KU’s Jalen Wilson celebrates with fans after earning another Big 12 championship ring
Jalen Wilson tapped his left ring finger with the index finger of his right hand, once, twice, then three times, wearing a big smile on his face as the final buzzer sounded in Kansas’ 67-63 victory over Texas Tech on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
The gesture, made seconds before he raced to clap his hands in unison with the fans seated in the stands at center court, was, of course, meant to signify the importance of KU’s 25th men’s basketball win of the season in 30 games and 13th win in Big 12 play in 17 outings.
Wilson, KU’s fourth-year forward from Denton, Texas, scored 21 points (on 6-of-16 shooting; 9-of-10 from the line) and grabbed five rebounds while Kevin McCullar, a senior guard from San Antonio, contributed 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting (2-of-2 from three) with nine rebounds, assuring the Jayhawks at least a tie for the league title on senior night.
Wilson after the season will be fitted for his third Big 12 title ring in four seasons as a Jayhawk. Formerly of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, McCullar will receive his first piece of championship jewelry as a Jayhawk in his only season in Lawrence.
“We are Big 12 champs. That’s what I came here to do,” McCullar, who transferred to KU for his senior season, told 16,300 fans during his Senior Night speech after the game.
“It’s a blessing to wear this uniform and compete every night for this school,” added McCullar, whose effort was witnessed by his dad, mom, sister and grandmother.
Wilson, who KU coach Bill Self told the fans after the game would be remembered as one of the biggest “winners” in KU history, was involved in one of the biggest plays of the game, along with sophomore forward KJ Adams (seven points, eight rebounds) and McCullar.
Wilson missed a shot down low with 30 seconds to play and the Jayhawks up 61-60 over the pesky Red Raiders (16-14, 5-12).
Wilson and Adams dove for the rebound, with the ball kicking over to McCullar — who dropped in a short shot to give KU a 63-60 lead with 30 seconds to play.
The play was one of the biggest in KU’s Big 12 title-winning season.
“I’ve got to go back and see, ... has there been a more competitive play that I can remember?” Self said. “That was great. We had a play at Baylor one time, we got four or five offensive rebounds in a row and made a play, but it was not at game point and certainly wasn’t for stakes as high as they were here.
“That’s about as competitive a play as we’ve had. ... I was just hoping we’d get a jump ball because the arrow was ours and we couldn’t get hold of it (with Tech’s De’Vion Harmon also diving for the rebound). Kevin went after the ball with two hands. That signifies as much as anything how he steals the ball. He doesn’t steal the ball by deflecting it and running to it, he steals it by taking it. That was a prime example. He just went ahead and took it. Great play.”
Of the layup that gave KU a three-point lead, McCullar said: “It was a loose ball (after the Wilson miss). ‘J-Will’ knocked it around; KJ knocked it around. I saw Harmon kind of reach for it. I said, ‘I’ve got to go get this ball and try to get a bucket.’ I grabbed it. No one was around so I stuck it in. We needed that play. It was huge, a big momentum swing.”
Wilson — a childhood friend of McCullar back in Texas — noted that “if anybody was going to make a play like that it’s Kevin. That was a point that kind of stamped the game. He’s come up with plays like that all year, makes plays when it matters the most. That was a winning play.”
After Wilson blocked a two-point shot by Tech guard Pop Isaacs, KU advanced the ball to Dajuan Harris (16 points, five assists, 2-of-4 from three on a night KU was 5-of-23), who hit a layup to give KU a 65-60 lead.
Harmon launched a deep three with four seconds left that swished to cut the gap to two points. The Red Raiders immediately fouled Gradey Dick on the inbound. Dick, who scored just four points (0-7 shooting; 4-4 from line) calmly hit two free throws to assure victory and the league title.
And sent Wilson off celebrating a league title and KU’s 40th straight senior night victory with his teammates and fans.
“I was kind of soaking in everything,” Wilson said of his trip to center court area to celebrate with the fans who of course remained in the stands. “I was kind of soaking in everything. I said at halftime, ‘That half went so fast.’ It sums up my four years here. It felt so good to win. I wanted to cherish the moment, get my last look with the fans cheering in the fieldhouse. I’ll see them in the postseason. They’ll travel to see us, but it’s a different feeling in this gym. I was trying to get that last one in.”
In his senior speech Wilson said these were “the best four years of my life right here.”
He spoke in front of a crowd that included his mom, dad, brother and other relatives.
Wilson during his speech pointed to KU’s 2022 national title banner and mentioned that “it looks pretty good; another one would look even better. I came here knowing we had the best fans in the world; I leaving knowing we have the best family in the world.”
KU (13-4) can win the title league outright on Wednesday if Texas loses to TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. If Texas wins, the Jayhawks will claim an outright title with a win over Texas on Saturday. Otherwise, the Jayhawks and Longhorns would share the league crown.
Will Self watch the Texas-TCU game on TV?
“Probably with a cocktail in my hand,” Self said with a smile. “Yeah I probably will. Of course we’ll watch it. I don’t know that we need to have as big a rooting interest, (but) of course we’d watch it. Texas has had a great season. Rodney (Terry, interim coach) has done an unbelievable job, but we we don’t want to have to share. Certainly with a win (over TCU) they’d put themselves in a situation to celebrate just like we did tonight.”
Self realizes it’s a huge accomplishment to win league after a 6-4 start.
“I think we’ve won 17 of these. They are all special,” Self said. He was presented the league title trophy by AD Travis Goff after the game as the players modeled league title hats and T shirts.
“To win it after losing 75 percent of our scoring (off last year’s NCAA title team) in a league Dick Vitale says is the best league not only the Big 12 has had in 20 years but the best league America has seen in 20 years, … to win it when we were 6-4 losing three in a row, having to run off seven straight in this position is special. We can’t do it without leaders. We have great leaders.”
This story was originally published March 1, 2023 at 1:00 AM with the headline "KU’s Jalen Wilson celebrates with fans after earning another Big 12 championship ring."
