THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
FANS IN LAWRENCE
PAGE 7A
Fans disappointed but remain loyal to team
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
Fans eagerly wait for the NCAA National Championship game in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks took on the Kentucky Wildcats Monday evening in New Orleans.
LUKE RANKER
tranker@kansan.com
In a town where basketball is a way of life, pride reigns over all other emotions. After the layhawks lost to Kentucky 59-67, fans in downtown Lawrence were disappointed but remained loyal to their team.
Karina Kiewel, a sophomore from South Dakota said it was hard to be upset about the game.
"Honestly I'm really proud of the Jayhawks for coming as far as they did," she said. "I didn't really expect that."
Before the end of the game, Ryan Eby, a junior from Denver, C., was still loyal to the team.
"Win or lose, I love my lahayks more than ever tonight," Eyba said.
Courtney Kathrens, a junior from Highlands Ranch CO., said watching Kentucky celebrate on the court she disappointing because she thought they weren't as excited as KU would have been.
"We wanted it more." she said.
Anytime Bill Self appeared on one of the multiple projection screens inside the Granada Theater Monday before the game, the crowd erupted in cheers. It would be an understatement to say the crowd was excited.
Even with the Jayhawks down by 14 at the half the crowd remained optimistic.
"I still have faith." Stephanie Schremmer, a senior from Arkansas said.
Grace Long, a senior from Overland Park, said she was trying to stay optimistic by reminding herself that it's just a game.
"But it's a really big game because I'm a senior and I wasn't here in 2008," Long said.
"We're a second half team," she said.
Stephanie Kusek, a junior form Chesterfield MO, said she was nervous because Kentucky was one of the best teams the Jayhawks had played.
Andrew Castle, a junior from Denver $ \mathrm{CO}_{2} $ , said he was worried but trusted Bill Self's coaching and the team's outside shot ability to bring them back.
"Never again will they call it a rebuilding year." Castle said.
Some people left Allen Fieldhouse during halftime, but the seats were still filled by students, community members and visitors, who packed the arena with a collective anxiety.
When Wichita native Gavin Stoukn arrived at the Fieldhouse, it was already a sea of blue.
"it's like a game is actually being played," Stoukn said.
Stouk, a graduate student, still had hope despite the Jayhawks losing by double-digits.
FANS IN NEW ORLEANS
"I'm just very nervous," Stoukn said. "I'd rather not be down 14. Eut we're definitely not down and out yet."
Edited by Jeff Karr
Students emotional, spirited throughout championship game
RACHEL SALYER
rsalyer@kansan.com
THE ANTICIPATION
Daniel Naghei, a freshman from
Students took their seats on the floor at 5 p.m. but lined up hours before tipoff of the NCAA Championship game between Kansas and Kentucky.
Kentucky fans outnumbered the students, but they couldn't intimidate the Jayhawks.
HALF-TIME HOPEFULS
"We got here at 10:00 a.m. with a 30-pack and a large pizza," Ian McGonigle, a senior from Wichita said. "It helps the nerves I guess, but we've made it this far and I am just excited to be here honestly."
With Jayhawks down 41-27 at half-time, fans still believed in the magic and the strong second halves that have carried the team all year.
"We've been down like this before." Hilary Barbour, a senior from Winfield, said. "It's happened before: many times. We can do it again."
"I think since Kentucky expects to win, but we just have more heart," Kendall Cole, a freshman from Houston said. "Our team loves each other and I am going to scream as loud as I can. We just have a bond."
Wichita, said he remained nervous throughout the game.
"You know it's happened so many times that you can't count us out," Naghei said. "Hopefully we can get closer in the next ten minutes or so and then grind it out at the end."
Students screamed at the top of their lungs, banged the chairs as hard as they could and eventually stood silent with their hands on top of their heads. But students said they weren't disappointed.
TROPHYLESS BUT CONFIDENT
The Jayhawks waited until the final seconds to accept their fate; Kentucky won 59-67, and despite the loss, students looked forward to next season.
"I'm shocked," Sue Redican, a freshman from St. Louis, said. "I really thought that we had a lot of momentum. I'm still glad I came, but more than anything I am looking forward to next season."
Nick Schulte, a junior from Wichita said despite the loss, the memories made were worth it.
"We weren't even expected to be here," Schulte said. "But I had a blast. We weren't even expected to win the first one, so to be here for that was amazing. I'm upset we lost, but I'll live."
Edited by Anna Allen
Jayhawk fans react to the last seconds of the NCAA National Championship against the Kentucky Wildcats. Kansas fell to the No. 1 seed Kentucky 67-59.
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
CAMPUS
Jayhawks to be welcomed home
The KU men's basketball team may have lost to Kentucky in the NCAA National Championship game last night, but a celebration will welcome home the Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse at 6:30 p.m. tonight, according to a media alert from Kansas Athletics.
The Jayhawk Radio Network will air a live feed of the celebration on the Jayhawk Network satellite channel. Rock Chalk Sports Talk will air from 6.02 to 6.59 p.m. The Kansan will also be covering the celebration.
Vikaas Shanker
The team leaves New Orleans at 5 p.m. and is expected to arrive at 7:15 p.m.
KENTUCKY STATE
Wildcat fans arrested for post-game behavior
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Police in Kentucky say they have arrested several dozen people following the Wildcats' 67-59 win over Kansas in the NCAA championship game.
Roberts said a car crashed into the patio area at a bar and grill where some people were dining, but the metal and brick wall kept the vehicle from getting onto the patio. She didn't have information about injuries.
Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts said late Monday that officers were "seeing fires being lit and things of that nature." She added that people had set couches and at least one car on fire.
Fans filled the streets near the university's Lexington campus within minutes of the game's conclusion Monday night. They jumped up and down, screamed, sprayed water and waved Kentucky flags.
Police also had handed out numerous citations, many for alcohol-related offenses.
Associated Press
STATE
Kentucky and Kansas governors bet on game
TOPEKA, Kan. — A trophy and bragging rights are on the line for Kansas and Kentucky's basketball programs in the Final Four. For the governors of the two states it's food.
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is wagering beef that the Jayhawks will earn their second national championship in four weeks Monday in New Orleans, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has a Kentucky country ham riding on his team's chances. The winning governor will donate the food to a food bank.
The game is a clash between the top two programs in the history of college basketball. The teams rank first and second in the number of victories.
Brownback noted that Kentucky coaching legend Adolph Rupp is from Kansas. He played for Phog Allen and coached high school ball before eventually landing at Kentucky.
Associated Press
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