Back in the Daug house again
Top Daug emerged from the smoke about 6:25 before tipoff Tuesday night. The Lloyd Noble Center didn't exactly erupt, but the reception was robust. Maybe even a little more energy than the cheers when the video board showed presumptive OU quarterback Spencer Rattler sitting in the seats.
Top Daug's return from 16 years in exile was quite fun and nostalgic, even if the mascot didn't seem to have the same sizzle as in the old days. Maybe BillyBall had a little bit to do with those wild times of the 1980s. Turns out, excitement is easier to generate when the ball goes through the hoop.
And speaking of highest canines, Kansas was in town. When last we saw the Jayhawks at Lloyd Noble, the Sooners removed the Big 12 crown from KU's head. The mathematical elimination last winter ended Kansas' run of 14 straight conference championships.
And KU arrived Tuesday night showing no signs of returning to Top Dog status, having just lost at home to Baylor, which now is ranked second nationally and sits in the Jaybird seat.
But Top Daug is still Top Daug, and Kansas is still Kansas.
Even playing without point guard Devon Dotson, the Big 12's leading scorer, the Jayhawks thrived, beating the Sooners 66-52.
In this first-team-to60-wins league, KU got there first and OU didn't even reach 50 until Brady Manek's deep 3-pointer with 42 seconds left in the game. The bigger Jayhawks bullied the Sooners inside and easily won the shooting contest outside.
The remembrance of things past brought out quite the old-timers. Billy Tubbs, Pat Tubbs, Tommy Tubbs. Choo Kennedy. Retired trainer Alex Brown. All were in the building on Top Daug night. If Danny Manning and Harvey Grant had walked through the door, high times would have indeed ensued.
Instead, the night was a stark reminder of how different the game has become since Top Daug launched in the `80s.
The Sooners made just 19 of 62 shots, finishing above 30 percent only on De'Vion Harmon's midrange jumper in the final seconds.
With no post game, OU was left to drive and kick outside for 3-point shots. But Manek and Kristian
Doolittle each made just two of seven from deep, and Austin Reaves missed all five of his long balls. Those are OU's three prime scorers; combined, they made 10 of 43 shots. Egads. Meanwhile, Kansas made eight of 19 3-pointers; Isaiah Moss made six of 11 to lead KU with 20 points. And 7-foot center Udoka Azubuike powered his way to 16 points and 14 rebounds.
It was all quite discouraging for the Sooners,
who hoped to ride Top Daug to excitement and excitement to victory. But the demise of Kansas is quite exaggerated. The Jayhawks have slipped all the way to No. 6 in the AP poll.
This is a proud program. They were winning championships long before Top Daug and they've been winning championships long after Top Daug, and when OU stood toe-to-toe with the Jayhawks in Top Daug's day, the Sooners might go for 52 in a half,
not a game.
Oh well. At least Top Daug's back. Maybe the high times and the points will some day return, too. Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-7608080 or at btramel@ oklahoman.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok. com/berrytramel.