What they're saying . . . .

March Madness 2019: Winners and losers from the first full day of this year's NCAA Tournament
by Kyle Boone & Matt Norlander

Quote:

Winner: Bill Self
While other higher-seeded teams struggled to get out of the gate in the first round on Thursday -- Izzo's Spartans included -- Self and No. 4 seed Kansas put No. 13 seed Northeastern to bed before the sun went down. By halftime, it was 37-25. By the conclusion of the second half, it was 87-53, an old-fashioned butt-whooping.

I’m thinking positively, BUT.......

the team looked like they were having fun yesterday, whuppin’” a clearly outclassed team. I worry that they won’t realize that it gets harder the longer they play.

Is that the “adults in the room’s job” to try to keep that from happening?

Meanwhile......I’m going to enjoy today!

This team has laid enough eggs this season to understand that there are no guarantees. Imagine how differently things might have played out down the stretch if we hadn't gifted WVU a win in Morgantown.

They also watch the other games and saw how teams like MSU struggled.

In the past, I've always thought that struggling early is a good way to get a team focused for the next round. I think the opposite this time: these guys need a boost of confidence and a little swagger. I'd rather have a guy like KJ come into the next game coming off the bench knowing that he's capable of a lot more than he thought.