KU blows greatest lead in loss in program history

WACO, Texas– Kansas blowing the biggest lead in a loss in the storied program’s history didn’t cost coach Expense Self his funny bone.

“I truthfully think that the oranges that we ate at halftime that Baylor provided was probably the reason that we [were bad] in the 2nd half,” Self said after the No. 11 Jayhawks couldn’t secure a 21-point lead from late in the first half in an 81-70 loss to the Bears on Saturday.The stunning turnaround topped the 20-point lead Kansas blew to Arizona, which was No. 1, at Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 27, 2003. Remarkably

, both times the Jayhawks have actually led by a minimum of 20 points and lost, it was a double-digit problem. In a 91-74 triumph 22 years earlier, the Wildcats stormed back from a 44-24 deficit.Another factor for Self to be more controlled than irritated was the scene in the locker room.”I truly didn’t state much,” Self said.

“I do not think in circumstances like that there’s truly a lot to be stated. Any kind of pick-’em – up talk isn’t going to be heard. And there’s no reason to get on any person. “Freshman Robert Wright III scored 20 of his 24 points for the Bears( 14-7, 6-4 Huge 12)after the break, when Kansas led 40-21 after going on 38-17 in the last minutes of the first half.Baylor opened the 2nd half on a 26-6 run, capped by Wright’s free tosses for a 47-46 lead, triggering one of numerous deafening roars from the sellout crowd at Foster Pavilion.The Jayhawks(15-6, 6-4)got the lead back to 10 and were still up 8 with 6 minutes to go, when Baylor finished on a 26-7 run to top a 60-point second half.Jalen Celestine’s tiebreaking 3-pointer put the Bears up for excellent 66-63 with 4 minutes remaining.Baylor completed the rally without VJ Edgecombe, the team’s leading scorer in Big 12 games. The Bears were in the middle of the huge resurgence when the freshman, who had 14 points

, limped to the locker space due to an injury. He didn’t return.”If you do not think in wonders, that 2nd half, such a minimal bench and against a Hall of Fame coach and a great team that don’t beat themselves,”Baylor coach Scott Drew said.

“I think our crowd deserves a great deal of credit. We only had 11 assists, but I believe the crowd gets 10 of them.”The collapse by the Jayhawks came a week after sixth-ranked Houston managed improbable rallies in the last seconds of guideline and the very first overtime in a double-OT win at Allen Fieldhouse

.”Yeah, there’s some concern, “Self said.” It was two different type games. The method the [Baylor] game ended was indicative of how the entire second half went. It wasn’t just a closeout.

“The Jayhawks had a 20-0 edge in bench scoring at the break, however Celestine assisted to close that space by going 4-of-6 on 3-pointers after halftime. The last bench scoring margin was 28-12. Kansas had 3 fewer turnovers(14) than Baylor

, but was outscored 24-11 in points off turnovers. The Bears scored 15 of those points after the break, and the Jayhawks shot 36 %in the second half.Hunter Dickinson scored 20 points for the Jayhawks, who didn’t get

constant scoring from anybody else. “They were as good as we were the first half, plus,”Self stated of the second half. “And we were as bad as they were the first half, plus.”