Jayhawks ousted from tourney

[S2M]

Rockchalk Jayh....whatever. Losers.

And all the frontrunners who had them going all the way..brackets are busted...try again in 2011.

[kgdjpubs]

bottom line is this....it's really anybody's game to win this year. No team is totally dominant unlike in some years. All it takes is a bad shooting night against someone who is firing on all cylinders, and you're gone. I don't think we've seen the last of the big upsets by any stretch of the imagination.

[Saint John]

Kentucky appears to be the best team, but, like any Calipari team, they can't shoot free throws, and that'll kill them in a close game. Bill Self is out getting a head start on recruiting violations. That's gotta be bothering Calipari a bit.

[hoagiepete]

Kentucky appears to be the best team, but, like any Calipari team, they can't shoot free throws, and that'll kill them in a close game. Bill Self is out getting a head start on recruiting violations. That's gotta be bothering Calipari a bit.

Jayhawks had the talent but no killer instinct. Looked like Collins ran out of gas late in the season. When you suddenly start to count on the Morris thugs, err, twins...you are in trouble. We had a feeling they would bust sometime, just not the second round. Kansas State is now the team to watch. THEY have heart.

Recruiting violations?? WTF kind of comment is that? I wouldn't lump Self into that crowd. Did he do some cheating at Illinois that I'm not aware of? He's been a success at every school he's been at, hands down one of the top five coachs in the country.

[Everett]

I just watched the self destruction of the badgers. Boy that was painful to watch

[Saint John]

Recruiting violations?? WTF kind of comment is that? I wouldn't lump Self into that crowd. Did he do some cheating at Illinois that I'm not aware of? He's been a success at every school he's been at, hands down one of the top five coachs in the country.

In an ironic twist of fate, after being chastised by KU fans for coaching a brand of basketball that is a disgrace to the game and not really basketball after hammering KU out of the 2001 NCAA tournament, Bill Self leaves Illinois and is introduced as Kansas basketball coach

Darnell Jackson becomes Self’s first commit to Kansas as after receiving over $5,000 in illegal benefits during his recruitment.

2003-2004 Season

Kansas, under Bill Self, after only two games becomes ranked #1 in the Nation.

In its first game thereafter, #1 Kansas promptly loses to Stanford (64-58) surrendering its No. 1 ranking. Next, Kansas is blown out by Nevada (75-61). A week and a half later, Kansas suffers a humiliating defeat AT HOME against Richmond (69-68).

Another week and a half later, Kansas loses to Iowa State (68-61), then is crushed by Oklahoma State (80-60), crushed by Nebraska (74-55) and crushed by Texas (82-67).

After finishing 3rd in the conference Kansas loses again to Texas in second round of Big 12 tournament (64-60).

Kansas loses to Georgia Tech (79-71) in NCAA tournament after beating heavyweights UIC, Pacific and Alabama-Birmingham;

2004 offseason

Departing players receive customary graduation checks from appreciative boosters. Team sets off on illegally organized barnstorming tour where they receive the gate money to supplement their income.

Omar Wilkes, Moulaye Niang, David Padgett announce they are transferring from Kansas basketball program.

Kurtis Townsend hired as assistant basketball coach; Townsend’s experience includes being a member of the staff at California (1993-1997) during one of the largest NCAA recruiting violation investigations in history which landed the school on 3 years probation. He followed that up as an assistant at Michigan (1998-2001) during the greatest recruiting scandal in the history of the NCAA, which resulted in four years of major sanctions for the school; As a bonus to the Kansas basketball program, Townsend brought along with him recruit C.J. Giles, formerly committed to USC when Townsend was coaching there. However, when Townsend left USC for Miami, G.J. Giles transferred along with him to Miami. Once Townsend was fired at Miami, C.J. Giles again transferred with him, this time to Kansas.

Julian Wright commits to Kansas without ever visiting campus. Wright, who had previously eliminated Kansas from his list apparently and inexplicably changed his mind and committed on the spot during a Self and Townsend in-home visit. Scheduled visits to various other schools are abruptly cancelled;

Perhaps not surprisingly, Rodrick Stewart, another one of Townsend’s former players and recruits, transfers to Kansas from USC, see article for explanation:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/cbasketba ... cke09.html

2004-05 regular season

Kansas blown out in 20 point loss (83-62) to Villanova.

Kansas loses three in a row to Texas Tech (80-79), Iowa State AT HOME (63-61), to Oklahoma (71-63).

Kansas loses to rival Missouri (72-68).

In a strange and somewhat sad tradition, KU finishes second in conference to Oklahoma but in an attempt to appear something they are not claim a conference championship despite losing the tiebreaker to them. Kansas knocked out of Big 12 tournament (78-75) in loss to Oklahoma State;

Self manages to accomplish something that hasn’t been done at KU since 1978, as Kansas is shocked in first round of NCAA tournament (64-63) by 14th seed BUCKNELL. It is the first NCAA tournament victory ever for Bucknell’s entire conference, and the first win by a 14 seed since 1999. The preseason #1 team ends its season by losing to a team with only 5 scholarship players.
Benefiting from having a game day coach and tactician, Illinois goes 37-2 and reaches the NCAA title game.

2005 Offseason

Departing players receive customary graduation checks from appreciative boosters. Team sets off on illegally organized barnstorming tour where they receive the gate money to supplement their income.

Alex Galindo and Nick Bahe announce they are transferring from Kansas basketball program.

Only 300 fans show up for Kansas basketball awards ceremony; Majority of seating for 2,024 remains empty; “The ones who didn't show up can sit behind their desk, their computers or whatever and complain till next season," said always-quotable Keith Langford.

Highly publicized bar fight involving starting guard J.R. Giddens occurs. Multiple witnesses report that Giddens was the primary instigator in an attack that saw 10-12 people beat Olathe resident Jeremiah Creswell with fists, bricks and bottles. Saying he was trying to defend himself, Creswell brandished a knife and stabbed Giddens and four others. Witnesses said KU forward C.J. Giles also threw a punch and tossed bricks at Creswell as he lay defenseless on the ground getting stomped.

At some point in June, Kansas athletic department receives anonymous tip regarding improprieties centering around J.R. Giddens and NCAA recruiting violations.

Ronnie Chalmers, previously a high school coach in Alaska with only 5 years of experience, but more importantly, recruit Mario Chalmers’ father, is announced as Director of Kansas Basketball Operations. His son also elects to come to Lawrence.

Keith Langford and Aaron Miles, never able to adjust to Bill Self’s slow and methodical hi-low offense, go undrafted in the 2005 NBA draft

Known for his lack of sportsmanship and being on scholarship despite stealing felony amounts of merchandise from Wal-Mart, J.R. Giddens has developed into a one dimensional player and is thus becoming expendable given all the off the court issues he brings to the table. Giddens announces he is leaving the Kansas basketball program under request from Self to get a fresh start elsewhere.

With only walkon Christian Moody ever avging more than 1 rebound a game at the D1 level as returning players, CJ Giles receives no similar treatment and remains on KU’s team.

Among other undisclosed violations and disclosed violations, such as the discovery of massive and rampant academic fraud within Kansas’ football program, Kansas announces that it also discovered that its basketball staff had traditionally engaged in a practice of allowing monetary payments to graduating players and other Jayhawk players who had exhausted their eligibility in violation of NCAA rules. A self-imposed two year probation is levied against their athletic department. Other sanctions are levied against women’s basketball and men’s football. Curiously, men’s basketball escapes all (self-imposed) punishment.

Rodrick Stewart suffers gash on head after getting having a bottle smashed over his head during a fight at a Lawrence, Kansas bar

Not exactly clear when, but Brandon Rush commits to Kansas basketball program. Rush narrowed his college choices to Illinois and Oklahoma. Then he couldn't qualify at Illinois. Then he couldn't qualify at Oklahoma. He decided he would have to enter the draft straight from high school as he couldn't qualify at a D1 university, except it looked as though he wouldn't be a first round selection, something his brother had already have happen to him. His brothers talked him out of it. Two weeks after school started he got into KU and even though he at times carried a 0.0 GPA in high school managed to get a 3.6 at KU while missing the first two weeks of classes. This strangely coincided with the same time frame which their compliance department was noted to be severely understaffed and inadequate by the NCAA and academic fraud was occurring.

Sherron Collins commits to Kansas amidst various media reports that he was steered by his coach/street pimp Anthony Longstreet, considered by Chicago Public League coaches as the new Landon “Sonny” Cox for his ability to recruit players to Crane; Scheduled visits promised to various other schools are abruptly cancelled; Afterward, Longstreet, without being prompted or even accused of taking money, bizarrely challenged local sportswriters to “get the proof, produce the canceled check.'' Thereafter, Longstreet refused to ever speak again on the subject. He explained, "Right now, I've been told to be quiet because this stuff is getting too ugly.”

Darnell Jackson ruled ineligible by NCAA Eligibility Committee for 9 games for receipt of $5,000 in benefits from a Kansas booster over a three year period while being recruited by Kansas.

A cbssportsline.com article suggests that J.R. Giddens is also ultimately wrapped up in the Darnell Jackson scandal, questioning: “Did Don Davis also have a "relationship" with Jackson's best friend and former AAU teammate, J.R. Giddens, the McDonald's All-American who signed with Kansas in 2003? Because if the answer is yes, Kansas has a big, big, big problem.”

2005-2006 Season

The Bill Self led Kansas Jayhawks start the 2005-2006 season unranked in the polls for the first time in 14 years.

Arizona, despite shooting 28% from the field, defeats Kansas (61-49).

The very next day, Kansas loses to Arkansas (65-64) dropping the program to 1-2 for the first time since 1987. "This is the worst-case scenario for us…" Self said. "I'm disappointed about it. I'm sure our players are. We can't change it."

Kansas thereafter loses to Nevada AT HOME (72-70), falling to a record of 2-3 for the first time in over 30 years. After the game, ESPN TV cameras captured an exchange between Kansas University assistant coach Joe Dooley and 19 year old Nevada player Nick Fazekas. When Fazekas held out his hand to shake Dooley’s in an apparent show of sportsmanship, Dooley instead screamed “F*** YOU!!!!” directly at Fazekas. Afterward, Coach Bill Self reprimanded Dooley stating: "Obviously, in a hotly contested game like this one, emotions were high after the game. Coach Joe Dooley responded in an inappropriate manner to an exchange with a Nevada player.” Coach Dooley added: “"I have great respect for the Nevada team. They played well tonight. I responded in a negative manner to something that was said to me following the game. I certainly apologize to the Nevada program and this is not the manner in which Kansas basketball should be represented." However, replays of the exchange show Dooley’s statement to be less than truthful as Fazekas clearly did not do or say anything to Dooley prior to the exchange other than making the gesture of holding out his hand.

Kansas suffers its second loss in a week falling to St. Joe’s (70-67). The loss drops the Jayhawk’s record to 3-4 on the season and ran their record over the last 16 games to 6-10.

Reports surface regarding NCAA investigation into potential violations involving Kansas freshman Brandon Rush. The potential violations centered around Rush’s involvement with an agent and possible payment of travel expenses by NBA teams the previous summer during Rush’s workouts with the teams.

The NCAA suspends Brandon Rush after the NCAA determined that he had improperly received benefits from an agent after applying for the 2005 NBA draft. An appeal by Kansas is granted within one day and Rush is re-instated without missing any games.

Kansas loses to in-state rival Kansas State at home (59-55). Bill Self sets yet another mark at Kansas by losing for the first time in the last 31 games against KSU and the past 12 years.

2 days later, Kansas loses to rival Missouri in overtime (89-86). This loss puts Coach Self’s record at 0-5 on the year for games decided in the final minute. Additionally, it places Self’s record at Kansas in the last 25 games at 13-12, barely over .500.


Micah Downs announces he is transferring from the Kansas basketball program

In a strange and somewhat sad tradition, KU finishes second in conference to Texas but in an attempt to appear something they are not claim a conference championship despite losing the tiebreaker to them.

Following up the once in the last 20 year accomplishment of losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament….Self manages to again accomplish this feat by losing to Bradley (77-73). Self has taken KU’s proud history of choking in the NCAA tournament and turned it up a notch. Considerable pressure mounts as ‘win at all costs’ goes into full effect when the fan base begins to call for his firing.

2006 Offseason

Christian Moody becomes the first Jayhawk player since the 1980s to not be eligible for his graduation checks from alumni, as the pending investigation causes KU to cease such open forms of paying their players. Later, his agent writes a note requesting video of him missing free throws to lose a game to Missouri be taken down from youtube.com as he feels it is hindering his client from finding gainful employment…all of which could have potentially been avoided had the NCAA not had rules against paying amateur athletes.

The NCAA responds that KU failed to demonstrate Institutional control and that the minor violations self reported in basketball in KU’s report do not seem to be all-inclusive. KU fans continue to say nothing will come of the allegations, at least those who are aware KU is under investigation as the news media fails to provide any coverage to the story.

KU placed on probation for major violations across multiple sports and for Lack of Institutional Control. The committee seems impressed with KU’s innovative strategy of eliminating the middleman (by electing to not maintain a compliance department, KU didn’t detect or report violations in a timely manner, which resulted in them being able to claim a statute of limitations on many violations and go unpunished), however they are still charged with:

Illegal payments given to potential recruit in excess of $5,000
Tickets illegally given to recruits to sit behind the bench at NCAA tournament games
Money funneled to current student athletes through illegal barnstorming gate money
Illegal payments given to players after eligibility is exhausted with approval of the coaching staff through a network of alumni
Providing illegal transportation to recruits
Providing illegal clothing and other benefits to recruits
Providing illegal transportation to family members of recruits
Making special arrangements to facilitate a vehicle for family members of recruits
Failure to report violations
Failure to employ a compliance auditor
Negligence to provide adequate oversight
Violation of probationary period and deemed a Repeat Offender
Lack of Institutional Control

KU placed on three years probation. Reduction in the total of grants-in-aid award in the men's basketball program to no more than 12 during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons; also reduced the total of official paid visits by a total of eight from the maximum number allowed during the 2006-07 and 2007-8 academic years. Dissociation of a representative of the university's athletics interest for a period of four years; annual compliance reporting required -- Summation, probation and a reduction in 2 scholarships to be taken in the years KU chooses for the above violations…or in laymen’s terms no impact.

ku manages to avoid being tagged with what the NCAA considers it most serious offense of being a ‘repeat violator’ (major violations within a 5 year period of last investigation) for the first time in their last 2 probations based on their innovative strategy of purposely eliminating their ability to self monitor through a functioning compliance department. All of the violation occurring within the 5 year window went unreported and now are considered outside the statute of limitations. ku moves into a 3 way tie (with Minnesota and Cincinnati) for programs with the most instances of probations all time in NCAA history.

CJ Giles suspended indefinitely for failing to pay child support.

Giles re-instated to team, then 5 days later kicked off team for misdemeanor battery to his girlfriend. No bricks were thrown or heads stomped.

2006-2007 Season

KU loses at home to Oral Roberts (78-71). Midway through the second half ORU forward Caleb Greene begins openly mocking and laughing at the crowd as they become increasingly upset that their All American’s appear helpless to stop him.

KU upsets #1 Florida in overtime. KU fans consider it one of the great regular season wins in school history…until it is revealed that multiple key Florida players had mono and were playing through exhaustion during the game.

KU returns to earth as they lose to Depaul (64-57).

KU’s young nucleus gels, and they win their first real conference championship under Bill Self. Unhappy with actual accomplishments, KU fans claim their third straight conference championship in embarrassing fashion.

Despite what most consider Self’s best coaching job to date, he is under enormous pressure as the NCAA tournament get underway as most feel a repeat of the last two years tournament performance will cost him his job. While in typical KU fashion they fail to play to seed, Self’s Jayhawks do advance before being knocked out by UCLA (68-55)

2007 Offseason


2007-2008 Season

Brandon Rush arrested for failing to appear in court. The hearing is ultimately delayed until after the basketball season so his on court production is unaffected.

Self reaches another legacy milestone, as he leads the Jayhawks to their first lose to KSU in Manhattan in 24 years (84-75).

In a strange and somewhat sad tradition, KU finishes second in conference to Texas but in an attempt to appear something they are not claim a conference championship despite losing the tiebreaker to them. Contrary to Self’s 1 actual title, KU fans claim a fourth straight.

In a perplexing outcome, KU is awarded a 1 seed in the NCAA tournament despite beating zero top 25 RPI teams in the regular season or finishing first in their conference. They benefit by this strange seeding by receiving a draw of playing a 16 seed, an 8 seed, a 12 seed, and a 10 seed to get to the final four.

Self begins to be courted by Oklahoma State to take over their head coaching vacancy. Terrified that their last two coaches have left them for better jobs, KU beings to make a strong push to retain Self despite the distraction it is causing.

The beneficiaries of a historic collapse by Memphis, who led by 9 points with 2 minutes to play, KU wins its second national title* of the modern era. They are the first team ever to win a championship while on probation for cheating, and every player on KU’s roster who played more than 21 minutes in the championship game had a shady story surrounding them:
http://www.tigerboard.com/boards/missou ... ge=5760318

2008 offseason

Self claims he wants to stay at Kansas, but won’t rule out talking to OSU. Eventually the draw of no oversight and little NCAA interference is too great and he elects to stay at KU.

Reports surface that Darell Arthur, KU’s leading scorer in the championship game, did not actually pass high school and passed through the NCAA clearinghouse by submitting fraudulent transcripts. As an ineligible player, per NCAA rules KU would be required for forfeit all games in which Arthur was a participant....which would result in KU being the first ever 40 loss team in a single season, the worst season in the history of the NCAA.


A judge rules in favor of the women Sherron Collins sexually assaulted in an elevator in May of 2007, granting damages in excess of $75,000. She accused him of exposing himself and rubbing against her on May 18, 2007, in an elevator at a University of Kansas apartment complex. Collins does not bother to show up to court. Despite the incident occurring nearly a year earlier, it is the first time the case is made public, allowing Collins to participate in the entire 2007-08 season.

The school district that provided fraudulent transcripts for Darell Arthur for passing grades in classes not attended and work not done conducts and internal investigation on itself. Amazingly, they find themselves not guilty. No follow up investigation or questions are ever asked by the local media.

Lawrence officials elect not to go to trial in Sherron Collins sexual assault case. The woman files a civil suit as her only option of pursuing justice and Collins remains on the team.

It becomes apparent that key recruits the Morris twins are not going to qualify academically. Faced with the proposition of having only 1 player on the roster over 6’7, Self arranges for the Morris twins to finish up their high school classes in Lawrence.

Ronnie Chalmers, no longer the father of a KU player after Mario declares early for the NBA draft, vacates the Director of Basketball Operations position. No word yet which upcoming recruit’s family member will fill this vital position.

While living in university paid for housing prior to being eligible for scholarship benefits, 18 year old Markieff Morris drunkenly shoots a lady with a BB gun from his dorm room window. Jayhawk towers is declared a less safe environment for women than Baghdad, as KU players will molest you in the elevators and sniper you as you attempt to flee the building. Deemed too important to next year’s season, no action is taken and KU anxiously awaits the determination if the Lawrence high school replacement classes are enough to clear him academically.

Mario Chalmers and Darell Arthur are kicked out of the NBA rookie camps for smoking marijuana with prostitutes. Both players are fined $20,000 and required to attend next year’s camp over again.

Two weeks after school starts (shades of Brandon Rush before them), the Morris twins are cleared to play ball for KU. "While it may have taken a bit longer than we had hoped, the important thing is that the process worked," Self said regarding having them take classes in Lawrence.

Dallas School District re-opens case regarding Arthur not really being a college eligible player. Ashmore, Arthur’s Math teacher said when Arthur was failing Algebra I as a freshman in the fall of 2002, his coach asked for leniency. Ashmore said when he refused, Arthur was abruptly moved to another class. A closer examination of Arthur's grades reveal that his English III grades of 75, 60, 70 and 65 don't actually add up to a 70 as is reflected on his transcript. In fact, the average should be 67.5, meaning he should have failed the course that is needed to graduate. "Like I said, he [Arthur] just kind of checked out that third six weeks," Yourse, his English teacher said. Melanie Kidd was Arthur's theater arts teacher in the fall of 2004. She said she remembers Arthur failed the course during the final six weeks. Arthur made a grade of 50, she said. According to his transcripts, Arthur's grades for the last six weeks of theater arts are also missing. A block of grades from Arthur's Algebra II were also missing on the transcript from the fall semester of 2005. All that is present is a final grade, which was changed from "failing" to a passing grade of 70 nine months later in September the following year.

2008-09 Season

KU loses to Syracuse in the CBE Classic, allowing Self to add another notch to his belt as he leads KU to their first regular season loss in Kansas City in 25 years.

KU again accomplishes this feat, this time losing to 2-6 UMass in Kansas City. They join Holy Cross and Arkansas-Monticello as the only teams the minutemen have defeated in their first 9 games.

Explaining how KU can fall so quickly from championship* level to not ranked Self states, “We’re two possessions away from being (10-0) and ranked in the top 10 in the country.” Unfortunately in reality they don’t appear in the top 35 nationally in votes.

Three days later KU gets destroyed by Arizona, and no longer receives any votes of any kind for ranking consideration. Self puts forth no hypothetical’s on where they should be ranked.

During a ‘no contact period’ as defined by NCAA rules, Self pays a visit to the #1 unsigned recruit in the nation John Wall, and states in front of witnesses:
Self: "I'm not supposed to be talking to you, and you know that, but I just wanted to tell you that was a great win."
Demonstrating quite the bravado and respect for NCAA regulations for someone piloting a program on serious probation.

Despite holding arch-rival MU to 16 points in the first half, KU goes the last 8 and a half minutes of the game with only 1 bucket from the field and committed 27 turnovers to lose on the last play by 2. "We did such a poor job attacking and we did a bad job with shots," Self said.

Confirmation comes in the Darell Arthur case, that his grades were artificially changed and that his ‘graduation’ from high school wasn’t legit. His high school vacates their state championship for using ineligible players. Per NCAA rules that use of an ineligible player resulting from him violating the NCAA ethics clause the proper application would result in forfeiture of all games participated, and KU would fall to 0-78 for the prior to years – the worst two year record in the history of NCAA basketball. Additionally Self would falls behind James Naismith for last place all time in winning % at KU with a 0.428. However, despite the school district and the local media already completing the legwork of the investigation and compiling the information the NCAA never looks into the instance and instead forces Memphis to vacate all their wins during the same year for the same offense.

KU gets crushed by 11th place Tech, losers of their previous 6 games, 84-65.

KU wins its second outright league title under Self. In embarrassing fashion but consistent with ku tradition fans attempt to portray themselves as something they are not, unhappy with actual accomplishments, and claim a fifth straight league title.

KU loses in the first round of the conference tournament to Baylor 71-64. Self notches another first, as KU becomes the first 1 seed to ever lose to a 9 seed in conference tournament history. It is KU’s first opening round loss since 1989.

After huge wins over North Dakota State and Dayton, ku loses to Michigan State. Unable to cope with having a less successful season than their rival, ku fans turn to such bizarre methods as claiming head to head scoring margin and that losing to a team who advanced farther than the team that defeated MU to actually means they had a more successful season.

No graduation checks are publically distributed.

2009-10 Offseason

After promising more scholarships than he has available, Self pushes two lesser role players out the door to make room for potential incoming recruits.


Sherron Collins elects not to test the European free agent market and barring being jailed announces he will return to ku for the upcoming season. Anthony Longstreet breathes a sigh of relief at remaining on the payroll and he isn’t faced with the ethical dilemma of going public for another year. Elevators everywhere are deemed unsafe for female riders.

Top recruit Xavier Henry elects not to attend classes in Lawrence over the summer. His father explains “Xavier is not interested in attending class. If he didn’t have to go to college, he wouldn’t do it.”

Collins balloons up to 230 pounds, fatter than the last offseason when Self criticized him for being out of shape. Self suggests running stairs, but Collins seems to prefer to take the elevator.

Xavier Henry’s father claims that Henry would much rather go to Kentucky, and actually may back out of his commitment to ku. Kansas fans begin bashing the family and decide they would be better off without him. Then Xavier refutes his father’s claims and remains committed to ku, and all is forgotten.

[Ehwmatt]

Saint Fact Finder?

[Everett]

Saint Fact Finder?

I didn't even know there were enough characters to make a post like that

[kgdjpubs]

Kentucky appears to be the best team, but, like any Calipari team, they can't shoot free throws, and that'll kill them in a close game. Bill Self is out getting a head start on recruiting violations. That's gotta be bothering Calipari a bit.

The thing is that UK hasn't been challenged yet. Wake Forest could challenge if they were hitting on all cylinders, but they were also capable of losing by 40--and we see what happened. That win was as much a WF collapse as a UK win. Cornell vs. UK should be a good test, and they likely face West Virginia if they survive that. Next weekend should be a good barometer for them. Remember, they have lost to Tennessee, and barely beat UNC and Mississippi State. They are far from invincible. The final four is still wide open for upsets.

[Saint John]

Kentucky appears to be the best team, but, like any Calipari team, they can't shoot free throws, and that'll kill them in a close game. Bill Self is out getting a head start on recruiting violations. That's gotta be bothering Calipari a bit.

The thing is that UK hasn't been challenged yet. Wake Forest could challenge if they were hitting on all cylinders, but they were also capable of losing by 40--and we see what happened. That win was as much a WF collapse as a UK win. Cornell vs. UK should be a good test, and they likely face West Virginia if they survive that. Next weekend should be a good barometer for them. Remember, they have lost to Tennessee, and barely beat UNC and Mississippi State. They are far from invincible. The final four is still wide open for upsets.

Agreed on all counts.

[Saint John]

Saint Fact Finder?

Easy, Bundy.

[Maui Tom]

It's Calipari...so Kentucky wins...they will have to forfeit the title in 4 years tops.....

[Saint John]

It's Calipari...so Kentucky wins...they will have to forfeit the title in 4 years tops.....

Syracuse was my service's top pick. Easy winner. 6-1 over 2 days.

[kgdjpubs]

It's Calipari...so Kentucky wins...they will have to forfeit the title in 4 years tops.....

Syracuse was my service's top pick. Easy winner. 6-1 over 2 days.

They are possible, but yet another team who has yet to be challenged. Gonzaga was dismantled by Duke and also lost to Wake. They were not nearly as intimidating as in years past. Will Butler give syracuse a challenge, or do they get a pass until Xavier/Kansas State? Without Onauku (sp?), KState might give them a run for their money.

[squirt1]

Xavier Univ moves on to Sweet 16. It is a small univ in Cincinnati that my daughter attended in the early 90's. My whole family is hooked. I think it has about 13,000 to Univ of Cinn 40,000 enrollment. We love the annual crosstown shootout between the two. Now onto the Reds and the Cuban 100-105 mph fastball pitcher and then get back onto my meds for the ever entertaining and draining Bengals. BTW Chad Ocho Cinco will be on Dancing with the stars tomorrow night. Then he has another show he is signed on,so I guess he is preparing himself for retirement.

[lights1961]

12 BRACKETS at espn.com have correct brackets.. thats gotta be an all time low!!

UNI UNI UNI!! I did go there for a year... Normally I am a Cyclone... but this week
will be a Panther... that they beat KU... I picked KU to go all the way. Reminds me when DePaul had
that great team the winter of 80-81... lost in the first round.

LOVE it that all the great traditional teams are getting upset.

[S2M]

Still have 11 teams alive in my Sweet 16.....Didn't have KU going all the way, so my bracket isn't busted. Got Duke/K St in final...

[lights1961]

Still have 11 teams alive in my Sweet 16.....

is that in combination with 11 brackets filled out!! HAHAHA...

the 12 brackets that are correct... espn.com had 4.78 million brackets filled out.

[hoagiepete]

Recruiting violations?? WTF kind of comment is that? I wouldn't lump Self into that crowd. Did he do some cheating at Illinois that I'm not aware of? He's been a success at every school he's been at, hands down one of the top five coachs in the country.

...

Xavier Henry’s father claims that Henry would much rather go to Kentucky, and actually may back out of his commitment to ku. Kansas fans begin bashing the family and decide they would be better off without him. Then Xavier refutes his father’s claims and remains committed to ku, and all is forgotten.[/i]

Good god! Did you cut and paste this off a "I Hate KU" Blog/Website or did you spend a couple days researching and writing? I'll wade through it when I have some time...like my next vacation.