Wow, what a game.
Sometimes when you’re supposed to sit intently and analyze every tenth of a second, every nuance, every missed or made free throw, every turnover and every coaching decision, you just have to sit back and ooh and aah.
Wow, what a game.
Kansas University’s pulsating 99-98 victory over UCLA in the Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic was like a neck-and-neck stretch run at the Kentucky Derby. If the last game of the college basketball season is anything like the first, it will be one of the most memorable NCAA championship games ever.
“We think the fans got their money’s worth,” UCLA coach Steve Lavin said.
“That was a heckuva college basketball game,” said Kansas coach Roy Williams.
It would have been naive to expect Kansas and UCLA, two of the nation’s most tradition-rich programs, to be involved in anything other than a close game on national cable television and in Da Gahden, one of the world’s most historic arenas.
Sure enough, even though Kansas bolted to early leads of as many as 16 points, the Bruins bounced back and made it a brand-new ball game with four minutes remaining.
What was surprising, though, was the high scoring. Who would have believed both teams would score more than 50 points in the first half? Kansas and UCLA do not play run-and-shoot. These are programs that pride themselves on defense.
And yet there was Kansas beating the Bruins in transition early on. And there was UCLA drilling shots all over the floor, including 13 of 24 three-point bombs, against a KU defense that relies heavily on harassment and intimidation.
“After tonight, we have a long way to go, giving up 98 points,” Williams said.
Since Williams was the primary flag-waver in a decision by college basketball to crack down on rough post play, it was inevitable the Kansas coach would be asked if the real or imagined enforcement emphasis precipitated Thursday night’s near triple-digits.
“I thought it had zero effect,” Williams said.
I’m not so sure. The three officials called two offensive fouls each on KU big men Eric Chenowith and Nick Collison in the first half, and in all four instances the miscreants looked quizical about the calls. And frankly, if Thursday’s game had gone into overtime, no telling how many bodies Williams would have had left.
Or as Williams quipped afterward: “I don’t like it when one guy fouled out, and four other guys and two assistant coaches have four fouls, but we have to play smarter.”
Putting it another way, Kenny Gregory was the only one of the Jayhawks’ top six players who didn’t have at least four fouls when the game ended. Then again, Gregory is in foul trouble about as often as a Florida recount determines the next president.
Gregory logged 37 minutes, too. That includes all 20 minutes of the second half because, with Luke Axtell back in Lawrence nursing a sprained ankle, Gregory’s caddy was freshman Bryant Nash, and Nash didn’t look ready for prime-time.
Mario Kinsey, the other KU freshman who debuted, was much more impressive. Kinsey, who was a scout team quarterback on the KU football team a month ago, logged 19 important minutes, contributing three assists, two points and, most important, only one turnover.
Kinsey looked like the real deal. He may not be Deshawn Stevenson, the KU signee who opted for the NBA, but he seems to be a capable swing guard, a guy who can spell both Kirk Hinrich and Jeff Boschee.
And another thing how about Hinrich? Last year at this time, Hinrich looked like a boy among men. On Thursday night, Hinrich scored 21 points, grabbed six rebounds and committed just two turnovers.
Six Kansas players scored in double figures. Two counted more than 20 points. What a night for the Jayhawks. But what a night for the Bruins, too. And, of course, what a great night for college basketball.
