Jayhawks

Bill Self hasn&rsquo;t had to go through many stretches like this in his 20 seasons at Kansas. Yet the coach hasn&rsquo;t seemed angry or even all that discouraged during a rare three-game losing streak.
Self knows this isn&rsquo;t the same Jayhawks team that won the national championship last season.
Kansas (16-4, 5-3 Big 12) has gone from having one of the nation&rsquo;s most experienced rosters to a much younger group without a proven presence in the post in a loaded Big 12 Conference that may be better than ever.
&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have as much margin for error as we&rsquo;ve had in years past and that&rsquo;s OK,&rdquo; Self said. &ldquo;But (when) you don&rsquo;t have quite as much margin for error, and the other teams in the league are a lot better, it makes it tough.&rdquo;
The ninth-ranked Jayhawks have lost three in a row for only the fourth time under Self. Each loss was to a ranked conference opponent, two on the road. The latest was 75-69 at Baylor on Monday night in a matchup of the last two national champions, the fifth win in a row for the 17th-ranked Bears.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be honest with you, I&rsquo;ve got to take a different approach and understand that it&rsquo;s a marathon,&rdquo; Self said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not an immediate reaction, because you can react immediately in this league, and you&rsquo;ll have nine other teams go through the exact same thing at some point.&rdquo;
Kansas is still loaded with talent.
Junior forward Jalen Wilson leads the Big 12 with in scoring at 21.4 points per game and is second in rebounds at 8.6. While streaky, freshman Gradey Dick (14.9 ppg) is the league&rsquo;s top 3-point shooter at 43.7%, and Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar Jr. averages 7.3 rebounds. Dajuan Harris Jr. is one of the top assist men at 6.5 per game despite his extended shooting struggles.
But these Jayhawks are different than most of Self&rsquo;s standout teams in the past that played through the post with big guys like David McCormack, Jeff Withey, Thomas Robinson or Udoka Azubuike.
McCormack was part of last year&rsquo;s title team, along with first-round NBA draft picks Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun. The Jayhawks also lost ballhandler Remy Martin and veteran sharpshooter Jalen Coleman-Lands.
Kansas plays its SEC/Big 12 Challenge game Saturday at Kentucky (14-6), which won 80-62 at Allen Fieldhouse last season. The Jayhawks will be trying to avoid their first four-game losing streak since 1988-89, their first season under coach Roy Williams.
After going to Rupp Arena to face coach John Calipari&rsquo;s struggling Wildcats, the Jayhawks return to conference play against fifth-ranked Kansas State. They then open the second half of their Big 12 schedule at No. 12 Iowa State before hosting No. 10 Texas.
Their current skid began with an 83-82 overtime loss last week at K-State, which had a 14-point lead midway through the first half. TCU, now ranked 11th, hit 13 of its first 15 shots and had an early 19-0 run in an 83-60 win Saturday, the second-worst home loss in the Self era.
&ldquo;Our league is that good,&rdquo; Self said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be a grind.&rdquo;
The Jayhawks trailed by as many as 13 midway through the first half at Baylor. They took their only lead when Wilson swished a 3-pointer with 15 1/2 minutes left, but the Bears responded with a 12-3 run.
&ldquo;The way that K-State played the first 10 minutes, the way TCU played the first 10 minutes, and the way Baylor played the first 10 minutes, if we had played really well, we would have still been behind,&rdquo; Self said, before using a wrestling analogy prompted by seeing two former Oklahoma State classmates in the postgame interview room at Baylor.
Brad Livingstone was a senior at Oklahoma State during the 1981-82 season, when Self was a freshman for the Cowboys. Livingstone&rsquo;s wife, Baylor president Linda Livingstone, also played basketball for the school in Stillwater where wrestling is big.
&ldquo;When you&rsquo;re on top and you can get riding time, it takes twice as much energy if you&rsquo;re the low man in wrestling. ... It&rsquo;s exactly the way basketball is too,&rdquo; Self said. &ldquo;When you&rsquo;re behind, it takes more energy, everything&rsquo;s magnified, it takes more effort. And when you&rsquo;re playing with the lead, obviously you&rsquo;re looser, everything&rsquo;s not life or death.&rdquo;

Kansas has gone from having one of the nation’s most experienced rosters to a much younger group without a proven paint presence.

Self assessment: Skidding No. 9 Kansas has little margin

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) &mdash; Kansas had a reputation in some corners of college basketball as being a great regular-season team, one that would dominate the Big 12 and win high-profile non-conference games, only to struggle in the postseason.
The Jayhawks squelched all that talk in April.
Leaning on one of the most experienced lineups in the country, Bill Self guided the Jayhawks to the Final Four in New Orleans, where a historic comeback against North Carolina in the championship game allowed them to raise a banner in Allen Fieldhouse for the first time since 2008.
&ldquo;We talk about this all the time, you know, it&rsquo;s much easier to have a great team than a great program,&rdquo; Self said this week, &ldquo;because it&rsquo;s just a snippet of time and things could fall just right for one year, and you want to do it where there&rsquo;s a foundation of consistency that you can, you know, be in the game. And I think we&rsquo;ve done that. But still, though, in order to validate the first one you have to get a second one.&rdquo;
Self paused, smiled, then added: &ldquo;Then maybe to validate a second, you got to get a third one. I don&rsquo;t know.&rdquo;
Whether Self needs another on a resume that has already landed him in the Hall of Fame is up for debate. But regardless, that&rsquo;s exactly what the fifth-ranked Jayhawks are chasing when they open the season in a couple of weeks as defending champs.
&ldquo;You don&rsquo;t remember the first-round losses if you win titles,&rdquo; Self said, &ldquo;so we needed to do that to validate the success that we&rsquo;ve had throughout the course of many, many seasons. ... It certainly felt like a burden was lifted after we won.&rdquo;
The Jayhawks look a whole lot different, and younger, than they did a year ago.
Gone are veterans Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun, both of them first-round NBA draft picks, along with space-eating big man David McCormack, ballhandler Remy Martin and veteran sharpshooter Jalen Coleman-Lands.
In their place are a bunch of youngsters surrounding Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar Jr. and returning starters Dajuan Harris Jr. and Jalen Wilson, making the Jayhawks one of the youngest teams in the country.
As the saying goes at Kansas, though, names and faces may change but the expectations are always the same.
&ldquo;All I want to do is reach that moment again,&rdquo; Wilson said of the title game. &ldquo;Coach talked about how fun it will be, you know, but you don&rsquo;t really understand until you get there. But once you get there, it&rsquo;s like, man, it&rsquo;s the greatest moment of your life. And so I have an opportunity to do it again. Motivates me every single day.&rdquo;
MORE ON MCCULLAR
A handful of players transferred within the Big 12 this past offseason, but perhaps nobody&rsquo;s decision made a bigger impact on two programs than McCullar. The defensive dynamo left a big void at Texas Tech by filling one at Kansas.
&ldquo;This is just the best fit for me, you know? I knew it was time for me (to move on),&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;to grow as a player. The next step in my journey was to compete for Coach Self. It was the best decision for me.&rdquo;
FRESH FACES
The Jayhawks brought in two forwards and two posts in a four-man recruiting class, and Self said all of them will play. The highest profile belongs to Gradey Dick, a 6-foot-7 shooter, while MJ Rice will remind Kansas fans of Wayne Selden. Six-foot-10 center Ernest Udeh Jr. and 6-8 big man Zuby Ejiofor will provide size in the paint.
HEY, I KNOW YOU
Because of their experience last season, the Jayhawks didn&rsquo;t need to rely on their talented 2021 recruiting class. But all four are back after a year in the program. Point guard Bobby Pettiford Jr. and forwards Zach Clemence and K.J. Adams Jr. played sparingly last season while Kyle Cuffe Jr. spent the year as a redshirt.
HEADS UP
The Jayhawks often played through McCormack in the paint last season, but without an established post presence, there&rsquo;s a good chance they will be hoisting up a lot of 3s this season. Even forwards such as Dick and Clemence that have size to guard a center almost prefer to shoot from the outside, and they have the touch to do it consistently.
SCHEDULE SITUATION
Kansas opens Nov. 7 against Omaha and faces North Dakota State before an early showdown with No. 7 Duke in the Champions Classic. The Jayhawks also have nonconference games against No. 13 Indiana and Seton Hall, their first trip in more than a decade to bitter rival Missouri and a trip to No. 4 Kentucky for the Big 12-SEC Challenge.

The Jayhawks look a whole lot different, and younger, than they did a year ago.

No. 5 Kansas out to defend national title with new roster

Quentin Grimes had 24 points and eight assists, Jericho Sims scored 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and the New York Knicks overcame Moses Moody's 34 points to beat the Golden State Warriors 101-88 on Friday night at the Las Vegas Summer League.
Moody was 8 for 13 from the floor and 15 of 17 from the free throw line. Mac McClung added 17 points for the Warriors.
Jonathan Kuminga, picked No. 7 overall by Golden State in the 2021 draft, had four points and five of the Warriors&rsquo; 23 turnovers. The 6-foot-9, 19-year-old made 2 of 10 from the field, 0 of 4 from 3-point range and 0 of 4 from the free throw line.
Feron Hunt had 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting for the Knicks. Miles McBride had 14 points and seven assists, and DaQuan Jeffries scored 12 points. Sims had 10 rebounds.
BULLS 100, MAVERICKS 99, OT
Marko Simonovic had 27 points, 13 rebounds and blocked three shots to help Chicago beat Dallas.
Simonovic, a second-round pick in 2020, made 10 of 17 from the field and 7 of 8 from the free throw line. The 6-foot-11 center from Montenegro &mdash; trailing on the fast break &mdash; caught a bounce pass from Carlik Jones near the top of the key, took a dribble and threw down a two-hand dunk with 21 seconds left in regulation to make it 90-all and, eventually, force overtime.
A.J. Lawson and Jaden Hardy &mdash; a second-round pick in June&rsquo;s draft after spending last season with the G League Ignite &mdash; finished with 28 points apiece for the Mavericks. Lawson made 10 of 16 from the field and 6 of 11 from 3-point range.
PACERS 96, HORNETS 84
Bennedict Mathurin, picked No. 6 overall in last month's draft, scored 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting and Chris Duarte added 16 points to lead Indiana.
Terry Taylor had 11 points, Duane Washington Jr. scored 10 and Isaiah Jackson &mdash; a first-round pick, along with Duarte, in the 2021 draft &mdash; finished with nine points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Pacers.
Bryce McGowens led the Hornets with 17 points. LJ Figueroa went 6 of 6 from the field &mdash; including two 3-pointers &mdash; and finished with 16 points. Nick Richards added 15 points and 11 rebounds and Kai Jones had 12 points and nine rebounds, but went 0 for 10 from 3-point range.
CAVALIERS 99, SPURS 90
RJ Nembhard Jr. scored 20 points and Amar Sylla had 19 points and eight rebounds to lead Cleveland past San Antonio.
Ochai Agbaji, picked 14th overall in last month's draft, hit four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points. Malik Osborne added 13 points and Cam Young scored 10 for the Cavaliers.
Blake Wesley and Josh Primo &mdash; first-round picks by the Spurs in 2022 and 2021, respectively &mdash; scored 20 points apiece. Malaki Branham, picked No. 20 overall in June, had 15 points.
BUCKS 94, NETS 90
Lindell Wigginton had 17 points and seven assists, Sandro Mamukelashvili also scored 17 points and Milwaukee held off Brooklyn.
Mamukelashvili hit a 3-pointer and then made a driving floater before he found MarJon Beauchamp &mdash; who made multiple plays down the stretch &mdash; for a corner 3 that gave the Bucks a 93-82 lead with 1:17 to play.
Beauchamp finished with 16 points and A.J. Green added 15 for Milwaukee.
Cam Thomas led Brooklyn with 31 points and David Duke Jr. scored 22. Day&rsquo;Ron Sharpe had eight points, 10 rebounds, three steals and a block.
TIMBERWOLVES 85, NUGGETS 78
Josh Minott had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Kevon Harris scored 13 points to lead Minnesota to the win.
Minott, a second-round pick in June's draft, was 8 of 15 from the field, 2 of 3 from 3-point range and 4 of 4 from the free throw line. Wendell Moore Jr., picked No. 26 overall out of Duke, and David McCormack added 10 points apiece for the Timberwolves.
Christian Braun &mdash; who, along with McCormack, help Kansas to the 2022 NCAA title &mdash; led Denver with 18 points. A first-round pick last month, Braun shot 7 of 10 from inside the arc and just 1 of 7 from 3-point range. Collin Gillespie and Matt Mitchell scored 10 points apiece for the Nuggets.
SUNS 104, LAKERS 84
Louis King scored 20 points, Ish Wainwright added 17 on 5-of-9 shooting &mdash; all from 3-point range &mdash; and Phoenix trailed for just 10 seconds.
Phoenix took the lead for good when Duop Reath converted a three-point play to make it 18-15 with 1:55 left in the first quarter. Wainwright was fouled as he hit a 3-pointer and made the free throw to make it 57-45 with 7:38 left in the third quarter. The Lakers trailed by double figures the rest of the way.
Scotty Pippen Jr. led Los Angeles with 19 points and three steals. Paris Bass had 14 points, Cole Swider hit three 3s and finished with 11 points and Mason Jones had 10.
Max Christie &mdash; the Lakers' lone draft pick (No. 35 overall) in 2022 &mdash; had nine points and eight rebounds but made just 1 of 6 from the field.

Quentin Grimes had 24 points and eight assists, Jericho Sims scored 16 points and the Knicks overcame Moses Moody's 34 points.

Grimes, Knicks top Warriors 101-88 despite Moody's 34 points

Keep track of where the top 2022 undrafted free agents are headed after draft night.

2022 NBA UDFA Tracker: Latest news on undrafted free agents

The NBA G League today announced the field of 44 draft prospects who will attend the 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp, which will take place May 16 and 17 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
The 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp gives draft prospects an opportunity to display their skills in front of NBA and NBA G League scouts, coaches and front-office executives over the course of the camp by playing in five-on-five games and participating in strength and agility drills.
Based on performance, select players from the NBA G League Elite Camp will be invited to participate in 2022 NBA Draft Combine, which will be held May 18-22 at Wintrust Arena.
&ldquo;We are thrilled to host this talented group of draft prospects at our NBA G League Elite Camp,&rdquo; said NBA G League head of basketball operations Malik Rose. &ldquo;This is an incredible opportunity for these 44 young men to showcase their basketball abilities in front of both NBA and NBA G League front office personnel.&rdquo;
NBA players who have participated in past NBA G League Elite Camps include New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, Indiana Pacers forward Oshae Brissett, LA Clippers guard Terance Mann and Miami Heat guard Max Strus.
Here are this year's participants:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" width="567">NBA Draft-Eligible Players (College/Club)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Abmas, Max (Oral Roberts)</td>
<td width="300">Lee, Hyunjung (Davidson)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Akinjo, James (Baylor)</td>
<td width="300">Lofton Jr., Kenneth (Louisiana Tech)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Aluma, Keve (Virginia Tech)</td>
<td width="300">Manek, Brady (North Carolina)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Bernard, Jules (UCLA)</td>
<td width="300">Martin, Tyrese (Connecticut)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Boeheim, Buddy (Syracuse)</td>
<td width="300">McCormack, David (Kansas)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Bouyea, Jamaree (San Francisco)</td>
<td width="300">McCullar, Kevin (Texas Tech)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Brooks, Eli (Michigan)</td>
<td width="300">McGusty, Kameron (Miami FL)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Brooks Jr., Keion (Kentucky)</td>
<td width="300">Nance, Pete (Northwestern)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Brown, Tevin (Murray State)</td>
<td width="300">Notae, J.D. (Arkansas)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Brown, Gabe (Michigan State)</td>
<td width="300">O&rsquo;Neal, Shareef (LSU)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Burton, Tyler (Richmond)</td>
<td width="300">Randolph, M.J. (Florida A&amp;M)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Days, Darius (LSU)</td>
<td width="300">Rhoden, Jared (Seton Hall)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Devoe, Michael (Georgia Tech)</td>
<td width="300">Samuels, Jermaine (Villanova)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Flanigan, Allen (Auburn)</td>
<td width="300">Sasser, Marcus (Houston)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Foster, Kyle (Howard)</td>
<td>Scheierman, Baylor (South Dakota State)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Freeman-Liberty, Javon (DePaul)</td>
<td>Travers, Luke (Perth Wildcats)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Grady, Kellan (Kentucky)</td>
<td>Turell, Ryan (Yeshiva University)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Green, A.J. (Northern Iowa)</td>
<td>White Jr., Fabian (Houston)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gresham, Brison (Texas Southern)</td>
<td>Williams, Bryson (Texas Tech)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gueye, Mouhamed (Washington State)</td>
<td>Williams Jr., Vince (VCU)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hall, Jordan (St. Joseph&rsquo;s PA)</td>
<td>Wilson, Jalen (Kansas)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jackson, Quenton (Texas A&amp;M)</td>
<td>Yat, Kok (Overtime Elite)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

The NBA G League announced the field of 44 draft prospects who will attend the 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp in Chicago.

NBA announces field of 44 draft prospects for G League Elite Camp

Instant. Classic.
In a game of runs, and with huge swings of momentum, the No. 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks pulled off the largest comeback in NCAA Championship history, beating the eighth-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels, 72-69. The Jayhawks trailed by 16 points in the first half and fought back to enter the record books.
Jalen Wilson and David McCormack led them in scoring with 15 points each. Arizona State transfer Remy Martin scored his 2,000th point in this one and provided 14 huge points for Kansas off the bench, including multiple threes in the second half.
Armando Bacot and RJ Davis each posted 15 points for the Tar Heels, while Caleb Love and Brady Manek each scored 13 points.
Kansas' Ochai Agbaji opened this one the same way he started the win against Villanova &mdash; with a three. He took the dribble handoff and drained a deep three from the wing as the Jayhawks jumped out to a 7-0 lead.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Ochai for THREEE 🎯 Agbaji picks up where he left off<a href="https://twitter.com/KUHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KUHoops</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalChampionship?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalChampionship</a> <a href="https://t.co/u2K3lKN86U">pic.twitter.com/u2K3lKN86U</a>
&mdash; NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1511152456771768324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
Manek answered with a triple of his own to get the Tar Heels on the board. Carolina battled back to take a 12-11 lead and would extend it to 29-22, which was Kansas&rsquo; largest deficit of the entire tournament at 7 points. After a 14-0 run late in the first half, the Tar Heels led 40-25 at the break, leaving Kansas with its lowest first-half point total in the tourney.&nbsp;
Kansas was 6 of 21 in the paint in the first half, as the team simply could not convert at the rim. McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot were both in foul trouble early as well, which forced Kansas to go with smaller lineups and allowed the Tar Heels' Armando Bacot to impose his will inside.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_18021555_lg.jpg" alt="" width="555" height="369" />
Bacot posted 12 points and 10 rebounds in the first half, giving him 31 double-doubles on the season. That extended his own ACC record and tied the NCAA record set by Navy&rsquo;s David Robinson in 1985-86. Going into halftime, Davis had 11 points for Carolina, while Agbaji had 8 points for Kansas.
McCormack got the second half started with a powerful alley-oop in hopes of setting the tone for the Jayhawks. Christian Braun would follow with a bucket of his own, but Love had an answer. Wilson connected on a transition and-one to make it 45-38, and you could start to feel the momentum shift.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_18021882_lg.jpg" alt="" width="555" height="370" />&nbsp;
Tar Heels forward Leaky Black picked up his fourth foul with 13:52 to play in the second, which was big, as he&rsquo;s one of the team&rsquo;s best defenders with his size and length. Braun immediately followed with a transition layup to make it 46-45 to make it a whole new ballgame. Agbaji then converted an and-one of his own to tie things up at 50.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
OCHAI AND-ONE WE ARE ALL TIED UP 😱<a href="https://twitter.com/KUHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KUHoops</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchMadness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchMadness</a> <a href="https://t.co/gtjx8p7Vbp">pic.twitter.com/gtjx8p7Vbp</a>
&mdash; NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1511178765463810051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
Carolina's Puff Johnson hit a big corner three with just over eight minutes to play to knot things up at 57, providing huge minutes off the bench. After some more back-and-forth action, Manek &mdash; the Oklahoma transfer &mdash; knocked down two free throws for the Tar Heels to tie it up again at 65 with three minutes to play.&nbsp;
The Jayhawks led 70-69 with a minute left in regulation, when McCormack was simply not going to be denied in the paint for another basket. Bacot then rolled his right ankle again after injuring it in the Final Four game against Duke, and your stomach just sank for the young man, who provided an amazing, gutsy performance on the big stage.
With 4.2 seconds to play, Carolina turned the ball over after a couple of game-tying attempts from deep, but Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. stepped out of bounds on the ensuing pass, giving the ball back to the Tar Heels. Love was unable to hit the pull-up three as time expired, leading the Rock Chalk Nation to a celebration.&nbsp;&nbsp;
McCormack said postgame, "Coach lost his father so we played for him. This was about more than just us, it's about Coach and all that Kansas stands for."
Bill Self and the Jayhawks hoist the trophy in New Orleans.&nbsp;
What a night.&nbsp;
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In a game of runs and with huge swings of momentum, Kansas pulled off the largest comeback in NCAA Championship history.

Kansas wins NCAA Championship, defeats North Carolina 72-69

The NCAA Championship tickets have been punched. Here's a look into how Saturday night's Final Four matchups played out:
North Carolina defeats Duke 81-77
In an instant classic that will live in the hearts and minds of college basketball fans forever, Coach K&rsquo;s career comes to an end. This one was tied 67-67 with 3:32 to play in regulation and had everyone on the edge of their seats. Caleb Love connected on a big layup to take the lead late, but Trevor Keels answered with a triple to take a one-point lead with 2:00 left.
After multiple lead changes and a massive Love three-pointer that may be one of the biggest shots in Tar Heel history, North Carolina was able to hold on down the stretch and advance to the NCAA Championship. Paolo Banchero had a strong outing for the Duke Blue Devils, but Love and Armando Bacot were too much to handle. Bacot had an incredible 21 rebounds and overcame a late-game injury before fouling out. It was quite a game &mdash; one that lived up to all the hype one would expect from the first-ever Final Four matchup between two of the greatest college basketball programs in history.&nbsp;
Notable Stats: Caleb Love - 28 points, 9 rebounds Paolo Banchero - 20 points, 10 rebounds Armando Bacot - 11 points, 21 rebounds RJ Davis - 18 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists Trevor Keels - 19 points Brady Manek - 14 points
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<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_18009507_lg.jpg" alt="" width="626" height="418" />
Kansas defeats Villanova 81-65
The Jayhawks opened the game with a barrage of three-pointers and jumped out to a 16-5 lead. At one point, Kansas led 36-18, but the Villanova Wildcats cut into the deficit a bit and trailed 40-29 at the half. Nevertheless, this game was a wire-to-wire victory for Kansas, who never trailed. The story of the game was Ochai Agbaji&rsquo;s shooting, as he hit six of his seven attempts from behind the arc. As a team, Kansas connected on 13-of-24 from deep, which allowed them to keep their breathing room for the entirety of the contest. Christian Braun hit a dagger three late in the contest to make it 75-59. After the game, Bruan said, "I had hit one before that, so I had nothing to lose. Honestly, just threw one up there, and it went in."
The Wildcats <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/how-villanova-will-have-to-survive-without-justin-moore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">missed Justin Moore badly</a> after he suffered an injury in the Elite Eight, but Saturday's loss doesn&rsquo;t take away from the tremendous performance by Bill Self and Co. The Jayhawks will move onto the NCAA Championship.&nbsp;
Notable stats: David McCormack - 25 points, 9 rebounds Ochai Agbaji - 21 points Jalen Wilson - 11 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists Collin Gillespie - 17 points Brandon Slater - 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists Caleb Daniels - 13 points, 5 rebounds
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North Carolina and Kansas advanced to the NCAA Championship with Final Four wins Saturday night.

Tar Heels and Jayhawks punch NCAA Championship tickets

Kansas, the winningest program in college basketball history, has punched its ticket to the Final Four.
Ochai Agbaji led them in scoring with 18 points as the Jayhawks outscored the Miami Hurricanes 47-15 in the second half to run away with the game.&nbsp;
The Jayhawks (No. 1 seed) entered this one as the only top seed remaining in the field of 68. Agbaji finished the regular season as one of the best players in America, averaging 18.9 points per game, and has all but solidified himself as a first round pick in this NBA draft.&nbsp;
Miami (No. 10 seed) advanced to its first Elite Eight in program history, behind a tremendous coaching job from Jim Larranaga and 17.8 points per game from Kam McGusty. After finishing 4th in the ACC regular season standings, and suffering a 4-point loss in the ACC Tournament semifinals to Duke, the Canes have had a run to remember in March.&nbsp;
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The teams traded leads to start, but the Hurricanes caught fire right before the break to take a 35-29 lead at the half. McGusty led the way with 14 points and Isaiah Wong scored 8. David McCormack led the Jayhawks early with 7 points at the break.&nbsp;
Kansas quickly tied the game at 40-40 in the second half, followed by a Christian Braun triple that allowed them to re-take the lead. After a 16-2 run, Miami suddenly trailed 54-42 and the tide had officially turned.&nbsp;
The second half was a defensive clinic, and the game quickly became academic as the Jayhawks extended their lead even more to secure the 76-50 victory. McCormack posted 15 points and Braun ended with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Mitch Lightfoot and Remy Martin each scored 9 points off the bench. McGusty led Miami in scoring with 18 points.&nbsp;
Next up, coach Bill Self and co. have a meeting with Jay Wright and the Villanova Wildcats for a shot at the NCAA Championship.
This is the 16th Final Four appearance in school history for Kansas.
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The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Miami Hurricanes to advance to the Final Four. Derek Murray breaks down the action.

Kansas def. Miami (FL) 76-50, advances to Final Four

The Elite Eight is set! After two more days of madness, nail-biters, and upsets, eight programs will meet this weekend to earn trips to the Final Four. Here's the breakdown of Thursday and Friday's results:
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Saint Peter&rsquo;s def. Purdue 67-64, will face North Carolina Happy National Peacock Day! Shaheen Holloway and the Saint Peter's Peacocks have stunned another powerhouse, defeating the No. 3 seed Purdue Boilermakers 67-64 to advance to the Elite Eight. They have now beaten Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue en route to becoming the very first No. 15 seed to make the Elite Eight in NCAA Tournament history. Daryl Banks III led them in scoring with 14 points, while Doug Edert provided 10 huge ones off the bench.
Arkansas def. Gonzaga 74-68, will face Duke In a fast-paced game for most of the night, JD Notae, Jaylin Williams and Trey Wade knocked off the No. 1 overall seed. Williams said after the game, "We've been disrespected the whole year, so it's just another thing for us.&rdquo; Notae led the way with 21 points on 9 of 29 shooting from the floor, while Drew Timme posted 25 points in (potentially) his final game for the Zags. This one had the internet buzzing - what a win for Eric Musselman and co.&nbsp;
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Duke def. Texas Tech 78-73, will face Arkansas This game was a heavyweight fight from start to finish. Texas Tech held a four-point lead at the half, but Paolo Banchero took over down the stretch, finishing with 22 points in the win. Jeremy Roach also played a huge role in this one with 15 points and 5 assists. Coach K and his Blue Devils survive and advance to a meeting with Arkansas. Must-see television ahead.&nbsp;
Houston def. Arizona 72-60, will face Villanova Kelvin Sampson is having, arguably, the best coaching season in America. He and the Cougars led wire-to-wire in this one to defeat the Wildcats, whom many had as their championship pick. Jamal Shead led the way with 21 points while Kyler Edwards posted 19. Another &lsquo;Culture Win&rsquo; for the Cougars as they will meet Collin Gillespie and Villanova in the Elite Eight.&nbsp;
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Villanova def. Michigan 63-55, will face Houston The Wildcats took the lead with 3:42 to go in the first half and never looked back. They remained in control the rest of the way behind 22 points from Jermaine Samuels and 15 from Justin Moore. This ends the Wolverines' run, which has been nothing short of impressive. Villanova will now meet Houston in the Elite Eight in a matchup of two of the most disciplined, well-coached teams in the country.
Kansas def. Providence 66-61, will face Miami (FL) The Jayhawks advance to their first Elite Eight since 2017 behind Remy Martin&rsquo;s 23 points, a season-high for him. They only got 19 combined points from Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun and David McCormack, but were able to hold on down the stretch. The Jayhawks are the only No. 1 seed remaining in the NCAA Tournament, and they are currently the betting favorites to win it all.&nbsp;
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North Carolina def. UCLA 73-66, will face Saint Peter&rsquo;s UCLA led 64-61 with 2:08 to play, but Caleb Love had other plans. He would catch fire from deep and hit two huge shots with just under a minute to play, giving his team the 67-64 lead. Armando Bacot would add a putback with 0:15 to play to make it a five-point game. That would be enough to hold off the Bruins. Love led the way with 30 points in an incredible performance, propelling the Tar Heels into a meeting with Cinderella, the Peacocks from Saint Peter&rsquo;s.&nbsp;
Miami (FL) def. Iowa State 70-56, will face Kansas The Hurricanes have advanced to the first Elite Eight in their program's history. Senior guard Kameron McGusty led all players with 27 points in this one, something he&rsquo;s accustomed to. A Sam Waardenburg three and Jordan Miller alley-oop extended Miami's the lead to 13 points with under 2:00 to play, which sealed the deal. Jim Larranaga and co. will play the final No. 1 seed in the field, Kansas, for a spot in the Final Four.
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Eight programs will meet this weekend to decide the Final Four. Here's Derek Murray breaking down how everyone got where they are.

March Madness: Sweet 16 recap, looking ahead to the Elite Eight

Lawrence, KS&nbsp; &mdash;&nbsp; The Kansas Jayhawks squeaked out a victory at home, winning 94-91 against Texas Tech. Ochai Agbaji led the team in scoring with 37 points on seven makes from deep, both career-highs. Bryson Williams kept the Red Raiders in it all night with his 33 points on 14 of 19 shooting.&nbsp;
In a pivotal Big 12 matchup between the top two teams in the conference, the Jayhawks (17-2, 6-1 Big 12) hosted the Red Raiders. Kansas came into the day having won 12 of its last 13 games, averaging 77.9 points over their last 10, with the only loss coming to Texas Tech in Lubbock.
The Red Raiders (15-5, 5-3 Big 12) have put together a strong resume thus far and have held opponents to 59.2 points per game over the last 10. Despite losing some tough games to great opponents, they&rsquo;ve also managed to defeat multiple high-profile teams including Baylor and Tennessee. They are led by Terrence Shannon Jr., who has played nine games this year due to injury and is averaging 12.8 points per game.
Kansas has been led all season by its two standout upperclassmen wings in Agbaji and Christian Braun. Agbaji is a candidate for Player of the Year and is making a strong case as a first-round pick in the NBA Draft, averaging 20.4 points per game on 45.8% from deep. Braun is scoring 15.3 points along with 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest.&nbsp;
Both teams traded buckets in the first half until roughly the 8-minute mark when Kansas started to pull away. The Jayhawks held a 36-30 lead at the break behind 13 points from Agbaji. He was feeling it early from deep, hitting 3 of his first 6 attempts. Williams, Tech's senior transfer from UTEP, poured in 12 early points for Texas Tech, which kept the Red Raiders close.&nbsp;
Three minutes into the second half, Texas Tech cut the lead back to two points, but Kansas got hot. Everyone got involved for the Jayhawks with Agbaji, McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot responding with makes of their own. They would stretch the lead to 12 points, and then it got interesting.
Texas Tech went to a defensive scheme in which the team totally took away Agbaji by faceguarding him. Things got dicy at 2:52, when Warren hit a huge triple to cut the lead to four points, capping a 10-2 run. Agbaji responded with a clean, pull-up jumper; Kevin Obanor then hit back-to-back tough shots on the interior to make it 74-72 Jayhawks. Texas Tech was able to get a big stop and Terrence Shannon Jr. hit 1 of 2 from the free-throw line to cut it to 74-73.
Tech had an opportunity to tie or take the lead but missed a tough shot; although on the rebound, Agbaji&rsquo;s foot hit the baseline, which gave the ball back to the visiting Red Raiders with 19.2 seconds left. Shannon got the isolation call and drove right, but was fouled on the floor at the elbow and sent to the line for a 1-and-1. He nailed them both to tie it up at 75-75.
Kansas had the ball on the side with 11.5 seconds and had time for one play, and Agbaji missed a three at the buzzer to send it to overtime.&nbsp;
He did not, however, miss his opportunity at the end of overtime to connect on a massive catch-and-shoot triple to send it to double overtime. Pandemonium ensued in Allen Fieldhouse, and Kansas capitalized.
McCormack had a strong showing was impactful on the interior all game by posting 13 points and 5 rebounds. The Jayhawks' Jalen Wilson went for 9 points and 11 boards; Braun posted 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in what started out as a quiet night.
Davion Warren scored 15 points for the Red Raiders. Oral Roberts transfer Kevin Obanor hustled on the glass and provided great effort all night, ending with 17 points and 8 rebounds.
Kansas keeps its place on top of the Big 12 with the victory.
UPCOMING
Texas Tech will host Mississippi State on Saturday.
Kansas hosts Kentucky in a primetime matchup Saturday evening.
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The Jayhawks squeaked out a victory at home, winning 94-91 against Texas Tech. Ochai Agbaji led the team in scoring with 37.

Kansas beats Texas Tech in double overtime behind Agbaji, 94-91

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) &mdash; Mustapha Amzil hit a running jumper in the lane at the buzzer, and Dayton beat No. 4 Kansas 74-73 on Friday.
Kansas&rsquo; David McCormack blocked Malachi Smith&rsquo;s layup with 3 seconds left. Amzil picked up the loose ball, and his shot went off the rim and backboard before going in.
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DAYTON STUNS No. 4 KANSAS AT THE BUZZER 😱 First top-5 win for the Flyers since 1984. <a href="https://t.co/IWgGZfpzQh">pic.twitter.com/IWgGZfpzQh</a>
&mdash; ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1464333637168545802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2021</a></blockquote>

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After Smith cut the deficit to 73-72 on a layup, McCormack was called for an offensive foul with 9 seconds to play.
Ochai Agbaji scored four of his 21 points during a late 6-0 run, helping Kansas take a 73-70 advantage with just over a minute remaining.
Dayton (3-3) had five players score in double figures. DaRon Holmes II had 16 points, and Toumani Camara and Elijah Weaver both added 14.
Christian Braun had 17 points for Kansas (4-1)
Weaver hit a pair of 3-pointers and Holmes ended a 16-1 surge with consecutive dunks to put Dayton up 53-50 five minutes into the second half.
After Kansas pulled within one, Holmes was left alone for a dunk that made it 70-67 with four minutes remaining.
Kansas went on a 17-8 run to go up 44-29 late in the first half. Braun ended the stretch with a slam off a floating pass from Dajuan Harris Jr.
BIG-TIME WELCOME
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale received a standing ovation as he walked across the court to his broadcast position before the game. Vitale announced last month that he has been diagnosed with cancer for the second time this year, undergoing tests that show he has lymphoma. Vitale said in August that he underwent multiple surgeries to remove melanoma.
THE TAKEAWAY
Dayton: Has 12 freshmen on the roster and continue to improve as the season progresses.
Kansas: Will be interesting to see if the Jayhawks will fall out of the top 10.
REMATCH
The teams met in the 2019 Maui Invitational championship, with Kansas prevailing 90-84 in overtime.
UP NEXT
Dayton: Will play either Iona or Belmont on Sunday
Kansas: Plays Sunday against the loser of Iona-Belmont.

Mustapha Amzil hit a running jumper in the lane at the buzzer, and Dayton beat No. 4 Kansas 74-73 on Friday.

Amzil hits jumper at buzzer, Dayton beats No. 4 Kansas 74-73

There&rsquo;s no question that the likes of Gonzaga, Baylor and several Big Ten teams have dominated the college basketball season, but those aren&rsquo;t the only teams that are capable of making some noise in March. We&rsquo;ve all seen teams emerge from the shadows and make an unexpected run to the Final Four, taking down favorites along the way. Let&rsquo;s take a look at three March Madness sleepers that are worth watching closely.
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Kansas Jayhawks
It&rsquo;s a little odd to consider Kansas a sleeper, but the Jayhawks have had such an up-and-down season that a lot of people have probably forgotten about them. However, Bill Self&rsquo;s team has gotten its act together down the stretch, winning seven of eight heading into the Big 12 Tournament. The Jayhawks even scored a win over a rusty Baylor team, which shows that they&rsquo;re capable of beating anybody. Plus, the strong finish to the season has likely improved their seed and will give them a slightly easier path to get deep into the Big Dance.
While forward David McCormack had to miss the Big 12 Tournament due to COVID protocol, as long as he&rsquo;s back by the start of the NCAA Tournament, Kansas will be fine. McCormack and freshman forward Jalen Wilson have been the catalysts for Kansas down the stretch, giving the Jayhawks more consistency and frontcourt scoring. Kansas can score inside and defend the post, which is a quality that not every team can claim to have. The question is consistency at the guard position, although Ochai Agbaji leads the team with 14.2 points per game and can be reliable in the clutch.
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Oregon Ducks
It&rsquo;s easy to overlook Pac-12 teams, especially this year, but Oregon might be the exception. The Ducks have caught fire down the stretch, winning 10 of their last 11 games before the Pac-12 Tournament, capturing the league&rsquo;s regular-season title. Even if Oregon hasn&rsquo;t been challenged during conference play as much as some other teams, the Ducks have a lot of nice pieces and should enter the NCAA Tournament with a lot of confidence and momentum.
The Ducks feature two outstanding seniors in Chris Duarte, who was Pac-12 Player of the Year, and forward Eugene Omoruyi, who was also a First-Team All-Pac-12 performer. Duarte and Omoruyi average 16.7 points per game each, and either one is capable of carrying the team when needed. Oregon also has three other players averaging double figures, including point guard Will Richardson, who played his best basketball late in the season and averaged over 15 points per game over his final three games. If Richardson can keep playing like that, the Ducks will have the type of guard play that can win in March.
The Ducks have played well in March recently, reaching the Elite Eight in 2016, the Final Four in 2017 and the Sweet Sixteen in 2019, so take a look at <a href="https://betql.co/ncaab/public-betting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the public consensus picks</a> to see if the public is backing them for a deep 2021 run.&nbsp;
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Purdue Boilermakers
The Boilermakers have been understandably lost in the shuffle within the Big Ten this season. Of course, that means they&rsquo;ve been battle-tested and won&rsquo;t be intimidated by any team they meet in the NCAA Tournament. Purdue managed to go 13-6 in the Big Ten this year, and won five in a row heading into the Big Ten Tournament, so the Boilermakers started to figure things out down the stretch.
The Boilermakers also have one of the most overlooked players in the Big Ten in Trevion Williams, a big man who was overshadowed by Kofi Cockburn and Luka Garza all year. Williams has averaged 15.6 points and 9 rebounds per game this year and is a far better passer than most big men. Zach Edey, a 7-foot-4 freshman, also gives Purdue incredible size in the frontcourt that most teams will struggle to match. If the guard trio of Jaden Ivey, Sasha Stefanovic and Eric Hunter can find some consistency, the Boilermakers could be something special once they stop playing the heavyweights from the Big Ten.
If you are looking to bet a sleeper for March Madness check out BetQL, where you can find <a href="https://betql.co/ncaab/sharp-picks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">top expert picks</a> for every game and every bet type for the Big Dance.

Gonzaga, Baylor and Big Ten powerhouses aren't the only teams capable of making noise in the NCAA Tournament.

March Madness sleepers to keep an eye on

In a basketball year full of uncertainty and unknowns, athletes have had to take on both the physical and mental challenges of the season, including those circumstances out of their control. The players who had their conference and NCAA Tournament hopes ripped away by COVID-19 after last season experienced a heartbreak that very few can relate to. A tumultuous 2020 tested and tried us all in our unique ways, so for a lot of us, having March Madness in our lives again is pure bliss.&nbsp;
As the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/basketball-news-march-madness-2021-ncaa-tournament-bracket-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brackets were released Sunday evening</a>, a handful of first-round round matchups quickly popped out, as well as some potential Round of 32/Sweet 16 games that could provide excellent viewing opportunities from a NBA Draft perspective, as numerous high level prospects are in the Field of 68.
Here are some matchups, and potential matchups, we could see unfold:
Round of 64
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West Region: Oregon (7) vs. VCU (10) 
Chris Duarte and the Oregon offense face a tough assignment in VCU, who own the No. 12 ranked defense in adjusted efficiency, per KenPom.com. Nah&rsquo;Shon Hyland will enter the tournament averaging 19.4 points after a stellar season. The A-10 Player of the Year will have an opportunity to dazzle on the big stage.
West Region: Virginia (4) vs. Ohio (13) 
Jason Preston averaged 16.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists this season and will face a tough Virginia team in round one. Sam Hauser and Trey Murphy III will also have an opportunity to show their ability to stretch the floor with their tremendous three-point shooting.&nbsp;
South Region: Texas Tech (6) vs. Utah State (11) 
This will likely shape up to be a defensive battle, as both teams are in the top-25 of adjusted efficiency. Terrence Shannon Jr. can add to his draft resume, and Neemias Queta, averaging a double-double on the year, has a prime opportunity to use his 7-foot frame and length on the big stage.&nbsp;
Potential Round of 32
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Midwest Region: Oklahoma State (4) vs. Tennessee (5) 
This would be a phenomenal matchup from a draft perspective, with three players projected top-20 in the 2021 class. Cade Cunningham, Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer would each be able to cement themselves even further as high-level prospects. This game would undoubtedly draw a lot of attention.&nbsp;
West Region: Kansas (3) vs. USC (6) 
Evan Mobley is widely considered a top-5 pick in this 2021 class, so watching him play against the physical David McCormack would be very informative. Ochai Agbaji and Jalen Wilson of the Jayhawks are likely to test the waters after the season, so a strong performance against a defender like Mobley would be positive.
East Region: Michigan (1) vs. LSU (8) 
This matchup would provide a look at numerous potential future pros. It&rsquo;s reported that Isaiah Livers will miss the remainder of Michigan&rsquo;s games, but Cameron Thomas and Trendon Watford vs. Franz Wagner, and Hunter Dickinson for a shot at the Sweet 16 would be must-see TV.
East Region: Alabama (2) vs. UConn (7) 
James Bouknight missed eight games due to injury, but has still played his way into the lottery-pick conversation. The SEC Champion Crimson Tide would be a phenomenal defensive test for him, and Herb Jones could once again show his all-around value on the floor.
Midwest Region: West Virginia (3) vs. San Diego State (6) 
Miles &ldquo;Deuce&rdquo; McBride and the Mountaineers secured the No. 3 seed in the tournament, and could face a difficult task in SDSU (23-4) in the second round. McBride is a pesky defender and has shouldered much of the offensive load this season -- this would be a prime opportunity to shine and really display his talent.
Other Notables
South Region: Arkansas (3) vs. Texas Tech (6) Midwest Region: Illinois (1) vs. Georgia Tech (9) South Region: Baylor (1) vs. North Carolina (8)
Potential Sweet 16 Matchups
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South Region: Baylor (1) vs. Villanova (5) 
Jared Butler and Davion Mitchell have led Baylor to an incredible season, with both of them showing great promise for the next level; two high-level defenders and terrific shooters and an experienced Villanova squad would be a great test for a chance at the Elite 8. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is also on many draft boards -- his energy, physicality and rebounding may be put to the test against Mark Vital and the toughness of Baylor.
East Region: Alabama (2) vs. Texas (3) 
Kai Jones and Greg Brown III both have an opportunity to boost their stock on the big stage, as the freshmen are both projected to be first-round picks. A tough Alabama squad would provide a real test in a No. 2 vs. No. 3 matchup.
Other Notables
East Region: Michigan (1) vs. Florida State (4) - Franz Wagner, Hunter Dickinson, Scottie Barnes,&nbsp;
South Region: Ohio State (2) vs. Arkansas (3) - Duane Washington, E.J. Liddell, Moses Moody
Midwest Region: Illinois (1) vs. Oklahoma St. (4) / Tennessee (5) - Ayo Dosunmu, Cade Cunningham/Keon Johnson, Jaden Springer

Derek Murray breaks down his favorite games (and potential meetings) in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.