Two more outstanding videos: (1) The Show Goes On by friend of PhogBlog Scott Alden: and (2) The Around the Horn Guys doing the Rock Chalk Chant the Day After, with Kevin Blackiston standing up for the Hawks.
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Somewhere deep inside the Googleplex, light and sport starved Google engineers are wondering why all of a sudden their servers started getting hammered by Kansas IP addresses.
Somewhere deep inside the Kansas Department of Revenue, oily haired tax collectors are licking their chapped lips and watching sales tax receipts pour in like so much confetti from the AlamoDome’s vaulted ceiling.
Here at the Phog Blog, we’re risking a tax extension to bring you a compendium of the best YouTube videos of the Hawks’ March through Madness, and the absolute pandemonium that summarily ensued. Sure you could go to YouTube and watch, and watch, and watch, but think of this as your quick fix. Special thanks to PekkaMarkkanen at phog.net for the inspiration to compile.
For your viewing pleasure, these vids are all higher resolution than what your standard YouTube video will provide. If I’ve missed any great ones, I am certainly up for adding, so email us with the link and we’ll get it up if it’s good enough to make the cut. If you have a great video and you need help getting it online, let us know as well.
10. Final Seconds of Davidson Game
It’s not a great video, but it’s the best fan-shot video of the last seconds of KU’s win against Davidson, and it’s an angle that few have seen before. What defense! What drama! Richards’ shot seems to last about one one thousandth as long here as it did when I watched it the first time! If Mario’s heave is “The Shot,” then Richards’ is “The Miss.” Without that Miss, we are not here.
9. Last 10 Seconds of North Carolina Victory
Fans inside AFH count down KU’s victory over Roy Williams’ UNC Tarheels. Love the countdown, love the guy in glasses in the background. Allen Fieldhouse fans would double for the Championship game.
8. Mass Street Post UNC
Let the random high fiving begin. Want to know what commuting looked like in the 1600’s? Watch this video, then subtract shoelaces, breathable fabrics, full sets of teeth and about 35 years of life expectancy, oh, and also subtract the happiness. People in the olden days weren’t happy.
7. CBS Broadcast of The Shot
I’ve only seen this shot on YouTube. I still haven’t gotten to watch the game broadcast. Nantz nails the call. What a moment! Jayhawk fans will get to relive this for years to come as Coke Zero or whatever the next iteration of Diet Coke is, appropriates Mario’s heroics to shill carbonated cola beverages.
6. The Shot from Section 121
This is getting a special dispensation since it’s basically where I watched the game from. It’s a great lateral angle on The Shot and you can see the bench on the opposite side of Mario. Bonus points for ending the video with a profane utterance of disbelief.
5. The Shot from the Granada
Oh My! The Gra-nasty has seen an endless stream of bumping and grinding, and also Vanilla Ice, but not even he was as cold as the water in Mario’s veins as he cold-cocks Memphis. Love this video.
4. Mass Street from the Rooftops
Unbelievable. Mass Street becomes a raging river of Joy. Half of Lawrence is sick from all the high fiving, hugging, kissing, baby-making, yelling and screaming that went on in a 48 hour period. Oh to be born a Championship baby next January. Reserve your hospital room at LMH now, because it’s going to be tight in there.
3. Allen Fieldhouse for The Shot
Awesome video, maybe my personal favorite. You get to watch the drama of the shot unfold on the big board. And then. Unmitigated, unadulterated, unprecedented expressions of joy. Wow!
2. Allen Fieldhouse for The Victory
It’s easy to dismiss this video as just another crowd video. But I tell you friends, it’s like a good scotch or a good wine, you have to give it some time to breath. For the fast forwarding crowd, go to the 3:40 mark and watch from there. The peals of laughter, the screams, the crowd pouring out onto the court, Where the Streets have no Name busting out to update our NC count to 5! From 3:40 on this is the best, but I had to hold out number one…
1. One Shining Moment
I know it’s CBS, and I know Jayhawk fans often dislike CBS for their constant commercials and their yammering East Coast commentators, but this is KU’s Shining Moment, and we’ve been waiting for it longer than we thought we’d have to. Enjoy!
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As I stood, surrounded by UCLA and Memphis fans, and watched Mario’s shot arc for a second and a half across 24 feet of wood, paint, skin, bone and sweat, I expected, as I have been conditioned to expect, that the shot would not fall.
Indeed from my vantage point, 12 rows back on the end line (thanks to a generous Bruin), I was sure that Mario’s heave was short.
But the shot went in. And here we are, 2008 National Champions.
By and large, life is filled with grey. For every success, innovation or improvement, there’s a an accompanying compromise that we must accept. It’s why so many of us drive cars that look like every other car, and why the siding on our houses has stamped wood grain for the “authentic look.” It’s why most people only kind of like their jobs. And it’s the overwhelming supply of grey in our lives that makes sports so exciting.
Because nowhere in that second and a half of The Shot was there any blending of black and white. There was agony or there was ecstasy, and there was nothing in between.
Away from the action on the court, another story was developing. The NCAA production crew, sensing Memphis’ impending victory, had unboxed the Tigers’ Championship shirts, and had delivered them to the Memphis bench, so the players could wear them as soon as possible. The game was over and everyone knew it, except the five guys wearing Crimson and Blue. Mario’s shot went in and the CBS/NCAA production assistants summarily took them away.
It’s a cruel twist and an insult to injury that Memphis didn’t deserve, but it’s also emblematic of why we watch and why they play. If you can’t lose, it’s no fun to win. And after 19 years of season ending losses, winning is a lot of fun.
Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Congrats to Self and his team. We have entered a new Golden Age of KU Hoops. Enjoy.
BONUS:
This video was shot from within 10 feet of me at the game. HOT HOT HOT.
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Enter the PhogBlog Group in the Las vegas Journal-Review March Madness contest.
This one is a little different than most of those going around the internet. Instead of having your Elite 8 or Final Four teams knocked out in the first or second round, resulting in games of no interest to you, you pick each round after the previous round’s games have been played.
In other words, every game counts.
Go to the LVRJ registration page, register, and click on My Groups. Click on “Join Public Group” and search for “PhogBlog.”
Then pick away for Round One.
What do you win?
Pick all games correctly, and the LVJR says it will fork over $100,000. (About the same chance as you would have facing off against Tiger in match play.)
Garner the most points in the PhogBlog group, and you will bask in PB glory for 12 full months.
Good luck. You will need it against the PB’s regular cast of luminarias.
Hint: Take KU in Round 1, and you will be perfect for at least a while, depending on the length of the other Thursday morning games. I promise.
–Mark
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MIDWEEK RECAP
Another REAL season has come and gone. By late Sunday evening (Central DAYLIGHT time), the standings you find on-line and in your local newspaper will have merged with the REAL Standings. No one will be at an advantage or disadvantage in games yet to be played because there will be no games yet to be played.
However, while there is still a slate of Big 12 games remaining this weekend, UT maintains a REAL ½ game advantage over KU, as only a projected W remains on its schedule, while the Jayhawks have a losable game in College Station—a venue where A&M trounced UT earlier this season.
UT had a struggle at Home Tuesday night vs. Nebraska—perhaps distracted by missing the local caucus action—but managed, nevertheless, to turn a close game into a Non-Event by picking up their projected victory. KU’s own Non-Event vs. Texas Tech in the biggest slaughter in Big 12 history, meant that the Jayhawks could only tread the REAL Standings water. That will have to wait until Saturday, if at all.
In lower profile NE games, k-state and Mizzou picked up their projected Home W’s vs. Tier 3 Dwellers Colorado and Iowa St.
The two REAL stories of the Midweek slate were OU and A&M winning on the Road vs. other Tier Two teams (Okie St and Baylor), meaning big “plus ones” in the RSP for the Sooners and Aggies.
REAL STANDINGS: 3/6/08
Note: The current breakdown of teams into tiers, which is the only subjective aspect of the REAL Standings is:
Tier One: KU, UT
Tier Two: Baylor, k-state, Mizzou, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Tier Three: CU, ISU
1. 13-3
UT (12-3) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: None
2. 12.5-3.5
KU (12-3) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at A&M
3. 9.5-6.5
k-state (9-6) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at ISU
4. 9-7
OU (8-7) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: None
5. 8.5-7.5
A&M (8-7) Projected L’s: at BU
Losable games: KU
6. 8-8
Baylor (8-7) Projected L’s: at TT
Losable games: None
Tech (7-8) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: None
8. 7-9
OSU (7-8) Projected L’s: at UT
Losable games: None
NU (6-9) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: None
10. 6-10
MU (6-9) Projected L’s: at OU
Losable games: None
11. 4.5-11.5
ISU (4-11) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: ksu
12. 3-13
CU (3-12) Projected L’s: at NU
Losable games: None
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
Big XII Weekend Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient) on a 1-4 star scale:
SATURDAY
1. Baylor at Texas Tech (12:30p.m.)***
The Bears are one of four Big 12 teams playing to impress the NCAA selection committee. A loss and an 8-8 record will not help their cause. But Lubbock is not the place to be playing for your post-season life: Tech would be undefeated at Home but for a fluke last minute desperation shot by Oklahoma.
Projected W: Tech
2. Mizzou at OU (2:30p.m.)***
A W here sets the Sooners up nicely with that all important 9th win and a first round bye in K.C.
Projected W: OU
3. k-state at Iowa St (3:00p.m.)***1/2
k-state can punch its ticket to the Big Dance with its tenth conference victory. But make no mistake about it: At Hilton, this is a losable game.
Projected W: Toss-up
4. KU at A&M (3:00p.m.)****
The last meaningful game of the conference season. Unless you are deranged enough to think that Okie St can waltz into Austin and walk out with a Win.
Projected W: Toss-up
SUNDAY
5. Colorado at Nebraska (2:00p.m.)*
Wake me at half-time, so I can turn to Okie St at UT.
Projected W: Nebraska
6. Okie St at UT (3:00p.m.)***1/2
Can Okie St dish out a -1 in the REAL Standings to UT on Senior Day in Austin with at least a share of the Big 12 championship on the line? Not bloody likely. But UT did just squeak by Nebraska Tuesday night by 4 on this same court, where they barely outlasted hapless Colorado by 2 earlier this season. Not to mention surviving OT’s in Stillwater and Ames, and capitalizing on Baylor pulling a Chris Webber to make it out of Waco alive. So maybe, just maybe, UT is more accurately characterized as a resourceful team than an overpowering one. Might be worth looking in on this game, just in case. . .
Projected W: UT
–Mark
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WEEKEND RECAP
On the day before Texas Independence Day, Texas declared independence from the stranglehold it had on the Big 12 title, falling in Lubbock to a Red Raiders team that had lost by 44 points days earlier in College Station to a Texas A&M team that had lost days earlier in Austin by 27. But this game was not in Austin. And what is the prime premise of the REAL Standings? It is that Road games are different from Home games. And so, the Loss in Lubbock, being a Losable game, was hardly a surprise.
Surprise or not, it cost UT ½ game in the REAL Standings, preventing them from virtually wrapping up the Big 12 championship, having no Projected L’s and no Losable game remaining on its schedule.
UT does remain in first place in the REAL Standings, however, with KU having a Losable game yet to play. March 8. College Station. Where Tech fell by 44. Where UT fell by 17.
Where Nebraska won by 6. What’s wrong with this picture?
But, first, KU and UT must take care of business in Home games vs. Tech and Lubbock respectively. As if. . .
Meanwhile, Okie St continued making its move up the Real Standings Ladder, picking up a full game in the RSP with a Road victory at Nebraska—its third consecutive W away from home and its 5th in its last six games overall.
Non-Event games found Projected Home W’s by OU over A&M (10 points in the first half? Are you kidding me?), Baylor over Mizzou, Colorado over Iowa St, and–oh, by the way—KU over k-state (with Beasley outscoring A&M’s entire team 39-37).
REAL STANDINGS: 3/2/08
Note: The current breakdown of teams into tiers, which is the only subjective aspect of the REAL Standings is:
Tier One: KU, UT
Tier Two: Baylor, k-state, Mizzou, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Tier Three: CU, ISU
1. 13-3
UT (11-3) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: None
2. 12.5-3.5
KU (11-3) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at A&M
3. 9.5-6.5
k-state (8-6) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at ISU
4. 9-7
Baylor (8-6) Projected L’s: at TT
Losable games: None
5. 8-8
OU (7-7) Projected L’s: at OSU
Losable games: None
OSU (7-7) Projected L’s: at UT
Losable games: None
Tech (7-7) Projected L’s: at KU
Losable games: None
8. 7.5-8.5
A&M (7-7) Projected L’s: at BU
Losable games: KU
9. 7-9
NU (6-8) Projected L’s: at UT
Losable games: None
10. 6-10
MU (5-9) Projected L’s: at OU
Losable games: None
11. 4.5-11.5
ISU (4-10) Projected L’s: at MU
Losable games: ksu
12. 3-13
CU (3-11) Projected L’s: at ksu, at NU
Losable games: None
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
Big XII Midweek Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient) on a 1-4 star scale:
MONDAY
1. Texas Tech at KU (8:0p.m.)**1/2
After playing Mr. Hyde last week in College Station, Tech played Dr. Jekyll Saturday afternoon vs. UT in Lubbock. On the Road again, expect a Hydeous relapse.
Projected W: KU
TUESDAY
2. NU at UT (6:30p.m.)*1/2
Exhibit 1 for the proposition that the Big 12 should consider adopting a mercy rule.
Projected W: UT
3. Colorado at k-state (8:00p.m.)*
Exhibit 2.
Projected W: k-state
WEDNESDAY
4. Iowa St at Mizzou (7:00p.m.)*1/2
Exhibit 3? That might be stretching it, but it won’t be Bedlam either. . .
Projected W: Mizzou
5. OU at Okie St (7:00p.m.)***1/2
With Okie St coming on strong (5 of their last 6), this game will justify the Bedlam Series moniker.
Projected W: Okie St
6. A&M at Baylor (8:00p.m.)***
These two teams played 65 minutes in College Station. For you Aggies and Bears, that’s longer than a football game.
Projected W: Baylor
–Mark
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MIDWEEK RECAP
The major Midweek story, of course, was k-state taking a dive against UT, knowing full well that doing so would visit the ultimate blow to their arch-rivals by knocking KU out of a flat-footed tie with UT in the REAL Standings and dropping the Jayhawks into second place.
Hey, I understand the animosity and all after spending 25 years as the Hawks’—how should I say, delicately, on a blog that might be read by youngsters: as the Hawks’ whipping boys.
Still, you would think Frank Martin, who has the outward appearance of a pit boss veteran, could have been more subtle about it. Letting Beasley ride the pine with the score deadlocked at 50 until UT took firm control of the contest with seven unanswered points. And simultaneously “resting” his second best player, Bill Walker, was nothing short of arrogance. Oh, and Walker—going 0-10 from the field was just plain clumsy. Your job is to create the appearance that you are trying to win the game.
At any rate, UT picked up a full game in the RSP with its W over what was, at the time, a Tier One Team. But no longer. Whether due to incompetence or chicanery, k-state, with a Home loss to go with its four Road setbacks, drops to Tier Two. In fact, with Road games remaining at KU and Iowa St, k-state will likely need to win in Ames just to match last year’s 10-6 conference record—which was not good enough to punch its ticket to the Big Dance.
The other big Weekday winner was Okie St, also picking up a full game in the RSP with its second consecutive Road victory—this one in Columbia–as well as its second consecutive last minute W.
Baylor picked up ½ game with its win at Tier Three CU.
The other three Midweek games were all Non-Events for purposes of the REAL Standings: KU over Third Tier Iowa St in Ames, and A&M and NU at Home vs. Texas Tech and OU respectively.
REAL STANDINGS: 2/29/08
Note: The current breakdown of teams into tiers, which is the only subjective aspect of the REAL Standings is:
Tier One: KU, UT
Tier Two: Baylor, k-state, Mizzou, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Tier Three: CU, ISU
1. 13.5-2.5
UT (11-2) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at TT
2. 12.5-3.5
KU (10-3) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at A&M
3. 9.5-6.5
k-state (8-5) Projected L’s: at KU
Losable games: at ISU
4. 9-7
Baylor (7-6) Projected L’s: at TT
Losable games: None
5. 8-8
OU (6-7) Projected L’s: at OSU
Losable games: None
OSU (6-7) Projected L’s: at MU, at UT
Losable games: None
7. 7.5-8.5
A&M (7-6) Projected L’s: at OU, at BU
Losable games: KU
Tech (6-7) Projected L’s: at KU
Losable games: UT
9. 7-9
NU (7-7) Projected L’s: at OSU, at UT
Losable games: None
10. 6-10
MU (5-8) Projected L’s: at BU, at OU
Losable games: None
11. 4-12
ISU (4-9) Projected L’s: at CU, at MU, ksu
Losable games: None
12. 3-13
CU (2-11) Projected L’s: at ksu, at NU
Losable games: None
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
Big XII Weekend Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient) on a 1-4 star scale:
SATURDAY
1. NU at Okie St (12:30p.m.)***
Nice match up between two teams which, if not red hot, are a bit warmer than Luke.
Projected W: Okie St
2. A&M at OU (1:00p.m.)***
An elimination game for the Big Dance? Not quite, but not far from being one.
Projected W: OU
3. Mizzou at Baylor (3:00p.m.)***
Would you take the Over or Under at 185?
Projected W: Baylor
4. UT at Tech (3:00p.m.)***1/2
For all intents and purposes, KU’s chances of a share of their 51st conference rest on the shoulders of Martin Zeno and Co. The Techsters did not even show up for their first game vs. UT in Austin. However, has a team ever resembled Dr. Jekyll at home and Mr. Hyde on the Road more than this year’s Red Raiders? And they have no incentive to take a dive.
Projected W: None
5. ISU at CU (4:00p.m.)*
This is two years of your life you will never get back. Errrr—make that hours. It will just seem like years.
Projected W: CU
6. k-state at KU (8:00p.m.)****
‘Nuf said.
Projected W: KU
–Mark
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WEEKEND RECAP
The most important result this weekend found KU dropping a half game in the REAL Standings by frittering away a game against a vastly inferior team in Stillwater. In doing so, the Jayhawks, instead of taking a full game lead on UT, and protecting themselves against a UT W in Manhattan this Monday night, fell into a flat-footed tie with the Longhorns and now must pin their hopes on arch-rival k-state to keep UT from picking up a full game in the RSP and taking a formidable lead over the Hawks with only two games of REAL significance remaining on the Big 12 schedule: i.e., UT’s Losable game at Tech this coming Saturday, and KU’s Losable game in College Station a week later.
I must admit to giving some thought to dropping KU to Tier Two status after Saturday’s exercise in patheticism. My subjective standard for Tier One is that a team appear capable of winning every conference game at Home and at least half of its Road games. The Hawks are close to not meeting that definition if you question their chances in Ames Wednesday night. I can’t quite go there yet. I am also generally slow to change a team’s current status unless there is no reasonable argument to make for keeping it where it is.
The other result that mattered came out of Waco, as Baylor virtually ended k-state’s hopes for even a share of the Big 12 championship, dropping k-state another ½ game in the RSP. k-state should probably be dropped from Tier One with its fourth Road loss, but the sheer force of inertia says let’s see what they do Monday night.
The biggest numerical gainer of the week was Nebraska, as the Huskers continued its late season charge with a W in College Station in a game that had been a projected L. NU has not lost since being temporarily dropped to Tier Three in the RSP. Guess they took it personally.
Projected Home wins by Tech (vs. ISU), UT (vs. OU), and Mizzou (vs. CU) were all Non-Events for REAL Standings purposes.
REAL STANDINGS: 2/21/08
Note: The current breakdown of teams into tiers, which is the only subjective aspect of the REAL Standings is:
Tier One: KU, k-state, UT
Tier Two: Baylor, Mizzou, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Tier Three: CU, ISU
1. 12.5-3.5
KU (9-3) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at A&M
UT (10-2) Projected L’s: at ksu
Losable games: at TT
3. 11-5
k-state (8-4) Projected L’s: at KU
Losable games: None
4. 8.5-7.5
Baylor (6-6) Projected L’s: at TT
Losable games: at CU
5. 8-8
OU (6-6) Projected L’s: at NU, at OSU
Losable games: None
6. 7.5-8.5
A&M (6-6) Projected L’s: at OU, at BU
Losable games: KU
Tech (6-6) Projected L’s: at A&M, at KU
Losable games: UT
8. 7-9
MU (5-7) Projected L’s: at BU, at OU
Losable games: None
NU (5-7) Projected L’s: at OSU, at UT
Losable games: None
OSU (5-7) Projected L’s: at MU, at UT
Losable games: None
11. 4-12
ISU (4-8) Projected L’s: KU, at CU, at MU, ksu
Losable games: None
12. 3.5-12.5
CU (2-10) Projected L’s: at ksu, at NU
Losable games: BU
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
Big XII Weekend Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient) on a 1-4 star scale:
MONDAY
1. UT at k-state (8:00p.m.)****
k-state holds KU’s dreams of a 51st conference title in its purple hands. As the Wicked Witch of the West would say, “What a world. What a world.”
Projected W: k-state
TUESDAY
2. Okie St at Mizzou (8:00p.m.)***
Okie St is playing well for a Tier Two Team. They are, however, 1-19 in their last 20 Road games. They did beat A&M in College Station last week, but that feat is so easy even a Cave—errrrrr–Cornhusker can do it.
Projected W: MU
WEDNESDAY
3. KU at Iowa St (6:00p.m.)***
ISU is no slouch at Hilton, despite blowing a game that was in the proverbial bag against UT. They are probably as good in Hilton as Okie St is in GIA. Bad news for KU? Maybe. Then again, another opportunity for the Jayhawks to display or develop some Road mettle.
Projected W: KU
4. OU at NU (7:00p.m.)***
Can the Huskers continue their winning ways vs. the Griffin Gang?
Projected W: NU
5. Tech at A&M (7:00p.m.)**1/2
A simply horrible Road team vs. what has recently been a simply horrible Home team. Movable Object meet Resistable Force.
Projected W: A&M
6. Baylor at CU (7:30p.m.)****
A critical game for Baylor’s NCAA chances.
Projected W: None
–Mark
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MIDWEEK RECAP
Once again, for anyone who still doesn’t understand the difference between a Home game and a Road game, and you know who you are, Kerkhoff, the premise of the REAL Standings was validated Wednesday night as Nebraska took out k-state in Lincoln. This, in spite of the fact that k-state had earlier toyed with the Huskers in Manhattan as if they were a junior high team, and despite the fact that, although this game had been listed as a Losable game for k-state for weeks, it was re-characterized as a Projected W just four days ago because of NU’s demotion to Tier Three status. That was apparently a bit hasty, because either NU is a Tier Two team or k-state is. Or both.
Further evidence of the significance of the Home court came in Austin, as UT dismantled the same A&M team that had taken them apart in College Station.
The bottom line, however, is that UT’s Home victory was a non-event in the REAL Standings, as are all Home victories by Tier One Teams.
k-state’s loss, on the other hand, cost it a full game in the RSP. Should they lose their Losable game in Waco this weekend, the k-staters might find themselves in a fight for a first round bye in the conference tourney. And, even worse, they will be at risk of losing their status as a Tier One Team in the REAL Standings.
In other news, Tech picked up ½ game with its Road victory at Colorado vs. a team that is beginning to make the Ricardo Patton era look like the Golden Age of Buffalo Basketball.
And OU’s Projected Home W over Baylor, while a non-event for purposes of the REAL Standings, was easily the most exciting game of the week, even though requiring direct aid from the Bears, who have done more choking in the last week than Boris Karloff in the Body Snatcher.
REAL STANDINGS: 2/21/08
Note: The current breakdown of teams into tiers, which is the only subjective aspect of the REAL Standings is:
Tier One: KU, k-state, UT
Tier Two: Baylor, Mizzou, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Okie St, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Tier Three: CU, ISU
1. 13-3
KU (9-2) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at OSU, at A&M
2. 12.5-3.5
UT (9-2) Projected L’s: at ksu
Losable games: at TT
3. 11.5-4.5
k-state (8-3) Projected L’s: at KU
Losable games: at BU
4. 8.5-7.5
A&M (6-5) Projected L’s: at OU, at BU
Losable games: KU
5. 8-8
Baylor (5-6) Projected L’s: at TT
Losable games: k-state, at CU
OU (6-5) Projected L’s: at UT, at NU, at OSU
Losable games: None
7. 7.5-8.5
Tech (5-6) Projected L’s: at A&M, at KU
Losable games: UT
8. 7-9
MU (4-7) Projected L’s: at BU, at OU
Losable games: None
9. 6.5-9.5
OSU (4-7) Projected L’s: at MU, at UT
Losable games: KU
10. 6-10
NU (4-7) Projected L’s: at A&M, at OSU, at UT
Losable games: None
11. 4-12
ISU (4-7) Projected L’s: at TT, KU, at CU, at MU, ksu
Losable games: None
12. 3.5-12.5
CU (2-9) Projected L’s: at MU, at ksu, at NU
Losable games: BU
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
Big XII Weekend Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient) on a 1-4 star scale:
SATURDAY
1. Iowa St at Tech (12:30p.m.)*1/2
What can you say? It’s on the schedule. It has to be played.
Projected W: Tech
2. OU at UT (2:30p.m.)***1/2
Let’s listen in on a conversation between Rick Barnes and that guy from Duke (remind me to call Dickie V for his name) who coaches OU, as to which team should be named LTOY:
Barnes: We’re the luckiest team in the conference. We got to play you guys in Norman when Longar was hurt.
TGFD: No. We are the luckiest team in the country. We hit a fluke 30 footer in the final two seconds to win in Lubbock.
Barnes: But we are the luckiest team in the world. Baylor was 1 for 17 from three point land for the entire first half when we played them in Waco.
TGFD: Disagree. We are the luckiest team in this solar system. Aaron Bruce fouled our shooter as he was making a three point shot with eight seconds left in the game. Went from down 3 to 1 up just like that.
Barnes: Child’s play. We are the luckiest team in the Milky Way Galaxy. Bruce called a time out against us that he didn’t have.
TGFD: I can top that, because we are the luckiest team in the universe. Baylor’s best player, Curtis Jerrells, missed two free throws with one second left in the game.
Barnes: Give me a break. We are the luckiest team in this dimension. We get to play you with Longar back in the lineup at HOME!
TGFD: You win.
Projected W: UT
3. KU at Okie St (3:00p.m.)****
A Losable game for the Hawks. Even more Losable than previously anticipated with Okie St gathering momentum from recent victories over Baylor at Home and A&M on the Road. A W here gives KU a full game lead over UT in the REAL Standings, a matter of utmost importance, taking into account that UT has the tie-breaker vs. the Jayhawks for the No. 1 seed in the conference tourney by virtue of their victory when the teams played in Austin.
Projected W: None
4. NU at A&M (3:00p.m.)*
Don’t you have a lawn to mow or something?
Projected W: A&M
5. CU at Mizzou (7:00p.m.)*
Or a house to paint?
Projected W: Mizzou
6. k-state at Baylor (7:00p.m.)****
Monster game for k-state. Lose this, and they are history. The Bears, meanwhile, are just as desperate. They have lost six of their last seven and need this game to avoid bubble status. Unfortunately, they are the chokiest chokers that ever choked. What new way will they invent to avoid winning on this occasion? Whatever way they choose, they need to patent it so no one else can use it without written authorization.
Projected W: None
–Mark
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WEEKEND RECAP
Counterintuitively to those who slavishly follow the Uninformed Standings, KU followed up its positive Midweek (despite losing) with a Superbad Weekend (despite winning). And knowledgeable Jayhawk fans are not McLovin it.
Although your local newspaper will make it appear that the Jayhawks treaded water vis-a vis k-state and UT, the REAL Standings reveal the truth: UT’s victory over Baylor, which had been a Projected L, allowed it to pick up a full game in the RSP. UT now trails KU by a mere ½ game.
k-state also picked up a full game, albeit by a different route. Their Projected W over Mizzou in Manhattan, like KU’s routine victory over Colorado, was a non-event for purposes of the Real Standings. However, their remaining schedule suddenly looks a full game easier as both Baylor and Nebraska have proven unworthy of their former status as Tier One and Tier Two Teams respectively—resulting in the Baylor game moving from the Projected L column to being merely a Losable game, and NU moving from the Losable column to a Projected W. Each move benefits k-state to the extent of ½ game, meaning k-state, along with UT, is now within a half game of the Jayhawks.
Don’t look now, but what this means is that KU fans may become Beasley, Walker and Co.’s most ardent supporters on Big Monday a week hence when they take on UT. Otherwise, barring an unexpected L by UT to A&M at Home or tech in Lubbock, the Jayhawks may need to win out just to tie for the Big 12 title and claim the No. 2 seed in the conference tourney.
In news from the nether regions, OU remained in the conversation for the fourth bye in the Big 12 tourney as it picked up a full game in the RSP with a fluke heave from Plainview in the final two seconds at Tech.
Okie St, meanwhile, proved itself to be a legitimate Tier Two Team by following up its Home Win vs. Baylor (a Tier One team at the time) with its first Road W in two years at the expense of A&M, for a combined 1½ game move up the REAL Standings ladder.
Nebraska, on the other hand, went the other way, dropping 1½ games in the RSP by losing to Tier Two Mizzou at Home and Tier Three ISU in Ames—and, in the process, dropping in rank to the Tier 3 itself.
REAL STANDINGS: 2/17/08
1. 13-3
KU (9-2) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at OSU, at A&M
2. 12.5-3.5
UT (8-2) Projected L’s: at ksu
Losable games: at TT
k-state (8-2) Projected L’s: at KU
Losable games: at BU
4. 8.5-7.5
A&M (5-4) Projected L’s: at UT, at OU, at BU
Losable games: KU
OU (5-5) Projected L’s: at UT, at OSU
Losable games: at NU
6. 8-8
Baylor (4-5) Projected L’s: at OU, at TT
Losable games: k-state, at CU
7. 7-9
MU (4-7) Projected L’s: at BU, at OU
Losable games: N.A.
Tech (4-6) Projected L’s: at A&M, at KU
Losable games: at CU, UT
9. 6.5-9.5
OSU (4-7) Projected L’s: at MU, at UT
Losable games: KU
10. 4.5-11.5
NU (3-7) Projected L’s: ksu, at A&M, at OSU, at UT
Losable games: OU
11. 4-12
ISU (4-7) Projected L’s: at TT, KU, at CU, at MU, ksu
Losable games: N/A
CU (2-8) Projected L’s: at at MU, at ksu, at NU
Losable games: TT, BU
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
Big XII Weekday Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient) on a 1-4 star scale:
MONDAY
1. A&M at UT (8:00p.m.)****
The game in College Station was never in doubt, as the Aggies controlled the contest from start to finish. We’ll see how much difference home cooking makes to UT.
Projected W: UT
TUESDAY
2. Baylor at OU (7:00p.m.)****
After the 5 OT game at A&M, it looked like Baylor had arrived as a player in the Big 12. Their choke job Saturday at Home vs. UT proved otherwise. 1-17 from three point range in the first half? Are you kidding me? To paraphrase Dickie V, a word having something to do with a diaper would be appropriate, but it would not be “dandy.”
Projected W: OU
WEDNESDAY
3. Texas Tech at CU (7:00p.m.)*1/2
The worst tem in the league vs. the worst Road team in the league. Won’t be a “good” game, but it could be close.
Projected W: None
4. k-state at NU (8:00p.m.)**
This game had been slated as a Losable game for k-state prior to Saturday. The Cornhuskers are devoid of good wins during the conference season, and there is no reason to believe that this will change Wednesday night—even vs. a team that has already lost on the Road to Mizzou and become Pat Knight’s first and only victim as a head coach.
Projected W: k-state
–Mark
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MIDWEEK RECAP
Again, for two days, my ears were subjected to the nonsensical assertion that k-state was in first place in the Big 12—that KU had somehow fallen out of the lead just because they lost a game they were projected to lose in the REAL Standings.
I pity the fool who gives any mind to the UNreal—or should I say Uninformed—Standings found in your local newspaper.
In REALity, KU moved closer to capturing its 51st conference championship during this midweek session of games, by virtue of k-state’s losable game loss to Texas Tech, which caused the purple gang to drop ½ game further behind the Jayhawks in the REAL Standings. KU’s REAL Standings record remained 13-3, because the L the Jayhawks took in Austin had already been debited against their account. The Hawks did miss an opportunity to virtually end the conference race by picking up a full game in the REAL Standings. But what fun would that be? Then there would be little reason for me to engage in this exercise, other than keeping track of the team most likely to grab the fourth first round bye in the conference tourney.
The biggest midweek winner is Mizzou, picking up a full game in the REAL Standings with its OT victory at Nebraska, a game that was a projected L for the Tigers. This avenged Mizzou’s earlier loss in a projected W game to NU in Columbia.
Other midweek winners, picking up ½ game in the RSP, are, of course, Tech, as well as Okie St, with its victory over a One Tier Higher team (Baylor) in Stillwater. The latter game raises the issue of whether Baylor should retain its status as a Tier One Team. Let’s just say that the Bears are on double secret probation. (Although, in its favor, BU has no Road games remaining on its schedule at any contender’s venue.)
OU’s victory over Iowa St in Norman, being a projected W for the Sooners, was, like the UT/KU game, a non-event in the REAL world.
REAL STANDINGS: 2/15/08
1. 13-3
KU (8-2) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at OSU, at A&M
2. 11.5-4.5
k-state (7-2) Projected L’s: at BU, at KU
Losable games: at NU
UT (7-2) Projected L’s: at BU, at ksu
Losable games: at TT
4. 11-5
Baylor (4-4) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at OU, at TT
5. 9.5-6.5
A&M (5-3) Projected L’s: at UT, at OU, at BU
Losable games: KU
6. 7.5-8.5
Tech (4-5) Projected L’s: at A&M, at KU
Losable games: at CU, UT, BU
7. 7-9
MU (4-6) Projected L’s: at ksu, at BU, at OU
Losable games: N.A.
8. 6.5-9.5
OU (4-5) Projected L’s: at TT, at UT, at NU, at OSU
Losable games: BU
9. 6-10
NU (3-6) Projected L’s: at A&M, at OSU, at UT
Losable games: at ISU, ksu
10. 5.5-10.5
OSU (3-7) Projected L’s: at A&M, at MU, at UT
Losable games: KU
11. 3.5-12.5
ISU (3-7) Projected L’s: at TT, KU, at CU, at MU, ksu
Losable games: NU
CU (2-7) Projected L’s: at KU, at MU, BU, at ksu, at NU
Losable games: TT
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
Big XII Weekend Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient) on a 1-4 star scale:
SATURDAY
1. CU at KU (12:30p.m.)*
For the second time this season, CU catches the Jayhawks coming off a loss. In fact, no one else has had this distinction even once. The first time, CU put up a fight for 30 minutes. This game, however, is in Lawrence vs. a team whose manhood has been questioned not only by fans and sportswriters, but by its own coach. And it is Hoops reunion weekend in Lawrence, including a celebration of the 1988 NCAA champions. The halftime festivities should be more interesting than the actual game.
Projected W: KU
2. Okie St at A&M (2:00p.m.)**1/2
Okie St got a nice Home victory for a Tier Two Team Wednesday night vs. Baylor. Will it ever take its act on the Road?
Projected W: A&M
3. NU at ISU (3:00p.m.)*1/2
Two teams going nowhere. Iowa St is watchable in Hilton Coliseum.
Projected W: None
4. OU at Tech (3:00p.m.)***
Nice Tier Two matchup with Longar Longar back in the lineup for OU OU.
Projected W: Tech
5. Mizzou at k-state (5:00p.m.)***
Let’s see if k-state is any good at playing the revenge card. Even so, Mizzou, having nothing to lose, might make this a ball game.
Projected W: k-state
6. UT at Baylor (5:00p.m.)****
An Opportunity Game for UT. A W here, and they move past k-state and to within ½ game of the Jayhawks in the REAL Standings. On the other side of the coin, a Baylor loss places them in jeopardy of losing their edge over A&M for a Thursday bye in the Big 12 tournament.
Projected W: Baylor
–Mark
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WEEKEND RECAP
A&M continues its quest to re-establish itself as a Top Tier Team in the Big 12. Winning in Columbia—a task UT and k-state were unable to accomplish—is a nice feather in the Aggie helmet, to the extent of ½ game in the REAL Standings. There may, indeed, be five high quality teams in the Big XII. How many conferences can say that?
Before Longar Longar went down, it looked like there might be six. But losing at Home on Monday to UT and in Boulder on Saturday cost OU a full game in the REAL Standings Projections. Meanwhile, the victory by the Buffs over the Sooners moved CU up ½ game and into a flat-footed tie with 11th place Iowa St. A Road W by either CU or ISU vs. a Tier Two team would separate one from the other and be cause for serious consideration of an upgrade to Tier Two.
The other four games went as projected, with KU, k-state, and Nebraska holding their serve at Home vs. visiting Baylor, Okie St, and Tech. UT was fortunate to win in OT at Two Tier Lower ISU, but they did win. No harm done to their REAL Standings’ standing or their hopes for a conference championship.
REAL STANDINGS: 2/10/08
1. 13-3
KU (8-1) Projected L’s: at UT
Losable games: at OSU, at A&M
2. 12-4
k-state (7-1) Projected L’s: at BU, at KU
Losable games: at TT, at NU
3. 11.5-4.5
Baylor (4-3) Projected L’s: None
Losable games: at OSU, at OU, at TT
UT (6-2) Projected L’s: at BU, at ksu
Losable games: at TT
5. 9.5-6.5
A&M (5-3) Projected L’s: at UT, at OU, at BU
Losable games: KU
6. 7-9
NU (3-5) Projected L’s: at A&M, at OSU, at UT
Losable games: at ISU, ksu
Tech (3-5) Projected L’s: at A&M, at KU
Losable games: ksu, at CU, UT, BU
8. 6.5-9.5
OU (3-5) Projected L’s: at TT, at UT, at NU, at OSU
Losable games: BU
9. 6-10
MU (3-6) Projected L’s: at NU, at ksu, at BU, at OU
Losable games: N.A.
10. 5-11
OSU (2-7) Projected L’s: at A&M, at MU, at UT
Losable games: Baylor, KU
11. 3.5-12.5
ISU (3-6) Projected L’s: at OU, at TT, KU, at CU, at MU, ksu
Losable games: NU
CU (2-7) Projected L’s: at KU, at MU, BU, at ksu, at NU
Losable games: TT
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
Big XII Weekday Games, with IQ (Interest Quotient) on a 1-4 star scale:
MONDAY
1. KU at UT (8:00p.m.)****
Monday night, the Live Music Capital of the World becomes the Live Basketball Capital. UT is the rest of the contenders’ Great Orange Hope. Lose, and not only can they forget about the Big XII title, everyone else is on life support.
Projected W: UT
WEDNESDAY
2. Baylor at Okie St (7:00p.m.)**
Okie St needs to do something—anything—to show that they are justly categorized as a second tier team.
Projected W: None
3. ISU at OU (7:30p.m.)*1/2
ISU had UT on the ropes Saturday in Ames. With OU reeling from Longar Longar’s unfortunate unfortunate injury imjury, this is the Cyclones’ opportunity to earn a battlefield promotion to Tier Two.
Projected W: OU
4. Mizzou at NU (7:00p.m.)**
The players’ families will be watching this game closely. They pretty much have to.
Projected W: NU
5. k-state at Tech (8:00p.m.)***
Pat Knight tries again to pull within 901 wins of his dad. Not to mention 16 of Frank Martin. Heady stuff, indeed.
Projected W: None
–Mark
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