Jayhawks take the 208th Sunflower Showdown 68-57

12-10 5-4

#9 18-3 7-1

Over the last few days a lot of hype has gone in to this match up. The Sunflower Showdown is more than just a conference game, its bragging rights and the right to trash talk the other school for a few weeks. Kansas leads the series all time 187-92. When the Wildcats win it, they make DVD's and T-shirts. When the Jayhawks win it, they move on to the next game like any other win!

Courtesy: kansas city star.com

1st half got started off with some of the hottest energy and the most aggressive defense this writer has seen all year. Kansas State won the tip, but KU got the on the board first with a seat clearing dunk by Freshman Kelly Oubre Jr. Junior Perry Ellis has been in a slump lately, but that can all be put to bed. Ellis was attacking the board on both ends and started getting hot. Starting with a quick jumper putting Kansas up by 4, Ellis followed with a layup and a monster dunk getting this crowd completely energized! Both Ellis and Oubre grabbed every rebound on both ends. The Jayhawks had this completely under control. At the first media timeout, Kansas was up 10-4 on the Wildcats.

Sophomore Wayne Selden Jr. exploded out his shell getting a steal, blocked shot and a huge 3. Sophomore's Brannen Greene added his own 3 and head coach Bruce Webber had enough and called time. Webber looked more like an angry Frank Martin in that timeout. The Wildcats could not get anything going on either end. After the timeout, KSU still could get nothing going. 3 missed shots 0 rebounds and Ellis and Oubre each getting a bucket. KU had a commanding lead 20-5 with 11:36 left.

Courtesy: kusports.com

KSU came out of the next TV timeout strong. Thomas Gipson and Nino Williams each put up buckets. Kansas had hit a wall. Going almost 2.5 minutes without a bucket, The Wildcats started chipping away at the lead. Oubre was fouled hitting both shots and Ellis would hit a bucket to end the droubt. Gibson would answer back with one more bucket and, then KSU went cold. It would be another full two minutes before KSU would score again.

Ellis was having a fantastic day. Around the 6 minute mark, Ellis would put on an amazing spin move and drive to the rim. Getting fouled, Ellis made the shot count for an old fashion 3pt play. Folks I can honestly say, Ellis had his mojo back. Seeing how hard this young man has played today, has made the entire season of ups and downs for him well worth it!

The remainder of the 1st half was all Marcus Foster for KSU. Foster would go on to make 3 more buckets, but so would Greene, Oubre and Junior Jamari Traylor. KU would go into the half up 16 points on the Wildcats 33-17.

KSU came out in the 2nd half strong, with a bucket inside by Thomas Gipson.  Selden answered with a huge 3 bringing this crowd full circle. The Wildcats kept the heat up with Gipson getting fouled with an and-one and Foster nailing a 3. Ellis and Traylor each added a bucket and from out of now where, Selden sent one hammering home. If the crowd needed some energy, Selden gave it to them with that dunk. Thankfully I still have a job as my co-workers went scattering and I got "the look" from the boss! At the 15 under TV timeout, the Jayhawks were leading the Wildcats 42-27. I'll give credit to KSU, they had turned the heat up full force, fortunately so did the Jayhawks.

The next 3 minutes was an all out battle. KSU's Gipson, Foster and Wesley Iwundu all had great buckets and pulled down 3 rebounds. The Jayhawks fought back with a huge 3 from Selden and Mason going strong to the basket for a layup. Freshman Cliff Alexander pulled down 2 rebounds as well. The energy level on both ends was full force, a true Sunflower Showdown!

Foster and Gipson were not giving an inch in this half. While Gipson couldn't get anything going in the first half, he was really making a strong presence now. Foster who had an average first half, was exploding in the 2nd chipping away at the lead. KU kept the pressure from behind the arc limiting Foster to just two 3's for the entire 2nd half.

Courtesy: kusports.com

Greene and Freshman Devote' Graham started lighting the Wildcats up. In the span of 3 minutes, both would rack up 10 points. At the 8:03 mark, Graham hit a layup and got in Fosters face bringing down the old school yard smack. Unfortunately it was obvious as a 900 pound yellow hippo in the snow and got T'd up. While I love fouls as much as getting kicked in the nuts, a little school yard trash talk on the Cats is worth every point that Gipson scored. If you were wondering, yes he hit both.

After Selden and Traylor grabbed almost every rebound, Traylor being Traylor stealing the ball and Mason lighting the Cats up, Webber had enough and called time. Hearing the roar of 16,300 fans after Traylor goes ballistic, would make any coach do what it took to kill this momentum. Foster kinda slapped them in the face with a big 3 immediately after the timeout though.

Courtesy: kusports.com

At the 1:33 mark KSU's Jevon Thomas hit a jumper and Webber called time. If this were anything close to tight game I might understand it, but KU was up by 14 points. So when Steven Hurt nailed a 3 pointer just 30 seconds later and Webber called another time, the only answer this writer was left with was Webber had contracted the Phog baby!!!!

Hurt would hit another 3 with 16 seconds left, but that would be it for the Wildcats. A solid effort by Kansas State was no match for the Jayhawks. KU would pull off round 1, with a score of 68-57 brining the all time to 188-92. Round 2 of the Sunflower Showdown will be in Manhattan on February 23rd. This writer can't wait. Unit then, bragging rights belong in Lawrence.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold" 

The Cyclones of Iowa State travel to Lawrence this Monday for a rematch the Jayhawks have been waiting for. Iowa State handed the Jayhawks their only conference loss of season 86-81 back on January 17th in Ames. No "Hilton Magic" will be present this time, as it will be checked at the door. Tip off in Allen Fieldhouse will be at 8 pm central time. This game is set to be the a huge matchup for the season and do or die for both teams.

!!!ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!