Kansas State Wow!

Kansas State tried to lose the game late.  I just finished watching the game and thought that they were going to blow it and let Colorado win the game (see Kansas State Has Problems) that I posted with six minutes left in the game.  It was not a pretty finish to the game when KSU had a double digit lead in the first half.

 

Granted, Colorado has something to prove and was not going to roll over and give up.  I did not think that it was going to end with a six point different (78-72 KSU).  I thought it was going to be at least a double digit win for the Wildcats.

 

The Wildcats have work to do in their next road game against Iowa State on Saturday.  Iowa State is in second to last place of the Big Twelve, but you can bet it will not be a cake walk.  Another win is needed for KSU to make a strong case for making it to the tournament.

 

Kansas City Spring Training Day Six

OK... OK... I know that Spring Training does not amount to a hill of beans.  However, I am once again excited for the season to start with another win by Kansas City today against the Colorado Rockies.  Kansas City is now 3-3 in Spring Training games with another impressive scoring drive winning 11 - 5.

 

The Royals play tomorrow at 2:05 against San Francisco.  Not even half-way through the spring training games, but again I am feeling excited about this team.  I have only had a chance to listen to two of their spring training games; I hope that the run production carries on through into the the regular season.  I believe I have stated this in earlier posts.  However, I think back to last season and recall losing games because we do not have the run production.

 

Could it be that we finally get rid of Mike Sweeney and we start being productive?  Mike was on the Royals team for the past twelve years and it was time to move on.  Back in February, Mike struck a deal with a minor league team (see Mike Sweeney reaches minor league deal with A's).  After being injury prone the past five seasons, Mike "DH" Sweeney has left the Kansas City Royals.

 

Maybe it is a new manager that is energetic that is helping this team to be productive.  I am not sure!  I do know that I am excited for the regular season to start and see how this team does this year.

Kansas State Has Problems

Kansas State was blowing out Colorado by double digits in the first half.  The game appeared to be over.  Suddenly with seven minutes left in the game, Colorado is back within 5 - 10 points.  This was a game that KSU was supposed to dominate.  Not only do they have their key player Beasley, but it is also senior night in Manhattan.  Yet, K-State is struggling against Colorado who sits in last place of the Big Twelve (11-17 overall and 3-11 conf).

 

Wow!  This is not what I was expecting.  I was expecting a blow out like we had last night with the Jayhawks.  This type of game cannot be helping the case for KSU to make it to the Big Dance.  With a little over six minutes left in the game, KSU needs to turn it up and finish this game strong.  If Colorado is within five at the end of this game, that hurts KSU's case for getting in the NCAA tourney.

 

KC Royals Spring Training 3/3

Kansas City played in their fifth Spring Training game of the 2008 season.  Kansas City won today 7 - 6 with a double to center that scored two runs.  The Royals are now 2 - 3 in Spring Training.  If my memory is correct, I believe that is a better start than they had last year in Spring Training.

 

I still feel the excitement with the new manager (Trey Hillman) leading the Royals.  From the few games that I have had a chance to listen to and from the radio discussion, it sounds like Trey has a completely different style of managing this team.  I sure hope so, because we need something new and different to put the Royals in a position to be a contender come September.  Trey is involved in all areas of the team and from what I have heard from announcers on 810 WHB, it sounds like the team has taken to Trey very well.

 

Carrie and I have already started talking about getting tickets for this season.  We received a notice that pre-sales take place this Wednesday prior to opening to the general public and is going out first to those that have ordered previously.  Yes, I am interested, but I also remember the second game of the season last year and freezing my butt off bundled up in the cold.  Oh, and KC lost the first and second game of the season....  They might have lost the first 10 - 15, I do not recall, but it was a bad bad start and season.

 

Kansas City takes on Colorado at 2:05 in Surprise, AZ.  While a lot of people say that Spring Training means nothing at all, it does give some hope when a team that has not produced does well in the pre-season.  Hopefully the hits (12 runs Friday, 7 runs Saturday, 7 runs Sunday, and 7 runs today) and runs will continue the rest of the March as well as into the regular season.  I would also hope that the excitement that I am feeling as well as the sports call-in shows will continue.  Time will of course tell.

 

Monday Night Tex. Tech vs. KU

Wow!  75 - 34 Jayhawks with more than 12:20 minutes to play.  Kansas was predicted to win by 20 plus points in the game against Texas Tech who just came off of a huge win against Texas on Saturday.  This has to be frustrating for first-time head coach Knight to have a huge game and then go up against KU on Big Monday on ESPN, not to mention that it is senior night in Lawrence, for a loss.

 

Kansas is getting production from every player with relative ease.  Texas Tech is not hitting their free throws, rebounding, and basically appear to be standing around watching the KU buckets drop. Twenty point favorites, this was completely predicted.  I did not think going into this game that we would beat them by this much, but senior night in Phog Allen Field House is no place where any team wants to play.  Tonight is no different!

 

It is good to see some of the players that help improve the starters on the floor and playing well.  Every player on the Kansas team scored tonight.  A well balanced attack from the starters and the bench.  Final score 109 - 51 Kansas with the second half basically a free for all with KU hitting everything they threw up at the basket.   Up next for Kansas is Texas A&M at 3 pm on Saturday, March 8.

 

Rematch of Kansas State Wildcats and Kansas Jayhawks

What a Saturday! Trip to Legends to celebrate a birthday (see Birthday Celebration for Juanca) and college basketball. It does not get much better than that to make for a perfect Saturday!

My day started off taking the Civic to get brakes checked, oil changed, and fluids checked. I was at Sharp Honda for a little over an hour. While I was there I test drove a Honda Accord 2008 which I liked, and watched ESPN Game Day. They were of course at Allen Field House the Home of the Jayhawks for Game Day. The place was already rock'n at 10 am and the game was not until that evening. This only fueled the excitement and environment for the rematch of K-State and KU.

Kansas State beat up on the Jayhawks back in February in Manhattan. The Jayhawks went to the "Little Apple" and suffered their first loss of the season. This started a slide for them of not playing well and another loss to Texas. After beating KSU yesterday 88 - 74. Beasley scored 39 points for the Wildcats, but he did not get much help from the rest of the Cats. I did not have a chance to watch the first half, but from what I read on Jason Whitlock's post on the KC Star that KU won with help from the officials. I did not see those calls, so I cannot comment on whether there was help from the officials to give the game to the Jayhawks.

I do know that Walker and Pullen got into some kind of funk and did not step up to what needed to be done to win the game. I do not care how many points a start player makes, there still has to be help from his teammates to win the game. Basketball is after all a team sport and it requires a team to win the game. Too often this season I have watched Beasley score a lot of points and Kansas State loses.

There is no doubt in my mind that Michael Beasley is a great player. He definitely has the talent to play in the NBA. According to Beasley, he has not stated whether he is going to the NBA or not. Read a interesting article posted on ESPN Saturday regarding Beasley and what he has gone through in his life to this point. (See Beasley teetering on the precipice of adulthood on ESPN.) I did find it interesting to hear what kind of vehicle Beasley drives and the fact that his Mom and siblings moved to Manhattan so Beasley could have his family close.

Kansas moved to 26 - 3 (11 - 3 conference) and are now tied with Texas for number one in the Big Twelve. Kansas State moves to 18 - 10 (8 - 6 conference). Kansas State is back in a position where they need to win their next two games to avoid being skipped over by the NCAA selection committee this year. Recall that last year they were skipped over as a bubble team and there is concern this could happen again this year even with a star player.

Kansas plays again Monday night against Texas Tech who just came off a huge victory of their own beating Texas 83 - 80. You can bet that Tech is going to be pumped up for Monday night when they face the league tied first place Jayhawks in Lawrence for senior night. The Jayhawks must win Monday night and again on March 8 when they face Texas A&M.

Have a great week and I will be back Monday night.

Birthday Celebration for Juanca

A group of us went to Dave and Busters to celebrate Juanca 18th birthday. We had a great time playing games, drinking, and generally enjoying ourselves. We got into Legends a little after 3 pm. This game us enough time to play games before 8 when the Kansas State vs. Kansas game was scheduled to start.

Five of us went into have fun. Juanca had been to Dave and Buster's once before when he visited Javi. Javier, Brenda, Carrie, and I had all been in 2007 when we came up to spend the night and have a night in and around Legends Mall. If you have not been up there, I highly recommend that you take the time to visit the area. Not only are there all kinds of shops, but there are great places to eat.

We were a little disappointed in Dave and Busters this time because it seemed there were so many little kids. Dave and Busters promotes themselves as being a playground for adults. Well, there were so many kids that they often would butt us out of a game so they could play. Overall, we had a great time!