I haven't written about sports for quite a long time. Not because I don't follow sports anymore, I certainly still do - just haven't had much time. But I heard a college basketball debate last night that definitely caught my interest.
We are not even to the point of the regular conference schedule, and there is suddenly a major debate about who is #1. As it stands today, my beloved KU Jayhawks are #1 and Texas is #2. I could also care less about pre-season polls and debates about #1 at this stage. Yes, Texas is a powerhouse, and has resume wins already over UNC and Michigan State. Had Texas been the pre-season #1 team and KU #2, I wouldn't have argued.
Here's the deal - #1 in the regular season is nothing but fodder for talk show programs. In 2007-2008, the year KU won the national title, does anyone remember the # of weeks they spent at the #1 position? ZERO. That's right, ZERO. KU was 20-0 at one point in that season, but always trailed either Memphis or UNC.
But in the end, KU won the tournament (by smoking UNC in the Final Four and then beating Memphis in OT in the NCS) and got to cut down the nets at the end.
Bottom line, a team only needs to finish in the top 4 to pick up a #1 regional seed in the NCAA tournament. And the overall #1 seed doesn't always get the most favorable travel schedule.
So these people who feel Texas is getting jobbed, really need to lighten up. Texas has a great team this year, and will surely challenge KU for the Big 12 Title. I'll say this - as much as I'm a big fan of the Big East, there NO QUESTION that the most powerful conference this year is the Big 12.