The No. 1 team in the nation lost. Only an hour down the road, No. 2 in the nation won. Larry Bird’s old school, yearning for national attention, also made noise across the same landscape, led partly by a kid in goggles.
Come along for a uniquely busy Saturday in Indiana, with ramifications for the very top of college basketball.
12:30 p.m. No. 2 Kansas 75, Indiana 71.
The afternoon begins with seating choreography in Bloomington. The Indiana fans are encouraged to either wear red or white, depending upon their section, to simulate the image of the candy cane warmup bottoms the Hoosiers have worn for ages. All this to host the Kansas Jayhawks, who have not played in Bloomington since 1994 and only once in the past half-century. These two met twice for the national championship, but we’re talking 70 and 83 years ago. Indiana won both those times, by the way.
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall is a treacherous place for visitors, and this is Kansas’ first true road game of the season. Maybe that explains why the best-shooting college team in America clanks away at a 31.7 field goal percentage through the first 25 minutes and trails Indiana by 13 points.
But then the Jayhawks turn into Kansas. “Championship DNA,” Indiana guard Trey Galloway later calls it.
The Jayhawks hit 13 of their last 20 shots and all four free throws in the final 16 seconds to finally put away the Hoosiers. It has taken a full effort against an Indiana team that refuses to blink. Neither team makes a turnover in the final seven minutes. Both benches contribute only nine of the 146 points. This is the starting lineup against the starting lineup.
About Kansas. These veteran Jayhawks once again showed they understand how to win. Indiana goes on their victims’ wall for the season along with Kentucky, Tennessee and Connecticut. They have now come from 14 back to beat Kentucky and 13 down to defeat Indiana, their ninth victory in a row over a Big Ten opponent. The day hardens Kansas for the conference fight ahead. “Knowing what’s coming in the Big 12,” Kevin McCullar Jr. says after 21 points, “games like this, you’re going to need them.”
The moment feels good enough for coach Bill Self to inspire a full fist pump before he leaves the floor. “It was a hell of win,” he says later. “This place reminds me of KU, history tradition, people expect it. That’s two true bluebloods out there playing. I think you can kind of sense it’s different here than most…
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