Just thought I throw this out at a time in which much of the talk on the board is about UT being a big favorite for the Big 12 championship and a possible preseason #1.
There hasn't been a team in the last umpteen gazillion years that didn't need a lot of luck to go with their talent, guts and good play to get the big prize. I don't say this to denigrate the accomplishments of KU, UF, UNC, etc. It's just the facts.
This year, Kansas played a 16 seed, an 8 seed, a 13 seed, and a 10 seed on their way to the Final Four, and they still had to survive a badly managed last second shot attempt by Davidson.
In 2007, Florida didn't win any game after the first round by double digits. They were ahead of Purdue by 2 with 3:30 to go in the second round, BEHIND Butler by a point with 3:30 to go in the Sweet Sixteen, and up only 4 with 10 minutes to go and with 30 seconds to go against Oregon.
In 2006, Florida survived being down to seventh seeded Georgetown with less than two minutes to go.
In 2005, UNC needed an iffy travel call against Villanova to win by one in the Sweet 16, and they had to come from behind against Wisconsin to win by 6 to make the Final Four.
In 2004, UConn had to come from 9 points down late in the game to beat Duke in the semifinals. A lot of people thought Reddick was fouled trying to tie the game in the last few seconds. Me? I say, F duke, anyway.
In 2003, Syracuse needed KU to brick all its free throws and needed a last second victory over Auburn to even get to the Elite 8.
There ain't no easy ride for anybody, no matter how good you are. College basketball is just too even and too tough.
Congrats to all the champs, because they did what no one else could do those years, but for me the lesson is that I'm a lot more concerned with what Texas does in the offseason and how it develops during the year to show it can adapt to any kind of game situation than I am concerned with where Texas is ranked preseason.
There hasn't been a team in the last umpteen gazillion years that didn't need a lot of luck to go with their talent, guts and good play to get the big prize. I don't say this to denigrate the accomplishments of KU, UF, UNC, etc. It's just the facts.
This year, Kansas played a 16 seed, an 8 seed, a 13 seed, and a 10 seed on their way to the Final Four, and they still had to survive a badly managed last second shot attempt by Davidson.
In 2007, Florida didn't win any game after the first round by double digits. They were ahead of Purdue by 2 with 3:30 to go in the second round, BEHIND Butler by a point with 3:30 to go in the Sweet Sixteen, and up only 4 with 10 minutes to go and with 30 seconds to go against Oregon.
In 2006, Florida survived being down to seventh seeded Georgetown with less than two minutes to go.
In 2005, UNC needed an iffy travel call against Villanova to win by one in the Sweet 16, and they had to come from behind against Wisconsin to win by 6 to make the Final Four.
In 2004, UConn had to come from 9 points down late in the game to beat Duke in the semifinals. A lot of people thought Reddick was fouled trying to tie the game in the last few seconds. Me? I say, F duke, anyway.
In 2003, Syracuse needed KU to brick all its free throws and needed a last second victory over Auburn to even get to the Elite 8.
There ain't no easy ride for anybody, no matter how good you are. College basketball is just too even and too tough.
Congrats to all the champs, because they did what no one else could do those years, but for me the lesson is that I'm a lot more concerned with what Texas does in the offseason and how it develops during the year to show it can adapt to any kind of game situation than I am concerned with where Texas is ranked preseason.
