KANSASCITY, Mo. — None of the players on the No. 1-ranked University of Kansas team had ever experienced winning a conference championship. That was until the Jayhawks cruised through victories over Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Missouri to win the first-ever Big 12 Tournament last week.

After first round byes and second round victories for both the Jayhawks and the Cyclones, the teams were matched up for the third time this season. By holding the conference’s leading scorer, Iowa State guard Dedric Willoughby, to only 10 points, Kansas was able to bury the Cyclones 72-48.

“It’s the best defense I’ve seen since I’ve been at ISU,” Willoughby said after the game.

Willoughby, who averages 28 points and five three-pointers a game, shot two of six from behind the arc and three of 13 from field goal range. Both of his three-point baskets came in the first ten minutes of the game, the second giving the Cyclones their biggest lead at 17-14.

“I never really got a chance to get my feet set on any shot I had,” Willoughby said. “It was difficult to get a shot off, you have to give those guys credit, they came up with a plan to get me out of the ball game, and they did just that.”

According to Kansas coach Roy Williams, his team was prepared to stop Willoughby, who scored 36 points against his team in Ames.

“We wanted to make sure Dedric didn’t hurt us like he did up at their place,” he said. “Also, we got them on a day when their shots weren’t going in.”

As a team, the Cyclones shot 30 percent from the field and only 20 percent in the second half. Kansas, who failed to connect on a three-point field goal for the first time since Jan. 25, 1993, shot 50 percent from the field.

Kansas forward and the Big 12 Tournament MVP Paul Pierce led the Jayhawks with 19. Center Scott Pollard and forward Raef LaFrentz added 13 and 16, respectively. Cyclone forward Kenny Pratt led the Cyclones with 14, while reserve forward Stevie Johnson added 10.

“When the margin got to 10 or 12, we elected to go man-to-man and they took over the game,” Iowa State coach Tim Floyd said. “They were outstanding on the offensive end in the second half.”

Floyd added that the Jayhawk defense was terrific all game long. “They were superb in fighting through our screens,” he said.

Although a foot injury took out Pollard for part of the Jayhawk’s regular season, Saturday’s game featured the healed senior center and LaFrentz. The two Jayhawks each played nearly 30 minutes of the game, racking up a combined 23 rebounds, four blocked shots and seven steals.

“We focused on our size today,” Williams said. “Scot gives us an extra edge inside. He cuts down on their offensive rebounds.”

Iowa State forward Kenny Pratt, who is listed at 6-feet 5-inches, said Kansas’ height advantage did not play a factor, adding that the game is “not about height, it’s about heart.”

Although it was Jacy Holloway who led the Cyclones in the 56-55 upset over Kansas in last year’s Big Eight Tournament, the senior point guard was 0-4 from the field this year, missing all three of his three-point attempts. Holloway, who did not shoot a field goal against Texas Tech the day before, was replaced by junior reserve DeAndre Harris with 10 minutes left in the half. While the Cyclones managed to make it to the line 24 times to the Jayhawks’ 17, the fierce Kansas defense never allowed Iowa State to get back into the game.

“If we can play defense like that throughout an entire season, I don’t think we’ll lose a ball game,” Pierce said. “If anyone thinks our defense isn’t our strong point, they’re in for a rude awakening.”

On Friday, Iowa State avenged a powerful comeback, defeating Texas Tech 72-70. The Red Raiders made 18 of 19 free throws, while point guard Stan Bonewitz made a crucial three pointer with seven seconds left to bring his team to within one point of Iowa State. A quick foul on Pratt sent him to the line where he made one of two free throws to give the Cyclones a 72-70 lead. Texas Tech guard and leading scorer Cory Carr missed a close three-pointer with no time left, giving the Cyclones the victory. Willoughby led the Cyclones with 28 points and five three-pointers. Pratt added 24 points, while Cato made six of eight field goals for 14 points and 13 rebounds.