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Kansas Jayhawks Stagger In Quarterfinal Win Over TCU At Big 12 Tournament

Greg Echlin
/
KCUR

Though the Kansas Jayhawks won their 11th straight regular season title, they didn’t look like a championship team in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals. But they beat TCU, 64-59, to advance to the semis.

Already without Cliff Alexander for their fourth straight game with an NCAA eligibility issue, the ninth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks also played without their leading scorer, Perry Ellis, who has a knee injury. But KU coach Bill Self doesn’t want to go down the same road as last year when he lost his starting center, Joel Embiid, at the end of the season with an injury.

“I’m not going to let it be a distraction for our team because everybody just says, ‘’Cliff-Perry, Cliff- Perry, Cliff-Perry,’” said Self. “You’re talking about two guys who didn’t even play.”

Those who played struggled to score. The Jayhawks didn’t make a three-pointer for the second straight game.

In the semifinals starting Friday night at 6, the Jayhawks will play Baylor whom they beat twice this season.

Sports have an economic and social impact on our community and, as a sports reporter, I go beyond the scores and statistics. I also bring the human element to the sports figures who have a hand in shaping the future of not only their respective teams but our town. Reach me at gregechlin@aol.com.
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