Jesse Newell

Favorite pep band song: “25 or 6 to 4”

osborn_2009

Do you think that Sherron and Tyshawn will be able to handle Jacob Pullen?

Jesse Newell

osborn — Great question. That’s one of the biggest keys to this game. KU has been burnt sometimes this year by quick guards (see Tennessee and Memphis), so limiting the dribble penetration of both Pullen and Denis Clemente will be key. Collins will have to do his best to just keep the quick guards from getting by him, while Taylor has a chance to play a ton of minutes today if he can be a defensive stopper.

BruceWayne

who will win and why?

Jesse Newell

Bruce — That’s the million-dollar question. My favorite Web site other than KUsports.com, KenPom.com, has KU winning by five. Problem is, the fans will be so frenzied here that I don’t think KenPom factored in nearly enough how much the home fans will help KSU. I’ll stick with my GameDay Cram Session prediction by saying KSU by two. Let me say this: KU fans should be extremely excited if the Jayhawks come away with any kind of win tonight.

kuwells

Jesse:

Is the hotel information classified for the CU game? If not, where is the team going to be? I’d like to get a room there if possible. Or, are they staying overnight????

Also, is it possible to come watch a practice. I have my hands full with some 12 year olds and it might be fun to watch Coach Self in action.

Finally, can you get me a press pass so I can sit on the front row like you do?

collegebb

‘Livin by a prayer’ hands down

Jesse Newell

kuwells — Call the KU basketball office, and I’ve been told you can get info about the team hotel. All practices are closed, so I don’t there’s any chance of that. And though I know you’re joking about the press pass, the media seats in CU are up a bit, plus there’s no cheering, so you’ll be much better off in your seats.

Boston_Corbett

Any fake beards being worn in the audience?

Jesse Newell

Boston — Seen quite a few beards. It looks like many of the KSU students brought theirs back from a week ago. Also, there is a decked-out Abe Lincoln in the front row that I’m sure the TV cameras will find at some point.

kuwells

I heard the Syracuse band play Tom Sawyer by Rush one time and it sounded surprisingly good.

stupidmichael

When will Dick Vitale retire?

kuwells

Jesse: It might be sad that you’ve figured out my posts enough to know which one is the joke. Enjoy that top 9 list???

No cheering? Well, that takes the unbiased right out of journalism!

Jesse Newell

stupidmichael — I think you know as well as I do that Dick Vitale won’t ever retire. I will say, though: For anyone who has never met the man, you will not find a nicer person on this earth. He’s always friendly and always returns phone calls. Some people are different on TV and in real life. Vitale is genuine in both.

kuwells

OK, sorry… I don’t keep up with the traditions over in sheepville. What’s with the beards and Abe Lincoln???

Boston_Corbett

And any early report from Aggieville? Have they started burning and pillaging yet? I have heard the town’s a poppin’.

JuliansWright

Can anyone figure out why Self has the guys double down on these horrible post players? I could understand if it was Shaq down there, but we double down regardless of the guys talent level. Can Cole or Morris not handle these guys one on one. It usually leads to wide open 3’s.

Jesse Newell

kuwells — KSU had a “Fear the Beard” campaign, referring to Jacob Pullen’s beard that he has been growing all season.

Jesse Newell

Boston — Don’t know about Aggieville specifically, but the students are already here and fired up for this one. Did make it to the delightful Vista in town, though. That place doesn’t ever disappoint.

kuwells

I wrote Vitale a letter probably in the late 80s. Say what you want about his on air BS, he answered my scathing letter and was quite polite in the process. I saved it. I cant stand to listen to him do a game, and as odd as it sounds, I think he’s great.

Jesse: Need any help penning responses to some of these questions??? I’ll be happy to come by in Boulder and give you a hand!

Jesse Newell

Julians — Interesting point about the double teams inside. KU shouldn’t fear KSU’s big men until a shot is taken. Samuels and Kelly are beasts on the backboards, but not much of a threat to score on their own in the post. This might be a game where it would be best to simply play behind KSU’s big men and let them shoot over you.

Jesse Newell

Sign: “Hey Tyshawn, we hate your football team, too”

kuwells

Interesting. Fear the Bear. Octogon of Mildly Competitive Hoops. I might have to revise my top 9….

I also hope I dont eat that mildly competitive crack, and I do have a stupidmichael-like feeling about this game. Like a -12 feeling. Not the Jesse -2 feeling… Oh, I so hope I’m wrong.

Jesse Newell

Lots of big heads of KSU players/coaches in the crowd. Did KU’s big heads pre-date KSU’s?

MrPilot

Along with score predictions, perhaps we should try to predict Coach Martin’s blood pressure by the first media timeout. I’ll go with 180/95.

Jesse Newell

ESPN still has its GameDay set at midcourt. It’s weird to see the players warming up around it. Picture lights, cameras, big table, Hubert Davis, Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps, and basketballs bouncing all around them while players warm up.

Jesse Newell

There are also big heads of ESPN’s Digger Phelps, Dick Vitale and Doug Gottlieb. Those will probably get plenty of air time too.

BruceWayne

is Marion there?

whitey45

Jesse – Texas is down to Baylor in OT right now. If they lose again today and KU beats K State does that hurt the perception of the Big 12 as it would be tough to claim the conference has more than 1 “Premiere” team?

Also, is there much KU representation at Bramlage today? How does the atmosphere/anger level compare to Allen Fieldhouse last week versus Missouri?

Jesse Newell

bruce — Help me out with Marion. Who are you referring to?

Jesse Newell

whitey — The Big 12 might take a bit of a hit with national media members, but a Texas loss wouldn’t change my mind much about the conference. You know I love KenPom, and KenPom loves the Big 12 teams (KU 1st, Texas 7th, Kansas State 10th). I think all three are legitimate Final Four contenders.

To be honest, there isn’t much blue here at all. Much less than I expected.

And the anger level of KSU fans is rivaled by no one. You might think KU fans hate MU, but KSU fans’ hate for KU is on a whole other level.

As I’m typing this, KU comes onto the court, and three different beach balls are fired at the players.

okjhok

Texas down 4 to Baylor with 50 seconds left in overtime

hirschtodd

ok…just admit my Dugan comment was funny…you can do so by posting the following statment:

“Who will have the best dunk tonight?”

…it will be our little secret…

stupidmichael

If Baylor holds on to beat Texas and KU can beat Kstate, doesn’t that all but lock up the Big 12 for KU? Certainly puts Kansas in the driver’s seat. Because I don’t see KU losing on its home court this season.

kuwells

Yea, UK has finally finished Vandy. We get to see the real game tonight!

Jesse Newell

hirsch — Best dunk goes to Marcus Morris.

Jesse Newell

stupidmichael — Good point. A UT loss and a KU win would give KU a two-game lead. The Jayhawks would have some margin for error when traveling to Austin to play the ‘Horns.

Jesse Newell

I almost feel bad for these officials. They know this game is going to be one of the most physical games of the NCAA season. Scott Thornley is one of the refs, but I don’t recognize the other two.

whitey45

No Eddie Hightower? He would thrive in an environment like Bramlage…

Jesse Newell

Eddie sure would love having the attention. Another guy who was super-nice in person, I must add.

nocaljayhawk

Finish sentence: the team that wins today will be the first team to___________________ ?

Jesse Newell

“F- KU” chant starts up. Another sign: “Who needs a Baby Jay when you have a Big Willie?”

hollywoodjayhawk

Best pep band.

I don’t know if they still do this at my high school but for as long as I can remember the pep band always played the theme from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, when the varsity boys would run out and begin warm ups. Always pretty cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfqNVYFWsnw

Jesse Newell

nocal — the team that wins today will be the first team to 50-50 balls and will be the team that is the toughness.

Jesse Newell

I have never seen so many signs at any sporting event in my life. Seriously, there has to be at least 100 signs in the student section alone.

Jesse Newell

ESPN’s Erin Andrews is shown on the video board, and the KSU fans appreciate that.

kuwells

Jesse: They have showed some cut ins on ESPN and it looks like every one has a sign. You know, it is game day. Bring your sign! I’m just wondering whoo the aggies go them to spell the big words for them.

kuwells

I appreciate that myself – hey, what hotel is she staying in…

Jesse Newell

Sign: “My GPA is higher that the Morris’s IQ”.

19thcentury

What’s the meaning of the el-e-va-tor chant?

kuwells

Digger just had a ball clank off his head. That was kind of interesting.

Jesse Newell

19th — http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/nov/13/civil_lawsuit_against_ku_basketballs_sherron_colli/?sports

kuwells

I gotta quit drinking and posting “whoo” – “go them” – damn.

Jesse Newell

I am 10 feet from Erin Andrews and the envy of every single man in America.

kuwells

Sweet, Self charming Erin. I think she should take that blouse off. Bad color for her.

Jesse Newell

These fans are going crazy. It’s easy to expect a win while sitting in your living room, but let me just say it will be extremely impressive if KU can pull off a win in an atmosphere like this.

Jesse Newell

KSU players shown dancing in the hallway before coming to the court. Actually, the dance moves aren’t too bad. The fans go nuts. KSU players look to be relaxed from that shot of them.

Jesse Newell

Thanks everyone for the chat. I’m going to close it up. Check out the game blog for analysis and also your own comments on the game.

kuwells

Thank you, Jesse…