Kansans have no one to blame but themselves for their bracket misfortune after a not-so-hectic opening weekend of the NCAA tournament.
Yes, it was a surprisingly calm first four days of March Madness especially considering the mayhem that previous seasons have brought. In every region, seeds 1-4 all advanced to the Sweet 16, making those who steered away from the bracket crippling upset predictions and mid-major Cinderellas rise in their office bracket pools faster than a pool toy in a flash flood.
Oh wait, I wrote that wrong, I apologize. All but two 1-4 seeds advanced to the Sweet 16 this year. Four seeds Kansas and Kansas State each bowed out to lower-seeded opponents, leaving just a touch of the madness that weve all come to expect from the tournament in return for Jayhawk and Wildcat fans joy and happiness.
Kansas State, with their shared Big 12 title and veteran-laden team, bowed out to 13-seed UC Irvine while Kansas ended their up-and-down nightmare of a season with a blowout loss to a talented fifth-seeded Auburn team in the round-of-32.
Both endings bring disappointment for different reasons.
For KU, a team that started the season as the top in the country, they ended the year with much of their talent and high-rated recruits intact but with almost nothing to show for it.
For K-State, a four-year steady climb for seniors Dean Wade, Barry Brown and Kamau Stokes ends where the Big 12 championship season ended, in the first round of the tournament.
For many fans of both teams, their appetite to watch the final couple of weeks of the basketball season may be ruined. If you cant watch your team revel in success, then why watch at all, right?
Wrong. If anything, the NCAA Tournament is a celebration of the previous season. It should be enjoyed to its fullest, whether the team you root for is there or not.
Soon and sooner than you think the dog days of summer will be upon us and while youre sweating through your third shirt while watching a Royals game that may or may not matter, youll think back to the 60-degree days of the NCAA tournament.
There are only 15 games left before this season takes its final bow in Minneapolis. With 14 of the top-seeded teams left, it should be a real slugfest to decide this years national champion. Youre going to want to see it.
