Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

Ok, so I've been pretty mad for the past day and a half now... and it's probably time that I "get over it".  On Monday I took my friend Tim Nevins with me to watch the "Big Monday" basketball game between Iowa State and Kansas that was aired on ESPN.  It was an epic game.  Really the atmosphere inside Hilton was hard to describe.  Everyone was decked out in gold apparel as it was "Gold Rules" day.  Of course it was a sell-out crowd.  But the deafening noise that persisted throughout the course of the game is what was amazing.  This was the loudest and best crowd that I've seen at a sporting event.  It helped that ISU made a school-record 17 three point baskets because every time one would go down the place would erupt.  The game itself was back-and-forth the whole time... until overtime. 

What has me upset is just how close ISU came to pulling off the upset.  Kasas came into the game ranked #6 by the AP and #5 in the USA Today coaches poll.  If only one of what I thought were many bad calls had gone the other way, or if Kansas would have just missed one of their two desperation three-pointers in the last minute, ISU would have had a great win.  Two specific calls come to mind.  The first was towards the end of regularion when Jeff Withey clearly (because he was the only person close enough to make contact) fouled ISU's Korie Lucious, but the officials charged the foul to another Jayhawk that raised his hand.  This would have fouled-out Withey, who ended up having a big impact in the rest of the game. 

The second was at the end of regulation when there was a curious no-call as Elijah Johnson appeared to charge into Georges Niang.  It appeared like Niang had position to draw the charge when ISU was leading 90-88 with under 10 seconds to play.  Ballgame.  Except after the no-call, as the players were both laying on the ground, the refs decide to call a reach-in foul on Niang.  This allowed Kansas to make two free-throws and tie the game which they would end up winning in OT.  Check out the video yourself.  Would you call the block/charge, or let that slide and call a foul as the palyers are both rolling around on the floor afterwards?

I just hope that ISU can use this as motivation to play well for the rest of the season.  They still have a chance to make the NCAA tournament if they play well.  Go State!!