Some things change, and some remain the same.
This year, for North Carolina's shocking collapse and Kentucky's triumphant rise back into the college basketball elite, there is the continued greatness of the Kansas Jayhawks.
Seriously, you have to hand it to Bill Self's club. Each year, they walk into games with a gigantic target on their backs. Sometimes, the target just slips easily off their backs and they cruise. Other times, they struggle. Once this year, they fell, suffering a loss at the hands of Tennessee. Most times, though, they persevere. They shake off the obstacles. And they win.
Just take a look at three of their last four games ... vintage KU.
Against an outstanding, fired-up Kansas State club in a raucous Bramlage Coliseum, Kansas withstood 15 turnovers, a revved up sea of purple, and an injured Sherron Collins and prevailed 81-79 in overtime. The hero? Collins himself, who fought cramps to come up with a dazzling three-point play to seal the deal for the Jayhawks.
KU then survived an overtime scare in Boulder. Despite one of the most abysmal nights at the free throw line (18-of-38) one can remember from a top-ranked team, the Jayhawks made the clutch plays when they needed to, and Colorado's hopes for a major upset were denied to the tune of 72-66.
And then tonight, the Jayhawks went to Austin for what was supposed to be a big time showdown with the Texas Longhorns. Yet, the moment after the opening tip-off, was there any feeling out there that said Kansas wouldn't win the game?
Kansas dominated the Longhorns. Their ball control completely overwhelmed Texas. Their passing was crisp, their defense sharp. KU owned the paint, and all Dexter Pittman could do was watch the show unfold in front of him. Pittman finished the night with 3 points, having been shutdown by Cole Aldrich in his own house. And what about Aldrich ... 6 blocks tonight in a fantastic defensive performance.
Final score: Kansas 80, Texas 68. The final score had no reflection on just how much better KU was.
Granted, Texas is in a pretty big slump, but the message sent tonight was clear. For one, Kansas is still the king of the Big 12. And second, for Texas to have any shot at the national title game, they need to hope for a miracle scenario in which they don't face the Jayhawks.
It's sheer consistency. It's brilliant, boring at times, but it's winning basketball. And Kansas has perfected the art.
You will always find at least three KU players in double-figures — four players average over 10 points a game. They'll almost always have double-digit marks in offensive rebounds, most often in steals. They lead the NCAA in opponents' field goal percentage, while ranking in the top five in scoring offense. Their assist to turnover ratio stands at a solid 1.4-to-1. They aren't the best shooting team, but they're definitely one of the scrappiest. Collins is a leader from the get-go. Brady Morningstar is becoming a serious outside threat. Aldrich owns the paint, and Marcus Morris is really picking up his game, becoming an added inside force for Kansas.
If the pace of the game is slow, half-court basketball, KU can win (ask Memphis). If the game is fast-paced, full-court hoops, KU can win (ask Missouri).
It's so regular, it takes the sudden falls of teams like North Carolina and UCLA to appreciate the continuous winning in Lawrence. Even with the rise of Texas and Kansas State in the Big 12, Kansas just keeps sitting at the top.
While it is certainly not clear as to how March will unfold, one has to remember Monday night as the night where Kansas once again asserted its dominance. Time and time again, the Jayhawks know how to find that winning formula. And it's that continued success when it counts that should have everyone thinking "Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk" when it's time to fill in those brackets.
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