Wednesday, March 22, 2006
In Lawrence, there are a few things that you just don’t bring up when talking about basketball. Whether it’s Bucknell, Roy Williams, Miles Simon, Tyson Wheeler, or even UTEP, it’s not in one’s best interest to discuss these topics in front of a Kansas fan.
I’m sure for some Jayhawk fans out there that March 17, 2006 is already a day that will live forever in infamy. Those same fans are ready to play host to bonfires in which Bradley shirts are the fuel of choice.
To those fans, just put down the matches. Let’s not turn Bradley into Bucknell Jr. and remember that the only thing Marcellus Sommerville has in common with Miles Simon is their initials.
Bradley is not a team that Kansas fans should hate, but rather a team that Kansas fans should cheer for the rest of the tournament and certainly not hold any grudges against.
First off, Bradley is a good team. They took the Jayahwks out of any kind of offensive groove for the entire game, and they were able to prevent Kansas’ defense from constantly putting pressure on them and were able to get hordes of open looks. Not only that, Bradley vindicated its high quality by knocking of Pittsburgh in the second round.
When Bucknell beat Kansas last year, it looked like a bunch of no talent shrimps from the Oklahoma City YMCA were collected the night before to challenge Kansas. They did not have nearly the size, athleticism or talent as Bradley does. That is why Bucknell was such a huge shock, but Bradley has plenty of players who are almost as skilled as Kansas players or in some cases more skilled.
Take Patrick O’Bryant, Bradley’s seven-foot center, for example. He has more than a chance at playing in the NBA. The Web site nbadraft.net has O’Bryant going 10th in this year’s draft should he choose to leave early. He may not have hurt Kansas too much by looking at the stats (he only scored eight points), but his presence in the paint kept sophomore centers Sasha Kaun and C.J. Giles from jumping out on the perimeter to fluster the guards and help cause turnovers as they had been doing in games in which Kansas had its most success.
One of those guards that was able to capitalize was Sommerville, who was so open he could’ve tied his shoes, had a cup of coffee, and finished his Economics homework before sinking one of his five back-breaking three pointers.
Bottom line is this: Bucknell was a team of runts that just caught a veteran team off guard, whereas Bradley is a team of skillful players that had been playing in a tough Missouri Valley conference all season and was ready to make some noise against whoever it would’ve played in the first round.
Finally, Kansas fans need to remember that this Jayhawk team is young. The Bradley game was one of the opening chapters for this team’s story. When Kansas lost to Arizona in 1997, it marked the end of arguably the greatest team in Kansas history. Last year was the final game for one of the best senior classes in school history. Last week’s game was just a small roadblock for a group of kids that will only get better in the seasons to come.
But until next season, I’m going to be cheering for Bradley to knock off Memphis and pull an even bigger miracle and go to the Final Four.
Dent is an Overland Park freshman in journalism.
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