# 2011–12 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team

The 2011–12 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team represented the University of Kansas in the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, which was the Jayhawks' 114th basketball season. As in every season since 1955–56, the team played its home games at Allen Fieldhouse on its campus in Lawrence, Kansas, US. After defeating rival Missouri on February 25, the Jayhawks clinched their 8th straight outright Big 12 championship. After defeating North Carolina, the Jayhawks advanced to their 14th Final Four in school history, where they defeated Ohio State 64-62 in the national semifinals. On April 2, Kansas faced Kentucky for the national title, losing to the favored Wildcats 67-59. Kansas had played both of its Final Four opponents during the regular season, losing to Kentucky on November 15 and defeating Ohio State on December 10. They finished the season with a 32–7 overall record, and 16–2 in Big 12 play.

## Pre–season
### Departures

The Jayhawks lost graduating seniors Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed, and Mario Little. Juniors and twin brothers Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris, plus freshman Josh Selby, departed early to enter the 2011 NBA draft. On June 23, Markieff and Marcus were drafted #13 and #14, respectively, in the first round of the draft, while Selby went in the second. Royce Woolridge also announced on April 16, 2011 his intent to transfer to another school for the following year, signing with Washington State.

### Recruiting

On October 12, 2010, 4-star point guard Naadir Tharpe signed a letter of intent to join the Jayhawks as a freshman for the 2011–12 season. The 6-foot prep all-star chose Kansas over offers from Oklahoma, Minnesota, Boston College, Marquette, NC State, UNLV and others. He was previously committed to Providence. On January 24, 2011, combo-guard Christian Garrett joined the team as a walk-on. He was also recruited by NC State, Auburn, Alabama, and others. On April 3, 2011, 5-star shooting guard Ben McLemore from St. Louis, Missouri, verbally committed to Kansas after the Next All-American Classic High-School All-Star Game, over offers from Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, Arkansas, Purdue, and others. On April 10, 2011, Canadian forward Braeden Anderson committed to the Jayhawks over Kentucky, Arizona, Memphis, and Missouri. Jamari Traylor joined in May, while June saw the additions of Kevin Young and Merv Lindsay.

#### Eligibility

Three of Kansas' six recruits were declared ineligible for the 2011–12 season. Braeden Anderson was not approved to play by the Big 12 Conference due to their policy on partial qualifiers. Ben McLemore and Jamari Traylor were also declared ineligible but were able to practice with the team during the spring semester, and would be eligible to play in the 2012–13 season.

#### Class of 2011

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Ben McLemore SG | St. Louis, Missouri | Christian Life Center Academy | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Apr 3, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 95 ||||||
| Naadir Tharpe PG | Worcester, MA | Brewster Academy | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Oct 12, 2010 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 93 ||||||
| Jamari Traylor PF | Chicago, Illinois | IMG Academy (FL) | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | May 18, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 89 ||||||
| Mervyn Lindsay SF | Moreno Valley, California | Canyon Springs HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jun 23, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 77 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 28 Rivals: 28 247 Sports: 17 ESPN: 22 ||||||
Transfers
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Kevin Young PF | Perris, California | Perris HS / Loyola Marymount University | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Jun 16, 2011 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A ESPN grade: 67 ||||||

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Exhibition |||||||||
| 11/01/11* 7:00 pm, Jayhawk Network | No. 13 | Pittsburg State | W 84–55 | – | 21 – Teahan | 12 – Withey | 8 – Tharpe | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 11/08/11* 7:00 pm, Jayhawk Network | No. 13 | Fort Hays State | W 101–52 | – | 22 – Robinson | 12 – Robinson | 7 – Tharpe | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| 11/11/11* 7:00 pm, Jayhawk Network | No. 13 | Towson Maui Invitational Opening Round | W 100–54 | 1–0 | 18 – Robinson | 11 – Robinson | 8 – Johnson | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 11/15/11* 8:00 pm, ESPN | No. 12 | vs. No. 2 Kentucky Champions Classic | L 65–75 | 1–1 | 22 – Taylor | 15 – Robinson | 4 – Johnson | Madison Square Garden (19,979) New York, NY |
| 11/21/11* 11:50 pm, ESPN2 | No. 14 | vs. Georgetown Maui Invitational Quarterfinals | W 67–63 | 2–1 | 20 – Robinson | 12 – Robinson | 5 – Johnson | Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Maui, HI |
| 11/22/11* 9:30, ESPN | No. 14 | vs. UCLA Maui Invitational Semifinals | W 72–56 | 3–1 | 23 – Johnson | 10 – Robinson | 6 – Taylor | Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Maui, HI |
| 11/23/11* 10:00 pm, ESPN | No. 14 | vs. No. 6 Duke Maui Invitational Championship | L 61–68 | 3–2 | 17 – Taylor | 18 – Robinson | 4 – Taylor | Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Maui, HI |
| 11/30/11* 7:00 pm, Jayhawk Network | No. 15 | Florida Atlantic | W 77–54 | 4–2 | 19 – Robinson | 21 – Robinson | 4 – Releford | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 12/03/11* 4:15 pm, ESPN2 | No. 15 | South Florida | W 70–42 | 5–2 | 24 – Taylor | 8 – Robinson | 5 – Taylor | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 12/06/11* 8:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 13 | Long Beach State | W 88–80 | 6–2 | 26 – Robinson | 13 – Withey | 5 – Johnson | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 12/10/11* 2:15 pm, ESPN | No. 13 | No. 2 Ohio State | W 78–67 | 7–2 | 21 – Robinson | 7 – (2 tied) | 13 – Taylor | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 12/19/11* 8:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 12 | vs. Davidson M&I Bank Kansas City Shootout | L 74–80 | 7–3 | 21 – Robinson | 18 – Robinson | 7 – Taylor | Sprint Center (18,757) Kansas City, MO |
| 12/22/11* 10:00 pm, FSN | No. 12 | at USC | W 63–47 | 8–3 | 13 – Teahan | 9 – (2 tied) | 4 – Johnson | Galen Center (6,431) Los Angeles, CA |
| 12/29/11* 7:00 pm, Jayhawk Network | No. 17 | Howard | W 89–34 | 9–3 | 13 – (2 tied) | 7 – Robinson | 5 – (2 tied) | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 12/31/11* 7:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 17 | North Dakota | W 84–58 | 10–3 | 30 – Robinson | 21 – Robinson | 7 – Johnson | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 1/04/12 7:00 pm, Big 12 Network | No. 14 | No. 23 Kansas State Sunflower Showdown | W 67–49 | 11–3 (1–0) | 16 – Releford | 14 – Robinson | 5 – Johnson | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 1/07/12 1:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 14 | at Oklahoma | W 72–61 | 12–3 (2–0) | 28 – Releford | 9 – Robinson | 6 – Taylor | Lloyd Noble Center (11,268) Norman, OK |
| 1/11/12 8:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 10 | at Texas Tech | W 81–46 | 13–3 (3–0) | 19 – Robinson | 12 – Robinson | 5 – Taylor | United Spirit Arena (7,454) Lubbock, TX |
| 1/14/12 3:00 pm, Big 12 Network | No. 10 | Iowa State | W 82–73 | 14–3 (4–0) | 28 – Taylor | 14 – Robinson | 6 – Taylor | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 1/16/12 8:30 pm, ESPN | No. 7 | No. 3 Baylor | W 92–74 | 15–3 (5–0) | 28 – Taylor | 14 – Robinson | 6 – Taylor | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 1/21/12 3:00 pm, CBS | No. 7 | at Texas | W 69–66 | 16–3 (6–0) | 22 – Taylor | 9 – Robinson | 4 – Taylor | Frank Erwin Center (16,734) Austin, TX |
| 1/23/12 8:00 pm, ESPN | No. 5 | Texas A&M | W 64–54 | 17–3 (7–0) | 18 – Robinson | 10 – Robinson | 4 – Releford | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 1/28/12 1:00 pm, ESPN | No. 5 | at Iowa State | L 64-72 | 17–4 (7–1) | 16 – Taylor | 7 – Robinson | 10 – Taylor | Hilton Coliseum (14,376) Ames, IA |
| 2/01/12 8:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 8 | Oklahoma | W 84–62 | 18–4 (8–1) | 21 – Taylor | 17 – Robinson | 6 – Taylor | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 2/04/12 8:00 pm, ESPN | No. 8 | at No. 4 Missouri Border War, ESPN College GameDay | L 71–74 | 18–5 (8–2) | 25 – Robinson | 13 – Robinson | 4 – Johnson | Mizzou Arena (15,061) Columbia, MO |
| 2/08/12 8:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 7 | at No. 6 Baylor | W 68–54 | 19–5 (9–2) | 25 – Withey | 11 – Robinson | 5 – Johnson | Ferrell Center (10,334) Waco, TX |
| 2/11/12 3:00 pm, Big 12 Network | No. 7 | Oklahoma State | W 81–66 | 20–5 (10–2) | 24 – Robinson | 20 – Withey | 6 – Taylor | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 2/13/12 8:00 pm, ESPN | No. 4 | at Kansas State Sunflower Showdown | W 59–53 | 21–5 (11–2) | 20 – Taylor | 11 – Withey | 5 – (2 Tied) | Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) Manhattan, KS |
| 2/18/12 7:00 pm, Big 12 Network | No. 4 | Texas Tech | W 83–50 | 22–5 (12–2) | 16 – Robinson | 8 – (2 tied) | 5 – Robinson | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 2/22/12 8:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 4 | at Texas A&M | W 66–58 | 23–5 (13–2) | 21 – Johnson | 13 – Robinson | 4 – (2 tied) | Reed Arena (6,868) College Station, TX |
| 2/25/12 3:00 pm, CBS | No. 4 | No. 3 Missouri Border War | W 87–86 $^{OT}$ | 24–5 (14–2) | 28 – Robinson | 12 – Robinson | 8 – Johnson | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| 2/27/12 8:00 pm, ESPN | No. 3 | at Oklahoma State | W 70–58 | 25–5 (15–2) | 27 – Taylor | 11 – Robinson | 6 – Johnson | Gallagher-Iba Arena (10,552) Stillwater, OK |
| 3/03/12 8:00 pm, ESPN | No. 3 | Texas | W 73–63 | 26–5 (16–2) | 27 – Robinson | 14 – Robinson | 4 – Taylor | Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) Lawrence, KS |
| Big 12 Tournament |||||||||
| 03/08/12 2:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 3 | vs. Texas A&M Quarterfinals | W 83–66 | 27–5 | 26 – Johnson | 10 – Robinson | 4 – (3 tied) | Sprint Center (18,972) Kansas City, MO |
| 03/09/12 6:30 pm, Big 12 Network/ESPNU | No. 3 | vs. No. 12 Baylor Semifinals | L 72–81 | 27–6 | 20 – Taylor | 9 – Robinson | 3 – Taylor | Sprint Center (18,972) Kansas City, MO |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| 03/16/12* 9:18 pm, truTV | (2) No. 6 | vs. (15) Detroit Second Round | W 65–50 | 28–6 | 16 – Robinson | 13 – Robinson | 2 – 4 tied | CenturyLink Center Omaha (17,015) Omaha, NE |
| 03/18/12* 7:40 pm, TNT | (2) No. 6 | vs. (10) Purdue Third Round | W 63–60 | 29–6 | 18 – Johnson | 13 – Robinson | 4 – Taylor | CenturyLink Center Omaha (16,998) Omaha, NE |
| 03/23/12* 9:35 pm, TBS | (2) No. 6 | vs. (11) NC State Sweet Sixteen | W 60–57 | 30–6 | 18 – Robinson | 15 – Robinson | 5 – Taylor | Edward Jones Dome (23,964) St. Louis, MO |
| 03/25/12* 4:05 pm, CBS | (2) No. 6 | vs. (1) No. 4 North Carolina Elite Eight | W 80–67 | 31–6 | 22 – Taylor | 9 – Robinson | 5 – 2 tied | Edward Jones Dome (23,565) St. Louis, MO |
| 03/31/12* 7:49 pm, CBS | (2) No. 6 | vs. (2) No. 7 Ohio State Final Four | W 64–62 | 32–6 | 19 – Robinson | 10 – Johnson | 8 – Taylor | Mercedes-Benz Superdome (73,361) New Orleans, LA |
| 04/02/2012* 9:23 pm, CBS | (2) No. 6 | vs. (1) No. 1 Kentucky National Championship game | L 59–67 | 32–7 | 19 – Taylor | 17 – Robinson | 3 – Taylor | Mercedes-Benz Superdome (70,913) New Orleans, LA |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time. |||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Final |
| AP | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | |
| Coaches | 13 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 |

## Awards
### Bill Self

* Big 12 Co-Coach of the Year
* Naismith College Coach of the Year
* Sporting News National Coach of the Year and Big 12 Coach of the Year
* Adolph Rupp Cup

### Thomas Robinson

* 1st Team All-American (Sporting News, USBWA, NABC, ESPN.com, AP, John R. Wooden)
* ESPN.com National Player of the Year
* Big 12 Player of the Year and 1st Team All-Big 12
* Sporting News Big 12 Player of the Year
* Associated Press Big 12 Player of the Year and 1st Team All-Big 12
* 4x Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (November 28, December 12, January 2, February 27)

### Tyshawn Taylor

* 1st Team All-Big 12
* Associated Press 1st Team All-Big 12
* 2x Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (January 16, March 4)
* Sporting News 3rd Team All-American
* USBWA 3rd Team All-American
* NABC All-District 8 First Team
* Associated Press 3rd Team All-American

### Jeff Withey

* Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year
* Big 12 All-Defensive Team and 3rd Team