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May 29, 2009
Welcome to a special Jayhawk Flashback.
The next two blogs won't feature my choice for a classic KU game, but instead a former Jayhawk's choice as his favorite Allen Fieldhouse memory.
We'll get to Billy Thomas' choice next week, but this week we'll focus on current Indiana Pacer Brandon Rush.
After asking him for his favorite home game, he only took a second to come up with an answer.
"I’d say my freshman year when we played Kentucky," he said with a grin.
The 6Sports highlights are below.*
* — Be warned: The sound quality isn't great from our archives. There are a few beeps that shouldn't be there. Feel free to mute if you need to.
So why did Rush enjoy the game so much?
"I was going off," Rush said Thursday. "I had 18, 20 points in the first half, and we blew them out, too."
His memory was close. Rush actually had 16 first-half points, but he ended with a then career-high 24 points and 12 rebounds.
The game also is best remembered for the appearance of actress Ashley Judd, who sat behind the UK bench.
"I saw the face she made when were whupping Kentucky," Rush said with a laugh. "It was really funny — a fun game to play in."
Rush admitted that he peeked at her during the game, oftentimes to see her scowl after a made KU basket.
"It made it a lot better," Rush said. "It was just a great feeling. It was funny. I saw it on ESPN a couple times and on YouTube. I watch it every now and again."
Other quick notes from the game
• Looking back, Rush showed his whole scoring repertoire against Kentucky. For more of his highlights, check out the YouTube video below.
• Interestingly enough, Rush said he was "sick a little bit" before the game because of nerves. He looked pretty relaxed in the highlights. Remember, this also was the point in Rush's career when KU coach Bill Self forced him to do sprints and/or run a treadmill — with the settings at the highest incline on a 4 1/2-minute mile pace — at practice whenever the he wasn't aggressive or passed up an open shot.
The message seemed to sink in for this game at least.
• I was disappointed after going through these highlights when I didn't find Russell Robinson's huge block. I remember watching it live, and Russell got so high for the fast-break block on UK's Patrick Sparks that I was sure that it was Rush that had blocked it. No doubt that was the highest I ever saw Robinson leap.
• Speaking of Russell, our own Tom Keegan lauded him for his stingy defense against UK sparkplug Rajon Rondo. Keegan said: "Rush was the star, Robinson (12 points) the glue."
Robinson ended with a career-high 12 points, while Rondo managed just nine points on 2-for-8 shooting.
• I had forgotten that Kentucky was playing short-handed, as Randolph Morris served his last game of a 13-game suspension for hiring an NBA agent.
"I thought it worked out just fine," Self joked afterwards.
• Kentucky had no assists in the first half. How does that happen?
• Recruits Brady Morningstar, Tyrel Reed, Cole Aldrich and Darrell Arthur all attended the game. Reed and Arthur had not yet committed to KU.
• I love watching Jeff Hawkins at the 2:15 mark. It's like he's saying, "I'm open, Russell. Hey Russell, I'm open. THROW ME THE BALL, RUSSELL!"
The jumping jack didn't work. Russell swished a three himself instead.
Comments
mgolany (anonymous) says...
This may be his favorite Allen Fieldhouse game, but i've got to believe that the UNC gasme was his favorite of all time!
May 29, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...
It's definitely tough for all of us KU fans to sit around & wait for basketball season to start (and now football season too). I like seeing articles & videos like this. That and the other articles about Jayhawks in the NBA definitely help the time pass by a lot faster. I just want to say thanks to the LJW/KUSports, keep these articles coming!
May 29, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stupidmichael (anonymous) says...
Ashley Judd apparently had a rough night on the town before the game.
May 29, 2009 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stupidmichael (anonymous) says...
A very rough night...
Yikes.
May 29, 2009 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChicagoJHawk (anonymous) says...
Stupidmichael,
Agreed! I wouldn't have even known that was Ashley Judd had they not mentioned it in the article. She definitely wasn't looking her best that day...
May 29, 2009 at 12:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JayhawkPurist (anonymous) says...
News flash: Movie stars don't look like we're accustomed to seeing them look without their stylists' artistry and without perfect/advantageous lighting. Most often what we see is a planned product, not a person's natural beauty. Ashley Judd may have had a rough night before that game, but more likely she didn't travel with her stylist that weekend.
Oh, and in other news, the world is round.
May 29, 2009 at 1:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stupidmichael (anonymous) says...
JayhawkPurist,
j-o-k-e
May 29, 2009 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...
1) Lighting plays an enormous part in the quality of a film project, probably number one in differentiating between a professional and amateur product. If you work on any professional film set you will learn quickly that some of the most talented, assiduous, diligent and unsung workers in the country are lighting crews. They work 12 to 16 hours a day (sometimes more) on their feet all day carrying heavy equipment while constantly being barked at and I’ve never heard one complain.
2) “Most often what we see is a planned product…” No, ALWAYS what we see is a planned product. Producers don’t spend $2,000 a minute (the average price of a major TV or movie project) just *hoping* it turns out looking good. It WILL turn out looking good..... of course, it still might suck..........
And 3) JayhawkPurist... um…. Lighten up. I think it’s okay to give Ashley Judd a little poking….. uh…. no pun intended. :-)
May 29, 2009 at 2:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LAJayhawk (anonymous) says...
Just watched the vid, forgot how aggressive Rush was in this game. Off the dribble, passing, rebounding. Kid was all over the floor. Looked like a the NBA version of Paul Pierce.
Plus, I had to have a little chuckle at "Rush to Giles!" Ahh, C.J. Giles..... the priceless story of talent being chucked into the toilet. Wonder what Burger King he's working at these days?
May 29, 2009 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JayhawkPurist (anonymous) says...
No offense on the Judd comments. Was just being sarcastic.
May 29, 2009 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mlubyRN (anonymous) says...
Rock Chalk Brandon Rush!!! I knew he'd be a starter soon. Dudes got game.
May 30, 2009 at 12:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KULA (anonymous) says...
Hey, Ashley still looked pretty cute to me--maybe you guys were mistaking Tubby Smith's wife for Ashley, lol. I kinda felt sorry for her, tho. Wish I coulda been there to comfort her and pat her knee--there there now, it'll be alright...
May 30, 2009 at 1:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ralster (anonymous) says...
thanks, Jesse--great story, great game! So strange how we can forget these shockingly good games (all the great plays, not just remember 1 or 2). Rush was/is awesome. Judd looks fine. She just doesnt have very distinguishing or recognizable features to me, so is easily someone who I could walk right by on the street and not know who it was, simply thinking hmm, nice figure... :)
------------------------------
Will be awesome to see what BRush can do as a starter next year!
May 30, 2009 at 2:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ralster (anonymous) says...
What a smooth highlight of CJ Gile...what could have been for that kid! Maybe this game really bothers Kentucky fans? The rash tone of some of the KY fans comments on this site makes me think they are young people maybe students at the time of this Royal Blue Beatin', and took it personal (kinda like us taking it personal when GaTech beat us in AFH). In Jan'06, they must have had to do a triple-take on the score, Championship-winning coach Tubby getting humbled like that, even with Princess Ashley there for good luck....Hmm! A real head-scratcher for them, and who was that Coach Self guy (in Jan'06), and how'd he get those kids playing for him to swarm like that? And who was this Brandon Rush? Some kid from Kansas City? Now, it would appear, they have answers to all the above.
May 31, 2009 at 9:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ralster (anonymous) says...
...and I will never forget how Rush answered all the critics in the Final4: from the 3pt line he crossed-up CDR and drove LEFT, finishing at the rim (erase UCLA) in the Champ game. Did that twice, I think. And he coolly dropped 25pts on UNC, outflying psychoT more than once as well. He showed up big time under the biggest lights. Will always be a fan of his.
May 31, 2009 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KGphoto (anonymous) says...
Holy Joker, Ashley! Where exactly is a smile supposed to end? If you put some white face paint and bright red lipstick on her, she would look like Jack's Joker spawn.
You were crazy happy walking in. What happened to you Ash? You looked like you'd seen a ghost. Or was it a Phog? No worries though. You're still a cutie. And you're always welcome in the cradle of basketball. Always welcome to visit your roots. To remind yourself why you love basketball. You're good luck, too. I mean the scoreboard doesn't lie.
Hey Jesse. Who's the most famous KU grad? Most famous fan?
June 1, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dmoneyball (anonymous) says...
one of these flashbacks has to be the 89' Kentucky ass woopin. 150 - 95. We were amazing. And the whole game is broken up into 10 min segments on youtube so everybody can check it out.
June 3, 2009 at 9:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mjlindsm (anonymous) says...
That CJ Giles running throw/dunk is one of the two plays I've always remembered him for (the other being the infamous free throw tip-in for the wrong team, followed by running to the opposite end of the court from Self and trying to hide in his jersey).
I was so afraid of what kind of player Rush would be when he gave that "highlights" answer when asked what he would bring to the Jayhawks. It just shows how a good coach and his relationship with a good kid can mold a player when he's in college. Rush was/is an awesome team player that I will remember more than anything for his defense. I remember the ends of the Southern Illinois and Davidson games in the tournament when I was saying "Rush is on Tatum/Curry now, we're gonna win!" Those teams worried so much about screening him that they couldn't get a good shot off. I hope the Pacers can make it to the playoffs next year so we can actually watch him some on TV.
June 4, 2009 at 1:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )