The Hlog

Props from Prague

"Props to Kansas."

That's my favorite quote of the college basketball season. Only because it came from Iowa State big man Jiri Hubalek of Prague, Czech Republic. That was after the Cyclones' 68-64 overtime loss to the sixth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks Saturday at Hilton Coliseum.

It's funny to hear foreigners use American slang. When a Czech is giving props to anyone, it doesn't sound quite the same as if it were coming from, say, Cyclone forward Rahshon Clark of Queens. It reminded me of the old Saturday Night Live sketches when Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd were two wild and crazy guys.

Props to both teams, actually. Kansas and Iowa State combined to give 45 intense minutes of ball on a wintry Saturday on the Iowa prairie. Whether Kansas is deserving of its No. 6 ranking or not, I dunno. It's a real good team. But it didn't save its best for Iowa State. Which was understandable, since the Jayhawks were darn near perfect three days earlier when they blew No. 9 Oklahoma State out of Lawrence, 87-57.

Kansas is big, and man, can it ever find ways to penetrate. It plays some wickedly good defense, too. It has over 125 more turnovers forced than assists allowed. In contrast, the green-but-growing Cyclones have over 30 more turnovers than assists this season.

Kansas is a team without a single senior.  Iowa State has just one senior who plays much, backup big man Jessan Gray. So this probably won't be the only entertaining KU-ISU game of the next few years.

Maybe when Kansas is playing at Ames in 2027 or 2047, U.S. Highway 30 between Cedar Rapids and Ames will be all four-lane. I've driven in quite a few parts of the nation. One of the most tedious drives anywhere remains Cedar Rapids to Tama and back. When freezing rain is part of the trip on that two-lane that leads back to home, it makes a sportswriter think this:

Props to the Interstate.