Tuesday, March 13, 2007
After Sunday’s 22-point comeback against Texas, the second double-digit comeback in eight days, is there anything that members of the Kansas basketball team think they cannot do?
Their confidence has to be at a season high.
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Under Jay Wright, Villanova has taken a simple offensive philosophy: live by the three, die by the three.
Just knowing that even when they are playing against the best player in college basketball, they can come back from significant deficits will do wonders for this team in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Sure the game against Texas on Sunday had no implications on where Kansas would go in the NCAA tournament since the game concluded a half-hour before the NCAA tournament selection show, but it will help the team during the tournament. Close wins always help.
Something like this would not have happened last year. Kansas did have a great comeback against Oklahoma in 2006, but it also lost by nearly 20 to Texas, in a game that was never really competitive.
This is a different team than last year’s team. This team does not have that deer in the headlights look, not knowing where to turn, that I saw in Detroit in last year’s NCAA Tournament against Bradley. Everyone on the team, all the way down to the freshmen, believe that they can get it done.
Teams are going to have to be wary of that in the coming weeks. They will not know whom to guard in a close game with under a minute to play.
If they focus on Brandon Rush, then Mario Chalmers hits the shot. If they focus on Chalmers then Sherron Collins can drive to the basket. If they focus on Collins, then Russell Robinson can hit the shot. It is a great luxury for Bill Self to have and it is going to pay dividends.
This team honestly believes that if can come back from any deficit, critical in tournament play. This team does not get rattled and that will go a long way in the Jayhawks drive to Atlanta.
When facing great perimeter teams in the NCAA tournament that can go on three point barrages, Kansas has a great edge knowing that they can come back. The first time Kansas might see one of those deficits could come in the second round against Villanova, if Villanova can get past Kentucky.
Under Jay Wright, Villanova has taken a simple offensive philosophy: live by the three, die by the three. They hoist up, on average, more than 21 three’s a game. Remember this is the team that started four guards last year and went all the way to the Elite Eight. Sure Randy Foy and Allan Ray are in the NBA now, but Scottie Reynolds is by far the best freshman in the country who is not named Kevin Durant.
Reynolds is getting better too. He has had some monster games in recent weeks. He dropped 40 on Connecticut in last weeks Big East tournament and is going to be a star for years to come, as long as Wright can get him to stay in school for a few more years.
He is clutch, too. Not Acie Law clutch, but clutch enough that you better have two defenders close to him late in a close ball game.
Villanova has also gotten some big wins along the way this season.
Villanova beat Georgetown on the road and disposed of Texas in late January. If this team gets hot, watch out, because almost all of its starting five, including power forward Curtis Sumpter, can drill three point shots. Sumpter is a presence inside and has overcome two season ending knee injuries during the last two seasons and continues to be a great post player.
Even when facing a team like Villanova that has players who can hit shots from anywhere on the court, Kansas will be feeling pretty confident, even if it gets down early.
Colaianni is a McLean, Va., senior in journalism and political science.
— Edited by Sharla Shivers
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