TULSA, Okla. — One year ago, Kansas’ players covered their heads in towels, drooping in the locker room after an upset loss that seemed unfathomable.
Now, they’re jumping for joy.
In a bracket filled with upsets, the Jayhawks are the last favorite standing after a 73-59 win Sunday night over Illinois ensured they wouldn’t make an opening-weekend exit from the tournament for the second straight year.
“Those guys have been reminded of Northern Iowa every day for the last 365 days,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “It was good to get that monkey off our back, so to speak, but there’s bigger fish to fry. Now it’s time to go play.”
Twin brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris combined for 41 points and 24 rebounds, powering the Jayhawks ahead in the second half against an opponent that was no midmajor upstart. Demetri McCamey and Mike Davis both put their names into the NBA draft before returning for one last season with the senior-laden Fighting Illini (20-14), who were once ranked as high as No. 12.
The Morris twins scored 24 of Kansas’ first 29 points in the second half, punctuated by consecutive two-handed slams by Markieff that made it 62-51 with 3:51 to play.
In the final minute, Self pulled his veterans, and they were able to give fist bumps to teammates all down the bench, and even the mascot.
“It feels good. It feels like we’ve got a lot of pressure off our shoulders,” said Markieff Morris, who had 24 points and 12 rebounds. “It feels good to go to San Antonio. Now that we got past this weekend, we got over the hump and we’re ready for next weekend.”
Davis led the Fighting Illini (20-14) with 17 points.
Va. Commonwealth 94, Purdue 76
CHICAGO — Bradford Burgess scored 23 points as the Rams (26-11) moved into the round of 16 for the first time in school history.
Jamie Skeen added 13 points in a balanced scoring attack as the Rams led by as many 20, shutting down the Boilermakers (26-8) and, for most of the night, quieting a large contingent of Purdue fans at the United Center.
Big Ten player of the year JaJuan Johnson scored 25 in his final game for the Boilermakers to go with 14 rebounds. But Purdue’s other star, E’Twaun Moore, struggled and managed just 10 points on 5-of-15 shooting.
Florida State 71, Notre Dame 57.
Bernard James scored 14 points and Michael Snaer added 13 as the Seminoles (23-10) advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1993.
Notre Dame (27-7), which didn’t look anything like the team that had won 13 of its previous 15 games, was held to 31 percent shooting — 7-of-30 from 3-point range.
The Associated Press
