Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Elizabeth and I finally got back from Hilton Coliseum where we just watched Iowa State come from behind to defeat the Kansas State Wildcats 72-70!  This one was a little too stressfull for me to handle, but at least I can be proud to have been there by the end of the day.  Kansas State has been a top-25 ranked team for most of the season so far, but they just dropped out of the polls after a loss to Oklahoma last week.  Also, I was afraid coming into today's game that Iowa State would be flat since they were fresh off of their upset of then #5 Kansas on Saturday.  The Cyclones showed a lot of resolve finding a way to come back from a 14-point second half deficit to win. 

Royce White was the hero for the Cyclones.  He hit the go-ahead basket along the right baseline with 1.8 seconds left which proved to be the game winner.  That wasn't his only basket which got the crowd energized though.  He had 3 other HUGE dunks which each sent Hilton into a frenzy. 

I will also remember this annoying little kid (he must have been like 9 or 10), and his dad who were sitting in our same section.  They were all decked out in Kansas State gear and were yelling and whistling loudly any time ISU was shooting free throws.  I'm glad that they had to go home disappointed today :)

The view from our seats before the game.  Section 233, Row 12, Seats 9 &10.

Final score ISU 72, KSU 70!

Cyclones win!

There's a good chance this year will be the first time that Iowa State will qualify for the NCAA tournament since 2005.  It's been a long time! 

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

This weekend has been an especially lazy one, and a nice change of pace from recent weekends.  No big plans before hand or places to drive.  Just watching WAY TO MUCH "Big Bang Theory".  

I also made an amazing pot of chili yesterday.  Here is how it's done:

• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1 pound hot italian sausage
• 1 jar of Mad Butcher's Salsa (Medium)
• 1 29 oz can of tomato sauce
• 1 15 oz can Great Northern Beans
• 1 15 oz can Black Beans
• 2 15 oz cans of Mrs. Grimes Chili Beans
• 1 cup of Strawberry Jelly

That's right.  I added a "secret ingredient" of Strawberry jelly.  OMG it made it deliciously sweet. 

Other news to report is that Elizabeth & I have planned a trip to Seattle from March 29th to April 2nd to visit Christian.  It's going to be fun!!

January 4th, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

We had a fun weekend with Eben & Lynn coming down to spend new year's eve with us... we stayed up, drank champagne, and went to watch an ISU men's basketball victory over Mississippi Valley State.  However, that's not the game which currently has me fired up...

IOWA STATE CYCLONES 77, TEXAS LONGHORNS 71.

That's the game!!  I can say that hands down that's my favorite ISU basketball game that I've ever been too.  I did see Iowa State beat Texas way back in 2004 (78-77), but that one just wasn't as decisive as this.  Sure, it was only a 6-point win, but the Cyclones really lead for double-digits for a majority of the game.  Iowa State shot a crazy 9-12 from 3-point range in the first half... they cooled off in the second half, but hit 10 total for the game.  Chris Babb was the man, hitting 5 three-pointers. 

Another thing that I'll take away from this game was the crappy refs.  Normally I wouldn't blame them much, but all the fouls they were calling was keeping Texas in the game.  You had to be there, but there were quite a few ridiculous fouls called on ISU throughout.  I'm glad that didn't end up costing ISU because it would have at away at me. 

I'm not sure what the stats were, but ISU was pretty bad from the foul line as well.  That was definately keeping the little-horns in the game.  Ok, I looked it up, and ISU shot 21-37 from the stripe (56.8%).

Nevermind the bad spots... ISU just rocked Texas!!  Sooo sweet, especially since I can't stand Texas.