Back in January, I listed my New Year’s resolutions for Lawrence and Kansas. The basketball team’s record was relatively bleak at the time – and this was before the K-State and Missouri losses, and before Micah Downs took his pampered butt out of town – but I offered the following advice to Jayhawks’ fans:

“Be patient.”

I’d like to claim some wisdom about the fact that KU went on to earn a share of the Big 12 championship, Bill Self was named coach of the year, and Brandon Rush became an all-league first-teamer.

The truth, however, is that a few months before that, I also offered the following not-quite-prediction after J.R. Giddens left for New Mexico:

“I wonder who will have a better record in 2005-06? The football team or the basketball team?”

To be fair, half of that comment was born of the belief that Mark Mangino would lead his team to a bowl game this year. I was right. But I also expected the basketball team to slip a little bit.

Admit it: So did you.

To quote sports writer Bill Simmons: the lesson, as always, is that I’m an idiot.

So we’re set for the 2006 tournament. KU got a relatively high seed, considering that in January we weren’t even sure if they’d make the field. All should be well and exciting in Jayhawk land.

Yet something seems to be nagging at the back of my mind –

(Bucknell Bummer. Bucknell Bummer. Bucknell Bummer. Bucknell Bummer. Bucknell Bummer. Bucknell Bummer. Bucknell Bummer. Bucknell Bummer. Bucknell Bummer.)

– and I’m not sure what it is.

I’m not a sports columnist, and I don’t want to be. I’m just a fan – sometimes reluctantly – like most of you. And what I want is for KU to win, not just because Rush has proven to be as likable as he is talented, not just because I’d like Bill Self to cement his hold on the job and for all of us to get over our Roy hangovers, and not just because I’d like to see Christian Moody once again proclaimed the greatest walk-on ever.

Those things would be nice.

But I’ve been in this town during a Final Four weekend. And I’ve been in this town in the wake of a soul-crushing first-round defeat. And it’s no comparison which is more fun.

Yeah, it’s kinda sad that our emotional lives for the next week or three will depend on the fortunes of the Jayhawks. But since that’s the way it is, I’m going to root them on to victory.

Rock, chalk.