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Kansas routs Colorado

Feb 17, 2008 - 12:16 AM LAWRENCE, Kansas (Ticker) -- On a day when Kansas celebrated 110 years of basketball, the third-ranked Jayhawks treated more than 200 former players, coaches and staff members to a dominant defensive performance.

Mario Chalmers led a balanced attack with 13 points Saturday as Kansas pulled away in the second half to rout Colorado, 69-45, in a Big 12 Conference contest.

In rebounding from Monday's 72-69 defeat at Texas, the Jayhawks (24-2, 9-2 Big 12) allowed a season low in points. They held Richard Roby, the Big 12's fourth-leading scorer, to two points on 1-of-11 shooting.

Kansas, which improved 18-0 at Allen Fieldhouse this season, paid tribute to the school's 1988 national championship team and the Jayhawks wore blue retro 1988 uniforms.

Early on, Kansas did not look like a championship team and had some trouble handling Colorado's 3-2 zone. The Buffaloes (10-14, 2-8) also slowed down the Jayhawks by dictating the tempo.

Kansas coach Bill Self suggested that the Jayhawks were jittery playing in front of some past Kansas greats. Among those in attendance was Larry Brown, the coach of the 1988 championship.

"I think our players were a little bit nervous," Self said. "Afterwards, I asked, 'How many of you were nervous because he was here today?', and everyone of them raised their hand."

Self also was unhappy with the Jayhawks' passing, even though they did have assists on 22 of their 25 baskets.

"Our passing was pitiful today in transition, like throwing the ball to the next guy and having him catch it at his ankles," he said. "We certainly had some unforced errors and then you look up at the stat sheet and we only had 12 turnovers. We did some good things today."

Marcus Hall's layup pulled Colorado within 23-18 with 6:03 remaining in the first half, but Kansas took control by holding the Buffaloes scoreless for more than five minutes. They opened a 32-20 lead at the half.

"We didn't do anything that you're supposed to do to win a basketball game," Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "We didn't defend, we didn't rebound, we didn't pass the ball and we didn't cut hard. Plain and simple, we're disappointed."

In the second half, the Jayhawks put on a show for their predecessors and spread around the wealth. Kansas began the second half with aa 18-4 spurt, building a 50-24 cushion.

Darnell Jackson finished with 12 points, while five other players scored at least six for Kansas.

"It's kind of tough coming (off) a loss," said forward Darrell Arthur, who contributed eight points for the Jayhawks. "I thought we did a lot of good things, offensively and defensively. The guards did a good job of getting the ball where it needed to be."

Self had few complaints with the Jayhawks' defense, which held the Buffaloes to 35 percent shooting (17-of-48).

"We did as great a job in recent memory off our scouting report defense," he said. "I don't think we gave up one back-door layup the whole night."

The Jayhawks frustrated Roby, who came in averaging 17 points per game.

"We were switching on him," Jackson said. "We did a good job. I know that he's mad that he only scored two points but he'll get out of it next game."

Bzdelik, however, was not as quick to praise Kansas' defense.

"Richard contributed to Richard," he said. "He did not cut to get himself open. He didn't stay disciplined in the offense. He didn't pass the ball to teammates. You have to be an active participant in your own rescue."

Jackson enjoyed Saturday's game for another reason.

"I love retro," he said. "I wish we wore them every game. We have to mix it up."