No. 6 Kansas Goes Deep to Rout Baylor

Sixth-ranked Kansas stayed perfect in the Big 12 Conference with a record-breaking game.

Wayne Simien scored seven of his 18 points in a game-opening 15-2 run and Kansas, 15-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play, set a school record with 16 three-point baskets in an 86-66 victory over Baylor on Tuesday night at Waco, Texas.

“I visibly noticed a change in attitude,” Kansas Coach Bill Self said of the team’s reaction to a surprising 83-62 loss to Villanova on Saturday. “It was a refocused group. The whipping to Villanova made this game a very big game, and I thought we came out and played accordingly.”

Baylor (9-7, 1-4) never got closer than seven points after the opening spurt.

And the Jayhawks kept taking advantage of a zone defense, first going inside to Simien and then outside for the long-range shots.

“The middle of the zone was very vulnerable,” Simien said. “Once we got the entry pass into there ... there were easy shots for the post guys and then the deep threes for our other guys.”

Simien didn’t attempt a three-pointer, but the four other Kansas players who scored in double figures made at least three each.

Jeff Hawkins, trying to work his way back into the playing rotation, was five for five on three-point shots for 15 points in only 13 minutes.

Hawkins was suspended from the team for unspecified rules violations during the off-season, then relegated to the end of the bench.

The junior, who played in 31 games last season, had been on the court 13 minutes all season before playing 17 against Villanova.

“He’s gone from not even being on the team, to serious minutes and making shots. That helps everybody,” said Keith Langford, who scored 17 points.

“He’s been in the doghouse a couple of months, but kept a good attitude,” said Self, adding that Hawkins has earned the chance to play more.

No. 7 Kentucky 84, Tennessee 62 -- At Knoxville, Tenn., Patrick Sparks scored 19 points and Kelenna Azubuike had 17 for the Wildcats (15-2, 6-0 Southeastern Conference), who lost senior forward Chuck Hayes in the first half because of a broken nose.

Chris Lofton had 17 points for the Volunteers (10-9, 3-3).

The Wildcats have won six in a row over Tennessee, but their most recent victories in Thompson-Boling Arena had been close.

No. 16 Texas 80, Texas Tech 73 -- Daniel Gibson scored 20 points, making all six of his three-pointers, to lead the Longhorns (15-4, 4-2 Big 12), who were 14 for 21 from three-point range.

Ronald Ross scored 29 points for Texas Tech (11-5, 3-2), which came in as the Big 12’s top-scoring team but shot only 37% against Texas’ zone.

No. 19 Connecticut 68, West Virginia 58 -- Rashad Anderson, not starting for the first time this season, scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half to lead the Huskies (12-4, 4-2 Big East Conference), who dominated inside, holding a 47-27 rebound advantage at Morgantown, W.Va.

Tyrone Sally scored 16 points for West Virginia (11-6, 1-5), which lost its fifth consecutive game.