Good (or terrible) storylines often are the difference between successful network dramas and early flameouts. In sport, they fill the margins of newsprint and oftentimes give a father something to point out to his son while in the seats.

That Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins comprised 63 percent of the Jayhawks’ offense during Sunday’s 60-43 victory over Dayton after combining for 55 points in the tournament opener would be one of them — albeit a story as original as Lost’s plotlines.

Aldrich’s triple-double on the other hand (13 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocks) was the stuff of headlines, billboards and history books. His performance earned him a spot next to Wilt Chamberlain on Kansas highlight tapes and in the same sentence as Shaquille O’Neal (Louisiana State, 1992) as NCAA tournament masters of the paint.

The sophomore center and Bloomington, Minn., native was at home inside Minneapolis’ Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, having his way below the basket early and earning Kansas’ first six points. The bulk of his game afterwards saw him tear down all those rebounds and block seemingly all Dayton upset hopes.

Per usual, Collins also jumped out early to lead Kansas as the junior point guard — coming off a career-best 32 points in the first round against North Dakota State — combined with Aldrich to score 23 of Kansas’ 29 first-half points.

The Big Two couldn’t say they didn’t try to share Sunday. Collins often found his teammates for open looks as all great floor generals do. Trouble was, few outside junior guard Mario Little (seven points off 3-for-4 shooting) could convert. Freshman guard Brady Morningstar — among the best in the Big 12 beyond the arc — missed every one of his shots and freshman guard Tyrel Reed was 1-of-5 in comparison.

The stat sheet tells us freshman forward Marcus Morris played 14 minutes but I’m not so sure he left the hotel. One foul, a turnover, a steal and zero points.

Overall, Kansas players not named Aldrich or Collins shot 6-of-22 Sunday. That is 27 percent. That is also terrible.

Storylines preceding Sunday’s tip-off warned of Dayton’s sophomore Chris Wright, whose 27-point 10-rebound game fueled a first-round upset of West Virginia. Also in the papers, Dayton’s full-court, high-pressure defensive attack, reminiscent of Missouri and Michigan State.

Wright got in a dunk or two but was effectively silenced, finishing with just six points off 4-for-16 shooting. Dayton’s defense kept it close at times and held Kansas to its second lowest first half total this year. But 22 percent shooting offensively grounded the Flyers and earned the Jayhawks all superlatives to be had.

Dark clouds encase the newspaper business of today. But whether delivered by courier or through fiber optic cable, whether printed in ink or displayed on an iPhone, there will be storylines.

Squeezing some production from the Big Two’s supporting cast and improving free throw shooting team-wide are two that come to mind early. I’m sure plenty more will be inspired by Friday’s rematch with Michigan State.

But right now Aldrich and Collins have given us a few stories we’ll think about for quite some time. Not to mention, Bill Self’s Jayhawks are headed to the Sweet Sixteen for the third consecutive year.

How sweet a story it is.

— — Edited by Jesse Trimble