Self reaches 600 career wins as No. 3 Kansas downs UMKC, 105-65

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Bill Self joined elite company as the ninth-fastest coach in NCAA Division I history to reach 600 career wins after No. 3 Kansas defeated UMKC, 105-65, on Tuesday night inside Allen Fieldhouse.

National player of the year candidate Frank Mason III tied a career-high 30 points for the second time this season, and after the game presented Self with his commemorative 600th-win game ball. The 24th-year head coach was also surprised by special video messages from his former players at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas on the Allen Fieldhouse jumbotron following his monumental victory.

“It’s a significant number. To have that number in our 24th season is special,” Self said after the game. ” But what’s more significant to me is to see those guys up on the video board. So many of those guys have gone on to do good things, not just on the basketball court, but with their lives. Of course the basketball court has played a big role in a lot of their lives, but that was really nice. I certainly didn’t anticipate that, but I was pretty moved watching those kids.”

Mason and junior guard Devonte’ Graham made six 3-pointers each and Kansas totaled 15 treys to set an Allen Fieldhouse record for 3-pointers made by KU in a game. Graham finished with 18 points – all of which came from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Josh Jackson notched his second double-double of the young season with 19 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.  

Entering the game, UMKC (6-4) held the edge in 3-point accuracy, ranking seventh in the nation at a 43 percent clip. But the Jayhawks had the hot-hand on Tuesday, finishing with 15-of-27 from 3-point range, while holding the Kangaroos to a 10-of-26 shooting from long range. The Kangaroos’ LaVell Boyd finished with a team-high 17 points.

Kansas (8-1) set the tone early by scoring a season-high 51 points in the first half, led by Mason’s 17 points at the break. For the second time in three games, Kansas tied a program record for 3-pointers in a half with nine; against Long Beach State on Nov. 29, the Jayhawks also drained nine treys in the first half. 

KU’s offense flowed with ease from tipoff as Jackson scored first bucket of the game, later followed by Mason creating his own opportunities with a steal on defense for an easy fast-break layup for an early 10-3 KU lead.

The ‘Roos started off shooting the ball well, making five of their first six 3-pointers, but KU’s defense enforced its will to the tune of forcing nine first-half UMKC turnovers. In the first half, the Jayhawks outscored UMKC in points off turnovers, 16 to 3.

Kansas used a new-look lineup to start the second half, adding Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Landen Lucas to the mix with Graham, Mason and Jackson. Graham and Mason began the second half with more 3-pointers, followed one-handed flush on a fast break to give Kansas a 61-35 lead after a 10-0 run. 

Kansas went on another large run of 18-0 to pull away from UMKC for good with 40-point lead, 81-41, with 12:35 remaining.

Mason finished his scoring for the night with his sixth 3-pointer to reach 30 points and soon thereafter subbed out with over six minutes to play.

Mykhailiuk put an exclamation point on Self’s 600th career win with an emphatic fast break dunk – an alley-oop feed from Graham – as the Jayhawks rolled to their nation-leading 45th consecutive victory at Allen Fieldhouse.

GAME NOTES

KU STARTERS (SEASON/CAREER STARTS):
Sr. G Frank Mason III (9/86)
So. G Lagerald Vick (4/4)
Jr. G Devonte’ Graham (9/45)
Fr. G Josh Jackson (9/9)
Fr. C Udoka Azubuike (4/4)

SERIES INFO
• Kansas now leads the all-time series against UMKC, 7-0, including 4-0 under Self.

ATTENDANCE: 16,300 (248th-consecutive sellout)

KANSAS’ WIN…
• Moves the Jayhawks to 8-1 or better for the third straight season 8th time in the Bill Self era.
• Extends the nation’s longest home court winning streak to 47 games.
• Makes KU 750-109 all-time in Allen Fieldhouse.
• Improves Bill Self’s record to 393-84 (.824) while at Kansas and 600-189 (.760) all-time, making Self the ninth-fastest coach in NCAA Division I to reach 600 wins. Self is only the 46th coach to reach 600 all-time wins.
• Gives KU a 211-9 (.959) home record under Bill Self.
• Moves KU’s all-time record to 2,194-837.

TEAM NOTES
• Kansas’ 105-point output marked the 111th 100-point game in program history and the 19th in the Bill Self era.
• Kansas knocked down 15-of-27 (55.5 percent) shots from beyond the 3-point line, marking the fourth-straight game Kansas shot 50 percent or better from beyond the arc.
• Kansas’ bench contributed 29 points, the highest output by the Jayhawk bench for the second time this season.
• The Jayhawks beat the UMKC by 43 points, 105-62, marking the fifth-straight double-digit victory.
• The Jayhawks set season highs for points (105), points at half (54 in the second), field goals (39), 3-point field goals (15), offensive rebounds (21) and total rebounds (53), they also tied a season high with 27 3-point attempts.
• Twenty-five combined 3-point field goals made by both UMKC and Kansas are the most since KU and Oklahoma combined for 27 3-point field goals in the epic three-overtime game on January 4th 2016.
• Kansas shot 56 percent for the game marking the seventh time this season the Jayhawks have shot better than 50 percent, Kansas is 7-0 in those contests.
• Kansas also held UMKC to 35.5 shooting and has held every opponent this season under 50 percent field goal percentage.
• Fifteen 3-point field goals are the most since Kansas knocked down 15 treys against Chaminade in the Maui Classic on November, 23 2015.
• Kansas has made double-digit 3-point field goals for four consecutive games, making 54 total treys and averaging 13.5 per game.

OPPONENT NOTES
• Twenty-six rebounds for the Roo’s tied for the fewest this season.
• The ‘Roos also grabbed 26 boards against Drake on November 15th.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Senior G Frank Mason III
• Finished the night with 30 points, tying his career high, making it eight out of nine games this season with at least 18 points.
• With his 30 points, Mason moved past Walter Wesley (1,315) into number 29 on Kansas’ all-time scoring list with 1,319.
• Mason’s six three-point field goals moves him past Tyshawn Taylor. He now also is tied for 20th on the all-time field goal attempt list with Paul Pierce 304 total attempts.
• Mason’s five assists moved him into a tie for 12th on the all-time assist list with Mark Turgeon with 437.
• Mason’s three steals gives him 130 for his career moving him past Keith Langford into 23rd on the Kansas all-time list.
• Mason’s 11 field goals tonight marked an individual season-high by a Jayhawk, surpassing Lagerald Vick’s nine field goals made against Long Beach State.

Junior G Devonte’ Graham
• Shot 75 percent (6-of-8) from three, his fourth-straight game shooting 50% or better from the 3-point arc.
• Posted 18 points to mark his eighth time scoring in double-figures this season, he’s failed to reach double digit figures is only one game this year.
• With his six three-point field goals made, Graham is now ranked 20th on KU’s all-time list, passing Brady Morningstar and Sean Pearson.

Freshman G Josh Jackson
• Posted his second career double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
• Recorded the eighth-consecutive double-figure scoring game of his Kansas career, finishing the night with 19 points.
• Racked up six offensive rebounds and six defensive rebounds on the night, marking a career high of 12 rebounds, which also tied the Jayhawk-high for the season recorded by Udoka Azubuike against Duke on November 12th.

Junior G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk
• Recorded a career-high of seven rebounds.

Freshman F Mitch Lightfoot
• Recorded a career-high of five rebounds

Senior G Frank Mason III and Junior G Devonte’ Graham
• Devonte Graham and Frank Mason both drained six three pointers in tonight’s game, which were the most for a Jayhawk this season for made 3-point field goals (5, Mason vs UNC Asheville and Graham vs Stanford.)
• Devonte Graham recorded 4 assists to 1 turnover increasing his turnover to 46-15 on the year. Frank Mason dropped five dimes against 0 turnovers and now has 48 assists versus 21 turnovers. Combined, the starting back court holds a 2.61:1 assist to turnover ratio.

QUOTES

Bill Self
On how the team was clicking on all cylinders against UMKC:
“We did. Offensively we were efficient – I think we ended up having 12 turnovers, but we took care of the ball. We played fast and really shared it [the ball]. That basket looks awfully big to Frank (Mason III) and Devonte’ (Graham) right now, and I thought Josh (Jackson) had his best game since he’s been here. He totally dominated the game early with his passing and offensive rebounding. It was fun. It was nice to see the ball go in the basket.”

On the “big three” (Frank Mason III, Devonte’ Graham and Josh Jackson) shooting 25 of 34 from the field and Frank’s near-perfect night:
“Yeah Frank (Mason III) scored 30 points on 14 shots. He had five assists, no turnovers and three steals. Devonte’ (Graham) scored 18 on eight shots, had four assists and one turnover. Then Josh (Jackson) probably had as good of a stat line as anybody, getting 19, 12 and five. I think on those three turnovers, two of them weren’t really his. I don’t know how many balls we fumbled that could’ve been assists. But that was good to see. I think we have a couple guys that can certainly tighten up on a few things. I don’t think Lagerald (Vick) and Udoka (Azubuike) were as sharp as they could be, but I thought Landen (Lucas) gave us some good minutes. Carlton (Bragg Jr.) also did some good things the second half and really, I thought Mitch (Lightfoot) was active and probably played as well as any big, so that was good to see.”

On achieving the milestone of 600 career wins and watching the video of former players congratulating him:
“Yeah, you know, if you pay those guys enough, usually they will say some nice things. But that was pretty nice to see all those men. I mean, I remember going way back to when Earl was an 18-year-old walk-on I met in a Subway shop and he asked me if he could come out. I said, ‘Yeah, why not?’ Now he has his own big church there in Dallas. So many of those guys have gone on to do good things, not just on the basketball court, but with their lives. Of course the basketball court has played a big role in a lot of their lives, but that was really nice. I certainly didn’t anticipate that, but I was pretty moved watching those kids.”

Kansas junior guard Devonte’ Graham
On utilizing his pump fake and how animated it is:
“Coach (Kurtis) Townsend had us working on it in drills this summer. I know Villanova does a great job at pump faking and getting guys off their feet. It is very useful when you’re knocking down shots. Just that one pump fake to get a guy off their feet and you can play five on four.”

On working on shooting deeper threes in the offseason and if that helped:
“Definitely. It helps with confidence when you know you have that range. Then guys will respect you and then it makes the game easier. They will try to push up and guard you and then we can just use our quickness to get by them.”

On what it mean to give Coach Self his 600th win:
“It is great. A lot of it has to do with him and people who taught him what he knows. It is just a great honor to be apart of it.”

On what makes Coach Self such a good coach:
“How hard he is on us. He pushes us because he knows how good we can be and he wants what is best for us, on and off the court. He teaches us how to be a man and there is more to it than just basketball that a lot of people don’t know about.”

On Kansas’ unselfish play:
“I think it’s just how we play. We don’t care who scores the points, everybody is unselfish. We know we can score, but we like to get the extra pass in or get the assist more than anything.”

On Bill Self’s attitude toward taking so many 3-pointers:
“There’s going to be a game where we’re not making these shots, and we’ll really find out what kind of team we are and if we can get stops and defend. We’re just going to stay aggressive, keep passing how we’ve been passing it and keep shooting.”

On if this the best shooting team you guys have had since he have been here:
“Definitely. Last year was pretty good, but I think we’ve been the most consistent this year since I’ve been here.”

Kansas senior guard Frank Mason III
On tying his career-high 30 points:
“I think that’s really cool, but the most important thing is we played really well as a team, we shared the ball and I think we did a good job defensively.”

On the team’s three-point shooting ability:
“I knew all along we had good shooters on the team. We work really hard throughout the summer, every day of practice and we put a lot of reps in. I knew at some point in time we would get it going.”

On celebrating Bill Self’s 600th victory:
“We (celebrated) a little bit, they had a great video out there with a lot of guys showing their love and support to him. We’re looking forward to the next game now.”

Kansas freshman guard Josh Jackson
On his offensive rebounding:
“It’s been one of the main things Coach Self always talks about, especially with me and (sophomore guard Lagerald Vick). Since we’re always on the wing, we have so much freedom to crash the boards and Frank and Devonte’ can get back most of the time.”

On how being able to celebrate milestones like Bill Self’s 600th win impacted his recruiting:
“Lot of things go into it, but one of the biggest things is playing with these guys right here and a couple of other guys on the team.”

On being a part of one of Bill Self’s career milestones:
“It means a lot, it’s really cool to see all the guys who’ve seen and been a part of this before me. Just knowing that I am a part of it now too is really good.”

On if it feels like he’s played more than nine games with the team:
“Through practice, we’re getting better every day and our chemistry is getting better. It’s showing in the games, we’re just starting to learn about where each of us likes the ball and what we’re really good at. Every game, we should get better and better.”

UMKC head coach Kareem Richardson
Opening statement:
“First I want to say congratulations to coach Self on this 600th win. I can’t even fathom that. It is an awesome feat and he will have a heck of a lot more wins to go with that. So I just want to congratulate him and his ball club. They’re an outstanding team. I think even watching film and going through it now, they’re one of the most unselfish teams that I’ve seen play and they are fun to watch.”

On if the teams were similar to the teams Coach Richardson played for:
“No. I wish I had the opportunity to play for that type of caliber team. They’re just big at every position and they are athletic. And on top of that they shoot the ball well and like I said I’m really just amazed on how unselfish they are.”

On the feeling of shooting well but being matched by Kansas:
“Their physicality took over the game. I thought our guys started off well and I don’t think they were intimidated by the moment. But the third-ranked team took its toll.”

On preparing for the game:
“You had to pick your poison with them for us. We tried to keep them out of the paint and hopefully take contested threes, but all of those threes seemed to fall in tonight.”

UMKC freshman guard Isaiah Ross
On defending Kansas:
“To be honest, it was hard. We had hands up in their face, but they still made it. We didn’t get discouraged. We kept pushing.”

UMKC senior guard Lavell Boyd
On approaching Kansas vs. playing against South Dakota State:
“No, we approached it in the same way. We’re going to play hard. At the end of the day we just want to get better as a team. That’s all we wanted to do tonight was get better.”

On if getting better happened:
“Not really. We still have things to work on. We’ll get it done.”

On coming to Allen Fieldhouse:
“I was looking forward to it all week. It’s a historic place and a once in a lifetime thing. I was looking forward to it. I was up for it. It didn’t let me down. Everything I’ve heard about it, it was here tonight.”

On defensive communication with the noise:
“Yeah, that was kind of the problem, but at the same time, we would hit a three and it would get contested and counted. It bothers you, but that’s not an excuse to not communicate with each other.”

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