Thursday, March 19, 2009
MINNEAPOLIS — It all made too much sense.
Cole Aldrich, a sophomore center, sat surrounded by reporters in the Kansas locker room at the Metrodome before the Jayhawks’ open practice Thursday trying to explain how anything could happen in the NCAA Tournament. How a team’s seed meant little. But his teammates watching the television in the back of the room interrupted him with a loud gasp.
“Whoa,” Aldrich said. “Someone must have gotten dunked on.”
Yeah, and 15-seed California State Northridge led two-seed Memphis going into the final 10 minutes of a first round game. Maybe Aldrich didn’t need to describe March Madness. He could have simply pointed at the TV.
Photo Gallery
Kansas NCAA Tournament, Day 1 Practice
A photo gallery of the Kansas open practice on the first day in Minneapolis at the Metrodome.
Kansas coach Bill Self said it was beneficial for Kansas, a three-seed who will play 14-seed North Dakota State at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, to see a top-seeded team struggle on the opening day of the tournament.
“I do think it’s good,” Self said. “I think that’s an advantage of playing Friday a little bit. You get a chance to see a few of the things that happen on the first day.”
Kansas is hoping to avoid falling into a position similar to Memphis’ Friday. But many are expecting the Jayhawks to.
From ESPN to Sports Illustrated, a number of national media outlets have labeled North Dakota State as a team capable of pulling an upset. The Jayhawks have noticed.
“Yeah, I’ve heard about the upset watch,” junior guard Mario Little said. “But we don’t worry about that.”
The Bison have most of the ingredients to become a team remembered years from now for knocking off a basketball powerhouse. They start four players — guards Ben Woodside and Mike Nelson, forward Brett Winkelman and center Lucas Moorman — who are fifth-year seniors.
It shoots a number of three-point shots and make seven per game. Overall, the Bison average 80 points per game.
Woodside, Nelson, Winkelman and Moorman red-shirted in 2004 so they could have this opportunity. It’s the first year North Dakota State is eligible to play in the NCAA Tournament after it completed its five-year transition to Division I basketball.
“They’re kind of the Cinderella of our region or whatnot,” Aldrich said. “They’re a really good team.”
It all starts with Woodside. He averages 23 points and six assists per game. In an overtime defeat to Stephen F. Austin earlier this season, he went off for 60 points.
Consider Self impressed.
“Everybody that hasn’t seen him play, regardless of school affiliation, will enjoy watching him as a basketball player tomorrow,” Self said. “He’s a good player.”
But a player who could stun the Jayhawks and give them their third first-round defeat in the last five years? Junior guard Sherron Collins admits it all makes him anxious.
“The first tournament game — I don’t care who you is or where you’ve been,” Collins said, “you’re going to be nervous a little bit regardless.”
A few minutes later, Collins got up and walked to where he could see the TV. Memphis had taken the lead and held on to win 81-70.
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Comments
Jayhawks prepare for Bison rumble
"When the Bison are eliminated from the field, there will be much unrest in the Valley". Chief Crazy Horse - ca. 1863
Jayhawks prepare for Bison rumble
If KU can stop Ben Woodside and the Bison outside game they might be able to hang in there.....but probably not.
Jayhawks prepare for Bison rumble
The three generations of Jayhawks in my family will be at the dome today cheering you on. There are many alums in the Twin Cities who are eager to watch this game and excited to see the Jaywawks play in Minneapolis!
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