Monday September 26, 2011
kansan.com
COMMENTARY
Game to remember for fans
Saturday's Legends of The Phog game seemed too good to be true, and it might have been even better than that. It was what every college basketball fan wants to see but never can: the big play in April take place at home.
Video shows Allen Fieldhouse come alive on Saturday @kansan.com
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"I think when you play here or coach here it doesn't get any better than this," former KU coach Larry Brown said. "This family here is remarkable. It's a place that you'll never forget."
By the time Paul Pierce took the ball up the court with a five-second difference between the game clock and shot clock, two things were very clear: He's got this shot, and Mario Chalmers has the next one.
It may not have been the same stage, but, by the sound of it, you wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. It was an unusual energy powering the fieldhouse.
Edited by Jayson Jenks
Texas sweeps volleyball team PAGE 8
Over and over players and coaches said, "Only in Kansas could they pull off something like this," and maybe that's the case. Where else can you bring together such a diverse group of stars and see the family reunion-type aura engulf them?
By the time it was over, everyone in the building had the same thought. "Did that just happen?"
Instead of the normal hunger for victory from the crowd, the emotion on Saturday was raw excitement. It's a tribute to the building's engineers that the roof didn't blow off the old barn at the end.
On that fateful night in 2008, KU fans wanted to be at Allen Fieldhouse chanting Mario's name and watching history unfold on their home court. They got their wish on Saturday.
Paul Pierce (1995-98) shoots a three-pointer as the shot clock approaches zero. He points to the crowd after hitting the buzzer-beating shot in the second half.
"No matter who is coaching here you can not say you're the best coach," coach Bill Self said. "Dr. Allen coached here. And no matter who is playing here, they're not going to be the best player; Wilt played here. You are a part of something much bigger than yourself."
Truthfully, a tie was the only way the game could have ended. Other than the fact that no Jayhawk should lose at Allen Fieldhouse, no one was rooting against anyone.
When fans look back at this game, it will not make a difference who won or lost. Fans won't remember the awkward silence right after tipoff, when no one knew who to root for. What they will remember is that for 40 minutes, Jayhawk nation saw its idols on James Naismith Court reminding us all just how truly magnificent the history at Kansas is.
When Pierce took the ball up court on the blue team's last possession, the crowd wanted him to make it. Thirty seconds later, they were cheering for Chalmers, a member of the white team, to do the same.
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
TWO SHINING MOMENTS
LEGENDARY ENDING
Mario Cnalmers (2005-08) fires a three-pointer with only a second left. He celebrates in front of a camera after tying the game 111-11
MIKE GUUNOE/KANSAN
MAX ROTHMAN
mrothman@kansan.com
Every fan in Allen Fieldhouse had seen something like this before.
Paul Pierce dribbed slowly at the top of the key, waited until just before the shot clock expired, then sunk a three-point shot with five seconds left.
"Mario ... Mario ... Mario ..."
That's when fans started chanting another name.
Mario Chalmers, the same hero who hit the miracle shot against Memphis in the 2008 title game, followed Pierce with a three-pointer of his own at the final buzzer.
There was no overtime, just a 111-111 tie — an ideal ending to the Legends of the Phog exhibition game on Saturday afternoon at the fieldhouse.
"It was just like his championship shot," Pierce said. "And everyone got a replay of it tonight."
For most of the game, there were more laughs than defensive stops and more air balls than swishes. That suited the game just fine. Simply having these guys back in the field-house was all any fan could have asked for.
But the ending was simply cinematic.
Even after badly missing a few shots earlier in the game and losing control of the ball with six seconds left on the shot clock, everyone in the building knew that Pierce would hit the shot. And so did he.
"If you don't believe that you're going to hit it," Pierce said. "Then why be out there?"
When Chalmers followed with yet another one of his dramatic shots to add to Kansas basketball folklore, the field-house erupted.
"Yeah I heard it," Chalmers said of the fans chanting his name before the final shot. "It's something that I've done before."
Kansas basketball.
Self reminisced on the day that Wayne Simien congratulated him for winning the national championship. Self told Simien that he wished he could have won a championship with Kansas. Simien told Self."Coach, you don't understand. I did."
"It meant as much to him knowing that we won it," Self said. "Because he is a team member and always will be."
played with the younger guys. Yet for all the legends — the history, the theatrical dunks, the ending of Pierce and then Chalmers — is how this game will be remembered.
Bud Stallworth strolled the field house with a sharp blue suit and a wide smile. Ted Owens teared up when greeting his team. Darnell Valentine even got on the floor and
After the game, coach Bill Self, former coach Larry Brown, Pierce and Chalmers praised the tradition and history of
"I felt like this was a game-seven playoff game." Pierce said.
- Edited by Mandy Matney
Freshman forward Ingrid Vidal breaks free from a defender during the first half of Sunday's game against Oral Roberts. Vidal has eight goals this season.
MAX MIKULEKY/KANSAN
Soccer win boosts team morale
WOMEN'S SOCCER
RYAN MCCARTHY rmccarty@kansan.com
After enduring another blow-out loss on Friday, the soccer team wrapped up its non-conference schedule against Oral Roberts on Sunday with a morale-boosting 6-1 victory.
"I think it gives us a lot of redemption," sophomore defender Madi Hillis said. "The past couple games have been a little bit frustrating, but we got a good win and came out here and tried to score a lot of goals."
Kansas' six goals were the most the team scored in a game since Oct. 19, 2008, against Francis Marion.
Putting together early offensive consistency for 90 minutes was a crucial point for the Jayhawks.
With Kansas in control for the whole contest, it gave many of its substitute players the opportunity to log minutes and contribute off the bench. Although the Jayhawks scored three goals in the first 17 minutes, coach Mark Francis was unhappy with the bench's effort at the end of the first half.
"When we scored the third goal I thought we backed off a little bit." Francis said. "Basically at halftime I told them if they
didn't score three goals we were training tomorrow. So I think that motivated them a little bit. "
Berry's goal in the 16th minute was a well-judged, left-footed strike that glided by the right side of ORU's goalkeeper Helen Erb.
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Junior midfielder Whitney Berry continues to show her leadership on the field, posting a goal and an assist.
"It gives us that little boost that we needed to get back on somewhat of a winning streak and hopefully get those two big losses behind us." Berry said.
Freshman forward Ingrid Vidal also scored two goals in the game. Vidal is approaching the top-scorer mark in the conference with eight goals to her credit.
The other notable goal came in the 68th minute when freshman forward Jamie Fletcher jugged the ball three times in the air around Oral Roberts' Amanda Wheeler and then knocked home the ball on the fourth touch before it hit the ground.
Berry realized that this game was important to continue executing offensively, but also to try to help the overall attitude.
Considering the Jayhawks
gave up 12 goals in their previous two games, playing well on the defensive end was essential. Kansas only allowed five shots the entire match.
"There wasn't that many times where they put us under pressure and really tested us in the back, but we did a good job when we had the ball in the back." Francis said.
With the conference play going into full swing next weekend,achieving this win was the momentum the Jayhawks might need to be competitive in the Big 12.
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"We've just got to continue to be confident and I think right now when you lose two games like that people start doubting themselves a little bit." Francis said. "So I think today was good for their confidence."
Edited by Rachel Schnitz
BIG 12
Interim commissioner addresses uncertainty
The Big. 12 interim commissioner, Chuck Neinas, held a media conference at 5 p.m. Friday to address the future of the conference.
Neinas will be filling in for former commissioner Dan Beebe, who stepped down Sept. 22.
Neinas thinks Missouri will stay Texas ARM and the Southeastern Conference made it official on Sunday as it will join the SEC on July 1, 2012.
"The Missouri chancellor told me he has some new curators who want to discuss things." Neinas said. "That's where some of the uncertainty might come from. In the end, I think it will be resolved."
Neinas answered a variety of questions, on topics such as expansion and the conference's image.
When asked what issues need to be corrected, Neinas said trust between the member schools is crucial. He said the conference's image needs to be polished.
"They've hired me to be a commissioner and I'll act like a commissioner," Neinas said. "If you look at my record, I'm not afraid to make decisions. They can always fire me."
As for expansions, Neinas said he, at the moment, does not know what he or the conference will do.
He will visit the remaining schools to discuss the conference's issues with the presidents and chancellors.
As for any elongated stay at commissioner, Neinas has no interest.
"I am not a candidate in any way shape or form on a permanent basis," Neinas said. "I will offer my services to assist in the search."
Mike Vernon