Sunflower Showdown Scenario Benefits Sherron Collins, Jayhawks

I'm not making any predictions here (I'm not that brave), but if I'm a KU fan, there's a lot of things I see that I like going into Wednesday's Sunflower Showdown with in-state rival Kansas State.

First of all, Kansas State is coming off a relatively close win at home against the third best team in the Big 12, Missouri.  There's nothing like a little bit of an emotional home-win followed by a monstrous game on the road.

Speaking of Kansas State's victory, it's easy to see the momentum advantage they have coming into Allen Fieldhouse.  The Wildcats are underdogs and they're on a win-streak while the Jayhawks are mending their wounds from a bad loss in Stillwater.   Bill Self and his Hawks know exactly what kind of energy Kansas State will bring to the Phog.

While on the subject of momentum, I would like to know when Kansas lost two consecutive basketball games, if anyone who knows would care to comment below.  I know it's probably happened more than I remember, but I like the chances that Sherron Collins and company rebound well from the loss to Oklahoma State.

Not to keep building off of myself, but I also like Kansas' chances to rebound based on the Jayhawks' efforts at the end of the game, specifically Sherron Collins.  Fighting back after being down big for most of the game shows good character.

Don't forget Sherron Collins, either.  He hasn't lived up to the hype recently, but he's due for a big game, and senior night for the winningest Jayhawk in history is bound to go either really well or really badly.  I have a good feeling that Collins will pull through Wednesday.

This may be a stretch, but perhaps the Hawks can even relax a little come Wednesday.

Unlike the Wildcats, Collins and the Hawks have played in numerous hyped-up games before and usually fare decently well, and they're no longer playing under that horrendous number-one-in-the-country label.  

Not that I would be happy or even okay with a loss on Wednesday, but in the end, this is a heated rivalry with a superb Kansas State team.  If KU loses, as long as they play well and stay very competitive, how big of a deal is it, really, outside of bragging rights for the fans?

Okay, so that's probably too far, and I'm just hoping no one has to find out.