March sadness
Call it karma.
Last week I took a shot at Missouri basketball and it came back to haunt me.
Considering I praised K-State in the same article, I thought it would come out even.
I guess not.
KU dropped a game in the first round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1978.
I wasn't even born yet.
The three-point line didn't exist, but high socks, cheesy mustaches, and short shorts sure did.
Nonetheless the Jayhawk players get to "celebrate" spring break, although I'm pretty sure they would rather be preparing to play North Carolina State later this week.
I shouldn't really be too surprised. KU had lost five of its last eight games, but I kept telling myself it was because of injuries.
Well, a pretty healthy Jayhawk squad fell Friday to a herd of stampeding Bison from Bucknell.
I still couldn't tell you where Bucknell is. I think it's in the United States.
The Bison went on to lose to the Wisconsin Badgers, but the players always will have the KU victory etched into their memories.
"Unbelievable" was the only quote from a Bucknell player in a recent ESPN.com article.
One would think he would have more to say after such an upset, but maybe that was all anyone on the team could muster. Besides, they had another game to play in 48 hours.
It just goes to show two things: The NCAA tournament is the best post-season in sports (with the World Series close behind) and in a one-game series anyone can win.
Sixteen seed Oakland could have beaten North Carolina. If they played 100 times, they would win once.
The KU-Bucknell game was one of those games, and it should teach young athletes anything really can happen.
I argued all weekend with two friends about who was guaranteed to win and who was guaranteed to lose in the first two rounds.
All that got me was a busted bracket, and a "glad I didn't spend money on a ticket" excuse for my team.
The NCAA tournament shows one game can turn a team's decent regular season into a memory that will last forever.
High school athletes should remember that every time they step on the court or the field, because it could be the game that stays in their minds forever.
For Bucknell that was Friday night, unfortunately for Kansas it might be as well.
