Rock Chalk Throwdown

(KU made the ball do what it is doing on David's shirt a lot during the Ohio State game. More than them, in fact)

With all of the annoying conference realignment noise in the news, it’s refreshing when two powerhouses meet up for an early-season non-conference throwdown. Even more refreshing when the Big 12 representative puts a whupping on the Big 10 team. And yes, statisticians bemoan the inaccuracy of placing a 10 or 12 in either conference name, as the number of teams in both leagues has changed more than KU’s quarterback. But there are some numbers in this equation that do matter:

• 2 – Ohio State’s rank before the game.
• 13 – KU’s rank before the game.
• 46 – KU’s current non-conference home game winning streak.
• 21/7 – Thomas Robinson's total number of points and rebounds.
• 17 – Approximate number of tasty jams by KU (this number might be slightly exaggerated). 
• 10 – Number of rows up David and I sat behind the KU bench.
• 114 – Decibel level it reached in Allen Fieldhouse, equivalent to that of a rock concert (think NIN as opposed to Hall and Oates).
• 3 – Number of centimeters vertical that KU’s Jeff Withey jumped, in a previously unseen feat of longitudinal prowess. (He did not grab the rebound)
• 2 – Number of obesity jokes cracked by new head football coach, Charlie Weiss, in his first address to the KU public at halftime.
• Beatdown – This obviously isn’t a number, but it’s exactly what happened to Ohio State.

(If you're a KU fan and this video doesn't make you cry, you're a robot. And we're not friends!)

And David and I were there front and center to see it all. Front and side, to be accurate. He made the “extra ticket” call and I happily obliged. All I had to do was supply him and his family with Dean and Deluca lunch, then buy him a pre-game brewsky for his troubles. Hey, what are brothers for?

The seats were ridiculous. 10 rows behind the KU bench, straight out from the endline. We somehow avoided pesky face-painted neighbors, and were rewarded with a direct view of the basket all game long. We could see Bob Knight and Jay Bilas working the game. KU alum Scott Pollard working radio. Ex-baller Mario Little dressed as a bum in the student section (we were legitimately concerned for his well-being as he was sporting a ridiculous beanie, flannel shirt, vest and boots combo).

(As a longtime season tic holder, David said this was the loudest game in recent memory)

Weiss was there just 9 (and possibly 8 and 7) rows in front of us. His coaching counterpart was there as well, pacing the sidelines. Bill Self must have internal radar for when ESPN’s cameras are pointed at him. The goofy, self-deprecating Self we see on the telecasts and from the rafters was not the same dude 10 rows in front of me. He lit into players and refs with equal venom. He red-faced it with the best of them. Ironic that he showed his emotions openly while Bob Knight sat calmly in his front-row chair, pondering a nap.

(Last time I saw this guy, students were pelting him with snowballs (true story) at a Notre Dame football game)

That’s not to say his anger wasn’t merited. I’d certainly be ticked if my starting center forgot how to box out (Withey). Or my point guard completed more passes to Ohio State than to Kansas, bum knee and all (Tyshawn). Or the refs’ forgot that Ohio State’s seventh foul in a half meant we were shooting one and one. I actually hold him in higher esteem now...not sure why.

(Self having to remind his point guard that our team is the one wearing white jersey's) 

The game, for all its high emotions, was never really close. Ohio State came within four, I believe, but KU was never in danger of being overtaken. Each time they crept back in, Self subbed out Withey and crossed his fingers that T-Rob wouldn’t be baited into another silly foul. The resulting dunkage pretty much did the trick.

(Dunk you very much)

One question remains: how different would the game have been with Ohio State shoo-in All-American Jared Sullinger in the lineup? I’ll answer that question with another question: how much better would KU be this year with the Morris twins? OK, not my strongest argument, but college basketball is all about rolling with the punches. Injuries are jabs, suspensions are hooks, academic ineligibility is when two boxers hug it out, and graduation is a haymaker. Early entry into the NBA draft is Mike Tyson eating a chunk Evander Holyfield’s ear. And Mike Tyson got busy with KU in the offseason. That said, I would have loved to have seen T-Rob and Sullinger go at each other. But as is, they're left with the knowledge that they've had the same experience as Big 10 newcomer Nebraska: an Allen Fieldhouse Loss. 

(When you hear this chant, you can begin to do what's going on in the next video...)

Seeing as the Monday polls had Ohio State remaining at #2 and KU only moving up one slot, apparently the coaches, talking heads, possibly even the BCS felt that it was a hollow win without Sullinger in the game. Well…they didn’t see it. And David and I did. From ten rows behind the KU bench. We don’t really care what everyone else says…we know it was a great victory because, did I mention, we were there...

(Victory Chest Bumps)

To see the rest of the KU pictures, go here: Awesome KU Dunks