KU basketball beats rivals
The KU men's basketball team defeated Missouri for the second time of the season with a 92-74 victory Feb. 10. The win, led by a 33-point effort by sophomore Julian Wright, marked Bill Self's 300th coaching victory.
In the 257th meeting between the rivals, Wright collected 12 rebounds in addition to his 33 points, for his fourth double-double of the season. His 12 rebounds tie a career high, and the 33 points represent the most by a Jayhawk in league action since Danny Manning scored 37 at Missouri on Feb. 27, 1988. Wright's previous career high was 23, which he logged earlier this season against Rhode Island.
The win gave KU an additional 1.5 points in the Midwest Ford Dealers Border Showdown—a head-to-head all-sport competition between KU and Missouri. Missouri currently leads the overall showdown. However, several contests still remain between the two schools. For a complete update on the Border Showdown, visit the KU Athletics Web site.
The KU-MU rivalry dates back to 1891, when the Jayhawk football team faced off against the Tigers in Kansas City's Exposition Park. Since then, fans, players and coaches alike have been swept up in the competition. Legendary KU football coach Don Fambrough, d'48, has been one of Missouri's loudest opponents, and this year, in honor of the rivalry, Fambrough lent his name and modified storyline to the book The Three Little Jayhawks, which features the big, bad Missouri Tiger.
In the most recent twist, KU student Tim Burgess is spearheading an effort to continue the 116-year struggle and honor Fambrough simultaneously. Although the idea has not been presented to city officials, Burgess suggests changing the name of Missouri Street between Ninth and 11th streets to Fambrough. The section of the street ends at Memorial Stadium, and according to Burgess, the placement is "annoying." Lawrence streets are named after the 50 states in order of their entry to the Union; the location of Missouri, the 24th state, is coincidental.
The basketball win against Missouri was the second during KU's Rivalry Week. On Feb. 7, the Jayhawks defeated in-state rival Kansas State, 97-70, in Allen Field House. Overall, five KU players scored in double figures, including 14 from freshman forward Darrell Arthur and 11 each from sophomore guard Mario Chalmers and freshman guard Sherron Collins, who tied his career-high with seven assists.
The Jayhawks are now 22-4 on the season, which marks the 18th consecutive year that KU has won at least 22 games.
