The 2010–11 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team represented the University of Kansas in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, which was the Jayhawks' 113th basketball season. The head coach was Bill Self, who was serving his 8th year. The team played its home games in Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas and are members of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 35–3, 14–2 in Big 12 play to claim the regular season conference title. They were also champions of the 2011 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament. They earned a #1 seed in the Southwest Region in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament where they defeated Boston University in the second round and Illinois in the third round to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. They defeated Richmond to advance to the Elite Eight where they were upset by Virginia Commonwealth.
Sherron Collins finished his senior year at Kansas and graduated in 2010. Junior center Cole Aldrich announced his intention to enter the NBA Draft on March 29, 2010, and Xavier Henry announced his intention to enter the NBA Draft on April 7, 2010. In mid-August coach Self announced, via press release, the departures of walk-ons C.J. Henry and Chase Buford. According to Self, Henry notified the coaching staff in late July of his intention to transfer to another University where he would continue his collegiate basketball career. Coach Self said that would-be senior Chase Buford would not return to the team in the fall in order to focus on academics.
Bill Self heavily courted 3 guards for the 2010–2011 season and landed the biggest one there was in the form of Josh Selby of Baltimore, MD. Selby committed on April 17 and is expected to fill the hole left by all-star guard Sherron Collins. Selby is rated as the #1 overall recruit in the 2010 class by Rivals.com. Shooting guard Royce Woolridge of Phoenix, AZ., who committed to Kansas in 2009, also joins the team in the fall as a freshman and ranks in Rivals.com's Top 150 recruit list as well.
Zach Peters of Plano, TX. made an early verbal commitment to Kansas on April 21 for the 2012–2013 season. The 6-foot-9, 235 pound forward was still in his sophomore year at the time. He chose Kansas over his 3 other choices: Texas, Kentucky & North Carolina.
On October 12, 4-star point guard Naadir Tharpe signed a letter of intent to join the Jayhawks as a freshmen for the 2011–12 season. The 6 foot prep all-star chose Kansas after withdrawing from Providence.
Team
The Sporting News preseason #4 team.Athlon Sports preseason #4 team.Blue Ribbon Yearbook preseason #7 team.Big 12 Conference preseason #2 team.USA Today Coaches Poll #7 team.Associated Press Poll #7 team.Marcus Morris
Blue Ribbon Yearbook preseason first team All-American.John R. Wooden Award candidate.All-Big 12 First TeamJosh Selby
Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year.All-Big 12 Team Honorable MentionLindy's Preseason Freshman of the YearRivals.com Preseason Freshman of the YearTyshawn Taylor
All-Big 12 Team Honorable MentionThe Jayhawks broke the KU home court winning streak record of 62 straight with their 63rd home win in a row over Texas A&M-CC on Nov. 23rd, 2010. The streak ended at 69 straight home wins with a defeat to Texas on January 22, 2011. The streak was the longest in NCAA basketball since 1992.On December 10, David & Suzanne Booth purchased Dr. James Naismith's 13 Original Rules of the game at a Sotheby's auction in New York City for the sum of $4.3 million. They intend to bring the founding document of basketball back to Lawrence, KS., where it will likely be housed inside Allen Fieldhouse.Josh Selby's debut with the Jayhawks on December 18 proved to be worth the buzz, with 21 points, including the game-winning 3 pointer to beat USC 70–68.On January 15, Marcus Morris became the 53rd player in Jayhawks history to score 1000 career points. The victory over Nebraska set a program record of 69 consecutive home wins.With a win over Texas A&M on March 2, the Jayhawks clinched their 7th consecutive Big 12 title and an NCAA record-extending 54th overall.With a win over Texas on March 12, the Jayhawks won their 8th Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship, 25th overall conference tournament championship all-time. The win also officially clinched a birth in the NCAA tournament.On March 13, the NCAA Selection Committee named Kansas a #1 seed for the 10th time in school history. They would face 16 seed Boston University on Friday March 18.Reserve forward Thomas Robinson (basketball) made national headlines when, in less than a month's time, his grandparents and mother all died, leaving his sister, Jayla, an orphan. The NCAA granted waivers to the University of Kansas to provide assistance to Thomas and Jayla, enabling Thomas to make sure his sister was cared for while he was still in college.Bill Self
Big 12 Coach of the YearAssociated Press Big 12 Coach of the YearUSBWA District VI Coach of the YearMarcus Morris
Big 12 Player of the YearAll-Big 12 First TeamAssociated Press Second Team All-AmericanAssociated Press Big 12 Player of the YearAssociated Press All-Big 12 First Team (unanimous)Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding PlayerYahoo! Sports First Team All-AmericanUSBWA Second Team All-AmericanUSBWA District VI Player of the YearUSBWA All-District VI TeamNABC Second Team All-AmericanNABC All-District 8 First TeamThe Sporting News Second Team All-AmericanJohn R. Wooden Award All-American (top 10 finalist)Naismith Award midseason list (top 30)Oscar Robertson Trophy finalist (top 10)Big 12 Player of the Week (Nov. 29)Big 12 Player of the Week (Jan. 17)Big 12 Player of the Week (Feb. 14)Markieff Morris
All-Big 12 Second TeamAssociated Press All-Big 12 Second TeamYahoo! Sports All-America Honorable MentionUSBWA All-District VI TeamNABC All-District 8 Second TeamBig 12 Player of the Week (Dec. 27)Josh Selby
Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Dec. 20)Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Jan. 31)Tyshawn Taylor
Bob Cousy Award finalist (top 20)Tyrel Reed
All-Big 12 Honorable MentionAssociated Press All-Big 12 Honorable MentionLowe's Senior CLASS Award finalist (top 10)CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American.Capital One Academic All-American First TeamCapital One Academic All-District 7 teamAcademic All-Big 12 First TeamBrady Morningstar
Big 12 All Defensive TeamAll-Big 12 Honorable MentionAcademic All-Big 12 Second TeamThomas Robinson
V Foundation Comeback Award finalist
