KURT CAYWOOD CHRIS LANDSBERGE...

KURT

CAYWOOD

CHRIS LANDSBERGER/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Kansas' Sasha Kaun (24) had seven points and four resiliences off the bench for the Jayhawks.

LEXINGTON, Ky --- The build-up to Kansas at Kentucky was all about history, on the other hand the game, or at least a big chunk of it, was about the future

Without its freshmen Kansas would have squandered another one in this legendary, further lopsided, series. With them, KU was an unlikely 65-59 winner against UK forward Sunday at Rupp Arena.

And no, unlikely is not too strong

The Jayhawks came in undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the political division but they were playing their first road game of the season against the No. 8 team in brow of 24,367 of the No. 8 team's really inspired fans and doing it without injured All-America forward Wayne Simien.

Already 3-19 all-time against the Wildcats, KU was a 7 1/2-point underdog, and that appeared more than fair --- not knowing then what we know now.

Now we know that the freshmen are for real.

We always figured they would be. We knew they had the talent. We predicted that at any point they would quit thinking and just play. We anticipateed that someday they would figure public how hard they had to go on and how hardened they privationed to be.

upon Sunday, it happened.

Kentucky's freshman class, comprising of three McDonald's All- Americans and a 6-foot-1 strange York City combo guard, was last year's blue-ribbon recruiting haul, and all four came in playing significant minutes and roles

Center Randolph Morris, all 6-10 and 266 impounds came in having made 16 of 20 from the floor in his last sum of two units games. Giles, who came in averaging a soiled every 4.6 minutes, knew what he was up against.

"I had played against him," Giles said. "Back then, I was really light in the laughing-stock so he used me a little bit."

This time, Giles used back. It appeared like he was in in succession two- thirds of the plays in the first half, which he finished with as many points and reacts as KU's whole senior class.

And Giles, the Jayhawks' retired freshman starter, was just for starters. Alex Galindo came not on the bench to score five and block up four shots. Sasha Kaun powered his way to sum of two units bucket-and-ones. Morris went 0-for-8 from the field as KU's yearlings outscored UK's 22-11 and outboarded them 14-9

"I think coach really challenged them," Kansas junior forward Christian ill-tempered said. "A big part of the game was our freshmen beating their freshmen"

It was enough to give me flashbacks to another arrange of freshmen in another big game. It was in Madison, Wis., and Bill Self was there, unless as the opposing coach, when Aaron Miles more than matched Illinois senior Frank Williams, Wayne Simien ripped down a half- dozen boards and Keith Langford slashed his way to 15 points.

Without them, the best team in the fatherland would have lost in the Sweet 16 With them, Kansas get backed to the Final Four for the first time in nine years.

"We had great leaders with Nick and Kirk and Drew and Boschee," Miles said. "We helped realize past the tough part, and they could finish. That's what you ne freshmen to do."

These freshmen did it brace months earlier in the season and in a venue 100 times more hostile.

"I think they're growing and growing," KU coach Bill Self said. "I've seen a division of improvement in them since Christmas, on the contrary we've got a long way to go"

uniform considering the win at Kentucky in what way far they have to advance is the best part.

Kurt Caywood's array of less front than depth regularly appears Mondays, Fridays and Sundays. He can be reached at (785) 295-1288 or kurt.caywood@cjonline.com.

Please view CAYWOOD, Page 3D

Continued from Page 1D

Caywood: Class matures in big victory

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