KU pacifier; MU ranked; Madden curse

Hopefully last night’s win in Lincoln sticks a pacifier into Kansas fans after the Tennessee toe-stubbing. Ultimately, all KU fans care about is NCAA runs and Final Fours, so why does anyone fret in January? The Jayhawks lost to Oral Roberts three years ago in November and KC was filled with Chicken Littles running around crying the sky was falling.

But no one remembers that trip-up. Just another Big 12 title and an Elite Eight run in 2007 before losing to UCLA on its home court. I'm honestly surprised Kansas didn't slip up beforehand. With everyone hyping them as title contenders, how hard is it to get geared up for December non-con games?

So a loss at Tennessee will be a mere blip on the radar screen. Surely the final 10 minutes of the Nebraska game will silence the KU naysayers for another week or two.

And before the even-more fickle KU fan states that the Nebraska game was “really closer than the score showed”, how many teams around the country would love just to come out with a win? Over the last 10 meetings between its Big 12 North foes (plus Nebraska to make 51 games), Kansas now is 45-6. That’s averages to a 9-1 mark in the division each season. Now, can you remember how many were “really closer than the score showed” and in the end, does it matter?

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What makes announcers tab “Doc Sadler” and “great coach” in the same sentence? I heard it multiple times on the ESPN broadcast last night, and when local announcers discuss Nebraska. Listeners hear it nearly every time, every game, too. The “great” Doc Sadler has yet to have a winning Big 12 season and – aside from his first season at UTEP – has made just one NCAA Tourney.

Maybe announcers should look up the definitions of "great" and "mediocre" before the next Cornhuskers telecast.

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Note to Xavier Henry: DRIVE.

Job description for Tyshawn Taylor: 1. Play defense. 2. Make free throws 3. Take it to the hole on fast break 4. Hit open shot 5. Shut up

Looks like he read it before Wednesday’s game. Now if he keeps it in his locker the rest of the season, KU and Taylor will be improved immensely.

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Fans (and likely scouts) are likely noticing if it isn’t an open 15-footer or a gimmee inside of 3-feet, it’s a miss for Cole Aldrich. And the 3-footer isn’t a gimmee either. And is it me, or has his defense slid this year too? The love of the blocked shot can start breaking down the fundamentals of a big man. Overall, he’s still fundamentally sound, hits the free throws and remains a huge presence on defense/rebounds. But the offensive game lacks the All-American hype.

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Sssooo, what’s it going to take for Missouri to get ranked? Nine straight wins now, including then-No. 11 K-State and Illinois, who suddenly leads the Big 10 at 4-0.

More impressive than the KSU win at home in front of a crazed Mizzou Arena was following it up with a win at Texas Tech. Yeah, the Tigers tried to give it away at the end, but again, a win is a win is a win. How easily could the Tigers have letdown and dropped the game on a long trek to Middle of Nowhere, aka Lubbock, Texas?

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What’s a bigger jinx? Being a Clippers top 10 pick (re: Blake Griffin out for the 2009-10 season) or the fabled Madden Curse? On the front cover this year’s 2010 Madden Football? Troy Polamalu, who sustained two injuries in 2009 and logged just 5 games.

Too bad that doesn’t apply for MLB Y2K. Royals management would hope for Alex Gordon to be donned on the cover, to have some sort of an excuse.

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World Cup soccer in KC. Now wouldn't that be pretty cool. If only Lamar was around to see it - if it happens. Somehow, somewhere, he probably will be.