By Jeffrey Lutz
:00 Ballgame. KU goes down for the second time in recent history in Oklahoma City and the second time in recent history to a team from the Missouri Valley conference. The final was 69-67. We’ll have this thing covered from every possible square inch tomorrow.
:26.0 KU’s press after a basket leaves Farokhmanesh WIDE friggin’ open on the wing. And he drains it for a four-point lead. Marcus Morris gets called for a charge and UNI will be at the line with a 66-62 lead. Tony Adame still says it’s not over. Nevermind, that was a timeout, not a foul. Now a foul sends UNI to the line with :18.1 on the clock.
:53.8 — By the way, still no Aldrich. Kwadzo Ahelegbe just turned it over after Morris made both FTs. KU trailing 63-60 with 51.5 seconds to go.
1:07 — Lots on my mind right now about this game so I’ve forgotten to blog lately. UNI is still hitting big shots — Adam Koch rebounded a missed three and dunked for a seven-point lead, then Tyshaun Taylor made 2 FTs for KU. So it’s 63-58. Marcus Morris will be at the line trying to cut the deficit to three.
3:38 — Big difference between a three-point deficit and a six-point one. Johnny Moran just handed KU the latter with a big, BIG three-pointer that put UNI ahead 59-53. We’re at the final media timeout.
4:25 — Things are going right for the Jayhawks again, so no need to think this one is over. Well, they’re not going right again, they’re going right for the first time. Collins is at the line, and he made both so KU trails 56-53.
6:54 — Aldrich’s injury doesn’t appear serious. He just got up off the bench and is walking around. No consultant with a trainer that I’ve seen. I’ll let you know when he checks back in. UNI is starting to miss shot, but KU is struggling to take advantage. 52-45.
8:36 — More bad news, KU fans. Cole Aldrich just limped off the court.
9:38 — Tony Adame doesn’t say it’s over until it’s really over. He’s like Yogi Berra that way. But it’s getting really late for KU, down 52-41.
11:36 — I called a 6-0 run to colleague Tony Adame during the last timeout, then KU scored four quick and UNI called a TO. It’s now 47-39.
12:34 — There’s usually a point in a game where I say Team X has no chance to win because nothing is going right. It’s just not their day today. I don’t know if I can say that yet about KU, but it’s getting awfully close. Sherron Collins is having trouble taking care of the ball, the Jayhawks haven’t figured out how to defend UNI, and KU is on the verge of foul trouble again. UNI leads 47-35. Time is running out.
15:26 2nd — Still no wearing down by UNI. The Panthers are responding to every attempt KU is making to take over this game and they’re attacking, too. It’s 42-32 and nothing is going right for the Jayhawks. I mean nothing. I literally can’t think of a bright spot right now for KU. Can you?
Still Half — I came up with the idea on my way to the restroom (where most of my good ideas originate) that UNI is basically the Jamie Moyer of basketball teams. You know Moyer; the 67-year-old left-hander for the Phillies that throws about 77 mph but still gets people out. He’s frustrating to hit against, and no hitter wants to give him any credit, even after an 0 for 4 performance. UNI is the same way. Nobody’s really sure how they’re so good, on paper they’re a good matchup for just about everybody, or so it seems, and they’re excruciating to oppose. KU has to figure it out, but it’s taken 20-plus years for hitters to figure out Moyer.
Half — UNI has scored 36 points and it leads 36-28. The Panthers are on pace to score 72 points, which is uncharacteristic for a group known for grinding out games. UNI reached 72 points six times during the regular season, none in the Missouri Valley. Conventional wisdom says KU wull wear down the Panthers, but there have been no signs of that happening yet.
2:59 — None of my predictions are coming true. KU fans should be nervous. I’ve never been attached with a winner, and my presence on this blog is good for at least three points to the other team. I’m sorry, Jayhawk fans.
3:28 — Farokhmanesh is the most entertaining player I’ve seen in a while. He’s 6-foot, smallest guy on the floor, and he’s busting through screens and working his butt off to get open. It’s paying off — he’s 4-4 (three 3′s) and has 11 points.
5:28 — I’m seeing UNI in a different light than I have all season. Man, these guys are gritty. I’m way impressed. Not impressed enough to change my pick, but I don’t think the Panthers are going down by 14 points anymore. Farokhmanesh is an ice-cold shooter. Dang. Just…dang! UNI leads 28-23.
7:05 UNI, known for its defense, is managing to make this a shootout. I don’t imagine that will bode well for the Panthers, but we’ll see. 25-21 UNI.
10:17 — UNI has its starters back in. Eglseder got on the floor for a loose ball and called an alert timeout. The first foul against UNI prompts a standing ovation from the KU faithful.
10:49 — As well as UNU s playing, it feels like the Panthers should be ahead by more than four. I think KU makes a run pretty soon.
11:44 The foul count after a whistle on Marcus Morris (I think; it could have been Markieff) is 6-0 now. KU fans booed the referees lustily as we went to the second media timeout. I felt like I was back at Koch Arena. Apparently all fans get mad at the officials occasionally. This is news to me. UNI leads 17-12. Nice job by the Panthers’ backups to mantain.
12:31 — KU has committed five fouls, UNI 0.
13:37 — UNI has its second stringers in. All five of them. So this would be a good time for KU to make a run, with Aldrich and Collins in the game.
15:39 — KU has made its last three shots, but UNI got a basket from Jordan Eglseder and carries a 12-9 lead into the first media timeout. For the record, I’m in the media and I would have been just fine if they’d contiuned playing. For all you believers in things like this, KU trailed 12-4 in this game and in its first-round game against Lehigh. But UNI is quite a bit better than Lehigh.
16:11 — We’re nearly four minutes in, and still no turnovers for either team. Impressive.
17:30 First Half – Uh, wow. I think UNI is ready to play this game. Did anyone expect anything different. For the second straight game, Bill Self is forced to call a timeout with the Jayhawks trailing early. After a Johnny Moran 3, it’s 10-2 UNI and we’re just 2 1/2 minutes in. UNI has made 3 of 4 shots, KU is 1 of 4.
4:38 — I think this will be a big game for KU’s Xavier Henry. No matter who is guarding him, it will be a mismatch. He’s too big for UNI guards Johnny Moran, Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Ali Farokhmanesh, and Adam Koch isn’t quick enough to guard X. Another fearless prediction: 28 points for Henry tonight on 11-of-16 shooting.
4:34 — There are a lot more empty seats here today than I expected. Mostly in the K-State section. I guess not all of the Wildcat fans wanted to see KU whoop up on a team wearing purple for the fourth time this year. Makes sense. But some of those purple-clad KSU lovers cheered when UNI came out of the tunnel. Why not? It’s all purple, it’s all the same. And yes, it’s my prediction that KU will whoop up on UNI. 76-62. Does that classify as an upwhooping?
4:13 p.m. — Fight songs have been played, both teams have emerged from the tunnel for layup lines (UNI’s Ali Farokhmanesh just did a sweet reverse) and we’re almost ready to begin the second-round NCAA Tournament game between Northern Iowa and your Jayhawks of the University of Kansas. At least, I’m assuming they’re your Jayhawks, otherwise why would you be reading? If we have some UNI fans here, well…I guess it can be YOUR Panthers, too. I’m impartial, folks. I just like to play to my audience.
Anyway, not much to report on yet. The NCAA restricts play-by-play blogging, but the number of posts allowed is unlimited. So keep checking back throughout the game for analysis, insight, and general knowledge that you can only get from courtside. In the second row. On the out of bounds line. But I’m still sitting way close, so there.
