Jayhawks over-achieve

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Kansas coach Bill Self has no doubt that this is his favorite championship team.

"From my standpoint, this was sweeter than any of the other ones that I have had, because we started 1-2," Self said after the 18th-ranked Jayhawks beat Kansas State 66-52 on Saturday to clinch at least a share of the Big 12 championship.


"We were 1-2 and not very good, and guys got confidence and guys grew up and got pretty good late," said Self, whose 2004-05 team shared the Big 12 title with Oklahoma but then lost a core of senior stars that included All-American Wayne Simien. "To me, I have more pride with a team not expecting to do it, and do it, than a team that is expected to do it and does it."

It is the sixth conference championship for Self, whose teams also won two Big 10 titles at Illinois and two Western Athletic Conference titles at Tulsa. Kansas (22-7, 13-3 Big 12) can win its sixth Big 12 championship outright if No. 6 Texas loses Sunday to No. 19 Oklahoma.