ST. LOUIS - Nothing bothers the guys from Georgia Tech.
They walloped top-ranked Connecticut. They won at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium. They played Friday night's region semifinal without top scorer B.J. Elder and still beat Nevada.
Now comes mighty Kansas, a team that's gone to the Final Four the past two seasons and has a dazzling array of talent.
"We've just got to come out and play like we normally play," forward Anthony McHenry said. "We've had tough games this year. We'll be fine."
That kind of talk ordinarily would be nothing more than a bunch of cliches. But third-seeded Georgia Tech (26-9) not only feels that way, it's built the season on its low-key attitude.
This, after all, is a team that gets more excited about its stifling defense than monster dunks; a team so balanced three players average in double figures and six score 8.8 or more; a team that has complete faith someone is going to step up no matter what the circumstance.
"That's the most important thing, offensively and defensively: Guys give themselves up to make the team better," captain Marvin Lewis said. "That's what makes us so successful. There's not selfishness on our team, it is about trying to contribute and make us better.
"The guys we have, we can be successful if everybody plays together. We get it done as a family."
Good thing, because the Yellow Jackets are going to need an entire clan against the Jayhawks.
Kansas (24-8) may be seeded a spot lower, but it is a five-point favorite today. While Georgia Tech eked out its first three NCAA Tournament victories by a combined 13 points, the Jayhawks won by an average of 22. Kansas not only broke Alabama-Birmingham's pesky press Friday night - the same press that sent overall top-seeded Kentucky packing - it tore it apart with such ferociousness the game is going to be a must-see for anyone playing the Blazers.
Wayne Simien has averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds, even though he reaggravated a groin injury in the first game of the tournament. Keith Langford and J.R. Giddens also are scoring in double figures.
They're playing just five hours from their campus and are sure to have a dome full of fans. They're 5-0 in NCAA Tournament games here.
Then there's the experience factor. All of the starters except Giddens, a freshman, have played in at least one Final Four. Langford and point guard Aaron Miles don't know what it's like to end a season except in the Final Four.
"It helps more so from a mental standpoint," Langford said. "Knowing you have to treat these games obviously with seriousness because if you lose, you go home. But at the same time, you still have to play like any other game.
"You have to be patient, know the other team is going to have hot spurts, make runs. Know that there might be a few mistakes that you make, but you just have to maintain a level head."
That's what the Yellow Jackets are trying to do, too. Their first three games have been offensive disappointments, with them averaging 64.7 points, about 13 below their season average. So just as they have all season, they've let the defense carry them.
Georgia Tech hasn't allowed anyone to score more than 67 and is holding opponents to less than 38 percent shooting. After Nevada raced out to an early, first-half lead Friday night, the Yellow Jackets limited the Wolf Pack to 7-for-33 in the second half.
Doing the same thing against Kansas might be tough, especially if Elder doesn't play much. Elder, who averages a team-high 15.8 points, sprained his ankle two minutes into Friday night's game. He's expected to play, but coach Paul Hewitt doesn't know how much.
But just as they have all season, Georgia Tech is confident it'll find a way to get it done.
