Olsens see some historic games, KU’s come-from-behind win at tournament

    When Kansas advanced to the Elite Eight in this year’s men’s NCAA basketball tourney, Tonya Olsen said she and her family secured their airline and game tickets for the Final Four in New Orleans.
    Being big fans of the Jayhawks, they figured they could resell the tickets if KU lost. They didn’t have to worry about that.
    As the history books will report, KU was crowned the 2022 national champion.
    Olsen earned her graduate degree in school psychology from KU, and she and husband Jeff lived in Lawrence for three years after they were married.
    “I guess you’d say that’s where our affinity for KU comes from,” she said.
    Tonya, Jeff and son Jensen, a CCS sophomore, made the trip to the Final Four this year, in part, because Jensen has an April 1 birthday.
    And what a birthday gift it was. The weekend resulted in some historic basketball.
    Not only did the trio get to see No. 1 seed KU win its fourth national title with a 72-69 win over North Carolina, the Jayhawks’ come-from-behind win was historic in that no team has ever won the championship after trailing by 15 at the half like KU was.
    It was also historic to witness Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski in his final career game in the Final Four. Coaching at Duke since 1980, Coach K’s Blue Devils lost to their rival North Carolina in the semi-finals.
    After watching KU win the championship, Tonya said she asked Jensen if he realized how much history he had just witnessed.
    “He nodded and said, ‘yeah Mom,’” she laughed.
    She said it was most memorable to watch KU come from behind  and win the championship on April 4.
    “It was pretty exciting,” she said.
    It was their first trip to New Orleans, so they were able to see some sights and take in all the food New Orleans is known for, she added.
    The Final Four weekend in New Orleans also brought in the National Association of College Basketball Coaches for their 2022 convention held at the same hotel the Olsens were in.
    “We saw some famous coaches,” she said.
    The Olsens have now seen KU’s two national championships under Coach Bill Self, also witnessing the 2008 win in San Antonio when the Jayhawks beat Memphis 75-68 in OT.