Kansas basketball: Final Four Motivation

The Kansas basketball team is preparing for Saturday’s Final Four. The Jayhawks face Villanova and continue to get little respect.

Kansas basketball fans have enjoyed the wild ride this season. It’s been a lot of fun the past month. There were times in December, January and February that were not fun. As a matter of fact, the criticism of this team is old news now. The criticism from fans, coaches, the media and others has been great fuel for Devonte Graham and the Jayhawks.

This team has been proving doubters wrong all winter. Why change now that they are in the Final Four? A close look at national media indicates most don’t give the Big 12 Champions much of a chance to advance to Monday’s NCAA Title game. That is exactly what Bill Self and this team needs to hear.

Just hours after the thrilling overtime victory in the Midwest Regional Championship game, the TODAY show story on the game was more about Duke than the winning Jayhawks.  They talked more about the Devils senior guard’s last game than Malik Newman’s 32 points or Svi Mykhailiuk’s 3-point shot to send the game to overtime.

Only one of four the USA Today writers this week gives the Jayhawks any chance to beat Villanova. Scott Gleeson believes Malik Newman is the key to an ‘upset’ of this group of Wildcats.  He still thinks Villanova is the “best team in America right now.”

Next: Final Four Keys for Jayhawks to top Villanova

Michael Beller in Sports Illustrated criticized the Jayhawks rebounding. He didn’t reference the rebounding edge the Crimson and Blue had to beat Duke in Omaha. Ben Teitelbaum and his on screen talking head Ben Furman from Las Vegas had nothing but praise for Villanova. They agreed they the Jayhawks would throw a punch or two but it would not matter in final outcome. It all adds up to motivation for the Jayhawks.