Saturday, October 1st marks the official start of the best time of the year: KU basketball season.
Having lived in Lawrence for 18 years, it became obvious when basketball had arrived. For me, this means I will begin spending my Saturdays in front of the television watching college ball and probably writing and reflecting on our games throughout the season. Not only campus, but the entire town exudes excitement. The talk between friends and family about the potential starting lineup and the biggest game meant it was time to start gearing up for the next six months. There are subtle cues every year that make living here unique to any other place when the season is about to start.
1. Basketball players start actually going to class
The team begins cleaning up their act (whether it be voluntary or involuntary). They know that since they are a "student-athlete", there's no basketball without academics. They party less and, thankfully, do what they need to in order to stay on Coach Self's good side.
2. Boot Camp begins
A two week, highly-intense workout regimen is put into place to whip the players into shape. Taking place bright and early in the morning, it's something all the players dread when they come to KU. The veterans warn the newcomers about the endless suicides, condition tests and team-building exercises. Boot Camp, however, signals the unofficial start of the season, meaning it's time to get down to business.
Bonus: Check out Devonté Graham's Snapchat for a dose of "Dead Man of the Day", where he films the unlucky soul whose gotten his ass kicked by Boot Camp.
3. The local newspaper gives up on football news
By October, we're all ready for basketball. The LJ World transitions from writing about our football woes and what we could do better to writing about Late Night in the Phog and exhibition basketball games. We try to forget about our football woes by discussing who will be the best freshman and who will shoot the highest percentage from 3 point range this year (Devonté, we're looking at you this year).
4. Camping groups begin forming
Roommates, friends and basically anyone who's dedicated enough to spend their time on the Allen Fieldhouse floor begin putting together camping groups. The front row of the student section is the hottest spot on campus and for KU students, camping for up to two weeks before a game is well worth it.
5. Late Night in the Phog
Allen Fieldhouse not only sells out every single game, but we get a 16,300 capacity for mere skits and scrimmages. The year Andrew Wiggins was a freshman, Late Night was an absolute sh* show. People almost got trampled on the way in, ushers at the door were ignored and people who waited for hours on an unusually hot day for October still got turned away. Crazy or not, people keep coming back. There's nothing we wouldn't do to support our team and Late Night gets us all officially hyped for the real fun to begin.
