(New York City readers : this is what Brandon Rush looks like)
Hey, where’d that 16 point first half lead go? The Jayhawks, sparked by a 24-7 run midway through the game and terrific play by Mario Chalmers and Julian Wright, survived a late Texas run to win the regular season finale for both clubs, boosted the hosts’ candidacy as a no. 1 seed. The Longhorns’ all-universe Kevin Durant scored 25 by intermission, but was just 3 for 8 from the floor during the second half, suffering an ankle sprain that kept him off the floor for a few crucial minutes.
Though Jeff Jensen’s celebratory mood is somewhat quelled by his inability to find the game on NYC TV (“the number 3 team in the country playing the number one player for the Big 12 final at Allen Fieldhouse?!?! No one on the East Coast can watch this?!?!? In 2007?!?!”), he’ll always have cherished memories of the Jayhawks’ 1986 Final Four squad.
Not sure I can truly write the perfect capsule of that team. Scooter Berry though? Mark “the surgeon” Turgeon way pre-Shockers coach. Calvin Thompson, Cedric Hunter, Mark Drieling, Danny (pre-miracles) Manning (above) AND JEFF’S FAVORITE PLAYER OF ALL TIME RON “RHYMES OH HELL DAWG” KELLOGG. Throw Larry “I had a very secret coke problem and knocked up a prominent Lawrence clothing moguls daughter(s)” Brown into the mix with 35-fucking-wins and we lost against Duke who learned everything he knows about coaching from Booby Knight who learned everything he knows about coaching from Henry Iba K. The ’88 squad was a joke compared to at least 10 other teams inthe last 19 years it’s OUR TIME OUR TURN. I’m rock chalkin’ I’m Jay-hawkin’!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Losing to Iowa earlier this afternoon might prove deadly to Illinois’ tournament hopes, though perhaps the selection committee will take note of Rich McBride’s contributions despite having the sort of distractions other student-athletes might find too imposing (particuarly if they were suspended)
This guy writes like James from the Wizznutzz after a 20 oz. coffee with a flavor shot of meth in it. I like it. But it was Greg Dreiling.
Never Nervous Pervis Ellison will be dismayed to discover that “they” really can take away his (and Louisville’s) 1986 NCAA championship.
and by “they” I mean people who release bunnybrains albums
and not one word from Larry Brown’s lawyer, either.
ahem. indeed. my error, not Jeff’s. KU were elminated in the semi-final game by Duke, 71-67.
Wow. Didn’t anticipate public scrutiny with this piece. It was written in a blind vodka-induced haze. Now that I’m no longer toe’ up let me clarify a couple things.
1. Yes, I know it is GREG Drieling (not Mark). He’s from Wichita. I made-out with his cousin in Lawrence. He had a couple decent years with the Pacers (and Jazz I think). Have to Google that one. A great player. Had a lot of foul trouble. Why are there soooo many fewer DQ’s (disqualifications-note homes of The Brazier Burger) in College these days? Credit the first name faux pas to wastedness.
2. KU had no business losing to Duke in that game. It is the dreaded “red uniform” game. For some reason, after 80 some years of wearing ONLY white or blue jerseys some genius said, “how about we try something a little different tonight”. That aesthetic blunder, as well as an off night from the field resulted in a loss to a great Duke squad but one we could have beat 4 out of 5 times.
3. There have been at least 10 better KU teams than the ’88 champion squad since Roy was given the reins. Notice I didn’t say “take the reins”…because they were given to him by KU’s AD who had a grocery list of far more qualified candidates but decided to take a chance on an unknown from the UNC coaches bench after the incessant pleading and manipulation of Dean Smith, a tactic he would utilize a dozen or so years later to lure the same coach BACK to UNC after his sacred Tar Heels had slipped into post-Dougherty irrelevance. The only reason I mention any of this is that if you look at coaching basketball trees of college ball you’ll find that many of it’s roots are in the old Big 7. Phog Allen Henry Iba and a kid from Halstead named Adolph.
4. The Larry Brown shit needs no amendment. All true.
5. Like I said in the first line, I probably can’t write a capsule of that team. It was beautiful though. You had to be there.
“KU had no business losing to Duke in that game.”
actually, KU had no reason to be in that game.
the jayhawks were the beneficiaries of some 15 odd seconds of ballgame that didn’t exist. in the sweet sixteen that year, down to my beloved michigan state spartans 80-74 with a minute left, the time keeper stepped out to smoke a cigarette yet the game played on. 15 seconds later the jabroni finally starts the damn clock. the jayhawks tied the game with 10 seconds left(actually five seconds after it ended,) winning in overtime. thus crushing the dreams of the nbas single game assist leader, larry polec, and one 12 year old boy.