Trojans are One and Done in NCAA Tournament

People will call it an upset, but it's really not. Kansas State came into the game as the 11 seed to face the 6 seeded Trojans, but the Wildcats should have been seeded higher. Despite having freshman phenom, Michael Beasley, in first half foul trouble, Kansas State controlled this game from start to finish. Any attempts at a USC run were survived. And even after falling behind briefly in the second half, the Wildcats eventually cruised to an 80-67 victory.

The biggest difference in the game was the maturity of KSU's youngsters, in comparison to the young Trojans. O.J Mayo finished with 20 points and 5 assists, but Davon Jefferson and Taj Gibson managed just 10 and 15 points between them. Michael Beasley recorded another double-double, with 23 points and 11 rebounds, but another freshman, Bill Walker chipped in 22, carrying the Wildcat load, as Beasley sat in foul trouble. The Trojans were outrebounded by a margin of 44-27, and unable to capitalize in moments Beasley wasn't on the floor.

It's Time To Dump The Darlings

Will the media ever dump the darlings for Michael Beasley? If a powerful performance against the second ranked Jayhawks isn’t enough, then I don’t know what is. It took an upset victory, and the snapping of a 24 year home win streak against his Wildcats for Mr. Beasley to even make the ESPN highlights. It’s one thing, if he played beyond himself for one game against a team in the national spotlight, but he didn’t do anything he hasn’t done all season.

The college player of the year award is much like the college football fashion show we’ve come to know as the “Heisman Trophy”. The favorite isn’t a reflection of their overall individual performance on the court, but has a lot to do with the performance and ranking of the team. Those players most televised and playing in more premiere games are going to be the first names to roll off your tongue. This doesn’t make them the most impressive or most impact players in the nation, it just makes them the most watched.

North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough, UCLA’s Kevin Love, Indiana’s Eric Gordon, and a host of other players for highly ranked teams get the sportscenter highlights and all the accolade, and then you’ll probably hear an analyst say “and don’t forget about that guy at Kansas State”. If he didn’t make your daily highlight reel, then you’ve already forgot about him. His numbers are obviously not that important to you, if his team doesn’t have a number in the top 10.

The 6’9 Wildcats forward is 4th in the nation in scoring, and first in rebounding. Can I get some highlights? You want to point your cameras at programs and their players, but how about aiming at a player that's making a program? Why not show me the future first round pick In the 2008 NBA draft? Why not dump some of your media darlings on the back pages, to make more room for Michael Beasley, the best college basketball has to offer this season?