The noise in Allen Fieldhouse saved some Kansas players a little embarrassment Saturday night.
Nobody could overhear coach Bill Self chewing them out.
Whatever Self told them, it worked. Trailing Nebraska by four points in the opening minutes of the second half, the No. 1 ranked Jayhawks took their coach’s words to heart and went on a 16-1 tear, finishing with a 75-64 victory for their 55th in a row at home.
“He knows how to get you going,” senior guard Sherron Collins said with a grin. “He challenged us and we responded. It wasn’t no milk and cookies.”
Collins was the first to act, hitting a quick 3-pointer that sliced Nebraska’s surprising lead to one point. Cole Aldrich contributed six points in the next few minutes and the Jayhawks (22-1, 8-0 Big 12) soon found themselves with a comfortable 19-point edge while sweeping the Huskers for the sixth year in a row.
“Him jumping on us was something we needed,” said Collins. “He’s a good motivator and that’s what he did. He motivated us.”
Jorge Brian Diaz scored four points in the 10-2 run and wound up with 20 for the Huskers (13-10, 1-7).
