Print edition: 
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Sherron Collins says last year's Big 12 tournament quarterfinal loss to Baylor was a "What happened?" game. A year later, it's pretty easy to see what happened.
Collins made 6 of 20 shots, including 4 of 12 from three-point range, and turned the ball over a team-high five times. Cole Aldrich shot just five times, had eight points and finished with one blocked shot. When the Jayhawks of a year ago didn't get Collins and Aldrich's best or close to it, they were very beatable. So they lost 71-64 to the Bears and boarded a bus back to Lawrence so quickly, it felt as if they were never even there.
Now, as No. 1 Kansas begins what it hopes will be an unblemished nine-game run through postseason play — starting with its Big 12 Tournament opener against Texas Tech today at the Sprint Center — it's not as clear what the Jayhawks actually need from Collins and Aldrich, their preseason All-Americans.
With Xavier Henry and Marcus Morris capable of going for 20 any game and Tyshawn Taylor starting to assert himself in the point-guard role, KU has proved this season that it can win without big numbers from its big-name players.
"Of course we need to play good," Collins said, "but it isn't like the pressure we had last year. When we played bad, we would lose. I think that's helped us. We go into games with our mind more free, don't try to force as many shots."
On Saturday in KU's 77-56 win over Missouri, Collins didn't attempt a shot until two minutes were left in the first half.
"I wasn't thinking, I was just playing," Collins said. "I didn't even know how many shots I took until after the game. I took six shots and made four."
Collins had 12 points and four turnovers, while Aldrich had a pedestrian day for his standards with 10 points, seven rebounds and one block, yet the Jayhawks didn't struggle in taming the Tigers because three other players were in double figures.
KU coach Bill Self is happy that his eight-man rotation is rounding into form at the right time, but he remains adamant that Collins and Aldrich are his two best players and must play like it down the stretch.
"No matter who the teams are in the tournament, the best players on those respective teams need to play well," Self said. "For the most part, (Collins and Aldrich) have been pretty consistent all year long. I do think there's another step or another gear they could get to, and they know that, too."
Here's where the pressure has lessened on Collins and Aldrich this season: A good individual performance is not totally dependent on scoring. Both players have the ability to affect the game in other crucial ways.
For Collins, he has to set the tone emotionally and make sure the Jayhawks are mentally prepared to play. He has to push the tempo but know when to slow it down at the same time. He has to penetrate and find open shots for outside shooters Henry, Brady Morningstar and Tyrel Reed. He can't let down defensively and must play Self's brand of pressure defense.
For Aldrich, he has to own the glass on offense and defense. He has to affect the shots in the paint that he can't block just by being active. At times this year, Aldrich has made teams fear him so much that they have stopped attacking the basket. He also has become an adept outlet passer, getting KU started on many a fast break.
"Playing well doesn't mean more points or whatever," Self said. "It means probably having more of a presence and imposing their will on their teammates and that kind of stuff.
"Cole's gotta be an inside presence for us, not (just) on the defensive end but with his offensive game. You may have a (2008) Davidson game or you may have a (2008) Memphis game where you just don't make shots. In order to score baskets, you gotta throw the ball in tight."
Last year, Kansas' season ended on a night when Collins and Aldrich had 20 and 17 points. No other Jayhawk scored in double figures against Michigan State in the Sweet 16. Ultimately, the formula for a second national championship in three seasons involves great play from everybody, and KU appears to be heading in that direction.
"We're a lot better team than we were last year," Self said. "Last year, if one guy out of two didn't play well, we probably didn't have a great chance to win. This year, it's been proven, we've got enough depth and balance I feel like guys can step up different nights. In the NCAA Tournament last year, our third-leading scorer averaged seven points a game. That's not a good deal.
"To me, the most important guys to play well are Cole and Sherron, though."
