Midwest Sweet 16 Preview: Kansas Crusade

The top-seeded Jayhawks are shooting to win it all with their legion of stars

March 24, 2008

By Adrian Brijbassi
Bodog Nation Contributing Writer

If your gang's going to hit Detroit, you better come with weapons. No popguns, either. An arsenal is needed on the mean streets of Motown. Big rifles, handguns, any rapid-fire machinery you can snag. Want a study on how to roll into Michigan? Read up on the Kansas Jayhawks.

No team in the NCAA tournament has more gunners. If it's not elite stars Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush doing the damage, it's Sherron Collins and Russell Robinson hitting shots. And if you need a short-range assault, the Kansas frontcourt is locked and loaded too.

"We have a nice blend of power, inside scoring, guys who can run, quickness on the perimeter to break you down, guys who can shoot off the kick-out," coach Bill Self said after Saturday’s second-round win over UNLV. "I do think we have a really good team. I won't say it's the best team we've had. I'll wait and see how it plays out."

Jayhawks on a Mission

Entering the Midwest region's Sweet 16 games at Ford Field, the No. 1 Jayhawks have emerged as a championship-caliber force that continues to build momentum on the road to the Final Four. Next up in their crosshairs are the Villanova Wildcats, who stunned No. 5 Clemson in the first round and then ripped No. 13 Siena on Sunday.

Led by hard-nosed guard Scottie Reynolds, the Wildcats are like a JuCo version of the Jayhawks. They rely on their backcourt for offense and to come up with opportunistic plays on defense. But in this matchup, the Jayhawks' guards are better than the Wildcats' guards. Ditto the frontcourt and bench.

Mario Chalmers is one of four Kansas guards who can score. (AP Images)

As for intangibles, those favor Kansas too.

"We're happy to be at the Sweet 16, but we're supposed to be there," senior guard Jeremy Case told reporters. "We're happy, but we're not satisfied."

Last year, the depth of Florida wore down opponents as the Gators earned their second straight national title. But the Gators had more than a ton of talent on their side. What put them over the top was the will to win back-to-back championships. Kansas appears to have a similar sense of determination.

The Jayhawks possess a mix of upperclassmen who lived through disappointment in tournaments past, strong character players who survived personal tragedy and two rising sophomores in Collins and forward Darrell Arthur. They know they will return to Lawrence, Kan., with twine around their necks one way or the other. They'd prefer it be the Ford Field net rather than the noose of infamy that's been worn by previous Jayhawk players who failed to reach the Final Four despite an array of talent on the roster.

The question for Kansas prior to the tipoff of March Madness was whether they were good enough to go all the way. They've answered that with two decisive victories in the opening weekend. Now, we want to know who can stop them.

Davidson Aims to Shock the World

Stephen Curry has turned the NCAA tournament into his own personal scouting reel for the NBA. The superb sophomore guard totaled 70 points in Davidson's first two games as he led the Wildcats past No. 7 Gonzaga and No. 2 Georgetown. As March Madness bettors ponder Davidson's chances against the brutish Badgers, they'll no doubt take notice of how Curry rallied in the second half against the Hoyas' fierce defense.

Stephen Curry has been the star of the tournament. (AP Images)

He scored 25 points after intermission, hitting shots with hands in his face and versus double teams. Against Wisconsin, he'll likely face man-to-man defense to start. The Badgers' Michael Flowers is one of the best defenders in the country and if he can contain Curry then Bo Ryan's team can slow the game and punish Davidson inside.

Davidson is more than just Curry, of course, but it needs him to hit plenty of shots in order to advance. Flowers' defense and the physical play of the Badgers could be what sets up a Kansas-Wisconsin Elite Eight matchup.

Best Bet

Take Kansas against the point spread on Friday. The Jayhawks' depth overwhelmed UNLV and it will be too much for Villanova down the stretch also.

Headed to the Final Four

The Jayhawks seem to have the formula figured out. They're as talented as any team in the country, but they're aware that's not enough to reach San Antonio. "We have to stay focused with no distractions — don't walk around here all cocky, because the next thing you know, you'll lose and you'll leave here disappointed," senior forward Darnell Jackson said. It's that mentality that puts Kansas over the top in the Midwest.

TOP PHOTO: Brandon Rush and the Jayhawks are on a mission. (AP Images)