1. MU not that far from an Elite 8 team. DJ's injury screwed our seed more than anything or we'd be there with some favorable match-ups (see AZ).
2. BE is well-prepared for the post-season, but, more than the grueling schedule, the national exposure has attracted a talent pool heads and shoulders above the other conferences. The cupboard is bare in these other conferences below the top one or two teams.
3. While the adage that guards are critical to NCAA success, it is clearly the quality Bigs that keep you advancing. Griffin, Samuels, Thabeet, Blair, Suton, and Hansbrough. We'll see how Mizzou and Nova (Cunningham is a great player but not a true 5) do against them this weekend without the true quality 5 as they had advantageous match-ups in the Sweet 16 (Memphis and Duke--Coach K. needs to find a 5). If anything, a 5 helps you on D in the inevitable tight games that a team encounters. Cannot wait for MU's length in the years to come.
Coach K also needs a true point guard (see: Lawson, Ty @ UNC).