This is the type of thing you like to see going into the stretch run. I'm an outsider, but all signs point to a team that is peaking at the right time. Tying for the league 'ship is probably not how this group wanted this season to go, but I contend that while they played poorly for stretches, none of the three loses should be considered "bad losses" when you take into account they all came on the road in very tough environments against 1) a team playing their best ball of the season (OSU) 2) a team with the best player in the country (KSU) and 3) a top 10 team and second best in the league (UT). There's obviously a bigger fish to fry, and this team seems to understand that better than past teams. The urgency to win a national championship was there before the season started, and it looks like it's stronger than ever.

Now, lets talk tourney seeds. My concern right now is that KU will end up in the Phoenix region, once again being shipped out west. I don't think there's much difference at all between a 1 or 2-seed. The problem is that UCLA, who I consider to be KU's greatest hurdle to a national championship, will likely remain out west as well. I don't see Memphis losing again, thereby taking the 1-seed in either Houston or Detroit. I think Tennessee could still lose a game and hold onto the other 1-seed out of those sites, due to their strength of schedule and record against the top-25. I think KU's best chance is to possibly unseat either Duke of UNC, but my money is on UNC to wrap up the 1-seed in the Charlotte, as they are getting healthy as well. Back to UCLA. If they can win out the rest of the way, I think they can still earn the overall 1-seed. Since the selection committee uses the s-curve to seed, KU would have to drop to the overall 8-seed to be placed in their region. I don't see that happening. So, if you're like me and want to avoid UCLA until the final four, root for them to win out. A three-loss team in the Pac-10 should get the overall #1 IMO. KU simply doesn't have the top-25 wins this year to get a top-3 seed, so let's hope they win out and stay in that overall 4-5 range. That should get KU at least a 2-seed in Detroit or Houston, with the possibility of a 1-seed still in the picture. What does everyone else think?

Let us hope it helps them win on the road against good teams. Great job by the academic stars on the team: Case, Kaun, Robinson. Outstanding players, scholars, and gentlemen.

Well, I woke up this morning ticked, angry, livid, and most of all just irritated. I don't know if any of you had the opportunity last night to watch the UCLA/Stanford game, but it was the most one sided game I've watched in my life. Trent Johnson and the Stanford basketball team played a phenominal game to only have it ripped from the "W" column by the refs. The discolored "C" that appears on the "UCLA" jerseys must stand for "Cash" because that is what the refs must have received from UCLA boosters. That was a "HUGE" game last night because it ultimately decided who gets the #1 seed out West. I'll paint a picture on how the game went.......

-Stanford never trailed in this game except 2-0 and the first points in OT
-Stanford was up double digits 35 of the 40 minutes
-Stanford had 21 fouls vs 12 fouls for UCLA
-Stanford was 6-8 from the FT line vs 16-24 for UCLA
-The foul ratio was 6-0 in favor of UCLA until 7:46 of the first half. That is 12 minutes and 14 seconds without committing a foul. Let me remind you that Standford has TWO 7 FOOTERS!!!!!!!
-Stanford didn't shoot their first free throw until 8:38 to go in the Second half. 8:38 IN THE SECOND HALF!!!!!!! I KNOW!!!!!!!!

Here is the last 20 seconds...............UCLA just tied the game, and UCLA presses full court. UCLA almost causes a 10 second call, but Stanford just barely gets across the half court. I can't remember the player, but he got the ball on the side about the 3 point line (45 degree extended) and drove to the hoop, got completely knocked down with a blocking foul and hist the shot to put Stanford up by 2 with 7.5 to go. Stanford player should have been to the free throw line there was so much contact.

The last 7.5 seconds.........UCLA inbounds the ball to Collison, he dribbles through a bunch of Stanford traffic and Stanford has 2 players down by the hoop playing very good "D". Collison drives left, reverses his dribble and pulls up with a 1 handed floater from about 7 or 8 feet out and as he rising the Stanford player doesn't even jump and his entire hand is on top of the ball for the most clean block I've ever seen in my life. They called a foul with 2.5 left and it went into OT and the rest is history. Trent Johnson was so angry I thought he was going to lose his job.

If you get a chance to watch sportscenter and watch the last 12 seconds of the game it is worth it. Man I'm pissed this morning. Just thought you hawks fans wanted to know what was going on out WEST!!!!!!!!!LOL

I think that game last night has big implications on what happens with the seeds. OKjhok said that UCLA would most likely receive the #1 seed out West, but last nights game was "HUGE" in deciding that seed. If Stanford wins that game and does well or even wins the PAC 10 tourney you can all but lock up the #1 seed for Stanford out West and have the good ole' Bruins shipped anywhere else in the country except the great State of California and Arizona. I actually wanted that to happen so UCLA could be in our bracket as the #2 seed. I want UCLA bad. I want UNC bad! Anyone of those teams in my bracket in the Elite 8 so we can prevent them from going to the Final Four would be SWEET!!!!!!! What a shame that game was last night because now ultimately UCLA will get the #1 seed in the West.

I have a questions for everybody. Is it me or does it seem that if UCLA, even if they have a decent year they will always have the opportunity to be the #1 or #2 seed out West?? Has anyone else ever thought about this? It seems like because of KU's geographic location, if the same type of season happens then the Committee thinks they can ship KU anywhere in the country in order to make the seeds work and fit accordingly. Do i think too much about this or do I have a legitamate argument? You can could probably say the same thing about Duke or UNC about always being in the EAST?

I read pretty much the same article yesterday at the Topeka Capital Journal web site.
I guess the LJW didn't have the room yesterday to post it on this site (sarcasm).

Anyone else watch that game last night as fired up as I am??????LMAO

I saw the first 5 minutes and Stanford looked good. Then I heard what happened and was disappointed. But, I don't want UCLA until the final four, so I'm glad they won and will get that #1 out west, 'cause if KU takes care of business, we won't be the #2 out there.

The problem with UCLA is you can't knock them out, and it's boring as hell watching a game in which they're involved.

Okay, just saw the highlight...that was as clean a block as they come. Stanford got screwed.

i watched most of the ucla game last night as well, but went to bed with about 10 minutes left (too late out here in the east). watching ucla play is painfully boring. but, i can not believe how much ucla is allowed to hack people without fouls being called. it's completely ridiculous! even before i went to bed (not seeing the end of regulation), i thought the refs' calls were horrible, and of course in favor of ucla. there were about 4 times a ucla player, collison or westbrook, drove towards the basket, and a stanford player had great position, in place at least a step or two ahead, and they called a blocking foul instead of a charge. i just couldn't believe what i was seeing. and, all the tie-ups the refs called when stanford was shooting contested baskets, versus the fouls they called when it was ucla shooting with the lopez twins blocking the shots.

well once again, ucla will get to play ball in their own backyard all the way to the final four. i do want to play ucla for revenge, but not at what will essentially be "their place".

agree, Stanford was robbed! I don't want to see UCLA either but I also think it could be a good game for our players who would want to avenge last year's game. At this point I'm all for anything that will get our players charged up as it is apparent that we play great when motivated.

I think the Big XII trophy should be in College Station on Saturday, just like it was in appropriately in Austin 2 years ago.

This is more like it.

Anti-UCLA rants.

At least some mention of Turg.

And awareness of the importance of this game vs. the College Station stock yard boys.

Re ucla, we need to play'em and slay'em.

its been clear for awhile now that this team, if it is to be a team of destiny, is going to have to do it in a totally unique way.

It is going to have to prove itself in the tourney, because the regular season schedule did not permit it. They can get their swagger back all they want, but they are going to have to prove they are one of the best in the tourney. That is a tough way to do it, but that is what they have to do.

To do it, they are likely going to have to beat not one but two top four teams.

And they are going to have to beat several very good lesser teams. The lesser teams look even stronger to me this year than last.

They can do this, but it will take a Herculean effort. If they do it, it will probably make them KU's greatest team. Why? Because the schedule is not going to have favored them ever. The '88 team got some serious tests in regular season, playing OU, which was then a Top 4 team. They also got a huge break in who they had to play in the '88 tourney IMHO.

This year's team didn't get to play a top 4 team in the regular tourney AND they are almost certain to have to fight through six VERY tough opponents in the Madness.

There will be the game against UCLA in which they have to beat the team that beat them last year, a team that they will have very tough match up problems with.

There will also be the game with UNC. They will have to defeat the man who abandoned KU and for the school that improbably robbed Wilt Chamberlain's '57 of its NCAA ring.

And there will be this years "B" team--a Bucknell, Bradley type team. This year that team is Butler and maybe Xavier, which we could just as well mispell as Bavier.

I get the feeling looking at and reading quotes by RR, Dblock, Kaun and Case that they understand the size of the mountain they are about to try to climb. I sense grim resolve in them. They seem very much like men with the right stuff, who nevertheless know the extreme difficulty and of the task they face, as well as the grim risk of total faiure.

True greatness can only come from such situations.

Men with a sense of the historic nature of their task, men who know they face a strong probability of total defeat, men with no tomorrow, no next game, men who rise above this and deliver victory...these are the men from which true heroism comes.

I am not equating the NCAA tournament with war, but the essense of this look was photographed on Dwight Eisenhower's face when he was visiting his troops on the eve of D-Day. There was no tomorrow in that face. What he had to give was given. He knew everything he stood for and worked for and believed in came down to that moment. Without victory there would be no chance for winning the war. You can see the grim resolve in his eyes and face. There was no swagger; there was only the knowledge that everything that could be done had been done and the confidence that with some luck, victor7y could be won. There was awareness that everthing that could go wrong, would go wrong, but that preparation, training and prior experience would have to carry his them through it. There was in the final analysis one man looking into other men's eyes as equals and saying, here, now, it is all on the line. The road to victory passes through the unblinking knowledge that total defeat is a real possibility and that fear of it too must be marshalled as a resource to fight for total victory.

The juniors, sophs, and frosh can never truly know this feeling. Brandon will go on to a pro career. Mario and Darrell will too probably. There will be other wars whether they win or lose. Likewise, there will be more KU seasons for the less talented KU underclassmen.

But for the seniors, the senior who may well not be destined for NBA careers, it all does come down to this tournament. And whether they are starters, subs, leaders, or followers, they are in a position of equality with each other much like that which Eisenhower faced with his young troops that night before D-Day. If we lose tomorrow, it will be over for us all regardless of our rank. Your end might come sooner, but mine will come later with just as much inevitability.

Death can be honorable in war, if one has done EVERYTHING one can possibly do to yield victory. Likewise, losing in games can be honorable if one has done EVERYTHING one can do to achieve victory.

This group of seniors seems to have done EVERYTHING they can do. There will be honor in loss should it befall them. But true greatness is possible should they prevail.

Starting in a very short time, total defeat and total victory both become possible.

Go Hawks.

KUShaw......I agree with you COMPLETELY about the UCLA-Stanford game last night. I don't normally stay up to watch the Pac-10 games during the week, but that was one I couldn't miss. I had to see what KU's competition looks like.

I could not believe the number of "phantom foul" calls the refs made against Stanford! Calls where the player never even TOUCHED the UCLA guy. The last one, and probably the one that ticked me off the most was when Collison (I think) was shooting a 3 pointer from the left side with just a minute or 2 left on the clock. He made the shot and fell down as a Stanford player ran at him....no contact.....ref calls a foul!

I am not one to complain about the refs. If you look through all my posts this year about KU, if anything, I've told people to quit complaining about the refs. But this was such a home job I could barely stand it for Stanford's sake.

I gained respect for Stanford's coach, because he took it stoicly and calmly until that last second block that was called a 2 shot foul that allowed UCLA to put the game in OT.

And what a classless act by UCLA at the end of overtime--Howland let them score 6 cherry-pick points in the last few seconds instead of just holding the ball and winning with class. I lost some respect for Howland last night. He's still a hell of a defensive coach, but that display at the end of OT showed no sportsmanship.

After getting that rant off my chest, Collison is scary good when he's healthy. He is SO quick he can get in the lane against anybody in the country. He would bother our guards mercilessly with his quickness on defense. He willed that team to come back last night. But if the refs hadn't helped UCLA, Stanford would have won the game.

I don't want to face UCLA anywhere. They are better than last year because they have a true post scoring presence with KLove.

UCLA is the best team in the country and the proved it last night. They scored 18 in the first half, turned the ball over a bunch, couldn't defend the twin towers, and didn't shoot well at all. Yet, they still found a way to beat a very good Stanford team with a monster like B. Lopez playing great.
I don't want UCLA until the final four, if we are lucky to get that far.
I have tickets to the Pac 10 final next sat and I fully expect to see another game between these two. I predict UCLA wins by 10-15.
Please give us a 2 seed versus Tennesse!

f UC k LA

UCLA is always put out west for the tourney because their AD is on the selection committee. Someone needs to look into this, because UCLA gets tourney advantages every single year. I guarantee you they will be at home for the tourney this year.

Jaybate,

Could we talk to Self and work it out so you could give the pregame speeches to our 'hawks?

"The road to victory passes through the unblinking knowledge that total defeat is a real possibility and that fear of it too must be marshalled as a resource to fight for total victory..."

Wow, I didn't think anything could top your "jazz combo" analogy several weeks ago, but that was impressive. And, by the way, I totally agree with you.

Some might see it as corny or over the top, but I think a meeting like they had was necessary, if maybe a little cliche. We have great leadership on this team and anything short of a Final Four will be a disappointment to say the least. Yes, its just a game, but to these guys its been their livelihood for four or five years, and to us diehard Jayhawk fans who ride the roller coaster with every win or loss its more than a game. Each of these seniors has endured hardship in their careers at Kansas. Russell had to find himself as a man after his freshman and sophomore season. Rod had to find his way out of Lodrick's shadow and then had Allen ripped from his life. Jeremy has endured the scrutiny of fans who constantly viewed him as an underachiever and the last thread connection to the painful exit of Ol' Roy. Sasha was half a world away from home and took four years to find his niche on this team. Darnell has experienced pain since coming here few of us will ever know in half a lifetime. I recently lost my grandfather to cancer and can't imagine going through pain like that over and over again in four short years of college. Their lives are bigger than basketball. But basketball has brought them all together. One common goal, one common purpose ties these pieces together. For the seniors, for the fans, for Old KU, let's hang another banner. Let's go win a CHAMPIONSHIP!!

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!

"And there will be this years "B" team--a Bucknell, Bradley type team. This year that team is Butler and maybe Xavier, which we could just as well mispell as Bavier."

jaybate, I enjoy how you add some levity to your classic novellas. Another great one today.

Rule of thumb...if you have to scroll the page down to read your comment, you've said entirely too much!!

I don't know about anyone else, but if the comment is over, I don't know, 5 sentences, I don't even waste my time reading it.

Nice article on Sasha Kahn by Jason King.
http://collegebasket...

Ramsrevenge... the ones that are most worth skipping over are those that add nothing to the conversation. Yours might qualify as such.

KUShaw, I didn't see it, but was it on ESPN? If so, you've sparked my interest enough that I'll try to watch it on ESPN360 sometime this weekend.

super article 63, you have to love Sasha. This team has the most character of any Jayhawk team I have followed. I have been a diehard fan since about 91 when I was a student and became enlightened to KU ball. It is hard, to say but this is my favorite team yet.

That is a great article... thanks for the link 63.

UCLA-Stanford was on FSN.

The last second block was clean, but the foul may have been called on the other side. Collison was shooting with his left and got hit pretty good on the right - from what I recall of the one close replay that I saw.

That being said, I was surprised that a foul was called on that play, tho judging from the other commentary on the game - maybe not. I only saw the last minute or so and OT.

The thing that is scary about UCLA is that Collison can be in complete control of the game. Our 3 PG's would do well to watch him a bit. They can play as fast, but too often it becomes out of control leading to a turnover.

Great article about Sasha. It is amazing the number of murders this team has had to deal with.

Since Sasha has been mentioned, he deserves some extra notice for the touch/finesse he has developed of late. He's obviously worked hard in the past (Big Man Camps, ...) but it really looks like Danny's fingerprint all over his game now.

And Cole's game as well. His development could really be a difference maker in the next 9 games. Few teams have 2 quality post players, but 4!?!

Another outstanding piece by Jason King. Thanks for the link, 63Jayhawk.

AGGIES ARE GOING DOWN!!!!! ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK GO KU!!!!!

Lebowski - I enjoy reading people's comments and opinions on here, and I usually only comment on the actual article. But geez, do we really need to hear paragraph after paragraph after paragraph of someone's (jaybate) opinion?? It's like the golfer that wants to share every freaking stroke with you. Not necessary.

Having said that, nice article 63, and Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

What's with the War and Peace entries here? If you guys have that much to say, write a book and give us a break. If it's more than two paragraphs, you're rambling!

To me the point of this article is lost. If Kansas continues to focus on the conference championship instead of the big dance, what do you think will happen? AGAIN! Let's just keep improving and not worry about the conference.

KUSHAW - I love your anti-UCLA rant - nice work. I can understand questioning some of the calls down the stretch.

Everyone's bravado about seeking revenge for last year's loss is foolish. No matter how well we play, there are some teams that are a real threat and UCLA is definitely one of them. I'd rather not see them until the Final Four. Hell, I'm not proud, give me a couple of upsets so we don't have to play them at all.

I disagree with wanting Stanford to win and here's why:

If Stanford were to win, Kansas - assuming we take care of business the next 10 days - will be seeded ahead of both Stanford and UCLA. We could easily end up with the last #1 seed and then get shipped out West to face Stanford or UCLA as a #2 - that would be bad.

If UCLA wins out, they will be a very high #1, maybe even the overall #1. Chances are we won't drop to a low #2 which sends us out West to face UCLA. We likely end up with the last #1 or first #2 which keeps us close to home versus Memphis or Tennessee.

Or, there could be a bunch of upsets in the next 10 days and none of this Bracketology today will mean anything and I just wasted 10 minutes typing this :)

Sorry for the 2 paragraph violation above. I could have either did a run-on paragraph or posted 3 times.

I loved Turgeon, but let's crush A&M tomorrow!!!!

"... they are almost certain to have to fight through six VERY tough opponents in the Madness."

KU will almost certainly be a 1 or 2 seed. 15 seeds can be dangerous, but "VERY tough" is overdoing it. Even a 7 or 10 seed is not usually VERY tough. So I would amend your comment to say they are almost certain to have to fight through one dangerous underdog, one FAIRLY tough opponent and four VERY tough opponents ...

"I am not equating the NCAA tournament with war, ..." [followed by 63 sentences equating the NCAA tournament with war]. Well, as long as you're not equating it ...

Talk about phantom calls at the end of a game. How about Georgetown receiving game winning free throws twice courtesy of the refs.

Great article on Sasha. I agree with dagger about his increased finesse. Rarely does he throw it at the rim like he used to. I've developed a lot of respect for him this season and have even more after reading the article.

Tomorrow is definitely a must-win game. Without it, a top seed in the NCAAs is less likely, regardless of whether we win the Big 12 Tournament.

Seriously. You either win 6 games or you don't. All this talk about what seed we get, is like making excuses in advance. I don't care if we have to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the opener.

Those kids need to concentrate on playing their best. That's what the article was really about. And that's all the team can control. And that's all you unemployed critics should be worried about too. All the seed talk is such a distraction to a team trying to be the best basketball players they can be.

Sasha sure doesn't put any unnecessary arc on those free throws.

Bracketology currently has KU as a 2 seed in the South region with Memphis. I know this bracket will change from now until Selection Sunday, but look at Carolina's region, I would love to be seated there - Wisconsin, Xavier, Notre Dame, Mich St... Dammit

Lose Tennessee...

Let the 4 best teams in the country all have 1 seeds and avoid each other.... UNC, UCLA, Memphis, KU.

Has anyone been to a regional? How much are tickets scalped for good seats?? Thanks.

I'd be happy to be in the South with Memphis Brock... Anything but being in the East with UNC or West with UCLA.
I'd rather be in Tennessee's bracket than Memphis.

Hawks would destroy Memphis

honestly, a 2 seed in the south would lead us to houston, most likely against memphis in the elite 8...which is most likely better than the situation we had last year, which would happen this year again, a 1 seed in the west matched up with UCLA or stanford in the phoenix, which is better than LA, but still in the pac 10s backyard...sure a 1 seed is awesome, but id rather play memphis in texas, rather than ucla in arizona...then get to deal with ucla in the final 4...and honestly, what a better final 4 than kansas, ucla, duke, and unc? i doubt there has ever been a final 4 with more wins from the 4 teams...of course the chances of 4 of the top 6 teams in the nation all making the f4 is very unlikely becuase there is usually a 4 or 5 seed who finally puts it all together, or just has a perfect road to the f4 fall into their lap

ramsrevenge,
Couldn't agree more...they have to be chick hawk fans...no dude could bust out that many words at once. You guilty ones, put down your thesaurus and lighten up..just giving you a hard time.

also...good question smitty33...anyone know how much i could reasonably scalp a 1st/2nd round ticket in omaha?

smitty33-halvhawk,

www.stubhub.com

You can buy tix to any of the rounds. Not cheap though...

I've heard stubhub is a joke, which I hope is true given their prices today. I bought regional tickets for KU/Marquette and KU/Georgia Tech in St. Louis a few years ago for about 80/ticket. My seats were lower level in the corner about 20 rows up in the Edward Jones Dome. I've heard you can actually scalp good final 4 tickets for around 500/ticket. I have experience selling / scalping NFL tickets and know that you can get a much better deal buying by scalping than on stubhub. I'm hoping we end up in Detroit... the most airfares and I've already reserved Marriott rooms for $200/night next to the Stadium. Houston wouldn't be bad either. Phoenix airfares are expensive this time of year... and we're likely to face UCLA or Stanford there. Halvhawk, good question... I'm betting 100/ticket for good seats... first round games typically aren't that close or well attended. I'm hoping KU gets to play in Denver (I live in CO), but will probably be in Omaha.

Give me Tenn or Memphis anywhere, even in the Africa regional.

Not at all a critical comment, but playing against several good teams in a row has always been KU's weakness going back 15+yrs--we look good for a game or two, then there is the letdown game (BucknellBummer, etc...).
I think this represents the usually weak nonconf schedule, the usually weak Big12 (for sure), etc.. Remember what they used to say about Bobby Knight (I am NOT a fan of his) that he could beat anybody if given 3 days to prepare...I would like to see a clear analysis/breakdown of an opponent by the KU coaching staff, then give the players the gameplan. It seems our current philosophy is for the players to "just run and execute the offense", or the 1 flawed plan we recently saw in Bramlage (KSU) when we doubleteamed Beasley, and allowed a poor 3pt shooting club (<30% for the season), to torch us with wide open 3s in their own gym. And we did NOT adjust much at halftime. Film analysis and pregame strategy HAS TO come from the coaching staff--Its ALL these kids need, because athletically, KU can run with anybody!

Waa Waa, downer debbie Ralster... your comment is very critical.

What team plays 3 tough opponents in a row more than us? Are you saying the Big 12 is weak? Get real. The Big 12 tourney is as tough as it gets when it gets to the final 8.

What conference is tougher the past 15+ years? Maybe the ACC but that's it! Our non-conference schedule as been as adequate as ANYONE'S the past 15+ years. Everyone plays some puffcakes.