Enga mellom fjella

Kansas 75 - Memphis 68

Yeppers.

That's what the scoreboard said. Joy and disbelief, I'd add. Team looked like toast (last Sunday's leftover toast) with only 2 minutes left in regulation. It was definitely a game of momentum.

Awesome game for basketball fans. Too much for Kansas and Memphis fans. Poor Jake next to me at Allen Field House looked like I would've 30 years ago ... face in jacket not daring to look ... but I stayed calm. My hypertension may be under control, but I'm no fool (well ... not all the time).

I spoke to a few people, took pictures of the crowd and various banners. The seats are blue and red, mostly benches. I sat way up top on the North Side under the Championship Banners for 1922, 1923, 1952 and 1988.

I wrote sporadically in my journal with my glasses off; but, I could hear what was going on by the crowd's reaction. It pulsates, y'know.

FROM MY JOURNAL:

page 1628

7 april

@ Alladdin's. 7 pm and Aimée's closed & Sylas and Maddie's did too. Henry's will be open all night, regardless, but I HAD TO EAT! No food allowed in the fieldhouse + the concession stands must make more than KU profs.

The gyro & hummus and lentil soup was good. Time to walk it off. .

@ the Game. 13-13 the score. Tough game. Took one pic. Sitting in Section #22 under the banner for the 1922 Championship. First lead: 15-13. 18-13 @ 9:58. Game speeded up. Not sure that that's good for K.U. Pace is important. 24-21. Memphis - awesome 3s. 26-26. KU is turning over but MU is fouling. The banners are for: Big 12, Big 8, Big 7, Big 6 and MVC. The 1st MVC? 1908! Half-time: 33-28.

Met Jake (Topeka/Colby) and Sam (Kearney) took a picture. Took pics while Roy [Williams, NC coach, former KU coach] was speaking. Folks actually clapped. Good for them.

33-33 as quick as that. Took out crowd here a bit, but a comeback will bring them back. Sloppy? A tad. KU is winning the rebounds. The game with its lead changes + high/low, fast/slow must be exciting to watch. Nerve wracking here in Allen Field House. (I didn't know it was James Naismith Court). [Naismith invented the game and was a KU coach]

page 1629

7 april

Not too many, if any, left at halftime. of course, as a partisan I wish game were a tad more boring. No jumping up & down for me - trying to keep my blood pressure in control. I have my glasses off as I write this. I can tell what's what by the crowd response. 43-42. I recognize the look on Jake's face. Just can't afford to allow my nerves free rein. I can feel a bit of tightness as it is. 9:52 [CDT]. Maybe game will be over by 11 our time? 45-44 with 10 min. to go. Tightly fought game. Score will be low for both teams. 47-51. oooops. I think the building is vibrating. Wind? We are scheduled for rain. It was 50s today in LKS, 80s in Memphis, 90s in San Antón. KU is flat in the 2nd half. This pace is how they lost to Okla St. 60-61. 49-57. A bit subdued at Old KU.

Now I'm glad I went downtown Sat night. A loss & I can go home. 56-60. A couple very nice plays. Dorsey [Memphis] fouled out. Maybe they should've picked up pace earlier? 60-62. Ouch 63-63.

It's 10:33 [CDT]. No way to capture the atmosphere here. Even a video wouldn't quite do it justice. 65-63 neat. Way to come out. Has momentum shifted? 67-63. 69-63. 69-65 @ 2:24 I called Mark [my brother-in-law and Syracuse fan]. He watching of course. 71-65 @1:00 71-68. 56 sec. 73-68. 75-68. The floor was filled on that last foul.

Final
75-68

Well ... 75-68. You can imagine the mayhem. Stayed for a short while then walked up the hill + downtown. Party was like Sat. night. Band playing in the street. People everywhere. Some think the crowd was bigger tonight. Maybe. I think this party might last a tad longer too. Wonder when the parade will be ... ... ...

page 1630

8 april

Almost 1 a.m. I'll need to leave the party early. I'm @ Henry's with a coffee. A boom and sprinkles. It's 5 till 2 and Nico is giving me a ride home.

KU campanile later in the summer:



Kansas: 46º and sprinkly. Dreary weather ... but who cares.

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