LAWRENCE, Kan. — Dunking, driving and raining jumpers, Ben McLemore poured in a Kansas freshman-record 36 points, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, to fuel the No. 6 Jayhawks in a 91-65 runaway over West Virginia.
Kansas, which blew open the game with a 16-2 second-half run, made seven consecutive 3-pointers at one stretch and finished 11-of-17 from long range overall. McLemore was the catalyst, making 12-of-15 shots from the floor and eclipsing the 35 points Danny Manning scored as a rookie against Oklahoma State precisely 28 years ago.
“(McLemore) was remarkable tonight,” said Kansas coach Bill Self, who, coincidentally, played for Oklahoma State on March 2, 1985, the day of Manning’s big performance. “We ran some things today to make sure Ben was the first option, and maybe we need to do more of that.”
“(McLemore) is a great player, and one player’s not going to be able to guard him. You’ve got to have help defense and everybody’s got to be talking on the floor. We did not do that today.” — WVU’s Eron Harris
The Jayhawks (25-4, 13-3), who won their sixth straight and completed a sweep of the season series, nearly enjoyed another history-making triple-double from Jeff Withey. The senior center finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks before exiting with around three minutes left in the game.
Terry Henderson scored 20 points, on 6-of-9 3-pointers, and Dominique Rutlledge added a career-high 17 points off the bench for West Virginia (13-16, 6-10), which dropped its fourth consecutive. Eron Harris had 11 points for the Mountaineers, albeit on 4-of-17 shooting.
WVU owned an early 16-9 lead but Kansas countered with a 26-9 run to lead 45-31 at the half. Naadir Tharpe’s 3-pointer with four seconds left gave Kansas its largest first-half cushion.
McLemore scored 19 points in 17 first-half minutes after scoring only 13 the first time these teams met in Morgantown.
“We’ve got to play better team defense (against McLemore),” Harris said. “He’s a great player, and one player’s not going to be able to guard him. You’ve got to have help defense and everybody’s got to be talking on the floor. We did not do that today.”
Kansas, which recorded 27 assists on 32 baskets, shot 55 percent to West Virginia’s 31 percent.
WVU remained stuck in seventh place in the Big 12, while Kansas remained tied atop the league with Kansas State, a 64-61 winner at Baylor later Saturday.
A WITHEY RECOUNT?
Self did some postgame politicking for statisticians to take another look at Withey’s block total, which fell one shy of a triple-double.
“Our stat crew does a great job, but I think that one’s worth revisiting,” Self said. “Jeff was terrific. It sure seemed like he had more than nine (blocks) today. And of course he had the one at the end where a foul was called and it looked like it might have been clean.”
Withey, who produced a 16-point, 12-rebound, 12-block triple-double earlier this season against San Jose State, didn’t sound too disappointed.
“I was one away from 10 and I felt pretty good about that,” Withey said. “Nine (blocks) is a lot and I did a lot of work for that. As long as we get the win, I’m usually happy.”
FOUL TROUBLE
Aaric Murray checked in and promptly blocked two shots but also picked up three first-half fouls in three minutes. He played three minutes in the second half before fouling out with two points.
Matt Humphrey made his second consecutive start and hit a quick 3 -pointer but picked up his second foul only 3:07 into the game. Upon returning, Humphrey was whistled trying to stop McLemore on a fast break, giving him three fouls in five minutes.
Humphrey picked up foul No. 4 only 17 seconds into the second half, whacking Withey after the Kansas center blocked his shot.
KEEPING UP WITH JOHNSON
Elijah Johnson, coming off a 39-point output at Iowa State on Monday night, scored only 12 against WVU. But Self thought his point guard was crucial to KU’s offensive explosion.
“The guy gets 39 one night and the next game he gets 10 assists,” Self said. “Elijah is playing so much better. When he’s locked in and being aggressive, as opposed to thinking about too much and reacting slow, he’s great.”
McLemore certainly noticed Johnson’s passes, which led to 16 of the freshman’s points.
“I just want to thank my teammates, especially Elijah, for creating things for me ad helping me get my shots open,” McLemore said. “Elijah’s a great player because he sees when I get on a roll and he keeps feeding me.”
LOST IN THE PHOG
Kansas sold out all 16,300 seats at Allen Fieldhouse for the 196th consecutive game, dating back to the 2001-02 season. But Harris said the raucous atmosphere was no excuse for WVU being blown out.
“The atmosphere should not affect you at all, because there’s only 10 players on the floor,” he said. “It’s all about execution and not about the crowd at all.”
Gold and Blue Now Wednesday, May 22 
Gold and Blue Now 5-21-2013 
Gold and Blue Now Monday, May 20 
Randy Mazey 5-20-2013 
Oliver Luck Q&A at WVU faculty senate meeting 
Randy Mazey on losing series to TCU 
59
Comments
Tim C
Serious butt whooping about to take place. I wish we could hang with them, but they are 159-8 in that place.
March 2, 2013 at 1:43 pm | Report comment
pghmountaineer
Memo to Kansas: Please have mercy on us. If you let us loose by 10 or 12 points we would consider it a moral victory.
Thank you.
March 2, 2013 at 2:07 pm | Report comment
Pghmountaineer
The refs sure are giving Kansas a lot of leeway underneath the basket. Seems like we are getting fouled a lot under there but no calls.
March 2, 2013 at 3:40 pm | Report comment
Pghmountaineer
Darn, We're taking another beat down!
This is becoming the norm.
March 2, 2013 at 3:42 pm | Report comment
RJR.
It is a "BLOWOUT" in Lawrence, Kansas. WVU is pathetic. What an embarrassment for the state, fans, alumni. Let's start playing WVIAC schools, that is our caliber.
March 2, 2013 at 3:43 pm | Report comment
Jethro
Wow stop the bleeding!
March 2, 2013 at 3:48 pm | Report comment
Larry
3rd quarter...The beat down continues...
Kansas up by 24....now up by 27
Murray fouls out in 6 minutes of playing time..
Now up by 29
Look for the paid Huggins Trolls to show up and talk about how Huggs is going to "Fix it" & "Right the ship" and how "the players are not trying"....
As I predicted...A beat down of epic proportions
March 2, 2013 at 3:55 pm | Report comment
Pghmountaineer
They must have 20 dunk baskets.
It's a clinic out there.
Never thought I would see a WVU team embarassed as many times in one season as this one has been.
We've sunk to a new low!
March 2, 2013 at 3:58 pm | Report comment
RJR.
Total agreement!!! I turned it off!! It is humiliating!!
Since Coach Beline players have gone...reality of this sandlot talent must be realized.
March 2, 2013 at 4:08 pm | Report comment
Pghmountaineer
I've never been more embarased for my team than I am today.
March 2, 2013 at 4:06 pm | Report comment
Kevin
Demoralizing.
March 2, 2013 at 4:10 pm | Report comment
Jethro
They suck ,that's all there is to it. We will get em next year
March 2, 2013 at 4:17 pm | Report comment
RJR.
I don't think we will get Kansas next year or the year after..after.... etc. Too much travel and hard to get "Blue Chip" players in Motown. Coach Beline did about as good a job getting above average players as anyone. We need to get in the MAC!!!
March 2, 2013 at 5:50 pm | Report comment
Jethro
Agree Big 12 move was ridiculous. It's hard enough to get good players to come to Motown as it is. Word is out about the travel
March 2, 2013 at 6:26 pm | Report comment
Larry
8:53 mark WVU on a 3-0 run...72-48...
Rutledge scores...down by 24...
74-58....7:21 to go.
Kansas has outscored WVU 29-19 in second half
74-52 77-52 Freshman McLemore has scored 36...is anyone guarding him?
Rutledge the only WVU player now who can score...14 points
McLemore finished 4:45 to go
Kansas up 84-55...3:39 to go.
Bill Self clears the bench...3:39 to go...leading by 29
Brown misses 2 free throws...2:51 to go...
86-58....1:45 to go
88-60 1:07 to go
Huggs looks listlessly...?
Henderson hits a 3 at the buzzer!
91-65 Kansas wins by 26
March 2, 2013 at 4:20 pm | Report comment
cutty77
I said we would lose by at least 25,because Kansas is pretty good,and were real bad.Huggs will have to wait to get His 25 grand Next Year.LOL
March 2, 2013 at 4:30 pm | Report comment
Larry
Huggins Post game….interview…
Where’s Huggs? Tony and Jay talking about how hard WVU played…same ol rhetoric…
Bill Self is averaging 29 wins per season…unbelievable!
Huggs shows up…
“Turnovers….Dennis threw it away again…we make dumb mistakes…we can’t overcome bad calls…our spacing is bad…we lose our concentration…We don’t jam it up or put pressure or cover…we don’t switch off….our two sophomores didn’t switch… we can’t overcome breakdowns….its physical and mental…the travel is tough…we are mentally down…we don’t practice good this is the worst practice team we have ever had…it’s hard to practice like Desean Butler…Kevin Jones. Kansas has 2 top 5 pics…we don’t understand how to play…or how to adjust…Our guys just stand there…Desean and Kevin Jones would have made plays….we don’t have guys to cover for the other players…”
Nothing positive to say…
WVU has now lost 4 in a row…5 out of the last 6… 7 out of the last 11
I wonder who his daughter is going to cuss out after this beat down?
March 2, 2013 at 5:06 pm | Report comment
mingo
We are (17-25) in our last 42 games dating back to last year. Finished last season (4-9) after a (15-5) start. That (17-25) is a winning percentage of .405. We are (2-20) against the top 100 during that span. That means we are (15-5) against the teams below the top 100. As Bill Parcells says "you are what your record says you are".
March 2, 2013 at 6:17 pm | Report comment
Voiceofreason
Who's Dennis?
March 2, 2013 at 7:27 pm | Report comment
wvtd
probably the fans
March 2, 2013 at 7:36 pm | Report comment
cutty77
Last year Huggs Lost 11 out of the last 13.Then the worset Defeat WVU Tourny History.
March 2, 2013 at 8:00 pm | Report comment
Jethro
Can u think of anything positive to say?...i didn't think so
March 2, 2013 at 5:18 pm | Report comment
wvtd
there are only 2 games left.
March 2, 2013 at 7:38 pm | Report comment
Mingo
Moderator, how come you won't post my comments about WVU being (17-25) their last 42 games? You allow all these posts that are full of talk about Hugs sweatsuits which mean nothing except are pure insults. Just curious.
March 2, 2013 at 8:39 pm | Report comment