AUSTIN, Texas — Enough about winning a share of the Big 12 title: Kansas wanted the crown all to itself.
The top-ranked Jayhawks grabbed it in emphatic style Monday night, romping over No. 23 Texas 86-56, an impressive exclamation point on yet another title-winning season.
“That was definitely motivation. We didn’t want to come out flat and thinking the league was over. We wanted to come out and win it outright,” Jayhawks guard Devonte’ Graham said.
Perry Ellis scored 20 points and Kansas settled the question of its undisputed title in the opening minutes with a barrage of 3-pointers, a steady diet of points from Ellis and defense that gave Texas nothing easy.
“For 20-25 minutes, that was about as well as we can play,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “We talked about we don’t want to share anything.”
The Jayhawks (26-4, 14-3) made 11 3-pointers, led by 24 points by halftime and sent Texas’ sellout home crowd headed to the exits early. Ellis finished 9 of 11 from the field.
Frank Mason III added 14 points for Kansas.
Javan Felix scored 13 points for Texas (19-11, 10-7), which has never beaten a No. 1-ranked opponent in nine tries.
Kansas, which spent two weeks at No. 1 in early January, looked every bit the part this time. And in a season the Big 12 finally seemed like it could crown a new champion, the Jayhawks stormed through the second half of the league schedule with a nine-game winning streak to take it again.
Kansas has won nine of its last 10 against Texas, but came into this one expecting a much tougher fight than the Longhorns put up.
With four wins already this season over Top 10 opponents, Texas looked like a team ready to grab another. The Longhorns came in brimming with confidence as the league upstart under first-year coach Shaka Smart. And after its impressive win two days earlier over Oklahoma, Texas turned out its biggest — and rowdiest — crowd of the season.
Fleming leaving UH basketball team
The Hawaii men’s basketball team is entering the final week of the regular season seeking to lock up the Big West regular season title and the No. 1 seed for next week’s Big West tournament in Anaheim, California. They will have to do it without reserve guard Isaac Fleming, who announced he is leaving the program on Monday.
The sophomore announced the decision on Twitter, saying, “It’s official I want to thank the University of Hawaii for everything But I have to do what’s best for me!”
UH athletics director David Matlin confirmed the move in a statement: “During a meeting with Coach Ganot, student-athlete Isaac Fleming asked for his release effective immediately and it was granted. We wish Isaac all the best with his future pursuits.”
Fleming has played in just four of the Rainbow Warriors’ last eight games. He had been averaging just 12 minutes per game, including a season-low five minutes this past Saturday — a 89-78 victory over Cal State Northridge.
