I don’t think we could make it through a summer of Jayhawk Flashbacks without showing one of the most memorable games I saw in person: Kansas vs. Texas on Jan. 27, 2003.

The significance? KU had lost two straight coming into the game, including a rare loss in Boulder, Colo., to Colorado and a home loss to No. 1 Arizona*.

* — The infamous Thundersticks game. I’ve never seen a 20-point lead evaporate so quickly. The Jayhawks ended up losing by 17 in front of a stunned crowd at Allen Fieldhouse. Kirk Hinrich might still be having nightmares about UA’s Salim Stoudamire’s shoot-from-his-hip three-pointers.

As you remember, the Jayhawks recovered and made a run all the way to the NCAA championship game where they lost to the Syracuse Orangemen.

I’m convinced it never would have happened if KU hadn’t gotten some confidence back by beating a very strong Texas team (which also made the Final Four that year).

The highlights of the 2003 KU-UT game are below.

Some thoughts:

• I want KU fans to come clean today. How many you really wanted to clap for Norm Stewart when he was honored before the game?

I know it was the polite thing to do, but I think deep down, some of the diehards had to have a hard time applauding a man that was a perceived villain for so long.

• I still have to give credit to ol’ Norm. He played to the crowd pretty well and seemed to enjoy himself on a night that could have been more awkward had he looked unhappy to be there.

• Am I the only one who, whenever hearing the name Jason Klotz, immediately thought of Roger Klotz?

• With respect to Greg Gurley and Roy Williams, it doesn’t look to me like UT’s Brad Buckman went over anyone’s back on that dunk at the end of the half.

It looks, instead, like no Jayhawk boxed him out.

• Nice halftime ceremony for Jo Jo White, who many of you consider the best guard in KU history, regardless of what Sherron Collins accomplishes this season.

• Remember me talking about scholarship plays a couple weeks ago?

Bryant Nash has one at the 4:15 mark. I love the spin he does on the floor, too.

And does Nick Collison look exhausted or what?

• Yes, this was the game that ESPN’s Dick Vitale gave Nick Collison a standing ovation on press row after the forward’s 24-point, 23-rebound performance. Vitale had only given a standing ovation one other time: after Navy’s David Robinson scored 45 points in a college game against Kentucky.

In his book, Vitale said if he had to do it all over again, he’d stand again (ba-by!).

• Somewhat lost in Collison’s performance was the fact that Texas’ T.J. Ford nearly had a triple-double himself. The guard finished with 25 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

• No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. This was the first* time that I saw fans rush the court at Allen Fieldhouse.

http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/blogs/entry_img/2009/Jul/17/16_.jpg

* — And, I’m guessing, the last time, too.

Kirk Hinrich wasn’t too happy about it afterwards, and neither were most of the other KU fans, who chanted, “Off the court. Off the court.”

“I love they are excited about the way we played and excited about basketball here,” Hinrich said, “but we expected this. We expect to win.”

Hinrich took the words out of our own Kevin Romary’s mouth.

• Though it isn’t shown in the video we have, Keith Langford missed a pair of free throws with 10.8 seconds left to give Texas one last chance.

Makes you wonder: If Keith hits both free throws and KU wins by five with a less dramatic ending, would the fans still have rushed the court?