NCAA March Madness: Are the Kansas Jayhawks a Team of Destiny?

Rewind to just 11.5 months ago.

The North Carolina Tar Heels were the heavy favorites to win the National Championship—and they did, in impressive fashion, by rolling over Goran Suton and the Michigan State Spartans, 89-72.

Was it destiny?

Well, that all depends on what you consider destiny to be. Of course, the Heels had the talent, drive, and coaching to be crowned the best team in the land.

Was it a surprise that it happened?

No.

A closer look would indicate that not only were the Tar Heels the favorite to cut down the nets, but it would have been more of a shock if they didn't win the title.

Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, and Deon Thompson were not going to be denied. Plain and simple.

That was then and this is now. The Kansas Jayhawks are the 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels—destiny and all.

There is a familiar roadblock standing in Sherron Collins' and Cole Aldrich's way this March, and its name—the Michigan State Spartans. Same with the Roy Willliams' Heels—just like last year.

Collins, now a senior, has the it. That it makes champions.

Lawson had that it—he was a champion, nearly a year ago.

After being clipped by Suton and Lucas in 2009, the revenge and redemption factors come in to play for Kansas.

As destiny would have it, the Jayhawks could have a chance to dole out a little payback to the Spartans, if the two teams should tangle in the Sweet 16. How's that for a fairy tale?

History tells us that a national champion has to put together at least one 10-plus game win streak.

Well, Kansas has that covered. So did Carolina.

The 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels had two 10-plus game winning streaks, 13 and 12. The 2010 Kansas Jayhawks have two as well, 14 and 13.

All-Americans, well, the birds have that covered, too.

Coaching?

The Jayhawks and Tar Heels have two of the best to ever grace the courtside. Bill Self of Kansas and Williams of North Carolina.

A national championship-caliber team has to have a dominant guard. Collins fits the bill, just like Lawson did.

A national championship-caliber team has to have an aggressive big man. Aldrich, anyone? Hansbrough was ultra physical, too. Bloody face, busted nose, and missing teeth.

Sound familiar?

March Madness benefits from the Cinderella stories. Everyone enjoys predicting upsets. Everyone waits through the tournament to see if the Gonzagas, Vermonts, and George Masons can pull of the impossible.

And it happens— occasionally, but seldom does it happen in the big game. It's not 1983, and there's no Jimmy Valvano-led North Carolina State Wolfpack Cinderella team that can crash Kansas' party.

In April of 2010, expect the Kansas Jayhawks to answer destiny's call—and cut the nets down in Indianapolis.