Long Distance Jayhawk

With a heavy heart, we wave farewell to the regular season that was. There were some highs (beating Missouri at Missouri, Texas getting knocked down a few pegs at the end of the season, K-State coming back strong to prove that they deserve a nod for the Dance) and some lows (every time the shit trifecta of Iowa State, Oklahoma or Texas Tech took the floor). Being a man who is willing to admit his mistakes, I’m going to take a few moments to reflect on what I predicted for the season, what I saw and how very wrong I was in some regards. Without further ado, here it is, the post-mortem on my Regular Season predictions (I’ve listed the teams in the order they actually finished in the following format: Team: real record (proj place; proj record)).

The Big 12 Final Standings

1. Kansas: 14-2 (1; 14-2)
2. Texas: 13-3 (2; 11-5)
3. Texas A&M: 10-6 (3; 11-5)
4. Kansas State: 10-6 (5; 10-6)
5. Missouri: 8-8 (6; 9-7)
6. Colorado: 8-8 (8; 8-8)
7. Baylor: 7-9 (4; 11-5)
8. Nebraska: 7-9 (9; 4-12)
9. Oklahoma State: 6-10 (7; 9-7)
10. Oklahoma: 5-11 (10; 4-12)
11. Texas Tech: 5-11 (12; 1-15)
12. Iowa State: 3-13 (11; 3-13)

I’m going to be honest with you, I think I did all right as a junior Nostradamus this season. Sure, there were some hiccups here and there, but all around, not a bad showing. My biggest problem was that I didn’t want to admit that Texas was as good as they were (I’m not going to anoint them quite yet, since any Sith Lord team likes to do that whole “We’re great, we’re Great, we’re GREAT!” thing before sputtering to the finish line) and that caused me to predict a much more lopsided top of the pile in Kansas’ favor. Anyway, I’m going to go down the list in reverse order and offer some thoughts and opinions on the teams, their finish and what the rest of the all-too-brief remainder of the season holds for them.

12. Iowa State
I’ve got to level with you. I’ve never thought the Cyclones were very good. In fact, in pretty much any serious Big 12 discussion, I almost always put them at the bottom of the list. For some reason, I figured that Texas Tech would some how beat them at their own game this season (sucking) and that kept me from putting them in their rightful slot at the bottom of the Big 12. They’re not going anywhere this off season, other than maybe the corn field. What’s sad is that the wunderkind coach they got in there didn’t show any signs of life. Must be tough for the Cyclone faithful to be staring down the barrel of the same shit next year. Also, congrats to me for getting their record perfect.

11. Texas Tech
The General would probably be disappointed with his son if he weren’t so busy mainlining whiskey with Musberger before they go on the air. Pat Knight was given a pretty decent program (good, not great with the Knight pedigree and a whole lot of support [I’m assuming there’s a lot of support for basketball since College Station is dry and without booze, what do you do to entertain yourselves outside of basketball?]) and he turned it into a shit sandwich. I guess the AD at Tech agrees with me since Pat was let go on Monday. He’ll still coach the Big 12 Tournament, but that’s kind of an empty gesture at this point. I don’t know who they could get to come in and breathe some life into the Red Raiders, but it’s looking pretty bleak down there.

10. Oklahoma
Unlike Baby Knight, Jeff Capel‘s job is safe. I think he’s the victim of some improprieties with some players (Tiny Gallon ring a bell?) as well as some kids who left the program. I’m not trying to say he shouldn’t have turned the lemons of his season into a small amount of lemonade, but I think he gets a flier on this one. There’s only so much you can do with an absence of talent. That said, he better hope he hits the Blake Griffin jackpot again. He needs a winning season (also of note: when I accused OU of sucking and their fans knowing it, a bunch of people took me to task on Facebook. Look, I like when OU’s a strong team. I like Jeff Capel. What I really meant to say was “Look, OU has been good in the past and I’m holding out hope that they will be good in the future. However, this particular team of Sooners sucks. Look at their numbers. Look at how they play, specifically on defense, and tell me they don’t suck. This is not a referendum on the Sooners all around, Bob Stoops, conestoga wagons or Sam Bradford. Hell, I like Jeff Capel! I’m just saying that, in this immediate moment (and this should be taken with a MASSIVE grain of salt because I write a semi-satirical blog about being a belligerent homer for the Jayahwks despite living in NY), the Sooners aren’t that great. I’d hazard to say they suck and given the paucity of crimson and creme (or is it cream? I’m not writing that in character, I’m honestly asking) in the stands during the Murderbirds’ evisceration of OU, I would say that their fans agree with that statement” but that doesn’t work as a headline and doesn’t fit neatly in a tweet).

9. Oklahoma State
Oh, I had high hopes for the Cowboys. I really did. Unlike OU, who I knew would be pretty disappointing, I kind of liked the scrappy nature of the Pokes, especially Moses. I figured they’d be a little bit of a tougher team than they ended up being. Travis Ford just did a terrible job coaching or something. I don’t know. Sometimes things don’t break your way. Given their mediocre performance in the regular season, it wouldn’t surprise me if they make a tough out in the Big 12 tourney. Not enough to get themselves into the Big Dance, but enough of a scare for some far superior team.

8. Nebraska
Wow, Nebraska…wow. You guys definitely decided that you were going to go for the jugular with that big win over Texas. You guys quietly racked up more wins than I thought you would (I’ll be honest I felt that this season, Baylor was going to come on strong in conference and that there would be much clearer striations between the bottom and the middle of the Big 12). Good job, boys. Now going enjoy being the Big Ten whipping boys.

7. Baylor
Really, Baylor? You guys couldn’t take all the overrated criticism and channel it into proving me right? You guys couldn’t have won a few more games? You have LaceDarius fucking Dunn! He’s the all-time leading scorer in Big 12 history! He’s the Jimmer Fredette of Baptist schools! He did it even though his career was about to be throw in the toilet for beating his girlfriend. You guys couldn’t rally around the cause of Lacey D? You guys were overrated and you’re going to be watching the tourney from home (this is neither a reverse jinx or a way to get them to get excited about proving me wrong. This is the truth).

6. Colorado
I got the record right, but not the finish. Eh, shit happens. I’ve been pleasantly suprised with the Buffalo this season. They’ve won a few good games, they’ve played tough, they’ve been a team that clearly wasn’t going to just roll over and take it up the poop chute. I commend them for that. Honestly, they’re the most dangerous team in the tournament right now. Joe Lunardi (who wouldn’t want his job? It’s like making a ransom note out of the top 25 every week) has them listed as one of the Last Four In. That’s a tough spot, since it means that, if it started now, they’d be in. That doesn’t mean they’re a lock, though. They need to win. They know they need to win. They’re going to come into the Big 12 Tourney looking for a few wins (and a signature one if they can arrange it) and that makes them the team I’d least like to face. Just saying.

5. Missouri
Dudes know how to get it done at home (except when they play us!) and that’s probably going to get them into the Big Dance. I figured they’d be a little bit better than 8-8 and, but being off by one is kind of normal. They’re a solid team that plays hard from tip to buzzer (shit, they even gave me a scare when they got within six late in the game). They’re still dangerous in the tourney, despite the fact that they attained lock status like two weeks ago.

4. Kansas State
Sexual Frustration came on strong at the right time. I figured they’d be more even during conference play (thought I got their wins right), but you know, they got the wins when they needed them. During the Texas game, the announcers said that Frank Martin retooled the offense (so that they don’t really run a traditional offense, which plays to Pullen’s strengths and away from his weakness as a point). I’m guessing that he bore a hole through a sheet of a paper and the answer appeared in the smoke. Whatever the reason, I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far from the Cats. I think they’re going to be a pretty solid team in the Big Dance. Probably not last year solid, but still.

3. Texas A&M
The Aggies were slightly worse than I thought they’d be. They put up good showings against a lot of teams (though they could have helped themselves immensely with a nice little win over Texas). They’re going to a solid team in the tournament. I’ll be honest I don’t have a lot to say about them. They’re impressive, but I couldn’t name a player on their team. Either way, congrats to Mark Turgeon and company.

2. Texas
The Longhorns are good. I don’t trust them anymore, though. Just like last year, Rick Barnes’ team decided to blow up rather then prove their mettle. It’s just what the Longhorns like to do. To be fair, they didn’t do anything as terrible as last season (I refuse to let the whole .500 to end the season after being number one thing go), but I just…I don’t know. This isn’t a team that I fully trust right now. Hamilton’s good. Thompson’s good. They have the pieces. They just seem off. I’m guessing they’ll be an early exit in the NCAA, but I can see them meeting up with us for a rematch in the Big 12 Championship.

1. Kansas
Rock Chalk on seven in a row, haters! That’s what excellence is. It’s Crimson and Blue. It’s the Murderbirds. It’s confetti and everything else. No matter what, I put my faith in Toupee to win games (not every game, but quite a few of them). The thing that’s most rewarding about this season is so many guys got so much better in the season. The team plays with much more focus, maturity (24 turnovers at Missouri not withstanding) that I do trust this team. I’m not saying that they’re going all the way, but they’re definitely one of the more together ‘Hawks squads I’ve seen in a while.  Plus, they didn’t do me wrong and totally won the number of games I thought they would.

So, while I’m writing, I’m going to revisit the loving a team idea that I posited earlier in the season. There are a lot of things to love about this team. I mean, they clearly like each other. They play like they’ve been playing together for ten years, rather than two to four. They have an energy about them that’s what I like to see. Everyone celebrates each other’s big plays. No one complains about coming off the bench. Everyone who starts and then goes back to the bench comes out with something to prove. They’re there for each other, like when Lisa Robinson died. They went out to the funeral and then came back to take on Colorado and they won it for T-Rob. These guys clearly love each other. Are there things to hate about this team? Yeah, of course there are. We’re a little wild. The Morrii are prone to giving out inopportune Philly Handshakes. Tyshawn can kill you one night on turnovers and stupid fouls. But you know what? That doesn’t matter. This is one of the most fun Jayhawk teams I’ve ever seen (not as fun as 2007-08, but still) and I like that. They’re a joy to watch. That’s why I love them. There, I said it. I love the 2010-11 Jayhawks.