2010 March Selection Commmitee Madness: The Kansas Jayhawks' Raw Deal

Well… it’s not going to be easy for the Kansas Jayhawks.

First off, let me get this straight. As the committee says, they seed based on an S-Curve. So by that logic, this is how they see the Top 16.

1. Kansas
2. Kentucky
3. Duke
4. Syracuse
5. Kansas State
6. Villanova
7. West Virginia
8. Ohio State
9. Georgetown
10. New Mexico
11. Baylor
12. Pittsburgh
13. Vanderbilt
14. Purdue
15. Wisconsin
16. Maryland

Are you freaking kidding me?

Certainly, we don’t have a clue how this is going to play out. Nobody does, and that’s the beauty of the tournament. But when you’re the No. 1 overall seed, you’re supposed to at least be afforded the advantage on paper.

The Jayhawks were afforded no such advantage. And I’d even argue that Kansas has the toughest of each of the top six seeds.

1. Kansas > Kentucky, Duke, and Syracuse
2. OSU > West Virginia, KSU, Nova
3. Georgetown > New Mexico, Baylor, Pitt
4. Maryland > Vandy, Wisconsin, Purdue
5. Michigan State > Texas A&M, Temple, Butler
6. Tennessee > Xavier, Marquette, Notre Dame

Reasonable minds can certainly differ, and I’m sure many would argue with me on some of those. Hell, I’d even admit that WVU may be as good, or better, than Ohio State.

And I’m sure some would argue the four line. But the fact that an argument can be made that the Midwest Region is the strongest in every position, 1 – 6, is simply unreal!

But be that as it may, the road has been laid and now it’s up to these Kansas Jayhawks to get it done. No favors were granted, but who cares.

Go out, play ball, have some fun and take care of business. That’s how the Jayhawks have done things all year, and just because we they got a raw deal on the draw, nothing needs to change.

If it plays to seed, Kansas will have to go through:

Lehigh, UNLV, Maryland, Ohio State, Syracuse, Kentucky

And when I look at the brackets, that feels about right. One small change I expect is the Jayhawks facing Michigan State instead of Maryland. After that it’s wild speculation, because of what could happen in all the other regions.

But Syracuse seems to have the easiest region of them all, so I fully expect them to be in Indy.

Kentucky is purely a seed thing, because they weren’t done any great favors drawing West Virginia, but they’re capable, so we’ll plan in seeing them in Indy, if we’re so fortunate.

It won’t be easy, but I still think the Kansas Jayhawks are the best team in the land, so if anyone can do this, it’s our Jayhawks.

Thoughts?

This article originally appeared at: Oread Boom Kings

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