Their history is among the best in college sports. The list of program alumni reads like a hoops encyclopedia. Coaches include Adolph Rupp and Rick Pitino. Pat Riley and Jamal Mashburn resonate among the faithful. They are seven-time national champions and all-time best 2,089 wins. They are Big Blue Nation.
Their history is among the best in college sports. The list of program alumni reads like a hoops encyclopedia. Coaches include the inventor of the game himself, Dr. James Naismith and Forrest C. “Phog” Allen. Wilt Chamberlain and Danny Manning resonate among the faithful. They are three-time national champions and second all-time best 2,070 wins. They are Rock Chalk Jayhawk.
They are the crown jewel of college basketball. Some would say the equal to their professional counterparts in Washington and Charlotte. New Orleans glory was destined, anything less would be uncivilized. They are a freshman quartet of Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquise Teague and Kyle Wiltjer. A sophomore duo of Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb along with the selfless contributions of senior in Darius Miller. They are the favorites for tonight’s national championship game.
They are were often doubted after losing four starters from last season. Some said they were the third best team in the Big 12. New Orleans glory was an after thought, anything more than a couple rounds in the tourney would be madness. They are the powerful junior Thomas Robinson and exciting senior Tyshawn Taylor. They are the underdogs for tonight’s national championship game.
Two programs on the similar plane of existence in the annals of college basketball lore, but many would still consider one to be out of place in this final match-up. Kentucky has a roster of talent likely to crash the first-round of the NBA draft. While Davis is busy launching his lanky frame in the air intimidating would be scorers, Jones rebounds and dunks with a ferocity as if whispers of “Cal’s crew can’t win the big one” reverberates in his ears.
Lamb is a smooth operator on the floor while Miller provides the timely big plays. Kidd-Gilchrist is just everywhere. Teague is their to orchestrate it all. Excluding their nail biting eight point win against Louisville (you just knew they would pull it out right?), from their 81-66 win over Western Kentucky to a 82-70 victory against Baylor, opposing resistance has been kept to a minimum.
Kansas does have Thomas Robinson, a player who placed himself into player of the year talks after seeing spot minutes off the bench the two previous seasons. He’s a certified lottery pick. They’ve been ranked in the top ten throughout the year, but somehow folks are surprised they are at this final point. Analysts actually had their opening opponent Detroit as a trendy fifteenth seed over number two pick. They are the epitome of former Jayhawk coach Larry Brown’s “play the right way” mantra.
Self’s 2012 crew may not have the most talent from top to bottom, but this notion of these guys simply out hustling opponents, isn’t this a little dismissive of the individual talent? This is a group of former high school studs who have accepted roles. Taylor honed his fast-wire point guard act in the hoops crazed New Jersey/New York area while leading famed St. Anthony to a mythical national high school championship.
Kansas school boy hero Travis Relefird has undergone a transformation from a high-scoring All-American to ultimate “glue guy”, putting the clamps on offensive threats. Shot blocking fiend Jeff Withey was considered a top fifty talent coming out of San Diego’s Horizon High. What about Elijah Johnson? The right in the nick of time play maker from Vegas was a top thirty prospect in the 2009 class.
Okay, so this argument may not be convincing, but you can’t say they aren’t exhilarating to watch. Excluding their blowout win over Detroit, opposing resistance has been kept to a maximum. They were against the ropes against Purdue in the third round. They clung to wins against N.C. State and North Carolina. And the debate rages on, did Ohio State lose or did Kansas win? To keep it simple, they won and that’s why they get the chance to bust everyone’s bracket officially Monday night.
Maybe Kansas is playing with house money. Kentucky’s locker room, yeah that’s where the expectations reside. The entire 2008 season of John Calipari’s Memphis squad (ended in a 75-68 overtime loss to Bill Self’s Kansas team) may not exist in the NCAA record books, but it rests in the mind of Cal. Maybe this year is different. The public raves of the commitment these players place on the defensive end and genuine joy of playing together. Can’t the same be said about Kansas?
So, for those of you still with a Wildcat in the bracket race, just remember these Jaw Hawks like their big dances close. For those with brackets with as much red as your tests in school, sit back and enjoy. It’s Kentucky blue and white. It’s Kansas crimson and blue. This is college basketball royalty.
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