End-of-week musings as we await a weekend that brings the Jayhawks to Boulder and -- thankfully -- a football game. ...

OK, enough whining from Kansas fans about CU's policy of not selling single-game tickets to Saturday's hoops contest at the Events Center.

Do they not have business classes at KU? Does Kansas not teach economics?

Hate to be the one to break the news to all the Rock-Chalkers, but CU's policy is neither unfair nor unique.

It's simply the way business is being done in the sports world these days. Teams all over the nation -- college and pro -- are making their most popular games part of "package" deals.

Want the hot ticket? You have to purchase the whole package.

The Rockies are doing it this year with their Opening Day game. To get an Opening Day ticket, you have to buy another game over the weekend. Iowa State made fans buy football season tickets to get a ticket to the Iowa game, and Oklahoma State just announced you won't be able to buy a single-game ticket this year to the Oklahoma contest. You want a ducat to the Bedlam Series, you must buy season tickets.

There is, of course, an alternative for all those folks who think it's unfair: Don't buy the ticket. Stay home.

But odds are, someone else will buy the package, which is indeed what happened with the Kansas-Colorado game.

Meanwhile, don't blame schools or franchises for making sound business decisions. ...

By the way, since we're on the topic, an Associated Press story earlier this week said Iowa State's season-ticket base increased to 36,000 from 30,000 after making the Iowagame solely available in the season-ticket package.

That shouldn't come as a surprise. Years ago, when Nebraska football was relevant, NU fans used to purchase season tickets at other schools just for the chance to watch their beloved Huskers. ...

As for KU basketball -- there's no good time to catch one of the best teams in the nation, but you have to believe the Jayhawks are going to be more than a little upset after suffering their first loss of the season. That can't be good news for Jeff Bzdelik's Buffs. ...

Here's our obligatory Super Bowl note: While the nation is just this season becoming acquainted with Patriots receiver Wes Welker, serious Buff fans will remember Welker as the player who almost single-handedly beat CU back in 2003. The former Texas Tech wideout caught five passes for 91 yards and a touchdown and also returned four punts for 102 yards and another TD in a 26-21 win over Gary Barnett's Buffs. ...

The recent struggles of Kathy McConnell-Miller's Buffs has observers wondering what might have been had the Buffs won a couple of very winnable games that got away. First, there was the double-OT loss to Iowa State at home, followed by another home defeat at the hands of Texas A&M; -- a game in which the Buffs held the lead late in the game.

Still, it's not difficult to see the progress being made in K-Mac's program. It's obvious right now that her youngsters are shell-shocked, but there's no teacher like experience. They'll grow, and the future still looks good. ...

As for Bzdelik's Buffs, this season has all kinds of similarities to Dan Hawkins' first year in Boulder. Remember 2-10?

That's the kind of season the Buff men are having in Bzdelik's first season. However, folks who know basketball -- and are able to look past the win-loss record -- are well-aware that Bzdelik is slowly instilling a sense of fundamentals, something that hasn't been seen in these parts in decades.

The bet here is that next season will produce a step forward much like Hawkins' football team experienced in his second season, if not a bigger one. ...

And, I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention football recruiting. While I have no use for the recruiting rumor mill, it is enjoyable to analyze the class CU's Hawk has put together when you look at the positions he's filling.

The man can recruit.

Of course, that was the knock from naysayers when he landed in Boulder -- that he wouldn't be able to compete with the big boys.

Somehow, Hawk has silenced that knock in a hurry.