Omaha, Neb. ? Already having looked at the NCAA Tournament experience factor that favors Wichita State in a potential matchup with Kansas University, it’s time to take a look at what elements favor Kansas.
First, some of the intangibles that in many years or at certain times of the year that might favor Wichita State, don’t apply this year and/or this time of year.
One reason KU does not schedule the Shockers has to do with the idea that you never want to play a team that has so much more to gain from winning the game than do you. A victory over Kansas in a preseason game would do more for the energy of the Shockers fan base and the prestige of the program than any victory over any opponent could do for KU.
That doesn’t apply in March. Nothing in college basketball is bigger than winning an NCAA Tournament game, so everybody’s motivation is equal. Survive-and-advance does more for a program than any regular-season outcome possibly could do.
Another intangible in KU’s favor throughout the tournament, not just vs. Wichita State if the Kansas schools meet, has to do with playing without the burden of enormous expectations.
Nobody, repeat: Nobody on ESPN is picking Kansas to win it all. In most years, that’s not the case. It seems as if an inordinate number of analysts pick Kansas to get the Final Four every year. At least at the subconscious level, that might have something to do with Jayhawks coach Bill Self being friendlier, funnier, more interesting and more approachable than many elite coaches. It becomes wishful thinking to an extent. They pick Kansas because they want Kansas to win, to a small degree anyway. Plus, Kansas typically tears through a tough schedule with a series of blowouts. Not the case this season.
The most obvious reason for nobody picking Kansas to reach the Final Four has to do with the Kentucky Wildcats, the giants of this college basketball season in so many ways, standing in the way at the top of the Midwest region.
That’s just part of it, though. Other reasons for not picking a smooth post-season ride linger as well. Cliff Alexander remains ineligible and did not travel with the team. Alexander didn’t have a great season, but his athleticism translated better to elite competition than some who will play in his place. Perry Ellis, KU’s best player, has a sprained knee and it showed, especially in his second game in as many days in the Big 12 tournament. How much better is he with just shy of a week of extra rest? Starting wings Kelly Oubre Jr. and Wayne Selden Jr. have had big games, but neither player has produced consistently as an efficient offensive player.
The Jayhawks have the rare opportunity to overlook their No. 2 seed and embrace the nobody-believes-in-us mentality.
As for the tangible reasons to believe Kansas would defeat Wichita State, start with the premise that size matters. None of the Shockers’ seven players with double-figures minutes stands taller than 6-foot-7. They don’t block shots. Ron Baker, a 6-3, 222-pound junior from Scott City, leads the team with 0.8 blocked shots per game. He also leads the Shockers in scoring (15 points per game) and shoots .394 from three. Point guard Fred VanVleet and wing Tekele Cotton bring a wealth of tournament experience, and 6-7, 245-pound senior Darius Carter ranks third on the team in scoring (11.2) and first in rebounding (5.3).
They all can play, but Kansas will suit up three McDonald’s All-Americans (Ellis, Selden, Oubre), a junior, sophomore and freshman. Even if the size of Hunter Mickelson and Landen Lucas doesn’t bother the Shockers, the quickness of Ellis and Oubre, if he bucket hangs often enough, could be more than WSU is prepared to handle.
Reflecting on Selden’s performance in the Big 12 tournament, Self said, “His attitude has been so good the last two days, and he didn’t settle and he took the ball to the hole and was aggressive. I thought he played great over there, great. And we see that as a positive. Kelly Oubre was great one game. … Frank (Mason) had his moments where he was really, really good, and Perry then didn’t have his balance. But if we can get those four guys playing well, we’ll be hard to deal with.”
Kansas at its best is better than Wichita State at its best.
