Random thoughts about the Big 12 tournament in KC

[andyokstate]

- The arena is alright. Good looking on the outside, just utilitarian on the inside. It honestly felt a bit like the Ford Center. Nothing fancy. Decent site lines. Crappy and expensive food (gasp!). Although Quicktrip has a little store inside that sells slurpies and sandwiches at their normal prices. Needless to say, it was always packed.

- Downtown area around the new arena has really shaped up. It was just a desolate, rundown mess in the past. They have made a huge effort to clean it up and get some nice places in. Every restaurant in the area was brand new. It was nice to leave the Sprint Arena and walk just a few minutes to watch the girls play. I actually like the Municipal arena. Felt like I was on the set of Hoosiers.

- Fans. It never ceases to amaze me how many KU fans are at the tournament in KC. When the tournament is in Dallas, you do have a lot of UT fans, but nowhere near the force of KU fans in KC. The final game, I would estimate 85-90% of the fans were for KU. We had a pretty good showing, considering our seed, but heck, we always have a good (usually great) showing, no matter where it is.

- KU Fans. Before the final (KU/UT), they announced the support staff/assistant coaches before announcing the players. It's pretty low when the video guy gets booed. Heh.

- CU band. At the OSU/UT women's game, the CU band was sitting next to our band. They were our loudest supporters in the gym. It was fun to watch their nonstop cheering. They also cheered pretty loudly the next morning for the men.

- Overall, I enjoyed the tournament in KC. My favorite place to attend though is still Dallas. The weather is always nicer for this time of year there and the arena is fantastic. OKC does a great job, but it doesn't feel like a roadtrip when we have it here. It's weird to get a hotel in OKC when I live in Stilly, and it sucks driving and hour plus and parking. Kind of a dead zone. I chatted with several fans from almost all of the other Big 12 schools. Every single one who went to the tournament in OKC said they loved it and would most likely go back when it returns there next year.

- TAMU dancers. Red velvet pants. For the win.

[osuno1]

I had a great time in KC as well. Here are some of my observations:

The CU band was awesome at both our first 2 women's game.

I sat by 2 older CU women at the women's final game. They were so sweet. They complimented our team, our cheerleaders, our Spurs. They were very impressed with our program. It is always nice to hear good things about your school.

The outdoor area around the Sprint Center is awesome. I loved the atmosphere with all the mixed fans watching the games on the big screen. This area will be really cool when the tourney comes back to KC in 2010 and 2011.

All of the MU fans that we talked to were very quick to point out that the Kansas folks did not pay for the Sprint Center or any of the downtown restorations. Apparantly, they tried to do a multi-state tax, but Kansas wouldn't agree to it, so Missouri voters approved the tax.

Overall, we had a great experience.

[OSUEE]

- TAMU dancers. Red velvet pants. For the win.

Did you watch any basketball or just the dancers and poms? I suspect the later as would I :). I also saw those red velvet pants on TV as well. Very nice.

[BigBadBen]

red velvet dancers for A&M......
Arent all their cheerleaders male???

no thanks.


I will say, I really enjoyed the look of the UT cheergirls.

[snuffy]

-
- TAMU dancers. Red velvet pants. For the win.

Actually, I thought the uniforms that the Texas cheerleaders wore for the OSU/Texas game was really nice.

[JimBob]

red velvet dancers for A&M......
Arent all their cheerleaders male???

no thanks.


I will say, I really enjoyed the look of the UT cheergirls.



Lordy, how do they get a dead collie dressed in red velvet pants to dance?:p

[snuffy]

Lordy, how do they get a dead collie dressed in red velvet pants to dance?:p

How do you think the Collie died?

[OKState918]

I will say, I really enjoyed the look of the UT cheergirls.

I was actually extremely unimpressed with the Longhorn cheer squad and their pom girls.

If I had to rank pom squads, I'd probably put Oklahoma State's on top (and that's not being biased - people just don't really understand just how good ours is), then Texas A&M's. After that, probably UT, but they aren't even a distant third. The other schools were just mediocre at best. CU and KU were probably the worst.

[BigBadBen]

Im basing it on looks alone. I didnt see performances.

I was very impressed with the cuteness factor of the UT girls.

That being said. I will take the OSU Cheer/Pom's anyday!!!

[OKState918]

Im basing it on looks alone. I didnt see performances.

I was too.

The Texas girls were pudgy. It was more obvious when they weren't wearing those white warm-up pants.

[JimBob]

How do you think the Collie died?

Sorry, I'll make fun of the Aggies, but can't play on this one. Too many of us have "family" waiting at the "Rainbow Bridge".

[BigBadBen]

I was too.

The Texas girls were pudgy. It was more obvious when they weren't wearing those white warm-up pants.



The few I saw on the tube looked nice to me. You probably paid much more attention than I did.

[OrangeFan4Life]

The few I saw on the tube looked nice to me. You probably paid much more attention than I did.

That and he was up close and personal down on the floor with them. Incognito of course. Plus he spends a lot of time with our Pom & cheerleaders.