Funding smunding, if the Chiefs move to Kansas all I want to do is stand on State Line Road, drop trou and show my bare butt to all of Missouri.

Before we start focusing on the basketball week ahead (3 more games-6 games in 2 weeks; who made this schedule?) or posting more about recent and possible future recruits, it’s important to stop and appreciate what we have at KU. Bill Self. I remember the let down when Roy Williams finally took the NC job. I worried that our basketball success would drop a couple of notches, but the exact opposite happened. Coach Self raised the already high profile Coach Williams brought to KU to the top tier nationally and made us the team to beat each year. Thank you, thank you Bill Self. RCJH

I love Svi on offense, at least some of the time. Earlier in the season when we first saw Svi driving to the rim a la Wiggs, I thought he was going to be a difference maker on offense for this team. But, we may no longer tolerate his defensive ineptness. Vick needs to return to the starting lineup. Then, bring Svi in for offense as a spot up shooter and occasional penetrator, similar to the way Brannen Greene was used last year.

I know Svi is our fourth leading scorer at 10/game in 28 minutes. But, against Baylor, Svi’s play created dissention on the floor. Vick’s energy and better defense necessitates the promotion. Svi’s contributions have been on the decline recently, whereas Vick’s play off the bench has provided much needed offense at critical times and many have attributed our last two victories to Vick’s efforts. Reward the slashing Mr. Vick and use Svi as an offensive hammer off the bench.

I’m still enjoying the bounty of information from the Baylor box score. My goodness Frank had a great line: 39 min, 7-12 FG, 1-3 3PT, 8-8 FTs, 2 Rbs, 8 Ast, 2 Stl, 1 TO and 23 Pts. What a special player we have in Frank Mason.

Thank goodness we now have actual dribbling, shooting and defending to talk about. I still like playing the Kansas colleges; Emporia State has players from Burlington, Osage City, Spring Hill, Bonner Springs and Tonganoxie. I think it’s great that Kansas kids get to play in Allen Fieldhouse.

And, Emporia State brings a new coach to the game. Craig Doty just got hired in April and gets to play the Jayhawks as his first game for Emporia. Welcome aboard Coach. Good luck.

KU starters: Dok, Dedric, Grimes and… . I say Vick and Moore. Both because they’ve been in the program and know how KU operates. Rock Chalk.

Would someone please put together a video of Dok’s 5 fouls during the Tennessee game and add to it the hacking that goes on every time Dok gets the ball In the paint? There is a terrible double standard for foul calling against Dok-at least in my memory of watching the game live. I haven’t watched the game a second time, so maybe my recollection would change. I really liked the passion Dok showed after he fouled out. During the OT timeouts, Dok was shouting encouragement to Dedric. Dok wants to win. I like it.

My random thought is how much I love the tournament settings and process. When I saw KU plays at 1:30 on Thursday, I began rearranging my schedule and deciding what types of beer I need in the office frig for the people in my building who will certainly drop in to catch a bit of the game. Rock Chalk, baby.

Our trio of Jackson, Mason and Graham just refuse to lose. What a great win. Despite missing clutch free throws down the stretch, our guys found a way to win. It’s not always pretty, but Coleby and Lightfoot gave us some valuable minutes.

I thought Josh should have been in the paint more when Baylor had it’s zone set and we were running our half court offense. When Josh got the ball in the paint, he was unstoppable. I thought that too often he was hanging around on the wing instead of flashing through the lane for the guards to feed. But, I feel bad criticizing his game at all when he just led us to our most important win of the year.

I give a lot of credit to the Baylor players and Coach Drew for playing damn well at Allen. If our trio of unstoppables hadn’t played their best, Baylor would be leading the Big 12 now.

As I was looking at the matchups with Oregon, I find that my analysis has shifted and I can’t help it. How are the Ducks going to stop the Jayhawk Juggernaut? How do you stop Mason, Graham, Jackson, and now Vick and Svi? Whatcha got, Ducks? This special team is playing with more energy and athleticism than any other Jayhawk team. And Oh Yea, they are having a blast. The fun they are having leads to more positive plays. How about that goofy play at the end of the first half where we got a runout dunk with an assist from the ref. Fun, Fun, Fun. RCJH

This is exactly why the NCAA Tournament is so captivating if my team is still playing: I will watch parts of Clemson/Auburn to gauge the competition; KState/UMBC to cheer a home state team and follow this year’s Cinderella; WVirg/Marshall to cheer for the Big 12 and follow the Marshall story line and TXAM/NC to root against Ole Roy. Hey, I’m still having fun and enjoying the tournament after the first weekend. RCJH

Lawrence (and therefore KU by association) had a remarkable role in the termination of the abomination and horror that was American slavery. An early attempt at a Kansas constitution came out of Lecompton and included the right to own slaves. This proposal wasn’t ratified by Congress. Anti-slavery residents in Lawrence and Kansas City then proposed a constitution that didn’t include the right to own slaves, the Wyndotte Constitution which led to Kansas’s admission as a state, a free state. Our admission tipped the number of anti-slavery votes in Congress in favor of abolition. Thereafter, South Carolina and other states attempted to secede from the union. To fight to become a free state, Lawrence residents campaigned for anti-slavery supporters, many from Illinois to come to Lawrence to live and boost the number of voters in favor of a free state. It’s too early in the morning to look up more of the actual history, but it is truly fascinating how Lawrence residents in 1858-1860 fought to become a free state, which led to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. And yes, Missouri slavers fought Kansans the whole way.

Maybe Fresno State’s big win over Georgia Southern helps KU in the polls. I thought Fresno and Warner at QB looked pretty good when KU played them. I was disappointed with KU’s play against Wagner. But, it was Wagner, so KU’s players probably didn’t care either.

Well, well, well, NDakota ahead of KState at the half.

@dylans said in Other Football Games of Interest:

Number one Texas didn’t last long at the top.

Tough opening game. Arch was a dud, not the stud the announcers kept hyping

Oh Lord is right: talking head “this is the start of a new Manning Era.” Say it ain’t so.

Like a jilted highschool kid, I tend to root against Texas and Oklahoma. So, I’m all in on an Ohio St win, except I don’t like the Luckeyes either.

I don’t understand why fans on this site aren’t posting about this year’s football team. I suspect our regular posters from years past have found a different site to engage during our games.

I guess ESPN doesn’t have cameras that show the whole stadium. I’m curious about the attendance on this holiday weekend.

Why is Jalen running the ball?

Really glad college football is back-even though we all know the problems. Most of the games this weekend are like our Wagner game, but Texas v. Ohio St Saturday 11am on FOX, WOW. And Sunday 6:30 on ABC Notre Dame v. Miami. I can’t wait.