This is now and that was then, but I hate to let the year slip away without one more retrospective on Kansas University’s memorable 2002-2003 men’s basketball season.

Just for the heck of it, here are the games from the ’03 portion of that NCAA Final Four season that stuck in my mind.

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Jan. 22 in Boulder, Colo. — Colorado 60, Kansas 59. A hot January had boosted the Jayhawks to No. 6 in the national polls, but they fell off the mountain in the Coors Events Center as Keith Langford (6-for-19), Kirk Hinrich (3-13) and Aaron Miles (0-7) were a combined 9-for-39 from the field. Defining moment: CU’s Stephane Pelle, known mostly as a rebounder, scoring the winning basket and finishing with 27 points.

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Jan. 25 in Allen Fieldhouse — Arizona 91, Kansas 74. Jayhawks had top-ranked Wildcats down 52-39 at halftime, but crumbled in the second half and were outscored 52-22 to snap a 23-game nonconference home-court win streak. Defining moment: AU’s Salim Stoudamire hitting second-half shots like he was feeding quarters into a candy machine.

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Jan. 27 in Allen Fieldhouse — Kansas 90, Texas 87. Nick Collison scored 24 points and grabbed 23 rebounds in a tour-de-force performance that overshadowed teammate Kirk Hinrich’s 25 points against a team that also would reach the Final Four. Defining moment: TV blabbermouth Dick Vitale standing and bowing to Collison in the late going.

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Feb. 8 in Manhattan — Kansas 82, Kansas State 64. Jayhawks won for the 20th consecutive time in Wildcats’ lair, but it wasn’t easy. K-State led 36-35 at half and KU needed a 17-4 run in last seven minutes to clinch it. Defining moment: Kirk Hinrich playing 39 minutes and making 4 of 7 three-point attempts on the way to a 28-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance.

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Feb. 23 in Norman, Okla. — Oklahoma 77, Kansas 70. Lagging by as many as 32 points at one point, Jayhawks rallied to close within five in battle of nation’s No. 5- and No. 6-ranked teams at the throbbing Noble Center. Defining moment: OU guard Quannas White (4-for-4) and Hollis Price (3-for-5) going a combined 7-of-9 from three-point range, but only a combined 1-of-7 from the free-throw line (White 1-5, Price 0-2).

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March 9 in Columbia, Mo. — Kansas 79, Missouri 74. Jayhawks clinched second straight outright league regular-season championship as Kirk Hinrich hit a three-pointer to break a 74-74 deadlock with :25 remaining in the raucous Hearnes Center. Defining moment: With the shot clock about to expire, KU’s Aaron Miles fired a desperation line drive at the basket. The ball crashed through the net for a three-pointer that forged the 74-all deadlock.

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March 27 in Anaheim, Calif. — Kansas 69, Duke 65. Nick Collison scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to help the Jayhawks stun the Blue Devils in the NCAA Sweet 16. Defining moment: Hot-shot Duke freshman J.J. Redick missing 14 of 16 shots, including 10 of 11 from three-point range.

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March 29 in Anaheim, Calif. — Kansas 78, Arizona 75. Jayhawks avenged earlier loss to Wildcats in Allen Fieldhouse that sent them to the Final Four. Defining moment: Kirk Hinrich, held to just two points two days earlier against Duke, erupting for 28 points.

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April 5 in New Orleans — Kansas 94, Marquette 61. Jayhawks recorded fourth most lopsided victory in NCAA Final Four history. Keith Langford hit 11 of 14 shots and scored 23 points. Defining moment: Marquette point guard Travis Diener missing 10 of 11 shots and being charged with nine turnovers.

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April 7 in New Orleans — Syracuse 81, Kansas 78. Syracuse freshmen Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara had 20 and 18 points, but Jayhawks were own worst enemies by clanking 18 of 30 free-throw attempts. Defining moment: Nick Collison grabbing 21 rebounds — the most in an NCAA championship game in 47 years — but struggling at the foul line (3-for-10).