NCAA Tournament 2010: Five Teams That Could Cause Kansas Problems

With Championship Week in full swing, bubble teams all over the country will be sweating out conference tournaments. This isn't the case for the Kansas Jayhawks, who are undoubtedly going into the tournament as the Midwest’s No. 1 seed.

Their goal is simple. Get to Indianapolis and regain their 2008 National Championship form.

The Jayhawks’s are one of the clear favorites to make it into the final four with Cole Aldrich, Sherron Collins, and Xavier Henry dominating the floor every night.

While they arguably might have the strongest team in the nation right now, there actually are five teams that they would rather not face this March.
It’s not because they can’t beat these teams, but because a loss to any one of them would be a bigger embarrassment than say a school they have no recent history with.

What follows are the five teams the Kansas Jayhawks do not want to play against in this year’s March Madness.

5. Syracuse

Here’s Why:
Syracuse could easily pick apart Kansas’s offense, though, to their credit, Syracuse will do that to any team.

Syracuse is a powerhouse this year and the college-basketball world love themselves some Orange National Champions.

The two extremely popular teams are constantly compared as the two best in the country, and although they would be in the national championship if they meet, for Kansas to face Syracuse and their awesome defense, it could be a possible disaster.

The Jayhawks would love to see Syracuse knocked out early so they don’t have to face them, but it would be one of the most intense games to watch in the tournament.

If they meet, be prepared to watch a gritty battle with the Orange making the necessary changes to come out on top.

4. Texas

Here’s Why:
Big-time Texas has big-time talent, yet has struggled to put it together all year long. Kansas has won three straight against Texas and they have a 17-6 career record against them. They have constantly dominated them, especially away from the Longhorns home court.

It would really sour the collective mood of the Jayhawks if Texas finally discovered a way to dominate with all of those weapons they have, in the game against them. To lose in the tournament would be nothing more than a shocking embarrassment.

3. Kansas State

Here’s Why:
The fact that Kansas dismantled Kansas State by 18 points in their final regular season meeting to win the Big 12 Title would only heighten the embarrassment the Jayhawks would face if they met and lost to their in-state rival.

If they indeed face each other this tournament, it will be a heated, heavily covered matchup. In the March 3rd game there were a total of 47 fouls. If the future game is played between these two rival schools, expect it to be equally dirty and Kansas does not want to lose a dirty game, especially to State.

2. Oklahoma State

Here’s Why:
The team that denied Kansas its first attempt at the Big 12 title on February 27th also gave them their first loss in the conference. Kansas would almost rather lose to Quinnipiac than to Oklahoma State simply because they couldn’t bear to lose twice in one season to a 9 -7 in-conference team.

If they meet, Kansas cannot allow the Cowboys to sink uncontested three’s again. They need to stop James Anderson from shooting for nearly 30 points again, and Cole Aldrich needs to score more than 11 off the floor if they face off and expect to win.

1. Michigan State

Here’s Why:
The team that sent the Jayhawks packing after the Sweet Sixteen in 2009 would absolutely love to do it again. No doubt Tom Izzo and Kalin Lucas would be itching to face off against this Kansas team with another chance to eliminate them.

Kansas would be embarrassed, not only because they would lose to the green for the second straight year, but because North Carolina flattened the Spartans in the Finals last year.

The Jayhawks will want to prove that their 2009 eliminating loss was a fluke and nothing more if they face off again, but the results would be even more embarrassing if they don’t come out on top.