Day one from Detroit...
The Kansan's live courtside at Ford Field in Detroit...
March 28, 2008
By Rustin Dodd
Friday, 10:08 p.m. (EST)
DETROIT -
Kansas leads Villanova, 24-10 with 11:42 left, 1st half.
How 'bout Russell Robinson? It's a different kind of urgency for seniors. Guys like Rush, Arthur, Chalmers -- they might not be back next year. But there's always that chance. If KU loses, Robinson is done.
You can tell he knows that tonight. He's got 13 of Kansas' first 24 points.
-Rustin Dodd
Friday, 9:59 p.m. (EST)
DETROIT -
Kansas leads 11-6, with 15:51 to play first half.
Initial thoughts:
-Darrell Arthur picks up the early foul... and he could have two.
-Scottie Reynolds -- cold so far. If he keeps this up, Villanova will be hurting.
-I don't know if you can see on T.V., but Antonio is a real specimen. Let's see if he has skills
-Rustin Dodd
Friday, 9:30 p.m. (EST)
Does it feel real late to anyone else?
The Hawks have taken the floor. We're right behind the Kansas bench... so we'll try to keep you updated on how the Jays look.
First off, Mark Dent likes Villanova's classy and sophisticated warm-ups. Thanks, for the insight, Mark. That's why you're the best college beat writer in the business.
Let's go back to the Davidson - Wisconsin game real quick...
It was probably a legend-making performance by Stephen Curry, (in that you're going to be seeing those highlights for years) but you have to feel for a guy like Wisconsin's Brian Butch. As he walked over toward the Wisconsin bench, Butch tried to fight back tears. Here's a guy that was McDonald's All-American, realized he needed to work, chose to redshirt, and developed in one heck of a college player. You could see the realization in his eyes. The abruptness of it can't overstated. The look of "I'm never going to step on a college basketball floor again." It also might have been the "How in the hell did Stephen Curry end my career" look, though.
The same goes for the rest of the Badgers. They didn't seem upset, (save for Michael Flowers, he looked pissed) or distraught, or anything like that. They just seemed shocked.
Cinderella moves on...
Let's see if Kansas gets a shot a Cinderella tomorrow night.
Kansas vs. Villanova next...
-Rustin Dodd
Friday, 9:07 p.m. (EST)
Detroit-
It look like this one's Davidson's.
Let's keep this thing rolling and welcome in friend of the blog, Kansan KU beat writer Mark Dent.
Rustin: Mark, take it away...
Mark: Glad to be here.
Thank God for Skittles.
Our day had been full of flight delays and missed flights, long walks in the wrong direction and well, Detroit.
By the time we made it to the vast wasteland of emptiness and angry people who can’t see that comprises Ford Field, I was ready to go to sleep. Davidson and Wisconsin were just past halftime. The night was far from over.
Then, a woman working for the NCAA walked by press row, holding a basket of goodies: peanut and regular M&M’s, Snickers and yes, Skittles.
I couldn’t believe it. Free candy. The second weekend of the NCAA Tournament is the life. I grabbed a pack of Skittles and now I’m invigorated, just in time, too.
The Jayhawks are about an hour or so away from tip-off in their biggest game of the year thus far. They play Villanova, the 12 seed.
Kansas really shouldn’t have any trouble against the Wildcats. The Jayhawks are the superior team. However, they have to do two things right to ensure an easy victory.
The first one is guard Scottie Reynolds. All of you have probably read about Reynolds all week. He’s Villanova’s point guard and can score better than almost anyone in the country when he is on. The ball goes through him on every possession.
Kansas has to stop him or at least slow him down. To do that, the Jayhawks will need to switch defenders and give Reynolds different looks throughout the game. Mario Chalmers, Russell Robinson and Brandon Rush should all get an opportunity to defend him.
Shooting will be Kansas’ next biggest concern. None of these players have shot in a dome like Ford Field before. The sight lines are like nothing they’ve ever seen. It really looks like the players are shooting into outer space because of the emptiness behind each basket.
That could be a problem. The Jayhawks have relied heavily on the outside shot of Rush and Chalmers during the past five games. If they start out cold, this game will be tight until the end. If they don’t have any problems with their shots, Kansas should roll.
-Mark Dent
Friday, 8:56 p.m. (EST)
Detroit-
Davidson's band is playing Sweet Caroline and this place is going Davidson-crazy (well, at least by Ford Field standards). I swear this place is immune to to noise.
Say what you want about Stephen Curry, (and I could write a term paper on this kid) but give some credit to Davidson's defense. They're doing a job on Wisconsin's big guys...although that might be because Wisconsin refuses to go inside.
6:40 left to an upset...
-Rustin Dodd
Friday, 8:45 p.m. (EST)
Detroit-
Welcome to Ford Field...
The first thing you need to know is Lebron James is in the house. Dude's sitting courtside. Alright we got that out of the way.
So what else do you need to know as Kansas gets ready to tip-off against Villanova in 45 minutes?
Well, it's beginning to look like the best player in the country isn't Tyler Hansbrough or Michael Beasley...It's Davidson's Stephen Curry. Curry has 23 points with 11:16 left, and what else can you say about this guy. He's just an ice-cold gunner.
Before we get ahead ourselves...
Here's the first impression of Ford Field.
1. This place is just absolutely massive, and just as expected the sightlines are not conducive to watching a basketball game. You have to feel for the fans in the upper deck - especially in the endzone.
(Timeout) - Curry just hit a stepback three to put Davidson up 15, and people are actually bowing to this kid.
Lebron's loving it.
Be back with more real soon...
-Rustin Dodd
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