KJ’s
BB Newsletter
February 22, 2001
Blood on the Floor
Just
like Charley Brown who always believes that Lucy is going to actually let him
kick the football, I went to Ames again, thinking that this might be the time
that KU would finally beat the Cyclones. But
Lucy always pulls the ball away, and ends up flat on his back.
I’ve lived in Iowa over thirty years and have yet to see KU win in
Ames. They’ve done it, of course,
but never when I go there in person. Charley
and I just don’t know when to quit, I guess.
Man,
it’s hard being a Kansas fan in Iowa these days.
Five straight losses to ISU and 2 to Iowa.
My Hawkeye and Cyclone friends don’t hesitate to let me remind me…and
remind me…. and…. Geez, they also won’t forget that Roy has stolen some of their best
players.
Not
only losing to Iowa State, but to Baylor, for Christ’s sake!
What an embarrassing loss. The
first half was likely the worst half of basketball ever played by a Jayhawk
team, causing most of the national Monday night television audience to tune out.
They missed a pretty good second half run by the Hawks who came from 27
down to within four before falling short at the finish.
Well,
my bleeding has finally been stemmed --
helped somewhat by the good KU win over a tough Colorado squad and two great
upset wins by those amazing Drake Bulldogs!!
Last Sunday, the Dogs ended their five-year 43 game road-losing streak,
knocking off the Illinois State Redbirds, and followed that with another road
win, this time over SW Missouri State. In
the process, Drake has nailed down 6th place (or better), with two
games remaining. They’re almost
assured of getting a bye in the first round of the MVC tourney.
A great finish for a team most wrote off after they lost four players to
academics. Hats off to coach Kurt
Kanaskie, who gets my vote for MVC Coach of the Year.
The
9-4 Jayhawks are now in third place, following Oklahoma at 10-4 and ISU at 11-2.
A higher finish is now doubtful, with three games remaining. The Jayhawks
travel to Lincoln on Sunday, to Manhattan the following Wednesday and then
finish the regular season in Lawrence against the MU Tigers.
OU has a non-conference game with Maryland on Saturday, and then finish
league play with two home games against Colorado and Okie State. To get a 2-seed at the Big Dance, I’ll bet the Jayhawks
will have to win out the conference and take the league tourney.
Otherwise, they’re likely a 3 or 4 seed.
Although
the Jayhawks are my favorite, I have also historically liked Iowa State (along
with the Hawkeyes and Bulldogs). With
that five game streak going against KU, however, the Clones are severely testing
my allegiance. I have to admit though, that they are a great basketball team
and fun to watch. Coach Eustachy is
sure to be strongly considered for national Coach of the Year again, duplicating
last year’s award.
My
nephew Todd, a freshman journalism student at KU this year, has submitted a new
Out of the Phog column, posted to my web site www.HoopsZone.net.
Check it out.