BASKETBALL PREVIEW
THE UNIVERSITY HAILY KANSAN
MONDAY OCTOBER 13, 2008
5C
MONDAY, OCTOI
Where were you?
BY KATHRYN MCSTOWE
When Mario Chalmers hit the clutch threepointer that tied the 2008 NCAA National Championship game?
EMILY MEYER
Shawnee junior
"I was at my boyfriend's house. There were about 70 people there watching it altogether, and right before the shot, everyone held their breath, you could just hear a big inhale and right when he made the shot everyone just started screaming and jumping. They had a huge upstairs and big downstairs so there were people in both places, and the people downstairs were banging on the ceiling and the people upstairs were jumping on the ceiling, and I remember thinking the floor was going to cave in. It was crazy."
KATIE TANNER
Overland Park senior
"I was in an apartment above
Chipotle on Mass. Street watching
the game, and I remember right
before Chalmers hit the shot, the
entire apartment was silent. I had
my head down and was just trying
and then he made the basket,
and everybody, which was like 30
people in this tiny apartment, just
went crazy. Bodies just got pushed
together, alcohol and champagne
went flying everywhere and we
all fell over because we were so
excited."
STACY CARTER De Soto junior
"I was watching the game at The Reserve. We were all standing in a circle holding hands, and I actually closed my eyes because I was so nervous. I didn't think he was going to make it and I didn't want to see that, so I had my eyes closed when the shot actually went in. And when I opened them everyone was screaming and crying. It was the most exciting moment ever."
ANDREW PROBASCO Ozawkie senior
"Iad about 25 people over at my house to watch the game, and when he made the shot we all just jumped up and went wild. It was shocking, we were in absolute shock that he actually made the shot."
LISA SULLIVAN Overland Park sonic
Overland Park senior "Championship night was one of the craziest, best moments of my life. I wasn't sure what was going to happen leading up to the shot. It was tense and I remember feeling pretty scared. But after he made it, we pretty much knew we were going to win. There was no doubt in my mind. It was a crazy, awesome night to say the least."
Jon Goering/KANSAN
CARLOS RAMIREZ
New York sophomore "I watched the game in Allen Fieldhouse, and it felt like we were in San Antonio watching the game. It was packed like a regular season game, every seat was filled except the top row. Right before the shot, I remember everyone was holding hands. There were people crying, just disappointed. Once it went in, everyone just went crazy. I looked down at the basketball court and the security guards who had been blocking off the court had dropped the ropes and were gone, they literally were terrified of being trampled. My shortest friend, he's like 5-foot-3, he ended up being five or four rows down from us right after, from everyone just jumping and hugging and throwing each other around, it was crazy."
BRIEN MARTI Erie, Pa., junior
"We were all at my friend's house and after he made the shot, I was on top of a pile of people who were all jumping up and down."
LUKE MORRIS
Humboldt senior
Kansan copy chief
"I was at the Alamodome in San Antonio. When he hit the shot, I thought we were down four and was on the brink of crying. Then everyone around me went crazy and I realized the scoreboard showed a tie."
Expectations for team high despite rebuilding season
You'd think the expectations would be lower, right?
Kansas wins its first Natty in 20 years, proceeds to lose seven of its eight best players — including all five starters — and then adds seven newcomers to the mix. Yep, lower expectations, right? Rebuilding, right?
Well, don't expect Kansas students to temper their expectations. At least, if you believe our totally unscientific poll results. 96 (961) percent of the 70 KU students interviewed predict
that Kansas will advance to — at least — the Sweet 16. Meanwhile, 73 percent have their eyes on the Elite Eight, and 36 percent think Kansas can go back to the Final Four.
And then there's this. Ten percent of people believe Kansas will become the third team in the last 17 years to repeat as champions.
The optimism is admirable, but really people? Really?
Rustin Dodd
How far will Kansas go in the NCAA tournament this year?
1% Not in tournament
3% Make the tournament
10%
Win the championship
23% to Sweet Sixteen
26% Go to Final Four
37% Go to Elite Eight
- Poll numbers compiled by Barbara Platts
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