Home fans keep spirit

By Tim Carpenter     Mar 15, 2002

Matt Daugherty/Journal-World Photo
Balloons lend a festive atmosphere at Douglas County Bank, where employees were allowed to wear Kansas University shirts and customers were offered red and blue candy donated by Russell Stover. Employee Joyce Elder handled a transaction Thursday for Andrew Willey, a KU sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colo.

Robin Kilmer had a “few choice words” for the Kansas Jayhawks during their sluggish first half against Holy Cross on Thursday.

But she figured Roy Williams’ choice words at halftime motivated the team to come back from a two-point halftime deficit to defeat the Crusaders in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

“I was nervous,” she said from a booth at Set ‘Em Up Jacks, 1800 E. 23rd St., where she and four friends gathered to watch the game. “But I had faith in the boys.”

KU fans across Lawrence watched the Hawks struggle through a battle that was closer than they would have liked.

“I’m just happy they won tonight,” said Lawrence resident Randy Ortiz. “I had no doubt. It was just disappointing they didn’t play better.

“I think they’ll win it all. I think they’ll play Oklahoma in the finals and win it.”

A group of 10 Chi Omega sorority members huddled around the sorority house’s big-screen television, moaning when the Jayhawks launched hasty shots and cheering when they got a basket to fall.

“We are the best team in the tournament,” said sophomore Annie Leonard. “I don’t know if it will work out, but we’re the best team.”

Though most of the women were holding out hope KU would go all the way, sophomore Deborah Bain said she tried to be more realistic when she filled out her bracket.

“They lose in the Elite Eight to Oregon,” Bain said. “I’d love them to win, but they’ve got the curse.”

Scott Schmidtberger, manager at Alvin’s Wine & Spirits, 905 Iowa, sees it differently.

“I still think they have the easiest bracket and could go to the Final Four,” he said. “They have the best chance in a long time anyway.”

Tired of struggling to tune in KU games with rabbit ears that used to be perched on top of the store’s 13-inch television, Schmidtberger got cable installed last week just in time to catch the Big 12 Tournament.

Store employees Friday had plenty of time to watch the game. Only a few customers trickled in during the first half.

“It’s gotten a lot slower since the game started,” Schmidtberger said. “We will be really busy as soon as the game’s over.”

Back across town at Set ‘Em Up Jacks, the packed house started the Rock Chalk chant with 28 seconds left in the game. Jubilant fans raised their beers and toasted complete strangers.

“Eleven points no big deal,” one man said sarcastically. “We kicked their butts.”

Home fans keep spirit

By Tim Carpenter     Mar 15, 2002

Matt Daugherty/Journal-World Photo
Balloons lend a festive atmosphere at Douglas County Bank, where employees were allowed to wear Kansas University shirts and customers were offered red and blue candy donated by Russell Stover. Employee Joyce Elder handled a transaction Thursday for Andrew Willey, a KU sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colo.

Robin Kilmer had a “few choice words” for the Kansas Jayhawks during their sluggish first half against Holy Cross on Thursday.

But she figured Roy Williams’ choice words at halftime motivated the team to come back from a two-point halftime deficit to defeat the Crusaders in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

“I was nervous,” she said from a booth at Set ‘Em Up Jacks, 1800 E. 23rd St., where she and four friends gathered to watch the game. “But I had faith in the boys.”

KU fans across Lawrence watched the Hawks struggle through a battle that was closer than they would have liked.

“I’m just happy they won tonight,” said Lawrence resident Randy Ortiz. “I had no doubt. It was just disappointing they didn’t play better.

“I think they’ll win it all. I think they’ll play Oklahoma in the finals and win it.”

A group of 10 Chi Omega sorority members huddled around the sorority house’s big-screen television, moaning when the Jayhawks launched hasty shots and cheering when they got a basket to fall.

“We are the best team in the tournament,” said sophomore Annie Leonard. “I don’t know if it will work out, but we’re the best team.”

Though most of the women were holding out hope KU would go all the way, sophomore Deborah Bain said she tried to be more realistic when she filled out her bracket.

“They lose in the Elite Eight to Oregon,” Bain said. “I’d love them to win, but they’ve got the curse.”

Scott Schmidtberger, manager at Alvin’s Wine & Spirits, 905 Iowa, sees it differently.

“I still think they have the easiest bracket and could go to the Final Four,” he said. “They have the best chance in a long time anyway.”

Tired of struggling to tune in KU games with rabbit ears that used to be perched on top of the store’s 13-inch television, Schmidtberger got cable installed last week just in time to catch the Big 12 Tournament.

Store employees Friday had plenty of time to watch the game. Only a few customers trickled in during the first half.

“It’s gotten a lot slower since the game started,” Schmidtberger said. “We will be really busy as soon as the game’s over.”

Back across town at Set ‘Em Up Jacks, the packed house started the Rock Chalk chant with 28 seconds left in the game. Jubilant fans raised their beers and toasted complete strangers.

“Eleven points no big deal,” one man said sarcastically. “We kicked their butts.”

Home fans keep spirit

By Tim Carpenter     Mar 15, 2002

Matt Daugherty/Journal-World Photo
Balloons lend a festive atmosphere at Douglas County Bank, where employees were allowed to wear Kansas University shirts and customers were offered red and blue candy donated by Russell Stover. Employee Joyce Elder handled a transaction Thursday for Andrew Willey, a KU sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colo.

Robin Kilmer had a “few choice words” for the Kansas Jayhawks during their sluggish first half against Holy Cross on Thursday.

But she figured Roy Williams’ choice words at halftime motivated the team to come back from a two-point halftime deficit to defeat the Crusaders in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

“I was nervous,” she said from a booth at Set ‘Em Up Jacks, 1800 E. 23rd St., where she and four friends gathered to watch the game. “But I had faith in the boys.”

KU fans across Lawrence watched the Hawks struggle through a battle that was closer than they would have liked.

“I’m just happy they won tonight,” said Lawrence resident Randy Ortiz. “I had no doubt. It was just disappointing they didn’t play better.

“I think they’ll win it all. I think they’ll play Oklahoma in the finals and win it.”

A group of 10 Chi Omega sorority members huddled around the sorority house’s big-screen television, moaning when the Jayhawks launched hasty shots and cheering when they got a basket to fall.

“We are the best team in the tournament,” said sophomore Annie Leonard. “I don’t know if it will work out, but we’re the best team.”

Though most of the women were holding out hope KU would go all the way, sophomore Deborah Bain said she tried to be more realistic when she filled out her bracket.

“They lose in the Elite Eight to Oregon,” Bain said. “I’d love them to win, but they’ve got the curse.”

Scott Schmidtberger, manager at Alvin’s Wine & Spirits, 905 Iowa, sees it differently.

“I still think they have the easiest bracket and could go to the Final Four,” he said. “They have the best chance in a long time anyway.”

Tired of struggling to tune in KU games with rabbit ears that used to be perched on top of the store’s 13-inch television, Schmidtberger got cable installed last week just in time to catch the Big 12 Tournament.

Store employees Friday had plenty of time to watch the game. Only a few customers trickled in during the first half.

“It’s gotten a lot slower since the game started,” Schmidtberger said. “We will be really busy as soon as the game’s over.”

Back across town at Set ‘Em Up Jacks, the packed house started the Rock Chalk chant with 28 seconds left in the game. Jubilant fans raised their beers and toasted complete strangers.

“Eleven points no big deal,” one man said sarcastically. “We kicked their butts.”

Home fans keep spirit

By Tim Carpenter     Mar 15, 2002

Matt Daugherty/Journal-World Photo
Balloons lend a festive atmosphere at Douglas County Bank, where employees were allowed to wear Kansas University shirts and customers were offered red and blue candy donated by Russell Stover. Employee Joyce Elder handled a transaction Thursday for Andrew Willey, a KU sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colo.

Robin Kilmer had a “few choice words” for the Kansas Jayhawks during their sluggish first half against Holy Cross on Thursday.

But she figured Roy Williams’ choice words at halftime motivated the team to come back from a two-point halftime deficit to defeat the Crusaders in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

“I was nervous,” she said from a booth at Set ‘Em Up Jacks, 1800 E. 23rd St., where she and four friends gathered to watch the game. “But I had faith in the boys.”

KU fans across Lawrence watched the Hawks struggle through a battle that was closer than they would have liked.

“I’m just happy they won tonight,” said Lawrence resident Randy Ortiz. “I had no doubt. It was just disappointing they didn’t play better.

“I think they’ll win it all. I think they’ll play Oklahoma in the finals and win it.”

A group of 10 Chi Omega sorority members huddled around the sorority house’s big-screen television, moaning when the Jayhawks launched hasty shots and cheering when they got a basket to fall.

“We are the best team in the tournament,” said sophomore Annie Leonard. “I don’t know if it will work out, but we’re the best team.”

Though most of the women were holding out hope KU would go all the way, sophomore Deborah Bain said she tried to be more realistic when she filled out her bracket.

“They lose in the Elite Eight to Oregon,” Bain said. “I’d love them to win, but they’ve got the curse.”

Scott Schmidtberger, manager at Alvin’s Wine & Spirits, 905 Iowa, sees it differently.

“I still think they have the easiest bracket and could go to the Final Four,” he said. “They have the best chance in a long time anyway.”

Tired of struggling to tune in KU games with rabbit ears that used to be perched on top of the store’s 13-inch television, Schmidtberger got cable installed last week just in time to catch the Big 12 Tournament.

Store employees Friday had plenty of time to watch the game. Only a few customers trickled in during the first half.

“It’s gotten a lot slower since the game started,” Schmidtberger said. “We will be really busy as soon as the game’s over.”

Back across town at Set ‘Em Up Jacks, the packed house started the Rock Chalk chant with 28 seconds left in the game. Jubilant fans raised their beers and toasted complete strangers.

“Eleven points no big deal,” one man said sarcastically. “We kicked their butts.”

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