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Kansas
Road to the Final Four.............................................................................................
Finishing in a three-way tie for second place in the Big 12 had to be a disappointment for the folks in Lawrence. The Jayhawks, with perhaps the most depth in the Big 12, were the consensus pre-season favorite to win the regular-season crown. Unfortunately, they still couldn't find a way to beat Iowa State, losing twice more to the Cyclones. Losing to Iowa State is one matter. Losing to Baylor, after falling behind by more than 20 points in the first half, is another. The Kansas players clearly looked past the Bears that night. It cost them a victory and, in the long run, a share of the Big 12 title. On the positive side, the Jayhawks finished strong down the stretch and won their final four regular-season games, capping the season with a 16-point victory over a desperate Missouri team. After earning a No. 4 seed, Kansas has shown their wares in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament by routing both Cal State-Northridge and Syracuse. Player to Watch He is just a sophomore, but point guard Kirk Hinrich is a budding star. After averaging just 5.5 points and 3.6 assists as a freshman, Hinrich took control of the Jayhawks this season. He improved his scoring average to 11.5 points and led the conference in assists at 7.2 per game. In addition, he led the conference in three-point shooting (.521) and was No. 4 in free-throw shooting (.824). Several coaches thought Hinrich was the MVP of the conference. Players like Drew Gooden, Kenny Gregory and Nick Collison get on the highlight shows more often, but Hinrich is the player who makes the team go. With the Ball Defending this team can be a nightmare. Hinrich and fellow guard Jeff Boschee, when he is on from three-point range, can score from the perimeter. Gregory, a classic slasher, averaged 16.1 points per game. Gooden added 15.8 points per game and Collison finished at 13.8 per game. You can't focus your attention on one or even two players on the inside. As a result of that balance, the Jayhawks led the Big 12 in scoring at 82.4 points per game and field-goal percentage at .504. Gooden's return from injury makes the offense quite formidable. He had 17 points and seven rebounds against Kansa State in his first game back and 19 points and nine rebounds in the finale against Missouri. Defending the Ball Kansas led the Big 12 in scoring margin during the regular season at plus-12.8 points. But that gaudy figure wasn't the result of stellar defense. The Jayhawks have plenty of beef to bang with teams on the inside. But the weakness of Kansas' recent teams and one of the reasons behind their early NCAA departures remains. That is, the perimeter defenders are vulnerable to quick guards who can penetrate inside and force the Jayhawks' defense to shift and rotate. That is why the Jayhawks allowed nearly 70 points per game (69.6), the No. 7 mark in the Big 12. That is why the Jayhawks will be vulnerable in the NCAA Tournament. Seed Analysis Exceeding the Seed Playing to Expectations Falling Short BRACKETOLOGY SCORE: .926. (1.000 is playing exactly to a team's historical seeding): Bracketology Report1985-2000: The No. 1 seed has not been kind to the Jayhawks. Four times in five tries, Kansas has not advanced beyond the Sweet 16 as a top seed, and twice KU has lost in the second round. If not for Danny Manning's triumphant run to the title in 1988, the Jayhawks would have the lowest Bracketology Score of any major program in America. Roster
 NCAA Basketball Championship Week It's March, which means the madness has started and invitations are being reserved throughout Championship Week.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |  |
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Drew Gooden thinks Kansas has to be quick in the paint.
