Top 5 Reasons the Kansas Jayhawks Will Win the 2013 National Championship

National Championship

It is that time of year when we start thinking about: Who will win it all this year? Who will cut down the nets in the Georgia Dome in April? Who will survive the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament?

Mr. Bracketology has already been doing his thing and giving seeds to teams already. We begin to look at strength of schedule, wins and losses, strengths and weaknesses of each team and if they have the experience to win it all. Few of the teams that have already been mentioned to cut down the nets thus year are Duke, Indiana, Syracuse, and even Michigan. Duke is undefeated and is looking like they could do it but look out here comes a team who has been there before.They are 12-1 this season and have played some tough games against Ohio State, Temple, Michigan State (their only loss), and Colorado. Yes I'm talking about the mighty Jayhawks from the University of Kansas.

They can become the 2013 National Champions and cut down the nets where they lost to Michigan State at earlier this season. Look for them to be a contender in March as they sweep through the Big 12 and onto the tournament. We will look at the top 5 reason why the Kansas Jayhawks will win it all this year not how they can but how they will. So sit back, grab you a seat, send the kids to bed, grab a beverage and get ready to buy some National Championship t-shirts as we dive in to the reasons they will be cutting down the nets in April.

Senior Leadership

The first reason is their senior leadership. They have 4 seniors who start and have started about every game except when Kevin Young was out with an injury. Jeff Withey, Kevin Young, Travis Releford, and Elijah Johnson are your leaders in practice, during the game, and in the locker room.

They bring passion, knowledge, experience and the hunger to win it all. There is the Withey block party that happens about every game. Withey is now the block shot leader in the NCAA with 71 block shots this season. There is the energizer bunny Young who has a great haircut. Young brings energy, passion and charisma to every game. There is the floor leader, Johnson who takes command of the court during every possession he is out there.Last but not lease, there is the gunslinger, Releford who is one of the best shooters in the nation. He has really stepped up and became the vocal leader for this team. Their leadership will lead them to the National Championship.

Experience

Experience, the Jayhawks have been there. They have felt the victory and the defeat as they did last year when they lost to Kentucky. They know how to win and cut down the nets. They have won 8 straight Big 12 Championships and have been to several final fours.

They are hungry to make it back to the Georgia Dome and are experienced to win it all. No one expected them to make it to the final game last year and they proved everyone wrong, even me. This year they are more prepared and are ready again to show all of us especially Clark Kellogg that they will be wearing the National Championship caps and shirts.

Bill Self

They have a great coach who knows how to win, how to motivate a team, and one who has been there several times. Coach Bill Self was named Naismith College Coach of the Year last season and took the Jayhawks to the final game. Self has taken three different teams to the Elite Eight and two different ones to the Sweet Sixteen.

In 2008, Self led the Jayhawks to the National Championship game against Memphis and prevailed as National Champions. Thanks to Mario Chalmers shooting a three to tie the game up in regulation the Jayhawks went on to win. Self knows how to coach and how to teach the game of basketball. He can take players and make them champions. This season he will be on the ladder cutting down the nets in the Georgia Dome.

Team

These guys know how to play as a team and not be selfish with the ball. They are always looking for the open man with the best shot. They are in sync with one another on and off the court. They play as a team, encourage each other, holler for each other, push each other and help each other every day.

These guys from the scholarship players, the starters and to the walk on's are one big family. They care about each other, laugh with one another an cry with one another. They will be celebrating together this April when they have a parade for them in Lawrence.

Supporting Cast

Not only are the seniors stepping up in leading this team but so are the freshmen. Especially the red shirt freshmen,

Ben McLemore

who many consider to be the number one pick in the NBA draft. McLemore has impressed many of us with his skills both on defense and offense. Thanks to his off the backboard three which he called, the Jayhawks keep their home winning streak alive. He can be a little to unselfish and needs the rock more in his hand.

Than we have the rest of the gang: Naadir Tharpe who has become a role player, Perry Ellis who has tremendous potential, Jamari Traylor who can crash the boards and is built like a rock, Andrew White III who can shoot the tri-factor, Rio Adams who can play great defense, and Justin Wesley who gives Withey a breather and who goes after the 50-50 balls. There are also Niko Roberts, Christian Garrett, Tyler Self, Evan Manning and Laden Lucas who will all get a National Championship ring this season.