KANSAS — city, mo. One might say that Colorado ran out of gas Friday night, playing in its third Big 12 Tournament game in three days. But the opponent was second-ranked and top-seeded Kansas after all.
Overcoming an early, double-figure deficit, Kansas (31-2, 14-2 Big 12 regular season) clamped down for a 90-83 victory and advanced to today’s championship game. The Jayhawks, who got a first-round bye here, hope to claim their eighth Big 12 tournament title in the league’s 15 years of existence and, more important, gunning for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
“I thought Colorado played great, especially in the first half,” said Kansas coach Bill Self.
The Jayhawks were able to shut down CU standout Cory Higgins, a key factor in their win. Higgins, who had 28 points on Thursday against Kansas State, was 1 for 11 from the field and scored six points.
“I thought Kansas did a great job on Cory,” Buffs’ coach Tad Boyle said. “You have to earn your points against Kansas, they’re not going to break down. I do think in Cory’s case he expended a lot of energy Thursday night and just didn’t have the pep in his step.”
Led by 23 points from Kansas City native Alec Burks, fifth-seeded Colorado (21-13, 8-8 Big 12 regular season) did precisely what it needed to have a chance in the Sprint Center, which some locals have nicknamed “Allen Fieldhouse East” because the Jayhawks feel so much at home here. The Buffs jumped on KU out of the gate.
Scoring the game’s first six points, CU’s opening volley caused Self to turn red in the face as he signaled angrily for a timeout.
Colorado kept it going — for a while, at least.
A 3-pointer by Marcus Relphorde from the top of the key made it 11-2. And the Buffs, quieting the sellout crowd of 18,910 in the early going, forced another KU timeout when a 17-footer by Burks culminated a 9-0 run to make it 22-10.
Kansas looked to their star power for answers, and the Morris brothers willingly grabbed the reins. During a span of a bit less than six minutes they combined for 17 consecutive KU points, with 6-foot-9 All-American Marcus Morris getting seven of his team-high 20 points and 6-10 Markieff Morris taking over to add 10 of his 20.
Suddenly it was Kansas 31, Colorado 29.
Timeout, Buffs.
It’s widely believed that Colorado had already secured a bid to the NCAA Tournament bid Thursday with an 87-75 victory over No. 19 Kansas State, so perhaps CU conserving some energy for next week will be a blessing in disguise.
“It’s definitely a great feeling knowing we’re going to the postseason,” CU’s Levi Knutson said. “I think we’re playing our best basketball right now. That’s something to be proud of.”
The 68-team NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed Sunday at 4 p.m. Mountain time on CBS. Where Colorado will be sent is anyone’s guess at this point. Perhaps CU will only need a bus ride to second- and third-round games in Denver’s Pepsi Center. Or maybe they’ll be shipped to Tucson, Chicago, Cleveland, Tampa, Charlotte or Tulsa or Washington D.C.
In any case, many college basketball analysts believe that Colorado’s win over Kansas State will enable the Buffs to avoid the eight-team opening round in Dayton, Ohio.
Colorado hasn’t played in the NCAA Tournament since 2003, a CU team led by center David Harrison and swingman Michel Morandais. That and a 1997 appearance by the Chauncey Billups-led Buffs is the only other one since 1969.
A victory over Kansas would have improved CU’s seeding, of course. Trailing 43-37 at halftime, the Buffs needed another 20-minute comeback. Not this time. Colorado looked out of sync and out of sorts, committing three turnovers during the first three minutes of the second half – as many as the Buffs had for the entire first half.
And CU’s defense wasn’t there, either. Kansas scored points on its first eight possessions of the second half.
Colorado kept grinding, however, and a flip lay-in by Burks with 1:32 left cut Kansas’ lead to 82-74. Kansas then committed a turnover, giving Colorado a chance to make things really interesting. But CU could pull no close than to within seven points inside a minute.
The Buffs haven’t defeated Kansas since a 2003 Buffs victory in Boulder. CU has not defeated the Jayhawks away from Boulder since 1983, a one-point Colorado win in Lawrence.
CU played Kansas close on Jan. 25 in Boulder, losing 82-78. But the Jayhawks manhandled Colorado 89-63 in Lawrence on Feb. 19.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
