Crash, Thud, Down goes Kansas, Down goes Kansas

ESPN advises that 40 percent of the brackets completed on it's Website had Kansas as the eventual National Champion. We had been out for dinner Saturday evening and upon returning to the house we noted that Kansas was in a desperate position in the last minute against Northern Iowa. I texted my son who was out with friends and he could not believe it. Being older I know anything is possible, I remember Depaul losing I think two years in a row in the first round as a Number 1 seed, I think Mark Acguire is still crying.

This however was a shock and in todays world of everyone doing a bracket this one hurts. I now have lost my National Champion in my bracket. I am not alone.

So let's talk about the story no one is really talking about. Northern Iowa beat this team. Northern Iowa was a number nine seed, not as low as some of the upsets we have seen already. This is a team that earlier in the year had a significant article about them in Sports Illustrated. This team was known. They shoot well, make few mistakes and play a very smart game. This is a GREAT story. I am sad for my bracket but i am thrilled for this team.

With all the upsets so far one might wonder why. I believe that with the best players cycling through the best schools in one and two year increments that at times it becomes difficult for these teams to have any presence of continuity. Mid major teams however rarely have the freshman that will go pro after a year, most of their best players have to play the full four years to gain the notice to have a potential career in the NBA and this helps the teams become a well functioning unit.

Of course for every theory there is a reason that is not right. North Carolina this year is the example of the talented team with little experience to guide them, but thus far that does not seem to be stopping Kentucky. Before yesterday my example of the team that got great recruits but had some continuity was Kansas ( Cole Aldrich and Sherrod Collins) but you can see where that got them against Northern Iowa.

So the truth is no one knows anything. My bracket is busted as my son and daughter said. So I am now changing my allegiance.

Go Duke!!! I always root for Duke. For my theory to be correct they need to win. But more importantly we always WANT Duke to win. Sometimes maybe you get what you want, not what you need