KU KO'd

Don't worry Jayhawk fans. Sure it hurts now, but know this: your team simply wasn't that good. I don't say this to hate, I say this because it's simply the truth. Any no. 1 seed that loses to team who couldn't beat Evansville doesn't deserve to even sniff the sweetness of the 1-6. Cole Aldridge, good player. Mr. Collins, ditto. Xavier, I'd take'em. But none of that matters. Northern Iowa, a'hem, I mean Northern Iowa, outhustled the Rock Chalkers to every loose ball and played smart basketball: they shot and shot and shot and were careless (see Farokmenesh's ill-advised, yet wholly effective trey at the end of the game) because that's what underdogs should be.

Don't feel bad that Self's subpar stars fooled you. Every single "expert" on ESPN.com picked the Jayhawks to reach the Final Four. Buncha Diaper Dandy dumbasses. I'm not without fault; I had KU advancing to the Elite Eight, so the Northern Iowa Thingamajiggers put a big ole Red X through my bracket too, as did the St. Mary Whatstheirnames and the Washington Hushpuppies (though I was on with my Cornell selection. Go Big Red!). But that's meaningless. I'm usually out by the second round anyway. But I still care because we now have 25% of the sixteen remaining teams ranked 9th or higher. Wow, what a final four that could be: St. Mary's vs. Cornell or Washington and Northern Iowa versus which ever highest seed plays like their ranking. Go ahead, name one player from each team. Maybe now you can, but a week ago, you'd have struggled (though No. Iowa might be somewhat familiar to us Shocker fans).

I bet CBS is really thrilled with last weekend's events. Four Cinderellas don't make a right. They just send people to Gamblers Anonymous.