Throughout the game I'll be throwing updates onto this post as the game requires. All you need to do to keep up with the latest goings-on is simply hit refresh.
Here's yesterday's version for reference.
Click below for today's live-blog
(End of Game, CU 87-75) For the first time ever CU makes it into the Big XII semi-finals. For the first time in 8 years CU will make the Tournament. Cory and Al combined for 52 points. I have to get some work done, but I'll wrap all of this awesome up later this evening.
FUCK EM UP, FUCK EM UP GO CU!
(0:25, 2nd Half, CU 84-75) Pullen isn't done yet, hits a 3. He's got 18, and the 'Cats are down 5. KSU decides not to foul, and 'Dre gets an easy lay-up. KSU misses a 3, and Burks will go to the line. Makes both. GET READY FOR THE DANCE BUFF FANS!
(0:44, 2nd Half, CU 80-72) Cory at the line. CU in the double-bonus. You better believe Cory hit both.
(0:46, 2nd Half, CU 78-72) Relphorde hits both freebies, KSU misses the 3, and 'Dre grabs a huge board. the freshman is fouled and goes to the line. 'Dre hits one, but will get the ball as Samuels kicks it out.
(1:00 2nd Half, CU 75-72) Big block by 'Dre keeps CU in the lead. Buffs will go to the line up 3.
(1:23 2nd Half, CU 75-72) Burks gets fouled, and calmly hits 2 free throws while starring straight into a KSU partisan crowd. Now has 22 points with 5 boards and 4 assists.
(1:26 2nd Half, CU 73-72) KSU now in the double-bonus, but one of their best free throw shooters, Spradling misses the first. Pullen gets a big steal for an easy 2 for the 'Cats. Boyle is incensed that there was no foul called.
(1:45 2nd Half, CU 73-69) Marcus says fuck that, hits a 3 to redeem himself! The band has sung the fight song like a billion times today.
(2:15 2ND Half, CU 70-69) Marcus continues to have a rough tournament. He gives the ball up, and KSU will get a cheap possession. Spradling comes back for KSU and nails a 3. This isn't going to be easy.
(3:19 2nd Half, CU 70-64) CORY HIGGINS IS HUGE! A sweet jumper, and KSU just cannot guard him. Buffs up by 6. Not as good as his game against CSU a few years back when he couldn't miss all game long, but his performance today has been massive for the Buffs.
(4:00 2nd Half, CU 68-64) Burks and Higgins both over 20 points. Have combined for 44 points. Refs looking at an elbow thrown by Jamar Samuels; might call a flagrant, but don't. CU finally gets into the bonus.
(4:37 2nd Half, CU 66-64) There is a lid on the basket for KSU. Jumpshots just aren't falling for them. An offensive board gets them a 2nd chance put-back, however. CU still leads the 'Cats by 3 on the boards. Unfortunately, KSU has 12 big offensive boards.
(5:17 2nd Half, CU 66-62) Cory fucking Higgins is on fire. Has 24 now. KSU may want to put Pullen back on him.
(6:00 2nd Half, CU 64-62) KSU commits their 9th TO, by Pullen no less. Coach Boyle sees a no-call go against CU and puts a wry smile on his face. 27 boards in 2 games for 'Dre now.
(7:00 2nd Half, 62-62) Cory now has 20 points, Al 18, and 'Dre has 8/11. Another huge game from the freshman. He's become a man in KC. Pullen hits a 3 to tie.
(7:28 2nd Half, CU 61-59) Pullen has switched defensive assignments to Alec Burks, which is why Cory has been heating up this half. KSU is shooting under 30% for the half
(7:40 2nd Half, CU 61-59) It took him a little bit, but Levi is starting to heat up. He hits a 3 and the Buffs go up by 4. Kelly answers with his 16th point.
(9:00 2nd Half, CU 58-57) Good aggression by Levi to draw the foul. He hadn't scored yet, but the senior is still fighting hard. He needs to get going down the stretch. Hits both his free throws to give CU the lead.
(9:37 2nd Half, KSU 57-56) Yet another long officials delay in a CU/KSU game. They just can never get this shit right with us. This one is a clock issue
(10:00 2nd Half, KSU 57-56) Buffs had a few good looks at the basket and couldn't get a clean lay-up off. CU actually has a rebounding edge, and lead KSU 22-21 in the category. Cory has scored last 10 points for CU. He's having a 2nd half like Al did yesterday.
(12:00 2nd Half, KSU 55-54) Curtis Kelly limps off. CU has been playing with a small lineup, and Javon Coney is guarding Kelly's replacement who, at 7-0, has like 8 inches on him. It's funny.
Cory has 17 with 8 coming in the second half. CU just got lucky on a blocking call on KSU under the basket.
(13:18 2nd Half, KSU 55-50) How does Curtis Kelly not have a foul called on him yet? He's lived inside, on both ends, just by association he should have one or two.
Pullen nails a 3 for his 12th points; crowd comes alive.
(14:10 2nd Half, KSU 52-48) Starting to slip a bit for CU. Burks gets his 3rd foul on an offensive rebound attempt. CU has already put KSU in the bonus.
(14:30 2nd Half, KSU 51-48) KSU's shooting percentage in falling, but Kelly gets another big offensive rebound. He completes the 3-point play. 13-2 KSU leads in second chance points.
KSU finally gets a foul called on them. Pullen gets the whistle.
(15:25 2nd Half, CU 46-45) Nevermind, that foul was called on Javon Coney of all people. C'mon zebras blow a whistle on KSU!
(15:38 2nd Half, CU 46-45) Great job by Burks to draw attention, then dish it off to 'Dre to regain the lead. It's Al's 3rd assist. KSU finally gets a foul called on them. Samuels grabs his 2nd foul battling for an offensive rebound.
I'm preparing myself for another cardiac-testing finish.
(16:40 2nd Half, KSU 45-44) CU's been called for 4 quick fouls this half. KSU regains the lead from the line.
(18:37 2nd Half, KSU 43-42) Right out of half, Dufault grabs his 3rd foul. Because of his troubles, he's been an absolute non-factor. Nate drains a 3 for a quick 3, but the 'Cats grab it right back.
(Halftime, KSU 39-37) CU has stayed close, and the win is within reach, they just have to stay hot, ride Alec's performance, and keep pushing.
(Halftime, KSU 39-37) Around the nation in bubble action: BC leads Wake Forest big, USC up by 8 at half, and Georgia won big over Auburn. Lot's of bad news for the Buffs. Looks like that Georgia/Alabama game tomorrow will be a "play-in," and the Buffs could use a loss by USC.
(Halftime, KSU 39-37) Turnovers have been an issue for both sides, 16 combined, with CU adding 9 of them.
(Halftime, KSU 39-37) Alec has lead the way, again, for CU. He's got 16 points, 2 boards, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Not as all encompassing as his performance against ISU, where he was able to grab copious rebounds against the smaller Cyclones, but he's still been fantastic.
The KSU post combination of Samuels and Kelly have combined for 16/11, but CU began to quiet them down the stretch of the half. 'Cats superstar Pullen has 9 points and 4 assists. Overall, KSU has 8 assists, which is 5 more than CU.
I'm really surprised that both teams are shooting over 52%. These teams are physical, man-on-man defending teams, yet players are finding space seemingly at will. Look for this to change in the 2nd half.
(End of Half, KSU 39-37) Poor charge called on Cory, and CU heads into half only down 2.
(1:12 1st Half, KSU 39-37) Sorry about that, work called me away. Buffs pulled ahead for a 4 point lead, but KSU has swung the momentum back. Burks has gone off again, and has 16 points. To match, Jacob Pullen has dropped a quick 6 for 10 total. CU has also closed the rebounding gap, and KSU is only +1 in the category.
(6:00 1st Half, KSU 31-28) Marcus Relphorde has been shaky in possession these last two games. 5 to's yesterday, and he almost gave another one away. 'Dre hits 1 of 2 free throws to get his 6th point, finally got a foul on Samuels.
(6:57 1st Half, KSU 29-27) Both teams are currently well over 55% shooting. For two teams who barely combined to shoot 30% last month, this is impressive.
(7:10 1st Half, KSU 29-25) Kelly and Samuels are providing 14/8 right now with no fouls. CU might want to attack them to draw contact.
(8:00 1st Half, KSU 27-25) OH MY. 'Dre goes over two 'Cats to slam it down. He has had some great driving dunks this season. He got fouled on the play, and completes the old fashioned 3-pointer.
(9:00 1st Half, KSU 23-20) Good move from Cory to blow by 2 'Cats to get a lay-up. 'Dre gets a follow for another 2 points for CU; he then follows with a block. He's had a great tournament so far.
CU has a little bit going, so Pullen goes straight to the rack to draw contact. He knows how to kill runs.
(11:09 1st Half, KSU 23-16) 14 of 23 KSU points in the paint. It's not the penetration, like in the ISU game, that's killing them. They just have no one to battle Kelly and Samuels inside right now.
(11:20 1st Half, KSU 23-16) Burks doing his thing. 9 points early. Pullen is able to answer, however. Currently KSU has a +6 shot attempt advantage over CU. This is allowing the 'Cats to get some separation early.
(12:00 1st Half, KSU 21-14) More turnovers, 4 for the game. Yesterday we learned from the Post that CU doesn't focus on offense in practice, and that offensive TO's are, if not acceptable, at least understood. It's hurt them a lot in KC so far.
(13:001st Half, KSU 19-14) A Ben Mills sighting! It worked last month against KSU, why not this time? He's been brought in to counter KSU's interior size.
(13:30 1st Half, KSU 16-14) Now its starting to become an issue in the paint. Kelly and Samuels have combined for 10 points and 5 boards. KSU is +4 on the boards early.
(15:57 First Half, KSU 12-10) Good stuff from the Buffs. Kelly and Samuels are powerful in the paint, but I wouldn't say it's out of hand. Alec has a quick 5 points to lead the way for CU at the first media timeout.
(17:11 1st Half, 8-8) I like the way CU has looked so far. Possessions are measured, defense is active.
(17:30 1st Half, 8-8) As expected, it sounds like a heavily biased KSU crowd. KSU hasn't missed from the floor yet.
(19:00 1st Half, KSU 4-3) Austin gets a quick foul. CU needs him to stay out of foul trouble.
(Tipoff, 0-0) And here we go. I don't care what anyone says, I think CU needs to win this game to make the Tourney. 40 minutes of brutally tough action sits before us. I hope-to-God no one comes into the office over the next 2 hours.
(Pregame, 1:04PM) Mark Johnson and Coach Boyle are going through the thesaurus, using every word possible to describe the physical style of play that KSU prefers. We all know that this is going to be a knock-down, drag-out game. It'll be interesting to see if CU brings the same level of intensity that they did last month against KSU in Boulder.
(Pregame, 12:55PM) My streaming contact has come through again. Dude's gonna get couple rounds of beer on me next time I see him. Seriously, this blackout shit needs to stop.
(Pregame, 12:49PM) Just to underline what's at stake for the Buffs; should CU win today, they're essentially in the Tournament. It would take a long set of upsets to push the Buffs off the bubble at that point. With a loss, CU has to hold the breaths in wait for Sunday's Tournament selection.
Some have said that even with a loss today the Buffs are definitely in. I think that's nonsense. There are too many teams out there able to push their way into the Tournament for CU to be safe. The only way to assure CU of a Dance ticket would be to beat KSU for a third time. Go get it done, guys!
(Pregame, 12:42PM) CU has never been in the Big XII semi-finals, and they'll have to go through a bear of a team to get there in their final Big XII appearance. CU has two wins over the 'Cats this season, but this isn't the same team that CU swept this year. Since the start of February, KSU is 8-1, with the lone loss coming a month ago in Boulder. KSU will want revenge, and they won't be looking past CU to the semi's.
(Pregame, 12:36PM) KU survives. OSU had the ball with 20 seconds left, down 1, and couldn't get a reasonable shot off. Poor job by the Cowboys, I would've wanted something going towards the basket. Either way, it's Buffs/KSU in 30 minutes. Hopefully, it won't be as referee controlled as the game in Boulder was.
Maybe some of those KU fans want to stick around and root against the Wildcats...
(Pregame, 12:26PM) The KU game turned into a slugfest. The two teams have combined for only 40 total points in the second frame. KU holds a slim 4 point lead with 2:30 to go.
(Pregame, 11:27AM) Well, my eyebrow is officially raised. OSU leads KU, in what is essentially a KU home game in KC, by 6 at the break. OSU hasn't shied away from the powerful Jayhawks, and has been taking the game straight at the #2 team in the nation. OSU is shooting lights-out, but I don't get the feeling that the lead is a fluke.
Additionally, one of the Morris twins, I think Markieff, injured his knee and was out for a few minutes throughout the half. Definitely something to keep an eye on when filling out your brackets.
(Pregame, 10:21AM) I'm watching the Miami/Virginia game intently for no reason. Mostly because the Pitt/UCONN game has been a blow-out to this point. Speaking of UCONN, if you looked at Lunardi's latest projections, he has the Buffs in Denver playing the Huskies should they survive a first-round game in Ohio. I can't imagine the committee giving CU that level of site protection, being a 12th-seeded play-in team, but if it were to hold true, you bet your ass I'm dropping some money to attend.
For good luck today, I'm wearing my Burks replica over my C-Unit shirt. It's looking like I'll get video from the KU/OSU game, but ESPN3 still has CU's tilt with KSU listed as a blackout. Hopefully, my streaming contact comes through again today :-).
I'll check back in around halftime of the KU game.
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