The Jayhawks were preseason No. 1 in both polls, anointed in November to cut down nets in April. They held that ranking for all but a few weeks, going 32-2 on the way to being chosen the tournament's No. 1 overall seed. Once the brackets were set, they became the President's men, picked by Barack Obama to win the big one and pay him a visit at the White House. For a change, most of the country agreed with him. In 2010, it was Kansas.

"Even though you should enjoy that and love it, there is pressure involved in that because of the attention," Self said. "You feel like you've got to defend that."

And to Self, if you are trying to protect something, that means you aren't out there going after it.

"I liked our team last year," Self said, "but maybe in a couple situations we were a little too serious. One thing about the tournament, you have to be serious and focused and all that stuff, but it's also a reward for having a good year, too. You have to enjoy it."

Self says this year's team is more relaxed. There is one major difference: In 2011, the Jayhawks share leadership. Last year, they were led by Sherron Collins on and off the floor. Self handed his team over to Collins, a senior whose personality could affect a room like nobody else. Collins felt like the team was on his back, and he wanted it that way.