Kansas will be Kings of the Madness

We always say that time flies, but don't tell that to the people in Kansas.  Deep in the heart of middle America, it's as if time has been moving on the back of a snail.  To the folks of Lawrence, students (both current ones and alums) and natives have not seen their beloved Kansas Jayhawks win the national championship in precisely two decades. 

It was in 1988, when Larry Brown and Danny Manning led the ultimate underdog Jayhawks to the national championship.  And the world was stunned.  While it was a powerhouse basketball program throughout the 80s, Kansas entered the dance that year with very little hope of making a long run into the tournament.  As a sixth seed, many had KU going down to Xavier in their first round matchup.  But game after game, the fans "waved the wheat" and the players played the type of basketball that kept sending their opponents home for good (www.kansascity.com/sports/sory/534306.html). This created a brilliant Jayhawk joyride that culminated on April 4, 1988, when Kansas defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 83-79.  For the rest of us, the last twenty years have flown by at the speed of light.  Yet in Lawrence, Kansas, 1988 seems like a century ago. 

For this 2008 NCAA tournament, I'm picking Bill Self's Kansas Jayhawks to capture the school's first national title in twenty years.  Throughout this whole season, there has just been something about this club that truly makes me believe they have the goods to take their show to Texas for Final Four. And unlike that heartbreaker against Syracuse in '03, KU is going to bring back the coveted crown to Lawrence. 

With Brandon Rush, Mario Chambers and Darnell Jackson, this team has enough firepower to take their run into the month of April.  I'm picking two schools to meet up in the national championship (Obviously, KU and also the UCLA Bruins) that both used to be coached by Larry Brown.  KU will win.  WHY?

-SPEED and POWER:  Have you seen these guys play.  With the exception of Carolina, KU mostly resembles an NBA team.  They have speed like the Phoenix Suns, where as soon as they get that defensive rebound, they can move the ball down the court in four seconds flat. And they have powerful players that instill fear in the opponent, especially Bradon Rush, who I expect HUGE things from in this tournament.  For KU, there is no question, Rush is the key.

-Coaching:   Bill Self is bound to make a long run in the tournament.  In his previous four seasons with the school, he has failed to make the final four, losing in the first round and Elite Eight twice respectively, I just feel that this has to be Self's season.  (IF KU doesn't win it all, I guarantee they make the final four.  Self has lost in the Elite Eight four times all-together, twice with KU and one time each with Tulsa and Illinois.  No question, this is Self's best shot.)

-The Wait for the Wheat Wavers:  Hey, for some people in the state of Kansas, Jayhawks hoops is all they have.  There are no pro sports in the entire state and life is seems to stop for everybody once tourney time comes around.  Twenty years is a heckuva long time, and after two decades, these fans deserve nothing less than a national championship. 

This is the third time in my basketball watching life that I am picking Kansas to be the Kings of March Madness.  In 1995, they had a great ballclub led by Jaque Vaughn and Jerod Haas, but the team was smacked in the sweet sixteen by the Virginia.  I then picked them last year to take it all the way, and then they were stunned by Southern Illinois, once again, in the sweet sixteen.  This year, I am going for three times a charm, and I'm going to be right.  Furthermore, I'm convinced that this Jayhawk ballclub will not be denied.  When you look at their possible matchups down the road to the final four, you cannot help but take your eyes to San Antonio,. I know, we have not even tipped off the tournament yet, but if both North Carolina and Kansas can win their next four games, then basketball fans will be given a dream match-up of the Tarheels versus the Jayhawks.  Surely, this will be an emotional rollercoaster ride for former KU coach, and Current Tarheel coach, Roy Williams.  I have a deep conviction that Kansas will come out on top.

Deep down, I think there are only five teams capable of winning the whole Shabang.  Obviously, the four number one seeds, and also Georgetown, who looks ready to pounce after capturing the Big East title.  The problem for the Hoyas is that I have them losing to Kansas in the Elite 8.  Altogether, I don't see any team capturing the title besides these five.  And out of this group, I think Kansas will be cutting down the nets in San Antonio.

 Stay Tuned for the rest of my picks for the NCAA tournament.