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Everyone is chirping now that the brackets are out. It wasn’t enjoyable watching CBS and ESPN struggle to fill more than two hours of bracketology Sunday evening. Thirty minutes is enough time to break it down. Too much chatter from too many talking heads. I pretty much locked in on ESPN’s coverage. I haven’t watched the CBS selection show since Billy Packer went into hibernation. So much for the coverage.

KU, arguably, drew the most difficult region in the South. Much is expected of the Jayhawks this season but in typical fashion I think they’re going to have some anxious moments surviving the first weekend, again. KU will make it to the Sweet 16 but like the last couple of years, all bets are off. Home court advantage disappears after the 2^nd round.

Kansas has run off a terrific stretch of 14 consecutive wins but keep in mind there is a pretty hefty dose of home cooking during this streak. 9 of those 14 wins have come at Allen Fieldhouse or Sprint Center. Those two venues have gone away. Still KU gets a couple of favorable “home” games this weekend in Des Moines. With the overall #1 Seed, the Jayhawks have been designated as the biggest of the Big Dogs in the tournament. That guarantees absolutely nothing. For 7 consecutive years, KU has been a 1 or 2 seed and the Jayhawks have been to ONE Final Four during that stretch losing to Kentucky four years ago.

By the way, Kentucky has been to 4 of the last 5 Final Fours. Apparently, the NCAA is tired of this Blue Blood domination in March. In what could be viewed as one of the all-time conspiracy plays in this tournament, the conference tagged Kentucky with a 4 Seed. This team could easily play to a 2 Seed. Now, Kentucky will most likely play Big 10 Champion Indiana in the 2^nd round. These two schools hate each other and will not play during the season. Perfect match up right? A bit like KU and Wichita State last year but Kentucky is really getting jobbed. If the Wildcats make it to the Sweet 16, No. 1 North Carolina will be waiting if it all plays out to chalk. Seeds really do make a difference. Those on the top two lines clearly have a favorable path to Houston.

All year long we have been told how great the Big 12 is. Musburger, Bilas, Fraschilla, Vitale and all those talking heads ramble on at breakneck pace. For the 3^rd straight year, the league has placed 7 teams in the tournament. 5 of the Big 12 teams didn’t survive the first weekend a year ago and 2 others were beaten in the field of 16. Dreadful! This conference cannot afford another abysmal showing this season.

Kansas has a bullseye on its back and for good reason. When the ball goes up Thursday afternoon against Austin Peay, KU will have gone 53 days without a loss. That number will grow before Saturday’s 2nd round face off against UConn or Colorado. For that reason Kansas seems to be the overwhelming pick in a field that’s watered down like never before. Let the games begin!