With a win over Oklahoma Feb. 22, the Jayhawks clinched at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title, making it the sixth-straight and 53rd conference championship for Kansas.

“The league is great, and to be the number one-rated RPI league and to clinch in game 13 out of 16, that is a pretty special deal,” Bill Self said. “Clinching isn't good enough. We have to go take care of business.”

Following the win, Self said that the conference title is not the biggest story of the year, but from a coach's perspective, it is an unbelievable accomplishment. Although he was excited about the win, Self and his Jayhawks have a bigger goal in mind.

“Of course here at KU, it doesn't matter if you win six in a row,” Self said. “They weren't talking about us winning the conference championship when Bucknell or Bradley beat us.”

The Jayhawks will aim to clinch the title outright with a victory against Sunflower Showdown rival Kansas State on Wednesday night.

Coach Self earns 400th career victory

On Feb. 13, Kansas defeated Iowa State 73-59, and the victory marked the 400th career win for coach Bill Self. Self is now 403-147 in his 17th season of coaching at the division I level. He is 196-42 in his seventh year at KU. Self was 55-54 in four years at Oral Roberts, 74-27 in three seasons at Tulsa and 78-24 in three years at Illinois before coming to Kansas.

Collins and Morningstar set mark

As the Jayhawks cruised to an 81-68 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners, a few more pages were written for the Kansas basketball record books. Senior guard Sherron Collins and redshirt-junior Brady Morningstar became the all-time winningest players in KU basketball history with 124 wins.

“I've just been a player that loves to win,” Collins said. “There was never ‘I’ in team and there have been other players that helped me get this far. It shows how good Coach has been.”

Aldrich receives top honor

Junior Cole Aldrich has been named ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Basketball Academic All-American of the Year.

With his achievements on the court and in the classroom, Aldrich became just the second Jayhawk basketball player to garner the Academic All-American of the Year honor and the 14th to be named Academic All-America First Team. The only other Jayhawk to receive the Academic All-American of the Year award was Jacque Vaughn, who won the award in 1997.

“It's a huge honor because I just try to give as much hard work in the classroom as I do on the court,” Aldrich said. “It really paid off and I really take pride in my academics.”

Sherron and Cole on Naismith List

KU senior Sherron Collins and junior Cole Aldrich have been named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Candidates list.

The top 30 midseason men’s list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season. Two schools, Kansas and Kentucky, are represented by two players apiece.

The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T is the most prestigious national basketball award and is given annually to the men’s college basketball player of the year. This year, the award will be presented at the NCAA Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis.

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