Perfect season awaits if Kansas beats Missouri

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Because Roy Williams once blew a 4-foot putt, No. 1 Kansas may be perfect in the Big 12 this year.

While fans and media have been buzzing for weeks about the possibility the Jayhawks could go 16-0 and be the first Big 12 team to run the table, coaches and players have kept mum.

Williams, in a good-natured way, even accused one reporter of asking a stupid question when he broached the subject.

But now that the Jayhawks are 15-0 and headed for Missouri on Sunday for the regular-season finale they can finally talk about a perfect season.

As people started asking questions about running the table, Williams became worried his players might lose sight of the challenges immediately at hand. An avid golfer, he told them a story.

"I was on the 18th hole one day and I've got a 4-footer for 68," Williams said Friday. "I've shot five 69s in my life."

It was raining hard, Williams said. The other players had already gone in, leaving him alone to contemplate the short putt that would give him a career-best round.

"It was like that scene from Caddy Shack," he said. "I'm sitting there saying if I knock this in, it's 68. I jerked the sucker and missed it about four football fields. Ray Charles would have come closer."

The lesson, he told his players, was clear.

"Since that time, I've always thought, man, just thinking about final results, you forget to execute. It was the easiest putt. It was slightly uphill, slightly left-to-right. I can make those putts in my sleep."

The Jayhawks (26-2, 15-0), who wrapped up the Big 12 championship a week ago, have done a remarkable job doing that, Williams said.

OVC Tournament

TEnnESSEE Tech 86, Austin Peay 77: Jason Harrell came off the bench to score 19 points and Damian Kinloch added 17 points as top seed Tennessee Tech beat Austin Peay 86-77 in a semifinal of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at Louisville, Ky.

The win spoiled a 36-point effort by Austin Peay's Nick Stapleton. Rhet Wierzba added 14 for the Governors (14-18). Joey Westmoreland scored 15 points for Tech (24-5).

Murray St. 89, Morehead St. 75: Justin Burdine scored 26 points to lead six players in double figures as No. 3 seed Murray State beat second-seeded Morehead State 89-75 in a semifinal game of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament Friday at Louisville, Ky.

Cuthbert Victor added 17 points for Murray (18-12), while Kevin Paschel had 15 and Antione Whelchel scored 11. James Singleton finished with 10 points.

--From wire services