain't bad. Anybody else wanna stick their neck(s) out?
LooPerkinsucks (anonymous) says…
Come on Lawrence, don't feel too bad. Atleast you're a football school now... All those fans that left the game early probably went home and cried into their popped collars, and used their own tears for self gradification while looking at last year's team picture.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
Is self gradification to add grades, or perhaps graded terraces? To our hair, or our bodies?
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
(haters: so fun 'cuz they're so dumb)
LooPerkinsucks (anonymous) says…
I thought that's what they said about blondes with huge implants, jonas. Are you grumpy today because you haven't had your daily duckbutter yet, jonas? Better get ya some, jonas!
LooPerkinsucks (anonymous) says…
WOW!!! If you're admitting that Perkins does that to you, you must have a pretty good idea what duckbutter is.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…
"Are you grumpy?"Nope. I don't want to give you the impression that I'm grouchy or angry. I'm quite light-hearted today, thank you.But yes, I suppose that's what they said about blondes, too. Congratulations for your parity.
frisbeenation (anonymous) says…
Amen to Confrontation. KU fans have been taking notes from LA sports fans of late: show up late and leave early. Happens at Allen EVERY game. It seems like the kinds of people who sit at Allen in the Williams Fund seats wouldn't even go to a noisy restaurant. I know it was a late game last night, but if that's the case, why not just stay in your cozy homes and watch it on your giant HD?