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| **Warning: This is not the most uplifting article I’ve ever written. I’ll do my best to find some bright spots, but I’m a fan just like the rest of you and I absolutely hate losing to the Tiggers in Columbia year after year.
Once again, the Jayhawks waltzed into Columbia boasting a 17-1 record, a #3 ranking, first place in the Big XII standings, playing with a ton of confidence, and a game in front of a national television audience. And, once again, it didn’t matter. Another season; another game in Columbia; and another loss, the 5th in the last 6 years in Columbia.
There are lots of things to talk about in this game, so I’m going to jump right into my thoughts and observations:
- Yet another couple of minutes of the game missed due to another (surprise) Big East game that went long. Fortunately Syracuse put Georgetown away and the game did not go into overtime. With about a minute and a half to go in the game, Syracuse was up by about 14 points. As the clock ticked away, Georgetown got as close as 4 points (if I remember right?) and I thought for sure KU fans were going to get the ol’ Big East-early game on ESPN-overtime screw job. Fortunately, we didn’t miss any scoring and when the KU-Misery game came on we were treated to a Collison dunk in transition.
- The first half was about as ugly as KU basketball gets. Missed shots. Poor shot selection. Poor defense. Totally caught up in all of the emotion of the game and unable to execute. Poor free throw shooting. Poor spacing. Poor defense. An all around poor effort comparable only to the meltdown at Wake Forest. I did not expect the Jayhawks to come out and play that poorly. They had no offensive rhythm and no confidence on either end of the court.
- Coming back from 17 points down in the second half to take the lead was one of the greater comebacks in KU history, particularly considering the setting of this game. This team responded much better this year than they did last year in Columbia. I know that doesn’t make most of you feel much better since the Jayhawks still lost, but it is a silver lining in a tough defeat.
- Don’t worry. The season is not over. Losing at Misery is nothing to be ashamed of, particularly when you are KU. It was Norm’s night. The Misery fans did a nice job supporting their team. They didn’t even boo as much as they usually do, but that’s probably because they didn’t have hardly any cheap fouls called against them, as KU did (my favorite "no call" was when Gilbert Grape had his arms around Hinrich’s neck as they rolled around the floor at mid-court. That was a classic Columbia no-call.) Everyone knows that Misery plays their best game of the year against KU in Columbia. I congratulate the Tiggers on another excellent performance and I am glad their fans got to witness it. This is Misery’s tournament game. This is Misery’s national championship. This is the ONE time a year where they play out of their minds. They would be one of the best teams in the country if they could put forth this kind of effort more than once a year.
- This was a bad night for Kirk Hinrich (7 points on 3 of 12 shooting, 9 assists, 5 turnovers and fouled out in 32 minutes) to play one of his poorer games of the season. Offensively Kirk was not good at all and he made some poor decisions passing the ball that lead to ugly turnovers. It’s hard to knock Kirk because he is such a great kid and has played so well all year long. I’m not worried about Kirk. He will bounce back. He did do a tremendous defensive job on Gilbert tonight and I think that took a lot out of the rest of his game.
- Kenny Gregory (16 pts on 7 of 12 shooting, 7 rebs, in 38 minutes) turned into Mr. Jump Shooter tonight. On numerous occasions, Kenny pulled up from outside and (as my friends and I collectively yelled "Noooooooo") made the shot. What was up with Kenny from the outside tonight? I still can’t figure it out, but it was definitely nice to see ONE senior show up to play. Not only did he show up, but he did what senior leaders are supposed to do and that is find a way to keep his team in the game. It’s interesting that Kenny filled this role, when many KU fans would have expected one of the sophomores to step up. Kenny was definitely the leader of the team tonight and gets my Stud stamp of approval. Nice game, Kenny. I just wish you could’ve beaten Misery in Columbia during your senior year.
- Misery outrebounded KU 41-37. This is unacceptable. Many of Misery’s rebounds were due to the fact that they seemed to want it more than the Jayhawks. How else can you explain a rebounding advantage over our clearly better post players?
- Drew Gooden (19 pts on 7 of 15 shooting in 31 minutes of play) did well on the offensive end. However, I had to do a double-take when I saw his rebound total of 3. Clearly Drew did not do the job on the glass tonight and seemed out of rhythm for a good portion of the game.
- With Nick Collison in foul trouble for much of the game, we needed senior Eric Chenowith to come up big, particularly because he once again boasted a height advantage over all the MU post players. Well, with 4 points (on 2 of 6 shooting), a measly 5 rebounds, and 0 for 4 from the free throw line in 19 minutes of play, Chenowith came up small. Eric said before the game that it was going to be a war. Unfortunately, as often happens to Eric in a big game, he was MIA (missing in action), particularly from the free throw line which is usually the only place KU fans can normally count on Eric to produce in terms of offense. Eric did take it strong on a few occasions down low and drew contact to get to the free throw line. Unfortunately that doesn’t mean squat if you don’t knock ‘em down. This loss is not all Eric’s fault, by any means. He just didn’t play well in his last game in Columbia.
- Jeff Boschee (11 pts on 4 of 9 shooting, 6 assists, in 38 minutes) hit some nice threes tonight when he got a chance to get his feet set. This much is clear: If Jeff gets a good look at the basket and sets his feet, he’s MONEY. If he tries to curl around a pick and then shoot it quickly, he usually misses. He continues to play solid defense and dish out the assists.
- Luke Axtell (0 points, 0 assists, 1 reb, in 12 minutes) apparently has had some back problems, and it has definitely shown in the last 4-5 games. After watching him tonight, I have to wonder what value he brings to the team when he’s hurt. He is no longer an offensive threat; his defense is ok; he doesn’t rebound much; he doesn’t dish many assists…..he just isn’t playing well and I have to think that if his back is bothering him to the point where he is a complete non-factor, then perhaps he shouldn’t be playing. I realize that Ballard and Kinsey aren’t much better, but they surely couldn’t be much worse than Luke has been the past few weeks.
- Did you like the stat ESPN kept putting up on the screen that showed how KU had gone into Columbia year after year, always ranked higher, and usually losing? Thanks for pointing that out, ESPN. Don’t you guys have anything better to do……like stop Big East fans from seeing the tip-off of one of their games?
- Kareem Rush is a stud. No one can argue this point. He has a pretty shot and plays with a confidence and poise not seen in many sophomores. He ended with 27 points and 11 rebounds and hit several shots when Misery needed a bucket.
- Free Throws: Misery was 17 of 23 from the free throw line, while KU was an embarrassing, pathetic, disgusting 7 of 18 (38.9%). That makes me sick and I hope Coach Williams has the guys shoot a few extra free throws in practice this week. Say 500 a piece?
- Brian Grawer hit several open 3 pointers and gave Misery a huge lift whenever he was on the court.
- The scariest thing about this game for me is that the Misery guards did what teams seem to do to KU every year in the NCAA tournament. If a team has 2 or 3 guards that can penetrate and dish and those same guards can hit the 3, forget it. I got so sick of watching a Misery player penetrate as the whole KU team collapsed down to help, leaving everyone else open for a shot. It has killed KU every year in the tournament and it killed them again tonight (among other things).
- Now don’t attack me on this one, but was it just me or did it appear that Coach Williams wasn’t really "into" the game? I know I have a limited vantage point because I could only see occasional television shots of Coach Williams, but the look on his face seemed to say "Here we go again". I’m not sure if he was trying to keep the team calm and focused or what. Heck, I can’t really question Coach Williams. How could he not be into the game? I do have to wonder, though, how he hasn’t figured a way to win in Columbia, losing 5 of the last 6. I’m not saying it’s easy by any means…it’s just interesting how regularly KU loses there, regardless of their ranking or how well they’ve been playing up to that point. Chalk it up to one of the world’s greatest unsolved mysteries.
- Gregory and Boschee each played 38 minutes. One has to wonder if they were out of gas in the end when KU failed to make a run at the end of the game.
Again, it was a tough loss but it is not the end of the world and no KU fan should treat it that way. Better KU teams have gone into Columbia and lost. Rest assured, the Jayhawks will get back on track at home on Saturday and will come out with much more focus and determination than they did in the first half tonight.
Look at the bright side: KU plays Misery the last game of the regular season in Allen Fieldhouse…….Senior day………Mark my words: We will have the last laugh.
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