Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas Jayhawks thought that their player own meeting would have helped them get back on the right track but instead they lose three in a row for the first time since 2005. Who did they play in the third game that season, the Oklahoma Sooners. They traveled to Norman to play the Oklahoma Sooners and went down in defeat again. The Sooners played exceptional defense and shot the ball great. This game will help them in their NCAA tournament resume and will boost their confidence. The Sooners hit seven three pointers and crashed the boards with ease.
The Jayhawks’ looked like they were tired and forgot how to play basketball. They shot better today but it was their defense that was way off. They played very soft and didn’t seem to want to win. This team is hard to watch if you are a Kansas fan. This loss might hurt them from making it nine straight conference championships. They now get to play Kansas State at home on Monday night, in a game they must win to get their morale back in focus.
So what is wrong with this Kansas Jayhawks team? Today, I watched the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with my kids and the movie itself gave me the answers to this question. Splinter asked Donatello, “What’s troubling you son?” We need to ask the same question to the players on this team. A few answers from this movie would help the Jayhawks. They need to remember these: Fight because they have to but when used unwisely it becomes a double edge sword. Do not confuse being special with your present state. If you play basketball for the game you win but if you play it for a standard or the expectations you set yourself up for failure. Sometimes Raphael would go off and fight by himself and would forget that he needed his brothers to win. They as turtles had to fight together as one to claim the victory over Shredder and the foot gang. This is exactly what the Jayhawks need to do, play as one and not as individuals. The movie talked about loyalty to each other and to Splinter. These Jayhawks need to be loyal to each other, to coaches and to the game of basketball.
There is so much pressure put on athletes to win games and if they don’t live up to the expectations of fans and the media. The Jayhawks have a tradition of winning and being in the top 10 every year. Kansas needs to stop looking at the polls, the records, stop listening to the media and block it all out and play for the love of the game. They need to get back to the basics and start playing like my son’s fifth grade team. They love to play every time they get on the court and they trust each other with every pass they make. They encourage each other when they miss a shot or turnover the ball. They have to let these last three games become a forgotten memory and focus on the rest of the season.
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” This saying is so true and each player needs to look in the mirror and remember who they are: A Kansas Jayhawk. These three losses are not a sign of failure and no one should give up on these Jayhawks. Three losses in a row? So this is what it’s like to be a fan of every other team in college basketball the last 10 years.
The Jayhawks have been a dominant team in the past years and the beginning of this season too. Coach Bill Self is a great coach and will have his team prepared for Monday night. The team just needs to watch both Ninja Turtles movies and plan to go all out against Kansas State. Since they let the Wildcats have first place in the Big 12 now, Monday night will be battle that the Jayhawks will rise above and come out with a victory. Jeff Withey, Travis Releford, Elijah Johnson and Kevin Young will show everyone that Kansas will rise again and don’t count them out.
John D. Hayden is a Writer and Contributor for RantSports.com, covering the NCAA and NBA. Follow John on twitter @jdhayden09, or add his Google + to your circles for all of his latest articles, thoughts, and rants.
