Print edition: 
OKLAHOMA CITY — When top-ranked Kansas opens the NCAA Tournament tonight against Lehigh, it'll look and feel a whole lot like 2005 — when the Jayhawks lost to Bucknell in the first round.
In the same arena, Oklahoma City's Ford Center. Against the Patriot League champion. In a season where they started as the No. 1 team. On the same date, March 18. In the late game of the evening session. Right after Northern Iowa plays its first game.
Cue the creepy music? Nah. Different teams, different circumstances, too much negativity to even bring it up.
"I may have mentioned it one time, on us being ready," Kansas coach Bill Self said Wednesday. "If you talk about that kind of stuff a lot, then you're dwelling on the negatives instead of thinking positive the whole time."
Superb selflessness —Selfless people can be extremely important to the success of their team or group.
Zahir Carrington fits that description for 16th-seeded Lehigh. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward was a Patriot League preseason first-team pick. But in true Carrington fashion, he took a backseat to standout freshman guard C.J. McCollum.
When he isn't assisting McCollum, he mentors inner-city youths in Pennsylvania's Allentown and Bethlehem area.
"I feel like I am blessed being at a place that I am at," Carrington said. "I have no problem giving back in whatever way I can.
"Usually for me, the biggest thing is time. It takes absolutely nothing for me to spend some time with a younger kid or just talk to somebody."
Through his Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Carrington volunteers in the Boys to Manhood program, mentoring middle school and high school males who have criminal records and/or struggle academically.
He also participates in the community outreach by Athletes who Care by Helping program through Lehigh's athletic department.
"C.O.A.C.H. is just going down to middle schools and high schools and talking on the basis of hard work and leadership," he said. "It's a little more community-based."
More than just a hoopster who lends a helping hand, Carrington has a 3.17 grade-point average with a double major in sociology and social psychology. The three-year starter, with 1,243 career points, hopes to play professionally overseas next season.
Love for the Shockers — Both UNLV coach Lon Kruger and Northern Iowa center Jordan Eglseder praised Wichita State's play this season, and both thought the Shockers — 25-9 after Wednesday's NIT loss to Nevada — deserved a little more consideration for an NCAA at-large bid.
The Panthers, who beat Wichita State in the Missouri Valley Conference title game, are the only MVC team in the field.
"I think (WSU) really should have been in," Eglseder said. "They're really athletic and physical and you can see how they would fit in with the teams that are here."
Kruger, who will face Northern Iowa in today's first round, also praised the MVC's coaches.
"I think WSU should have got a bid, sure," Kruger said. "And the thing that's really impressed me with watching the Valley is the level of coaching. The coaches in that league are really top-notch."
