This KU team can beat any other team on any given day or night...

I wanted to submit this thought because it might have gotten lost (if not torpedoed completely) in that well-commented thread about seeding.

I want to be clear about it, because that thread might have seemed like it had a lot of pessimism or cynicism about this team, which was not my intent. My point was more about the broader sweep of history and KU 1 seeds leading to lofty expectations that were then (too often) dashed in the actual tourney competition.

I truly believe this team would be far better off as a "hungry" (and maybe a little miffed) 2-seed than a 1-seed. But we've had that discussion. Now I'd just like to underscore what I've said at other times throughout the year, which is that this squad, when it's hitting on all cylinders (defensively and, for this team, with 3-point efficiency) and breaks are falling its way (for this team, mainly Dok not being in foul trouble), can most definitely compete with - and defeat - any team in the field this year. That is a testament to the grit and tenacity of this Devonte-led team ... a testament to Self's and the staff's coaching prowess ... and the lack of a truly elite, dominant team elsewhere in the land this season.

My biggest concern is the ability of a team built like this KU one (living and dying by the 3, and by Dok's ability to stay out of foul trouble) to put together a sustained 6-game run in consecutive fashion.

Can it be done? Of course. It's definitely plausible. Are the odds good? No. But we can hope. And the odds aren't necessarily good for any other team, either, so there's that.

We just have to hope that we catch lightning in a bottle, and for the variables cited above to hold. I would add one more variable: that none of our starters get in foul trouble. (Not just Dok) The reason I would add that to the mix is we have had two years in a row now where the night KU got eliminated from the tournament, a critical player not known for foul trouble got uncharacteristically whistled up too early and taken out of the game (out of our attack). Against Villanova, it was Devonte Graham being taken out of the action during a crucial run in the second half with very dubious calls by a ref that it turned out hails from Philly. And last year, Josh Jackson was taken out of the Oregon game in the first few minutes (!) with 2 quick fouls. Oregon then got in a flow, got the big lead, and we never recovered.

Given our razor-thin depth this year (not only inside, but on the wings -- there is a HUGE drop-off if any of the 3 of Graham, Svi, or Newman get into foul trouble), we simply cannot afford to have major foul trouble in any of the games during the Dance. If we can avoid that, and if we can avoid a day or night where none of our wings can hit the broad side of a barn from behind the arc, we have a shot. The margin for error is minuscule, but we have a shot.

There's my "glass-half full" post before the tourney.

Rock Chalk...

hairyhawk wrote: I am more pessimistic than you are with this team. I would agree that it is capable of beating anyone in the field but things need to go very well for them to beat some of the best teams. One thing that concerns me is when the opposition plays really physical and the refs are letting that go that game. If we miss a few shots it looks to me like we let that negatively affect our energy level. Hopefully that won't happen. Whatever happens from here on out this team has been a joy to watch on the whole. They really can make the game beautiful.

A good sign from yesterday was the first half recovery KU made, where they refused to fold early. Down 24-14 with 11:30 to go in the first half, they stepped up and took the game to the Cowboys, finishing up with a 1 point lead at the half.

I know I can speak for all of us in writing this -- that sequence really made all of us feel good about our chances in the second half. And the fact that most of it came with Silvio on the floor is even more encouraging for the rest of the season, especially with Dok being less than 100%..