And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
I've lived a life that's full.
I've traveled each and every highway;
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
--- Frank Sinatra, as sung by Norm Stewart
LAWRENCE, Kan. --- Sad. Heartbreaking. Frowny face.
Like somebody kicked your dog.
This just can't happen.
The family reunion, the last piece of delicious pie. It's yours. The fork is ready ... and so are your taste buds.
Ahh, sweet. Then you get distracted ... and it's gone.
That one uncle, you know who I mean, just swiped it from right under your nose.
Uncle Jay is the guy you see just a couple times a year --- you don't really like him, but he sure is entertaining.
But then he does this. You'll get him next year.
No, you won't.
In the last "home" game in this fantastic conference rivalry --- which has been going on for 105 years and really, since the Civil War --- the No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half Saturday --- 19 points --- to stun the No. 3 Missouri Tigers 87-86 in overtime at Allen Fieldhouse.
Take your pie and go home, Uncle Jay, for we're headed to an upscale bakery that may be over-priced --- but it has so many yummy treats.
Don't blame us. Blame Nebraska. And Colorado. And even Texas A&M.
We didn't really want to, but we had to leave. Still, we want to play, don't you?
"They chose to be somewhere else and that's fine, that's their prerogative," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "If it's better for them, so be it."
Missouri is headed to the SEC, so this 105 year-rivalry --- as we know it --- has come to an end.
The teams could still meet in the Big 12 Tournament. They could still meet in the NCAA Tournament, this year or in years to come.
But this wonderful series on the campus home sites seems to be finished.
"When you choose to be somewhere else, well ... right now, it's not going to happen," Self said. "I don't feel bad because Missouri wanted this, so why should I?"
Kansas (24-5, 14-2 Big 12) --- which has basically locked up its eighth straight Big 12 title --- led 29-27 before a driving score by Michael Dixon tied it with 6:04 left in the half.
That started a 17-3 explosion, capped on a 3-pointer by Marcus Denmon at the 13-second mark, as Missouri took an eye-popping 44-32 lead at the break.
The lead stretched to 19 when Denmon canned a 3-pointer with 16:24 left. Missouri hadn't won in Lawrence since 1999 --- when Norm Stewart was still in the coaching box.
Ahh, sweet.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.
--- Ray Charles
It was all sooo right for the Tigers. Even Ray Charles could see it.
But then Missouri (25-4, 12-4) seemed to be content to run the clock instead of its offense, and back came Kansas. The lead slowly whittled away, before KU's Thomas Robinson --- who had 28 points and 12 boards --- tied it at 75-75 on a three-point play with 16 seconds left.
Phil Pressey's shot to win it in regulation was blocked by Robinson.
"It was a pick and roll option ... Phil probably got hit there, I don't know," Missouri coach Frank Haith said.
He did.
After a back-and-forth OT, Denmon hit an off-balance 12-footer to give the Tigers an 86-85 lead with 12 seconds left. But a questionable foul call on Phil Pressey --- his fifth --- put Tyshawn Taylor on the line with 8 seconds left.
Taylor, who scored 24 points, made both to give Kansas a one-point lead.
"I had to make them," said Taylor, who missed two crucial free throws in the last minute of MU's earlier win over Kansas.
With Pressey out, Michael Dixon ran the point and acted like there were eight minutes, not eight seconds, left.
After a very relaxed dribble up the floor, Dixon dished it to Denmon who made a 17-footer ... just shortly after the buzzer.
"We didn't execute what we talked about," Denmon said.
This was a gritty, gutty effort by the Tigers against the Jayhawks, who have now won 21 straight at home and are 90-1 --- 90-1 --- in their last 91 games at Allen Fieldhouse.
"We have no control over the prior hundred and whatever years," MU's Kim English said. "We have control over the past four seasons.
"Our players played their hearts out ... our coaches gave it their all. I don't care how you remember it."
Win or lose --- and rest assured, this one hurt --- it's certainly sad to see this series come to an end.
"This game meant a lot to both schools and both teams," Missouri coach Frank Haith said. "This may be the last time we play and I think that would be sad.
"I just don't understand it and hopefully we can continue to play. This is too good of a game and too good of a rivalry to not play."
Heartbreaking, but it sure was entertaining.
Perhaps they'll meet again. But it will never be the same.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
--- Green Day
Win or lose, it sure was fun.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKRCG