**3:10 p.m.**: Good grief, what a process _that_ was to get back to the Journal-World offices after the game. Between the 14 feet of snow that has fallen in just over five hours, the packed Allen Fieldhouse (which was pretty unexpected) and the fire alarm randomly going off during postgame interviews in Hadl Auditorium, it’s been a strange, strange day…On the court, it was strange because it had been 44 games since the RedHawks had allowed 70-plus points in a game. I know you may not think it’s that significant, but that’s considering that the RedHawks go on the road quite a bit and play in some tough places, such as Illinois’ Assembly Hall two nights ago.But KU made that streak disappear in what at some points looked like easy fashion. The Jayhawks did what they should be doing best at this point – pounding the ball into the bigs early and often.Yet again, Darnell Jackson and Darrell Arthur got going early, and the most pleasing sign is that Arthur has finally put away his love for the outside jumper – for the time being – and is doing what he does best in shooting over people with his sweet turnaround move down low.Some final numbers…-Darrell Arthur posted the game’s only double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds. It can be a bit misleading, since three offensive boards came off of misses in a cluster under the hoop in the game’s first 20 seconds. With that said, his 7-of-14 showing from the field is also a bit misleading. Lets call it 7-of-11.-Anyone worried about a Conner Teahan slump can stop biting the nails. He hit another three today, cashing one late on his only attempt.-Even though Sherron Collins still is not back to full strength, the guard combo of Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson continues to fill up the stat sheet all around. The two combined for 13 points, seven assists and seven steals.-Darnell Jackson had 14 points and eight boards on an efficient 6-of-7 showing from the floor. He also gets a gold star for bouncing back from an early knock to the noggin in a loose ball scramble in which he was the first one to hit the deck for the rock.-While Miami’s defense got all the pub coming in, KU’s was the one that produced, forcing 14 RedHawk turnovers and allowing them to shoot at just a 40.4 percent clip…including a 28 percent showing (7-of-25) in the first half.Bill Self sounded pretty pleased with his team’s effort as a whole, and KU’s players were in a pretty ho-hum mood afterward, probably ready to bolt for the three-day break between now and their next practice session.Same here, too. I’ll talk to you all later this week. It’s been real.**1:42 p.m.**: There it is, Brandon Rush’s transition layup makes it 70 for the Jayhawks, officially snapping Miami’s defensive streak. That’s about the only interesting thing that was left in this blowout. Conner Teahan’s three with just over a minute left secured that fact.Be back after postgame interviews with some nuggets.**1:34 p.m.**: The greatest part of KU being on pace to snap Miami’s defensive streak of 44 straight games holding foes under 70 points? There’s no need to suspect the need for an illegal substance-related asterisk.**1:04 p.m.**: Some first half numbers… -KU’s big men (Jackson, Aldrich, Kaun, Arthur) combined for 24 of KU’s 39 points.-KU, who shot a season low 46 field goal attempts at Georgia Tech, attempted 29 in the first half, hitting 16 of them. KU also looks to be on pace to hold yet another opponent under 50 percent from the floor, with Miami going 7-of-25 in the first stanza.-Seven KU players scored at least three points.-Darnell Jackson and Darrell Arthur each had six rebounds. Arthur’s three offensive rebounds all came in the game’s first 20 seconds. KU outrebounded Miami 18-14.-KU kept up its trend of shutting down an opposing team’s leading scorers. Michael Bramos and Tim Pollitz, who combine for 36.7 per game, scored eight in the first half.**12:32 p.m.**: Maybe it’s because Miami players stole Nintendo Wiis from underneath the Jayhawk Christmas tree or something, but for some reason KU is playing a ticked-off brand of ball today. While they’re not scoring at the usual clip, the offense has looked as aggressive as hit has all season.Something tells me that was a point of emphasis for Bill Self in practice the past two days, as his team was as passive as it had looked all year Tuesday night against Georgia Tech.Instead, it’s Miami that’s been the passive group.And the Fieldhouse today is indeed more full than it’s been all year. Why the heck would that be? If anyone has a suggestion, let me know.**12:15 p.m.**: Not such a fancy early few minutes, as Miami (Ohio) has dictated the tone of this game so far. That’s mostly due to the RedHawks grabbing offensive rebounds at will. Plus, defensively, they’re living up to the billing as not a single point has come easy for KU in the first five-plus minutes.**11:41 a.m.**: Congratulations to you, Joe Kansas City KU fan, if you decided to stay in during the driving sleet storm that nearly blew me off the road six times on my way here.(That’s my way of saying sorry for the late start today).Although there weren’t many of you. Today feels like a good day in the Fieldhouse. The Northwest corner, which has been plagued by fans dressed as empty bench spots all year, has already filled up and, maybe most surprisingly, the student section has filled, too.Today is a day, though, where KU has a chance to truly flex some muscle. In Tuesday’s 71-66 late bloodbath in Atlanta, KU looked conservative and, well, not like KU on the offensive end.With that said, KU’s got a test coming today. Miami has not allowed an opponent to score 70 or more points in 44 straight games, including last year’s miraculous run through the MAC Tournament and into the Big Dance. KU scores 83.7 a game and is widely known as one of the most exciting offensive groups the nation has to offer.Las Vegas has set the over/under for this game at 126 points, which is a little strange. KU has only been under that mark in one game this season – a 59-55 win at Southern Cal on Dec. 2.Something tells me that streak could be snapped today for the RedHawks. When something’s gotta give, I’ll take the team that’s ranked No. 3 in the nation.Talk to you in a bit.
