[needle]

I was at the game. I haven't been to any Pac arena besides Maples, but I've been a to a few other college games, and I have to say that a packed Allen Fieldhouse is a fun place to see a game (so get your tickets, Stanford returns in 2018). I arrived about an hour before tip off, and there's plenty going on if you want to learn via display cases about the history of Kansas basketball/athletics through the decades, plus a kids area with interactive exhibits.

There was supposed to have been a large Christian Sanders block of fans that I didn't see; here's the story on that in you missed it: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college...37383.html

I ended up in one of the general admission areas, with bleacher seating in a top corner of the arena. Saw a woman holding an infant; needless to say, the reputation of Kansas fans for coming out and supporting their team is well deserved. The section was packed, and I ended up standing next to the corner rafters. But the entire section stood pretty much for the entire game.

The crowd loved Haase, with everyone standing and clapping for his introduction. I heard a pre-game radio interview (radio coverage started more than two-hours before tip off), and Haase sounded choked up when he said he couldn't even put into words what his Kansas experience means to him. So the feeling is mutual.

I'd say the Kansas perspective going into the game was one of apprehension regarding the play of their bigs, and the fans I spoke with/overheard during and after the contest seemed to see things mostly through that lens.

I, of course, was greatly impressed by the play of Reid Travis. He got his second foul early in the second half and stayed in the game. For any naysayers, he showed he can hit some free throws. He's a rock.

For the team, it's sort of a mixed bag. Hard to call it a breakthrough offensive performance, and, while the defense seemed pretty good to my eyes, the scoreboard shows that Kansas shredded it.

[needle]

I was at the game. I haven't been to any Pac arena besides Maples, but I've been a to a few other college games, and I have to say that a packed Allen Fieldhouse is a fun place to see a game (so get your tickets, Stanford returns in 2018). I arrived about an hour before tip off, and there's plenty going on if you want to learn via display cases about the history of Kansas basketball/athletics through the decades, plus a kids area with interactive exhibits.

There was supposed to have been a large Christian Sanders block of fans that I didn't see; here's the story on that in you missed it: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college...37383.html

I ended up in one of the general admission areas, with bleacher seating in a top corner of the arena. Saw a woman holding an infant; needless to say, the reputation of Kansas fans for coming out and supporting their team is well deserved. The section was packed, and I ended up standing next to the corner rafters. But the entire section stood pretty much for the entire game.

The crowd loved Haase, with everyone standing and clapping for his introduction. I heard a pre-game radio interview (radio coverage started more than two-hours before tip off), and Haase sounded choked up when he said he couldn't even put into words what his Kansas experience means to him. So the feeling is mutual.

I'd say the Kansas perspective going into the game was one of apprehension regarding the play of their bigs, and the fans I spoke with/overheard during and after the contest seemed to see things mostly through that lens.

I, of course, was greatly impressed by the play of Reid Travis. He got his second foul early in the second half and stayed in the game. For any naysayers, he showed he can hit some free throws. He's a rock.

For the team, it's sort of a mixed bag. Hard to call it a breakthrough offensive performance, and, while the defense seemed pretty good to my eyes, the scoreboard shows that Kansas shredded it.