What's at Stake?
by Owen on Mar 11, 2010 8:03 PM CST
in Kansas Jayhawk Basketball
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Kansas hit the 2000 win mark with a victory over a pesky Red Raiders squad on Thursday morning and heads into the Big 12 semifinals against the Aggies of A&M. So what's at stake for the Jayhawks at this point? Is there anything to gain?
On Tuesday the NCAA saw Syracuse drop their 2nd game in a row and potentially worse, one of their marquee big men. A week ago the talking heads were singing the praises of Jim Boeheim and the Orange after getting swept up in the media circus of "the largest crowd ever to see a game". Today they sit at 28-4 and out of the Big East tournament in the quarterfinals. Syracuse is no doubt a very good team, but at this point one would think they'll be A #1 seed but probably not THE #1 seed.
Friday the Kentucky Wildcats will take to the court in the SEC tournament as likely the only remaining threat to Kansas' #1 overall seeding. The Wildcats have had a great season, 29-2 in the SEC and put as much talent as anyone on the basketball court. Still there isn't much many believe they can do to surpass Kansas for the top overall spot.
So with #1, #2 and #3 all likely set, what's to gain if you're Kansas? The Jayhawks likely already find themselves the beneficiary of the muddied waters that make up the pool of potentials for the fourth #1. Two more days of games is two more days of tiring legs in Kansas City? Is it all a waste?
I don't think so. Kansas can come out use these final two games as no pressure scenario's to find their stride. Consistency has been the biggest concern all year and come next Thursday inconsistency will kill a team's hopes at a title in a heartbeat. Kansas has the opportunity to square off against A&M, a likely 5-7 seed, and then possibly Kansas State for the third time this season. If there has been one team that has brought the best out of Kansas, or at least the most fight, it's been Kansas State. Get to the finals, win the finals and use the next two days to make your last minute adjustments for the final six.
Kansas is in a no lose situation. They've got everything of importance wrapped up in the estimation of many. Play loose, have fun and find the passion that wins championships, that's what's at stake for the Jayhawks.
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I may be wrong
But I could have sworn today was Syracuse’s fourth loss. Haven’t they lost to Louisville twice, GTown and some other team? I can’t remember but I’m almost 100% sure they got 4 losses now.
There is no way on God’s green earth we won’t be the number one overall seed. RPI is number one, adding an ass-kicking to a top 5 team late in the season followed by a 20 point road win against our biggest rival had to seal it. Kentucky plays in too shitty of a league to overtake us.
I always feel like these tournaments are such a death trap for KU. They are the top team in the country and know it. They know that even if they lose their season isn’t over, etc. While every team they play is out to a) avenge an earlier loss and b) beat Kansas. Its a tough situation for any team to be in. In the past I felt like we were out to get back at Texas which helped the team stay focus. Now…the one team we would want another shot at got murdered by the cats today.
I guess overall I feel like even if we play shitty it isn’t too much cause for panic. Hopefully once March comes we will be full-on out for blood.
Shit happens when you win championships
yep you're right on the 4 losses...
I looked at their conference standings and today’s didn’t register since it wasn’t technically a conference game.
As far as if we play shitty tomorrow…eh…I differ with you a little on that, I think it’s ok to lose but I sure as heck don’t want to play like shit.
53 Conference Championships!! and now 6 IN A ROW!!! Holy Hell...Good Luck with That!!
I guess I'm looking for a silver lining after today's crap fest in the first half
I just wonder if, for all the reasons I mentioned earlier, out focus isn’t totally there. I mean with the game a lot of stupid fouls, turnovers, missed a few layups, etc. All a result of focus in my opinion
Shit happens when you win championships
by Andrew Clark on Mar 11, 2010 10:53 PM CST up reply actions
'08
came dangerously close to losing to Nebraska in the first round game. Survive and advance Grad, survive and advance.
by I need more Esteban on Mar 12, 2010 8:56 AM CST up reply actions
yes but then they played pretty solid in the semi's and finals as I recall
53 Conference Championships!! and now 6 IN A ROW!!! Holy Hell...Good Luck with That!!
I guess overall I feel like even if we play shitty it isn’t too much cause for panic. Hopefully once March comes we will be full-on out for blood.
correcto. Except it already is March.
Beadlemaniacs - Award winning* college basketball blog (new and improved!)
Olympics!
I meant the dance
Ya’ll ripping me to shreds!
Shit happens when you win championships
by Andrew Clark on Mar 11, 2010 10:52 PM CST up reply actions
It's tough for me to get too worked up about crappy play,
when they’re still waking up, playing before noon. Obviously, there is the potential of playing a 16-1 game at some ridiculous hour of the morning. Even then this game could be beneficial in helping them learn/reminding the young guys learn what it is like to play/flounder early in the morning.
This and every game is significant, ...
because if we win them all (8 more) we would have the record for most wins in a season. Sherron would also have the NCAA record for most wins in a career. That makes every game worth lots.
There's starting to be some question marks about this team.
JoPo (in Sports Illustrated) and Sam Mellinger (in KCStar) have both basically questioned this team’s heart, or at least their lack of a killer instinct. They’ve had some wins with comfortable margins, but more often they’ve allowed teams to stick around much longer than they should.
Both writers suggest they’re almost bored out there at times. And you could certainly see that against Texas Tech. They sleepwalk through the first half, only up 2 at halftime. They eventually put some space between them, but never a significant amount, and Tech always had an answer. Tech is a team that KU beat by 26 the last time they played.
So even if wins and losses don’t matter per se the next game (or two if they’re lucky), this team needs to show some heart, and some killer instinct. They need to take a page from the My New Haircut Guy:
Yeah this collar’s popped. Cause I’m the fuckin’ man, and everyone should know it.
"Here are our top priorities: recruit, beat Missouri, recruit, win the North, recruit, win the Big 12, and in most cases if you win the Big 12 then you're playing for a National Championship. And then we're going to recruit."
by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Mar 12, 2010 2:10 AM CST reply actions
I don't think this team lacks Heart at all, but Killer Instinct is lacking somewhat
I thought about this watching the game yesterday. Sometimes things come too easily for them. In the second half, when it was still close (up by one or maybe tied) We swing the ball to Sherron and he pops a 3., we stop TT and then swing the ball to X in the corner who drains another three. TT calls a timeout and the camera shows X walking back to the huddle smiling and laughing. The smile struck me as odd there, it wasn’t one of those ‘intense’ chest thumping moments, which it should have been, because that set the tone for the 2nd half.
Now don’t get me wrong, these guys need to enjoy what they are doing out there, have fun and it will most likely go so much better. That might also just be X. The reaction just reminded me that there seemed to be no urgency to their game, it was just "Yep that’s how ya do it.’ When this team is on, it comes really easy to them, it’s expected to be easy by them. That in and of itself is not bad, expecting to win and play well, but can definitely explain some of the occasional sloppy play, just letting the game happen rather than controlling the game.
Maybe I’m over analyzing that moment, but it really hit me yesterday watching that play…
by MichiganJayHawk on Mar 12, 2010 6:29 AM CST up reply actions
Watch X after he makes a shot
he is always smiling. He’s just one of those guys that is always smiling out there. I wouldn’t read too much into it.
by I need more Esteban on Mar 12, 2010 9:00 AM CST up reply actions
Wow we are spoiled fans
No offense, but seriously.
by 2.1 seconds left on Mar 12, 2010 10:12 AM CST up reply actions
I'm not too worried about the heart or killer instinct of this team.
They’re damn good and they know it. If they can make shots, they’re going to win games.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.
Let me get this straight Denver
You allude to the fact that the Orange lost one of their marquee big men on Tuesday.
Then you say Kansas is in a no lose situation.
I can think of one (thanks to your first point): Alrich writhing in pain on the court after rolling his ankle in a “won’t really change our seeding in the Big Dance” game.
Shudder.
There simply is no substitute for experience.
well yes...
I guess I mean in terms of if they win or lose…let’s never again discuss what you’ve mentioned above.
53 Conference Championships!! and now 6 IN A ROW!!! Holy Hell...Good Luck with That!!
by Owen on Mar 12, 2010 7:51 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
What I'd like to know is
When have we suffered from a lack of killer instinct? So far as I can recall, both our losses were due to us getting jumped on in the first half. Tough to stamp out a team when you’re losing. Other than that, every time it gets down to make-or-break time we deliver. Sounds pretty awesome to me.
by 2.1 seconds left on Mar 12, 2010 10:09 AM CST reply actions
I would argue that a killer instinct in games that are going well suggests a toughness to your team. That same kind of toughness is needed to dig yourself out of a hole when things go bad.
If we get down 10 points early on to an 8 seed in Oklahoma City, and every KState fan and neutral fan in the arena is going nuts, does this team have the “testicular fortitude” to claw back and win the game? I guess we’ll find out.
"Here are our top priorities: recruit, beat Missouri, recruit, win the North, recruit, win the Big 12, and in most cases if you win the Big 12 then you're playing for a National Championship. And then we're going to recruit."
by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Mar 12, 2010 2:28 PM CST up reply actions
loved Self on this earlier in the season
He talked about the 07-08 team taking pride and enjoying humiliating opponents, just having this drive to see how BAD they could make a team look. They still took time off (the first 12 minutes of the second half of the UNC game), but they didn’t as much.
This team doesn’t have that drive.
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