Tobacco Road dominance makes way for the Wheat State

Is the center of the college basketball universe shifting from Tobacco Road? Possibly... and over the last three years, it may have moved to the geographical center of the continental U.S.

With two teams firmly entrenched in the Top 10, and one in and out of the rankings, the state of Kansas has become one of the big stories in NCAA men's basketball this year.


Wichita State has proven their Cinderella run to the Final Four last year was no fluke with teamwork, defense and a play angry work ethic. The Shockers just became the first team to win 30 regular season games and Coach Gregg Marshall has WSU firing on all cylinders. They play with a toughness that harkens back to the days of Xavier McDaniel and Antoine Carr, with an unselfish, team-first mentality.

Kansas plays the toughest schedule in the country, has seven wins over Top 25 teams, and just locked up its 10th regular season Big 12 title IN A ROW. The tradition of Jayhawk basketball is no secret; Allen Field House is regularly named by opponents and coaches as the best place to play a road game. When you walk into the place, you definitely feel the presence of some of the ghosts of the game, including coaches James Naismith, Phog Allen and that guy who currently stalks the dadgum sideline at North Carolina.

Kansas State has been left out of the discussion this year, which is unfortunate. The Wildcats, 19-9 with five wins over Top 25 teams (including one over KU) and once again, will probably punch their ticket to March Madness. No one looks forward to playing in Manhattan; and the K-State faithful fill their barn every game, which feeds the Wildcat players without a doubt.

KU and WSU are both in the Top 5 in the rankings, with the possibility of both being #1 seeds for the NCAA tournament. Of the three teams with the highest winning percentage over the last three years, WSU and KU count for two of them.

How long this shift will last remains to be seen. But for this moment, if you love college basketball, it's a good time to be in Kansas.

Comparing John Wayne and John Wooden

There's a line in a John Wayne movie that I always loved. Now this is a stretch, so bear with me. But I thought of it when I read that John Wooden passed away.

In "The Cowboys," as John Wayne (as Wil Andersen) is leading a group of youngsters on their first cattle drive, the come across an Indian burial ground. Cimarron asks what it is and Mr. Andersen says "Little Big Horn." Cimarron says "They didn't even give him a decent grave!"

"It's not how they bury ya.
It's how they remember ya that counts."

                            - John Wayne (as Wil Andersen in "The Cowboys")


That has always stuck with me... It's how they remember you that counts.

John Wooden built one of the most dominant powerhouse college programs ever at UCLA. He won 10 NCAA championships in 12 years, had four perfect seasons, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and coach.

He coached basketball for 30 years, but Mr. Wooden has been known longer as a teacher, humanitarian and thinker since the mid-1970s. He was humble, wise, giving and brilliant. I think it would be even more fitting if he was remembered as a teacher than a basketball man, and I think he would be proud if that was the case.

I read a short piece about Mr. Wooden after he passed away about the folks who saw him almost every day in his favorite diner. I thought it fitting that the kids he has talked to over the last 12 years in the diner probably do not realize he was one of the greatest coaches who ever taught the game.  So I'll finish this with my favorite quote:

What you are as a person is far more important
than what you are as a basketball player.

                            - John Wooden