Kansas Reaches Elite 8

KU LEAVES UPSTART SALUKIS FEELING ILL.

By BRIAN COSTELLO

March 23, 2007 -- SAN JOSE, Calif. - For much of last night's West Regional game between Kansas and Southern Illinois, it was difficult to tell which program was the storied national power and which was the mid-major upstart.

But in the end, the No. 1 seed Kansas withstood the fourth-seeded Salukis relentless defense and no-quit spirit to take a 61-58 victory and advance to Saturday's region final against UCLA.

Don't be fooled, the tape of the game is not going to go into any Kansas basketball museums next to James Naismith's peach basket. The Jayhawks (33-4) could not get into an offensive rhythm from outside and wound up winning a grind-it-out game inside against the smaller Salukis (29-7) before 18,049 fans at HP Pavilion.

"Whoever plays Southern Illinois is not going to look good offensively," Kansas coach Bill Self said.

The game was not decided until the final minute when Kansas' Brandon Rush's running jumper put the Jayhawks up 61-58 with 25 seconds left. The Salukis turned to their go-to player, Jamaal Tatum, on the other end but his 3-point attempt missed. Randal Falker pulled down the rebound for Southern Illinois but lost the ball, and with it went the Salukis' upset hopes.

Julian Wright missed two free throws with two seconds left, giving Southern one last desperation shot, but Tony Young's three-quarter-court shot hit the backboard.

The two teams went back-and-forth all night. Whenever it looked like Kansas was about to take control and send the Salukis sulking back to Carbondale, Southern Illinois found an answer. Darrell Arthur delivered a thunderous alley-oop dunk to tie the score at 45 with a little more than seven minutes left. Russell Robinson followed with a driving score, and it looked like the Salukis were done. But Southern Illinois refused to go away. Tatum hit back-to-back shots to put the Missouri Valley's best back in the lead.

Kansas shot 60 percent in the game, but only made one 3-pointer. They won by outscoring Southern Illinois 42-18 in the paint.

The Salukis' in-your-face defense forced Kansas to abandon their full-court style and try to make plays in the half court. The Jayhawks turned the ball over 19 times and hurt themselves at the foul line, making 10 of 19 attempts. The Salukis also managed 17 offensive rebounds.

"We do what we do to everybody no matter who it is, no matter what's on the front of their jersey," Salukis coach Chris Lowery said.

Southern Illinois opened up a six-point lead early in the second half, going on a 9-0 run out of the locker room. Their second-leading scorer, Tatum, got untracked, hitting two jumpers to start the run. Tatum had been one of the Salukis' poor shooters in the first half, going 1-for-8.

Kansas answered with a 9-2 run of its own to take a 36-35 lead. The two teams then traded baskets and momentum. The Salukis were buoyed by every loose ball they picked up and every steal they made. The Jayhawks were determined to withstand upstart Southern Illinois' best shot.

The Salukis trailed by only three points at the half, 27-24, despite shooting 28 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range. Their signature defense kept them in the game, forcing 10 first-half Kansas turnovers. They converted those turnovers into 13 points.

Good News For Breast-cancer Reduction

Study: Fellatio may significantly decrease the risk of breast cancer in women

Women who perform the act of fellatio on a regular basis, one to two times a week, may reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 40 percent, a recent study found.

Doctors had never suspected a link between the act of fellatio and breast cancer, but new research being performed is starting to suggest that there could be an important link between the two.

In a study of over 15,000 women suspected of having performed regular fellatio over the past ten years, the researchers found that those actually having performed the act regularly, one to two times a week, had a lower occurance of breast cancer than those who had not. There was no increased risk, however, for those who did not regularly perform.

"I think it removes the last shade of doubt that fellatio is actually a healthy act," said Dr. B.J. Sooner of the Hopkins School of Medicine, who was not involved in the research. "I am surprised by these findings, but am also excited that the researchers may have discovered a relatively easy way to lower the occurance of breast cancer in women."

The University researchers stressed that, though breast cancer is relatively uncommon, any steps taken to reduce the risk would be a wise decision.

As much as I feel we have a very long way to go in the health care profession, occasionally the progress of a particular medical study will amaze me.


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The Real Spring Break!

So much better!

SPRING BREAK! ARE YOU READY?

Roommate Wanted: Male/Female, Any Race, Dead or Alive

Michigan Woman Allegedly Lived With Dead Roommate for Up to 3 Weeks

I guess as long as her rent is paid on time, then what's the big deal?

AP

CANTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A 28-year-old woman may have kept the body of her roommate in their apartment for up to three weeks, police said. An anonymous caller told police in Wayne County's Canton Township on Tuesday night that the woman was living in the apartment with her dead roommate.

"Our detectives knocked at the door and the woman opened it and there is that odor, and you know right away what it is," Detective Rick Pomorski told The Detroit News.

The body of the woman, believed to be in her 20s, was found covered by items of clothing on the living room floor. The 28-year-old tenant was cooperative with police and accompanied them to headquarters for questioning. She is not under arrest, Pomorski said.

"She knew her roommate was there lying on the living room floor," the detective said. "She did give us a story as to her reasonings. We are hesitant to detail that now. We will be piecing everything together and expect to have better answers when we hear from the medical examiner."

Police said they tentatively identified the victim, but declined to release a name.

Just Happen to Have an Extra $3500 on Hand?

If you do, then you can spend it on 30 seconds with MICHAEL JACKSON!

At a Star Trek convention, you can't really meet Captain Kirk. But at a Michael Jackson convention, you really can meet Michael Jackson.

Provided you've got the available credit.

Tickets for one-on-one face time with Jackson and his remarkable face were going for just under $3,500 for a Thursday fan event in Tokyo.

For the pricey price tag, officially 400,000 Japanese yen, 300 "platinum-ticket" buyers will be treated to food, spirits, live music and Jackson, who, it is promised, "will personally speak to all attendees."

According to reports, each ticket-holder will be allotted up to 60 seconds of chitchat with the pop star. A photo—only one— will be taken so as to help preserve the moment and/or provide years of show-and-tell fun.

Although Jackson's individual contact with partygoers will be brief, the 48-year-old entertainer is scheduled to hang for five hours at Tokyo's Shinkiba Studio Coast.

Come Friday, Jackson will be back at the concert venue for what's billed as "Fan Appreciation Day with Michael Jackson."

In a nutshell, organizers and Jackson will appreciate every fan who plunks down 15,000 yen (about $130) to spend time in the same building with the Grammy winner. Fans who previously plunked down 400,000 yen will be comped.

Jackson, who's down to put in three hours at the second event, is not promising to talk to anyone, although he is promising to judge a fan-art contest.

"The top three artists chosen by Mr. Jackson will have the opportunity to meet Mr. Jackson and have their picture taken with him," Jackson rep Raymone K. Bain said in a statement, "and be invited to a special brunch with him."

There was no promise of Jesus juice on the brunch menu.

There was also no promise that Jackson would perform on either Thursday or Friday. In fact, the event organizer's Website said Jackson was not scheduled to sing.

Jackson, quite the overseas traveler since being acquitted in California of child-molestation charges in 2005, arrived in Japan on Sunday. Given his recent activities or lack thereof, the entertainer should be fully rested for the week's personal appearances. Per a statement from Bain's office last week, Jackson is not appearing on American Idol, touring with his family or recording with Pras of the Fugees.

He's just making small talk for a not so small price.

Big 12 champs!

1,900 wins, plus No. 1 seed in OKC

Jayhawk fans have a lot to be proud of after Kansas University’s 90-86 win over Texas on Saturday. The victory marks the team’s 1,900th all-time victory and makes them outright Big 12 regular season champs this year.

“We did great, we did wonderful, we played our hearts out,” said Jenna Ness, after watching the game at Buffalo Wild Wings, 1012 Mass.

The atmosphere of the game spilled over from the TV sets into the bar, complete with high fives, chilling screams and even the school chant.

“Rock Chalk, Jayhawk, KU,” patrons sang when KU sophomore Brandon Rush scored in the final minutes of the game, leaving the Jayhawks with an eight-point advantage.

But the excitement turned to anxiety as Texas made a quick turnaround.

“That hurts!” said Harrison Helmick, when A.J. Abrams of Texas made a three-point basket, leaving the team only two points behind.


After KU came back with a four-point lead, fans went wild. Nearly everyone in the packed bar was out of their seats by the end of the game.

“They make me nervous sometimes,” said Mike Gardner, a KU fan.

Ness, a KU graduate, didn’t worry. “I wasn’t concerned at all; we always win,” she said.

Next week, the Jayhawks open the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City as a No. 1 seed.