A quick nod to my alma mater and the cradle of college basketball -- the Kansas Jayhawks are the undisputed Big XII Conference champs and did it in style knocking off Texas and college basketball's best player -- Kevin Durant. Final score was 90 - 86 in arguably one of the best games ever played in historic Allen Fieldhouse.
It looks like a wide open NCAA Tournament this year and March Madness will truly live up to its billing as sports' greatest three weeks. Kansas has had a tough road the past two tourneys getting knocked out in the first round in 2005 and 2006. So the skeptics will be thick as thieves questioning the Jayhawks and their ability to go deep in the tourney this year. The Texas game proved they can overcome a hot team with the best player by working hard and playing together.
Saturday's game marked Kansas' 1,900th all time basketball victory putting us just seven wins behind North Carolina and 40 plus behind Kentucky. It was the Jayhawks 50th all time conference championship -- the most by any school in any conference in the nation. Those two schools' greatest coaches - UK's Adolph Rupp and UNC's Dean Smith - both played at Kansas under the legendary Phog Allen. Phog Allen played for James Naismith, the guy who invented basketball. They hate being reminded of that.
So Jayhawk Nation, it's that time of year. We are a nine game run away from cutting down some more nets and hoisting some more trophies. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
Indeed, Saturday exhibited the essence of KU's "brand" of basketball in one historic performance. Ever onward
David Johnston
KU Director of Marketing
Posted by: David Johnston | Monday, March 05, 2007 at 11:20 AM
Great to share that day with you! Thanks Bro!
Now, Dr. Self is moving the Jayhawk Nation into surgery for the long-awaited removus-monkey back surgery in a few short hours. Rock Chalk!
Posted by: Scott | Friday, March 16, 2007 at 02:16 PM