🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Time to talk about something that might be interesting.

While the large majority of my games watching KU was in the mid 80's, I've been to a few others. I really don't remember any specific games from my time on campus. I don't remember any buzzer beater wins, or upset wins. I really don't have any great classics that I've seen. But I'm sure many of you do.

So I have to just give a any game I was at in AFH from 85-88 third place.

My second would have to be the NC game in 2012. A loss obviously, but a game of that magnitude was special to be at. Maybe Selfs best coaching job was that season. We actually made Cal nervous. 2008 had to be in the back of his mind as we cut their lead down to 5 in the last two minutes.

Miami game a season ago was my best game. Was a combo of important game, memorable comeback, totally dominating 2nd half, hearing Illinois fan scream "F...You Bill Self" from the 3rd row below the ceiling , to watching the team hoist the trophy.

What are yours? More than one is acceptible.

vs OU in 2016

2020 Baylor game in Waco. GameDay was there and that was the game KU cemented themselves as the title favorites before Covid shut everything down.

2018 Final Four against Villanova because it my first Final Four game in person, and so far only one. Yes, KU got annihilated, but all the stuff around the Final Four is even better when your team is in it.

Third would be 2010 KSU game because it was my last game in AFH as a student. It was also a top 5 match up as KU was 2 a d KSU 5 going into the game and KU ran KSU out of the gym by 17.

Edit: The 2010 KSU game was Sherron Collins senior day game.

I haven't been to many games but by far the best was 2016 OT Win against Kentucky. The 3 pointer that Selden made in the corner with less than a minute left to take the lead was nuts. The place was so loud and I'm so glad I was there to see it.

Well since I've only been able to see one game live that's all I got. In that game though David McCormack had 28 points.

The KSU fight game is probably the second most memorable game I was at. The best memory I have is when Wilt came back to get his jersey retired. Every game is awesome and almost all are Ws. It’s hard to pick.

@RockkChalkk I don't remember the specific game, but it sounds like a memorable one!

@Jhawk69 Was that the Buddy Hield game?

@Jhawk69 I was there as well. The student section was LIT. We were all physically exhausted after.

West Virginia that year (I think) was great too. One of many Huggie meltdowns in the Phog. Kentucky “the Wayne Selden game” is up there.

Senior nights are always incredible. Some speeches just stick with you. Jamari’s was special.

I stood in the front row of the student section behind the KU bench basket for Kansas/UCLA in December of 1995. Down 15 at halftime against the defending national champs. Outscored them by 30 in the second half. Spin move by Jacque Vaughn through traffic right in front of me to give them their first lead. I was SCREAMING (and I have a loud voice) and I couldn't hear myself. Chills.

Coincidentally, Lester Earl was there on a visit that game. I told a buddy who was with me..."The only way he doesn't come here after that is if he gets paid to go somewhere else." Funny how that turned out.

@wissox Yes it was!

@FarmerJayhawk Nice. I was also at the WVU game where we were down 14 with under 3. Is that the one you menat?

@focojayhawk Jacque is still my fav. That spin move and (different game) the one where he drove the lane wrapped around for a pass, palmed the ball and pulled it out for a layup are a couple of my all time favorite regular season plays.

@Jhawk69 yes, that’s the one! Absolutely nuts

My favorite KU game was actually at the Octagon of Dumb in 1994. The Wildkitties had their way with us the entire game , but we clawed (with our Jayhawk talons) back into it towards the very end. Steve Woodbury hit a 25 footer as the clock expired and we won! (by one point, I believe). Apparently, I was the only Jayhawk fan in attendance that evening because you could hear a pin drop when I thrust both fists in the air and shouted "SUCK IT K-STATE". I seem to remember needing security to walk me to my car....

Almost all of this is true.

@Jhawk69 I can just imagine the feeling at the end of that game.

@focojayhawk I never sat behind the bench except once, but by getting there about 2 hours early I could always sit the first row or two behind the basket on the KU bench end of the stadium. The court was right there. It kind of chagrins me (although it doesn't impact me) to see the students relegated to the ends of the courts these days. Not just KU of course doing this, but Illinois, Michigan and Duke are three I can think of that treat their students right and let many students sit on the sides instead of the ends.

@nuleafjhawk The part that wasn't true?

@BeddieKU23 said in Best KU game you've been to.:

Well since I've only been able to see one game live that's all I got. In that game though David McCormack had 28 points.

I'd have guessed you've been to many games as one of our most knowledgable fans!

My earliest outstanding memory is Bud Stallworth dropping 50 on Fizzou in February, 1972. I also have memories of KU in 70-71 with Pierre Russell, Big Dave Robisch and Roger Brown. Great teams!

@Gorilla72 Wow, I've heard of Stallworth and Robisch, but not the other guys. As a kid growing up in the 70's I knew nothing about KU basketball. I think my earliest NCAA basketball memory was Notre Dame ending UCLA's 88 game win streak. What were the crowds like back then? Did KU fans realize they had something special in AFH and as a blueblood status?

@wissox said in Best KU game you've been to.:

@BeddieKU23 said in Best KU game you've been to.:

Well since I've only been able to see one game live that's all I got. In that game though David McCormack had 28 points.

I'd have guessed you've been to many games as one of our most knowledgable fans!

Hoping to see my first game in Allen this year or next. Certainly a dream of mine since I was a kid. I have been waiting for my son to get old enough to remember the experience and think he's getting to that point so it's time to get there. Always envious of those that have seen epic games in person over the years

@BeddieKU23 How did you become a KU fan? I assume you don't live in Kansas?

@wissox - IIRC, there were a lot more students at every game and it was loud! I could get within 2-3 rows behind the baskets. I don’t think we thought much about Blue Blood status. After the run in ‘71 (?) where they lost to UCLA and Western Kentucky, there was a pretty good drop off in talent for a couple of years. Ted Owens saw more NCAAT games but was really inconsistent. Seems KU restored Blue Blood status when Larry Brown came around.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kansas_Jayhawks_men%27s_basketball_seasons ↗

@BeddieKU23 if you get down to Lawrence hit me up! Would be happy to show you guys around.

@FarmerJayhawk Me too?

I got to be at the B-Mac bank in 3 against ISU. It was over break so I actually got to sit like 6 rows up. Then somehow we ended up partying with B-Mac later at those apartments by the Walmart.

Great night.

One of the more memorable games I was at was the Acie Law IV game. Ugg. Wish I could forget.

@wissox The security escort to my car. I thought I was going to get my butt kicked 100 times.

Hey, I don't get a commission on this - but you all should read "What It Means To Be A Jayhawk". It's little snippets from some of the greats in KU history. Pretty much all sports are included. I've been a serious KU fan for over 55 years and have heard of or about many of these people, but the stories are wonderful! One thing almost all of them seem to have in common is their actual lifelong love for the University and community of Lawrence. I never went to college, so maybe this is a universal thing ?? But I can tell you, I don't give one big crap about the high school I graduated from or town than I went to high school in, so that was very interesting and heartwarming for me to hear.

@wissox said in Best KU game you've been to.:

@BeddieKU23 How did you become a KU fan? I assume you don't live in Kansas?

Yes I don't live in Kansas, from the northeast (Vermont). When I was a kid the only game you got on TV was usually the regional one so that meant Uconn or Syracuse. My father is a UCLA fan so I wasn't born into some local team to root for. I was just getting into playing basketball and the local game happened to be UConn vs Kansas. That UConn team had Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie, Donny Marshall. Believe they were #2 in the country at the time they played. KU beat them pretty good that day and Jacque Vaughn was the KU player that I liked the most. A few weeks later I went to our local mall and they had a sports store, they just so happened to have a Jacque Vaughn jersey (his number) and I begged my mother to buy it (which she did). Still have the jersey hanging up in my KU themed Man Cave now even though I wore that thing thousands of times growing up. From there I just became a fan and learned about all the history of the game and realized how big KU's part played in all of it. Just seemed to further my fandom at the time and by the time I was a teenager I was beyond hooked into this life of a KU fan.

@FarmerJayhawk said in Best KU game you've been to.:

@BeddieKU23 if you get down to Lawrence hit me up! Would be happy to show you guys around.

Waiting to see what the Big-12 schedule looks like before planning something. Will be keeping that in mind. Plan is for me, the wife (not KU fan but supports my crazy fandom) and my son who's getting into basketball. Thanks!

@wissox the more the merrier!

@BeddieKU23 said in Best KU game you've been to.:

@FarmerJayhawk said in Best KU game you've been to.:

@BeddieKU23 if you get down to Lawrence hit me up! Would be happy to show you guys around.

Waiting to see what the Big-12 schedule looks like before planning something. Will be keeping that in mind. Plan is for me, the wife (not KU fan but supports my crazy fandom) and my son who's getting into basketball. Thanks!

My school district is implementing a fall break and week break in February so I'm definitely going to consider going to the midweek game that week I'm off in February.

Wow, great stuff to read here. I am actually recovering from prostate cancer surgery this morning coming out of my fog or should I say PHOG I’m gonna be fine the doctor says.

@wissox good news! Glad it went well. I've been recouping and laying low for 3 weeks. Post op apt tmrw.

@BeddieKU23 I think I talked to you a long time ago when you lost your keys skiing?? Do you remember?

@Kcmatt7 that was fun on tv, would've been great in AFH! I love Benny Mac.

@wissox Prayers for a full and speedy recovery!

@Crimsonorblue22 Prayers for quick healing! Good luck at your appointment.

I was certainly fortunate to go to quite a few games during the time my son worked at KU. My all-time favorite was the last home border war game. My youngest was also going to school there at that time period and he was with me, top row! I bought some blue adidas socks, like the team wore before the game and wore them. At half my son told me to take them off, the rest is history! Never wore them again but still have them. We are a lil superstitious! I think the next game would be the triple OT against OU! So many super stars never won in AFH. Buddy got a standing O after the game. KU appreciates talent! Another fav is when we broke the noise level, believe it was the Kentucky game. My son said we actually broke it twice during that game. Comeback WV game that people actually left! There was another WV comeback game when Perry got hurt before half. I think LL fell on him. I was also at the Nova game we won. Mahomes and his crew were there, he actually stood up and got the crowd going. So many Chiefs and Royals players. Movie stars too. I always picked Sr night. Almost always it was celebrating conference champs! I went to one Late night. They gave out tickets so that's how I got to go.
My sons babies turned in to ball players and he needed time for them so he switched jobs and it was the right thing to do. I never saw a loss! Crazy huh?

@Crimsonorblue22 said in Best KU game you've been to.:

@wissox good news! Glad it went well. I've been recouping and laying low for 3 weeks. Post op apt tmrw.

Hope you’re doing ok.

I don't think I've never been to an exciting game in person... maybe last year WVU at home 76-74... we had a bit of a comeback. Mostly I get tickets to crappy matchups. Never saw a loss though. Harvard was memorable last year because I walked the mile and a half to AFH and back in sub zero temps.

@Crimsonorblue22 said in Best KU game you've been to.:

@BeddieKU23 I think I talked to you a long time ago when you lost your keys skiing?? Do you remember?

Yes that definitely happened

@wissox said in Best KU game you've been to.:

Wow, great stuff to read here. I am actually recovering from prostate cancer surgery this morning coming out of my fog or should I say PHOG I’m gonna be fine the doctor says.

Wow glad your surgery went good. I hope your recovery is speedy

@Crimsonorblue22

Hope your appointment goes well

The moment that stands out the most vividly is Jacque Vaughn's floating jumper as time expired against Indiana at AFH. It won the game. He was a freshman.

@wissox said in Best KU game you've been to.:

Wow, great stuff to read here. I am actually recovering from prostate cancer surgery this morning coming out of my fog or should I say PHOG I’m gonna be fine the doctor says.

Hey, I'm in the reluctant brotherhood of prostate cancer survivors. Everyone's journey is somewhat different, but if you ever want to chat with another person, I would be please to chat. I was diagnosed 6+ years ago (stage 4 oligometastatic) and have learned more about the disease and its treatments than I ever would have imagined.

All the best on a speed and full recovery.

@bskeet Wow, thanks. I'm fortunate to have caught it before it'd spread. There's a small chance as they biopsy the now removed gland, but the doctor indicating not noticing anything unusual looking is certainly good news. I'm not sure what state 4 means as my tumor was given a term called a gleason score. Gleason 6 is the least severe, slowest growing, and when my PSA jumped slightly the Gleason score moved up to a 7 and the doc recommended removal.

@wissox Here is an article that discusses staging and Gleason scores. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/stages-and-grades ↗

@wissox I'm assuming you had a prostatectomy. If the surgeon had clean margins on the surgery (and it had not spread anywhere else) you should be in good shape. Your PSA should drop if they got everything and you should be good to go.

I am rooting for you! If there is such a thing as a "good" cancer, Prostate Cancer is that cancer. It's well researched and oncologists have an arsenal of tools to keep it at bay.

My Gleason was 4+3 which, oddly, is worse than 3+4, but basically 7. In my case, there was early evidence that it had spread out of the prostate.

Did you happen to get a PSMA Pet scan?

I was lucky enough to enter a trial for the Ga68 PSMA, which is a state of the art diagnostic. It is the most sensitive scan available and was just recently approved by the FDA. That scan is absolutely the reason I still have a good quality of life and possibly is the reason I'm still here today. The information the doctors gleaned from the scan changed how they treated my cancer (no surgery for me) and allowed for much more targeted treatments. It is truly 21st century science and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

If your PSA doesn't drop appropriately after the surgery, or if it ever starts to rise, you should ask for a PSMA Pet Scan. (The scan only works with elevated PSA because it uses a tracer that attaches to PSA which is emitted by the cancer cells.)

Well, that's probably too much unsolicited info. But seriously, good luck and hope you feel better soon.

@bskeet Thanks for the information. My doc mentioned a pet scan if the PSA isn't basically zero. Glad it helped you. My gleason score was also 4+3. Very thankful for all of the medical advances that have benefitted us.

Best of luck Wissox!

My best game.. haven’t been to too many ( I married a KU grad and got sucked in big time to KU basketball over the past 30 years ) was two years ago.. senior day against Texas - they won in overtime and then went on to win the NC. Allen Fieldhouse… NEVER been in a louder arena in my life. The volume was was almost lifting me out of my seat to the rafters.. Plus senior day/night games are very emotional. Awesome experience ! I was proudly wearing my Marcus Garrett jersey

@Bosthawk Sounds amazing!

@Bosthawk that was a fantastic game, remember j will showing his finger w/💍 at the end?

@Crimsonorblue22
Oh yes that’s right… thanks for reminding me !