By Wendell Barnhouse
Big12Sports.com Correspondent
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bill Self recalled recent history after his team’s quarterfinal victory here in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Championship.
Kansas has been struggling offensively has injuries and a suspension has fouled up the rotation. Self pointed out that in 2012 the Jayhawks reached the national championship game with a team that had offensive limitations. That team concentrated on defense and rebounding and took whatever offense it could find.
This season’s edition of Rock Chalk Hoops has a long way to go before duplicating the ’12 group. But it’s using a similar formula.
The top-seeded Jayhawks (26-7) advanced to Saturday’s championship game with a 62-52 victory over No. 4 seed Baylor Saturday. Kansas limited the Bears to a season-low point total that included 32.8 percent shooting and 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from 3-point range. Impressive considering Baylor (24-9) leads the Big 12 in long-range accuracy.
“We knew we hadn't been playing defense to our capability in recent games,” Kansas sophomore Wayne Selden, Jr. said. “We wanted to get out and pressure their guards and try to deny the passes and play with a lot of energy.”
Mission accomplished. Baylor had scoring droughts that would rivals the Dust Bowl. The Bears to make a basket over the last 7:11 of the first half and that stretched into the second half for a total of 10:10 without a field goal.
Then, after pulling to within 39-35 on a Kenny Chery 3-pointer with 11:12 remaining, Baylor went nearly eight minutes without a field goal. That helped the Jayhawks put together a 12-1 spurt that made it 51-36 with 5:08 to play.
Baylor’s Taurean Prince and Royce O’Neale combined to go 3-of-23 from the field and were 0-for 12 on 3-pointers.
"It happens to the best of us," said Chery, who was 4-of-7 on 3-pointers and scored 20. "We weren't making shots tonight and you can't do nothing about it."
It was a grinding victory that put Kansas into the championship game for the 11th time. The Jayhawks, who have won nine titles, will take on No. 2 seed Iowa State, which edged Oklahoma, 67-65. Kansas and Iowa State split the season series, with each winning on their home court.
Selden, whose offensive has been inconsistent all season, had 20 on 7-of-9 shooting. Junior forward Perry Ellis, who sprained his right knee in the regular-season’s penultimate game, returned to action and scored 11 with six rebounds.
“Having Perry out there gives our team a ton of confidence,” said Self, who is 6-0 in Championship finals.
The Jayhawks had a 39-35 rebounding edge and limited Baylor to five second-chance points – and with 39 missed shots, there were plenty of chances. The Bears also committed 17 turnovers.
"We didn't take care of the ball well enough. Shooting obviously wasn't good, wasn't pretty. But the turnovers is the one that got us," said Baylor coach Scott Drew.
Kansas had made just nine of its last 50 3-point attempts but its first two field goals were from beyond the arc. Even reserve Brannen Greene, who had missed his last 15 3-point attempts, finally splashed a three. That came with 12:29 left and pushed KU’s edge to 39-30.
"We were on fire from 3, because we made 3 - we were 3 for 12," Self said, sarcastically. "That's the best we've shot it in a while."