Oread Observations: Bigger goals than a Big 12 title
The notion that the Kansas Jayhawks “shouldn’t care” about a Big 12 championship seems insane, maybe even sacrilegious, after a conference title streak became such a core part of the program’s identity over a stretch that lasted nearly a decade and a half.
And yet, given this team’s flaws, maybe adjusting our expectations for this one season is an OK outcome.
Don’t misconstrue not worrying about a Big 12 title with not caring about winning. That’s insane, and if you know anything about Bill Self you know that’s the furthest thing from his mind night in, night out.
Use Tuesday night’s loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders as a guide for our point here, though. Even with Kevin McCullar available Kansas may have lost, but it was clear from the jump that the Jayhawks were in for a long night. Shorthanded and stuck in a hostile environment, it was a bad combination for a team with notoriously poor depth. Nicolas Timberlake has struggled mightily and, despite some recent wishcasting, Elmarko Jackson hasn’t been able to put it together.
This team’s ultimate goal is to win a national championship, right? If that’s the case, knowing how badly it needs its starting five on the floor as much as possible, why blow everyone up in February when March and April games are the ones the matter most?
Again, this is not a call to go out and tank. That’s preposterous, obviously. More than anything, this is an appeal to the Jayhawks fan base that has become so used to winning the best conference in America and going into the NCAA tournament with that particular feather in its cap.
KU is still alive in the Big 12 title race, but getting this paper-thin roster to the big dance is a much more important task right now. McCullar is already banged up and having him available for the tournament is more critical for Kansas than any word in the English language can accurately describe. Dajuan Harris plays a ton of minutes, the same for K.J. Adams. Hunter Dickinson is getting roughed up in the post consistently as of late. And that's before we get to the understandable ups and downs for a freshman like Johnny Furphy.
That’s the only quintet the Jayhawks can trust without exception. There just isn’t enough production when the reserves check in, either offensively or defensively.
To reiterate, Self is not going to change his approach, we know better than to ever consider that. But we, on the outside looking in, should accept that if a little more stress and struggle during the Big 12 campaign means the team is fresher and/or more prepared for the NCAA tournament it’s a good thing.
Kansas has the talent to compete with and beat anyone, and wins over UConn, Tennessee, Kentucky and Houston should confirm that. This roster is better built to win in the postseason than the regular season.
So if that means the Jayhawks may be a little less fun right now in exchange for a blast of a postseason, we should be more than willing to settle for that outcome.
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