Section B·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, December 4, 1997
Please Recycle your Kansan
December 4-5 10a.m.-4p.m. The Kansas Union Lobby
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Here's how the Grinch almost stole Christmas in Kansas:
Christmas comes early for'Hawks
The lunch crowd has hit. The deli line is around the corner. The place is a madhouse. Small kids are getting trampled. Pre-Arizona anxiety
Tuesday, 12:23 p.m. Wescoe Terrace Snack Bar.
Harley
Rattlif
sports@kansan.com
is peaking. I stand in the check-out line, waiting to purchase my bag of chips and stick of Rolos. I listen to the conversation between the couple in front of me.
young man before me says.
His lady-friend nods her head in agreement.
"Man, we're going to lose if we play like we did in New York." the
"Yeah," she says. "Arizona is unstoppable. I don't see how we can win."
Tuesday, 1:45 p.m. Kansan newsroom.
People are worried. Rationalization is in full swing.
Just acked my math quiz. Back at the newsroom. Reporters are scurrying everywhere. Students are busy at their computers. I hear more chatter about the game.
"We're going to get killed," I hear one of the editors say.
"I watched Arizona play over the break," she says with supreme confidence, as if she were some sort of basketball historian. "They were
A girl nearby, who knows little to nothing about basketball, responds with her ever-enlightened opinion.
awesome. There is no way we are going to win."
There you have it — the Jayhawks have no chance.
Tuesday, 5:45 p.m. My living room.
Joln, my roommate and a lifelong Lawrence resident, warns everyone in the room that things could get ugly if the Jayhawks lose.
"I'll probably cry," he says.
I believe him
Tuesday, 8:33 p.m. Papa Kenos
Pizzeria.
My roommate Matt and I are enjoying a fine pie before the game.
Artichoke hearts on his half, canadian bacon on mine. His half tastes better.
Things in Chicago are running behind. Utah still is hanging onto a slim lead against Providence in the most boring game of all time.
Matt is telling me something about the nature of quantum physics. I try to listen, but all I'm thinking about is that the key to the Kansas/Arizona game is whether the Kansas backcourt players can keep Mr. Mike Bibby from breaking them down off the dribble. We head home because the game is about to start. Matt is still babbling on about quantum physics. I'm wondering where Utah gets its players.
Tuesday; 9:25 p.m. Back in my living room.
The game is on, and it's a close one, despite the Jayhawks missing their first seven shots. John is in a deeply disturbed, meditative trance, his eyes fixed on the game. I look at him and think, "God, I don't want to be around that kid if the Jayhawks lose."
It's halftime. The Jayhawks are ahead by 15. Things are looking good. John is a bit more relaxed.
25 minutes later.
Matt is asleep on the couch: The pizza has gotten the best of him. 6 minutes and 59 seconds into the second half.
The locals are going crazy. Kansas has extended its lead to 17. The score is 66-49. The game is getting out of hand. Revenge is going to be sweet.
John now looks only slightly psychotic.
30 seconds later.
Paul Pierce is lying on the ground, writhing in pain, grasping his ankle. My living room is so silent you could hear a pin drop. Everyone has that sick feeling in their stomach. I mention something about how I hope that Pierce didn't break his ankle. I get some dirty looks. No one seems to like my commentary. Pierce hobbles off the court and there is a collective sigh of relief from Kansas fans everywhere.
38 seconds remaining.
14. 7 seconds remaining.
Billy Thomas shoots one seriously ill-advised three-pointer. John looks as if he is going to heave up his dinner. Roy Williams is irate.
Arizona guard Jason Terry cuts the Kansas lead to one with a three-pointer from almost 23 feet out. I glance at John and plan my escape route — no one likes to see a grown man cry.
2 seconds remaining.
Study's three-pointer that would tie the game rims out into Thomas' hands. Game over. 'Hawks win. People cheer. Suddenly, everything is right in the world. The sky isn't so gray. The weather isn't so cold. Life can go on. Students can study. Teachers can teach. Dogs can bark.
Merry Christmas, Kansas. This year it came 23 days early.
Rattiff is a Norman, Okla., junior in journalism.
Tar Heels stomp Cardinals' late effort
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Shammond Williams scored 22 points and hit a key jump shot in the closing minutes last night as No. 3 North Carolina remained unbeaten by holding off Louisville 81-72 in the second night of the Great Eight.
Williams had eight rebounds and six assists, and Antaun Jamison
Louisville (2-2) trailed by 16 points in the first half. In the second half, it pulled within two points behind its three-point shooting. Tony Williams' three-point shot with 3:20 remaining brought the Cardinals within 73-70.
But Shammond Williams hit a difficult fadeaway jumper from the
added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Tar Heels (7-0).
baseline and Jamison scored after a steal by Ademola Okulaja.
Alex Sanders, who had three three-pointers, scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half to lead Louisville.
The Cardinals started the second half with a 12-5 run to get within two on Sanders' three-pointer. But Louisville could not sustain the pace for the entire半.
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