Wolverines took #3 Kansas to Overtime

After barely escaping with an overtime win over Michigan, Kansas coach Bill Self is a little hesitant to compare this year’s Jayhawks with his national championship team from three seasons ago.

The Jayhawks will welcome the comparison if they go on to win the national title, but for now, they’ll have to settle for the school’s best start since that 2007-08 season. Marcus Morris scored 22 points, and third-ranked Kansas outlasted Michigan 67-60 to improve to 15-0.

The Jayhawks overcame a dreadful shooting day. They finished at 36 percent from the field and 4 of 24 from 3-point range.

Michigan (11-5) was even worse at 33 percent from the field and 4 of 28 from long distance, but the Wolverines fought back from a 13-point second-half deficit to force overtime on Darius Morris’ turnaround in the final minute of regulation.

It wasn’t always pretty, but Kansas still came away with the victory, and after winning its first 15 games has its best start since beginning 20-0 in 2007-08. Morris and his twin brother Markieff both had double-doubles. Markieff Morris had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Marcus had 10 rebounds to go along with his crucial scoring.

Their performance down low was important on a day neither team could shoot straight.

Michigan scored the last six points of regulation to tie the game at 51. Zack Novak then made a 3-pointer at the start of overtime to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game, but the Jayhawks scored the next eight points, all by the Morris brothers. Marcus Morris made two free throws, and Markieff put Kansas back in front to stay with a 3-pointer that made it 56-54.

A conventional three-point play by Marcus Morris gave the Jayhawks a five-point lead, and a 3-pointer by Tyrel Reed put Kansas up 62-56.

The Wolverines trailed by 15 points in the first half and were down 41-28 in the second, but their 1-3-1 zone defense appeared to fluster Kansas at times even though the Jayhawks beat Michigan last season.

Kansas was playing its last nonconference game of the regular season before starting Big 12 play. Self improved to 8-0 against Michigan.

Darius Morris scored 16 points, and Novak added 12 points and 11 rebounds for Michigan. Freshman Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 19 points for the Wolverines but was only 5 of 19 from the field with his father, the former NBA star with the same name, looking on.