RockChalkJayBlog
03-18-2009, 11:32 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3992254&sportCat=ncb
Best Case: After hordes (well, some) Bison fans pour across the Red River and descend upon Minneapolis for a semi-home game, they're treated to an epic upset of Kansas on a 25-foot 3-pointer by Ben Woodside. Gov. John Hoeven hails this as the greatest sporting moment in state history, non-ice hockey division. With a 1-0 all-time NCAA tournament record, team doesn't even bother with second-round game against West Virginia. Goes shopping at Mall of America instead.
Worst Case: Kansas shows the Bison exactly how vast the difference is between the Big 12 and the Summit, rolling to a 20-4 lead. NDSU squad that went 0-3 against teams in the field of 65 turns the ball over repeatedly, gets in foul trouble, cannot get open looks for Woodside and loses by 30. Meanwhile, North Dakota goes on a run to win national hockey championship.
Kansas (3)
Best Case: Winning begets winning, and the Jayhawks don't need no Mario to repeat as champions. Cole Aldrich dominates inside to defeat Michigan State and Louisville and reach the Final Four. Once there, Sherron Collins hits buzzer-beating 3 to tie Memphis after the Tigers miss free throws, fail to call a timeout and fail to foul Collins before the shot. After dispatching Memphis, Kansas draws North Carolina in the title game. Ol' Roy is still puckered from last year, and the Jayhawks win it all again. School bumps Phog Allen's name off the Fieldhouse and calls it the Self Center. Missouri loses early, and Mike Anderson leaves for Alabama.
Worst Case: Bison Bummer II. Jayhawks sleepwalk into early tip-off and are stunned in the first round by North Dakota State on a hook shot by whichever player most closely resembles Chris McNaughton, the kid from the other Bison (Bucknell) who eliminated Kansas in 2005. Understanding Kansas fans shove Bill Self back onto the hot seat a year removed from winning it all. Missouri makes the Final Four and signs Anderson to 10-year contract. Aldrich and Collins turn pro.
North Dakota State (14)
Best Case: After hordes (well, some) Bison fans pour across the Red River and descend upon Minneapolis for a semi-home game, they're treated to an epic upset of Kansas on a 25-foot 3-pointer by Ben Woodside. Gov. John Hoeven hails this as the greatest sporting moment in state history, non-ice hockey division. With a 1-0 all-time NCAA tournament record, team doesn't even bother with second-round game against West Virginia. Goes shopping at Mall of America instead.
Worst Case: Kansas shows the Bison exactly how vast the difference is between the Big 12 and the Summit, rolling to a 20-4 lead. NDSU squad that went 0-3 against teams in the field of 65 turns the ball over repeatedly, gets in foul trouble, cannot get open looks for Woodside and loses by 30. Meanwhile, North Dakota goes on a run to win national hockey championship.
Kansas (3)
Best Case: Winning begets winning, and the Jayhawks don't need no Mario to repeat as champions. Cole Aldrich dominates inside to defeat Michigan State and Louisville and reach the Final Four. Once there, Sherron Collins hits buzzer-beating 3 to tie Memphis after the Tigers miss free throws, fail to call a timeout and fail to foul Collins before the shot. After dispatching Memphis, Kansas draws North Carolina in the title game. Ol' Roy is still puckered from last year, and the Jayhawks win it all again. School bumps Phog Allen's name off the Fieldhouse and calls it the Self Center. Missouri loses early, and Mike Anderson leaves for Alabama.
Worst Case: Bison Bummer II. Jayhawks sleepwalk into early tip-off and are stunned in the first round by North Dakota State on a hook shot by whichever player most closely resembles Chris McNaughton, the kid from the other Bison (Bucknell) who eliminated Kansas in 2005. Understanding Kansas fans shove Bill Self back onto the hot seat a year removed from winning it all. Missouri makes the Final Four and signs Anderson to 10-year contract. Aldrich and Collins turn pro.
North Dakota State (14)