It’s not the end of the world.
Sometimes good teams have bad losses. Take a look at all the teams from the past several years that
- lost by 15+ at home or 20+ on the road in Jan/Feb/March
- did not lose AGAIN that badly (not counting NCAA tourney)
- finished the year in Pomeroy’s top 20
- 2005: Louisville (Final Four), Villanova (Sweet 16), Kansas (1st round L)
- 2004: Oklahoma St (Final Four), St. Joseph’s (Elite 8 ), Kansas (Elite 8 ), Illinois (Sweet 16)
- 2003: Kansas (Runner up), Michigan St (Elite 8 ), Wake Forest (2nd round), Louisville (2nd round), Georgia (DNP in tourney)
- 2002: Illinois (Sweet 16)
- 2001: Maryland (Final Four), USC (Elite 8 ), Temple (Elite 8 ), Boston College (2nd round)
- 2000: Wisconsin (Final Four), LSU (Sweet 16*), Arizona (2nd round*), Texas (2nd round), Illinois (2nd round), Indiana (1st round L) … *=lost to Wisconsin
- 1999: Connecticut (National Champs), St. John’s (Elite 8 ), Maryland (Sweet 16), Iowa (Sweet 16)
I am NOT saying Kansas will be like these teams. OK, actually I am, since the results range all the way from first round losses to national championships. My point is that one game does not a season make.
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12 Responses to “It’s not the end of the world.”
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February 27th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
I love that last line.
February 27th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
For what it’s worth, on four of the five nationally broadcast college basketball games yesterday I heard the announcers mention the Texas game and say “Texas can do that to you” or something to that effect. In the past week KU’s resurgence had become perhaps the 2nd biggest issue in all of college hoops behind Redick/Morrison. The media hasn’t given up on this team, the coaches haven’t given up, and from the players’ comments they haven’t given up. Stay positive and lets see a blowout win on senior night.
Go Jayhawks and for this week go Aggies!
February 27th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
Off-topic, but a Phog Blog link is now #3 in searches for Kevin Kietzman. KU might be losing spots in the polls, but at least PB is climbing.
February 27th, 2006 at 6:06 pm
This team has bounced back from tough losses earlier in the year. Let’s see how they play on Wednesday. I don’t think this team is done but they need to learn from Saturday’s game & not lose focus.
How many fans would have been disappointed if back in December you told them by March 1st this team would be in 2nd place in the B12 w/ only 1 double digit loss? My guess is none.
Just sit back & enjoy the ride.
February 27th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
I don’t want to cheapen the blog to a ticket marketplace… but does anybody have two tickets to sell for Wednesday night’s game? I wanted to catch a home game this season and I guess this is my last opportunity. You can email me at oklahoma_mead@yahoo.com.
February 27th, 2006 at 11:45 pm
Kansas probably deserves a 7 seed at best and should they lose the first game in the tourney they probably should not get in the tourney. Finishing 2nd in the Big 12 this year is equivalent to finishing 6th in the Missouri Valley. Maybe 7th. Do you really think that Kansas could beat 6th place Northern Iowa. Remember they beat LSU and Iowa and you lost to Missouri. Get realistic.
February 28th, 2006 at 12:36 am
Billy walker (see last post) is on drugs. I will just assume that he is a disgruntled Missery fan who IS tired of finishing 6th or worst in the Big XII. Tell your coach good luck in the NIT, oh wait, you need a .500 record for the NIT…
February 28th, 2006 at 6:34 am
Actually it looks like he is a Northern Iowa fan. What a joke.
February 28th, 2006 at 9:15 am
I like how Bill chooses to use long- and short-hand when he is writing. See his use of “tourney” and then “get realistic.” Who says that? If you are not going to spell out tournament then why would you write out realistic? Just a thought….and yes I do think we can beat Northern Iowa.
February 28th, 2006 at 9:16 am
We all should be Northern Iowa fans. After all, they beat LSU, which beat Vanderbilt, which beat Georgetown, which beat Duke.
Northern Iowa is the greatest basketball program ever.
And forget the fact that Naismith invented the game and that KU is #3 in all time wins.
None of that means anything in comparison to the transitive game path which clearly proves that Northern Iowa is the best collection of individuals ever to do anything in any possible universe.
They deserve at least an 8 seed for that.
February 28th, 2006 at 9:26 am
We shouldn’t have to lower ourselves to knocking on the valley, granted they’ve had their best overall year ever and have some great teams. The tournament will show how good the Big XII really is (depending on seeds), so there is no use slamming it now. And by the way, KU would possibly have to lose three games in a row to get lower than a seven seed, and we all know that isn’t going to happen (knock on wood). Oh, and Northern Iowa lost to Iowa State, a team we both played and that KU beat twice. I also hear that Indiana St. is a solid team this year… wait, Mizzou has a much better RPI.
February 28th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
I think we’re going to win one of our last two games….just putting that out there…annnnd discuss!!!