Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Remember when KU fans were worried, some even doubtful, about whether this young Kansas basketball team would make the NCAA Basketball Tournament following two straight losses to Kansas State and Missouri? It shouldn’t be hard, because it was only two weeks ago.
Now, after four straight victories, Kansas has quietly played its way off the bubble. These improved Jayhawks are a lock, as long as they keep up their solid play.
Ten conference victories will be the magic number for the Jayhawks, meaning that they need five more victories. Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference 10 years ago, only two postseason-eligible teams with double-digit conference victories have been left out of the NCAA tournament: Colorado in 2004 and Nebraska in 1999. But Colorado and Nebraska don’t have Kansas’ name recognition.
Why stop at 10 conference victories? The way the team is playing, it’s possible Kansas could win out and finish the year with a 14-2 conference record. That and a Big 12 tournament championship could put Kansas as high as a No. 2 seed.
Take a look at Kansas’ upcoming schedule. The Jayhawks still have an opportunity to win their sixth Big 12 title. They are second in the Big 12 standings at 5-2, only one game behind Texas. From here on out, Kansas plays Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa State, Baylor and Colorado at home, and Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas and Kansas State on the road.
Out of those teams, which ones are really threats to knock Kansas off? Baylor?
No way. The Bears are winless in conference play. Colorado and Iowa State? Not in Allen Fieldhouse, after Kansas already knocked both off on their home courts.
Oklahoma, Nebraska or Oklahoma State? Oklahoma is good, as they proved when they defeated Texas in Norman, but the game is in Lawrence. Oklahoma has already struggled on the road with the likes of Nebraska and Texas A&M.; Oklahoma State is young like Kansas, but not talented enough to handle the likes of Julian Wright and Brandon Rush. Nebraska was creamed in Allen Fieldhouse, and logic says it will be again in Lincoln, Neb.
As for Kansas State, well, Kansas needs some revenge for that game, and will come out extra-focused. The same applies for Missouri. Kansas should be favored in every game except against Texas on Feb. 25 in Austin, Texas. But again, the way the Jayhawks are playing, there is no reason they can’t win. Who knows how good they will be by then? They are every bit as talented as the Longhorns, if not more so, and could be better players by game time.
Okay, so a 14-2 conference record isn’t likely, but it is possible. A 10-6 record is certainly within reach. A team with the No. 1 shooting percentage defense in the country and a sudden offensive burst of 90 points per game during the past five games, no team will want to see Kansas in its bracket on Selection Sunday when, not if, the Jayhawks are selected.
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