AMES, Iowa -- Quick thoughts on No. 6 Kansas’ 108-96 overtime win over Iowa State on Monday night.Overview: This was a game that was dictated by what happened beyond the arc.
www.espn.com
February 25th, 2013. This was probably the biggest rollercoaster of a regular season hoops game I've ever been apart of. My little brother was still a student so was able to get a 6th row view right next to where the KU team came out from the tunnel. This blurb from ESPN below covers how ISU somehow let a 5 point lead with 30+ seconds to go slip to overtime.
"Turning point: There were several in the final minutes of regulation. Iowa State’s 3-point shooting was nothing short of ridiculous. Korie Lucious' 3-pointer near the five-minute mark gave Iowa State a seven-point lead. The crowd went nuts. Kansas' Elijah Johnson and Jeff Withey scored on back-to-back transition layups and cut Iowa State’s lead to three points. Tyrus McGee hit another big 3-pointer in the final minutes to extend Iowa State’s lead to six. Wow. What a game. Elijah Johnson’s 3-point play cut Iowa State’s late lead to two points again. Lucious converted a turnover into a pair of free throws on the other end. Travis Releford was fouled by Chris Babb with 78 seconds to play during a scramble for a loose ball, then hit both free throws, making it 84-82 Iowa State. Freshman Georges Niang hit a huge 3-pointer in the final minute to give Iowa State a five-point edge with 35.7 seconds to play. Then, Johnson hit another 3-pointer. Iowa State led by two points with 23.1 seconds to go when Lucious knocked down a pair of free throws to seal the game. Except he didn’t. Johnson hit another ridiculous 3-pointer to cut Iowa State’s lead to one. And Lucious made just one free throw on the other end. Johnson drove to the basket and drew a foul. With 4.9 seconds to go, Johnson hit both free throws, forcing the game into overtime."
What the blurb above did NOT mention was the foul with 4.9 seconds was the most mind boggling foul I'd ever seen. Elijah Johnson goes coast to coast, slams into Georges Niang who was already in place, feet set. No charge called....Johnson then falls on Niang, jumps on him lunging for a loose ball and while Niang is laying there gets called for the foul. If anything you just let that go but to call that on Niang who was on his back...10 years later still raises my blood pressure.
It wouldn't let me post the youtube link here but you can just search in youtube "KU @ ISU February 25th, 2013" It's got the full game.
1:33:30: This was the loudest I've ever heard Hilton after a made shot (likely due to sitting so low).
1:39:00: This was Johnson's drive and foul on Niang.
-Final play of OT, Elijah Johnson goes for the ever busch league windmill dunk. Final score 108-96.
-After the game, I'll never forget KU just **** talking Cyclone Alley and thumping their chests.
-Yes this was the infamous Weatherwax game. I was maybe 15-20 feet from him coming at Bill Self. I don't think he planned to do anything other than just didn't know how to vent his anger. For Self's sake, good that he had security around him to de-escalate the situation.
-Doc Sadler was the assistant coach for KU that year and seemed to keep an even keel as he exited.
-It was getting heated in Cyclone Alley. Fans were throwing stuff at KU players and I remember thinking I better not join in because it was in the early stages of social media where everything was basically recorded. It never got too bad as Self made the players get to the locker room.
Not a fun outcome but a memorable night.
The next day, the Big 12 sheepishly acknowledges mistakes were made by officials late in the game.
On Tuesday afternoon the Big 12 issued a formal acknowledgement of the mistakes made by the officiating crew during Monday night's incredible Kansas-Iowa State game, which was marred by inept officiating.
www.cbssports.com