The Jayhawk Flashback returns this week, and we had to go relatively deep into the archives for this one: KU vs. Oklahoma on Feb. 23, 1998.
I would consider it one of the most memorable Senior Night performances in Allen Fieldhouse history, though the outstanding effort didn’t come from a senior.
In the final home game for Raef LaFrentz and Billy Thomas, junior Paul Pierce dominated with 31 points, scoring 15 straight during one point in the second half.
The highlights are below.
A few thoughts:
• I’m not going to lie: I kind of liked the big, yellow state of Kansas in the middle of the court. Not as marketable as the huge Jayhawk, I know, but still charming, nonetheless.
• No ads on the blue, backboard support pads? This must be old video.
• Nice to see Billy Thomas’ deep range at the 50-second mark. I wonder if ol’ Roy was happy with that deep shot.
• This is the first game I can remember KU fans chanting, “One more year!” And I must say, the “One more year” chant does not have a good success rate.
Jayhawk fans chanted it for Pierce and Drew Gooden, and both decided to forgo their senior seasons*. Sherron Collins might have reversed the curse, though, as after hearing the “One more year” chants and thinking they were funny, he decided to return to KU for his senior year.
* — I feel like I’m forgetting a few times when KU fans chanted “One more year.” Can you guys remember any others?
• My eyes could be deceiving me, but isn’t that Tom O’Neill and Steve Welmer calling the game? They don’t seem to have aged much over the years. Kelvin Sampson looks almost the exact same as he does now, too.
• Sampson on Pierce’s 31-point effort: “He didn’t get a lot of easy baskets. He hit 12 tough, tough shots.”
• There’s great video at the 1:40 mark. Williams has an intense look (probably trying to keep his team business-like), while assistant Joe Holladay is grinning from ear-to-ear behind him. His face says it all. It looks like he’s about ready to turn to assistant Matt Doherty and say, “Have you seen anything like this?”
• If you must see a replay of Sampson famously patting Pierce on the bum, you can find it here.