High Hopes for NCAA Underdogs

ByABC News
March 16, 2001, 12:17 AM

D A Y T O N, Ohio, March 16 -- Kansas has flopped in recent NCAAtournaments. A bunch of Matadors are hoping to add to thosefailures.

The Jayhawks haven't survived the second round in the last threetournaments, despite being seeded first, sixth and eighth. Kansas,seeded fourth this time, is a heavy favorite heading into today'sMidwest first-round game in Dayton against Cal State Northridge,making its first appearance in the tournament.

It takes more than the memories of Wilt Chamberlain, Phog Allenand Danny Manning to scare the Matadors. After all, Northridge islocated on a fault line.

"A lot of guys are going to be surprised with this game,"Matador forward Carl Holmes said. "A lot of people are thinking,'Oh, little Cal State Northridge blowout.' No. I don't thinkso."

Holmes said his teammates have to get past their respect for oneof the most tradition-rich programs in the country.

"Right now we need to get past the name Kansas," Holmes said."They're beatable."Kansas Coach Criticized

More than anyone, Kansas coach Roy Williams has been stung bycriticism of his team's early exits.

"I hope the tide's going to turn one of these days and we go alot farther than anybody expects," he said.

In 1998, Kansas was seeded No. 1 and lost to eighth-seeded RhodeIsland 80-75 in the second round. The next year the Jayhawks were aNo. 6 seed and lost to third-seeded Kentucky in overtime. Lastseason, top-seeded Duke eliminated Kansas in the second round,69-64.

From 1994 to 1997, the Jayhawks were seeded fourth, first,second and first, but made it to the regional finals just once.

"My freshman year we were the No. 1 seed and we were upset,"senior center Eric Chenowith said. "So I know what it's like. Ijust want to make sure I never have that feeling again."Underdog Bravado

Upsets on the first day of the tournament served to fuel thebravado of the underdogs and catch the attention of the favorites.Fifth-seeded Ohio State and sixth-seeded Wisconsin fell in two ofthe early games.