As we gear up for the NCAA Tournament, Kansas finds itself teetering on the edge between a No. 4 and No. 5 seed-a position that Coach Bill Self had anticipated. This was reflected in several bracket predictions released just as the Big 12 tournament's quarterfinals were set to begin.
ESPN’s bracket guru, Joe Lunardi, has consistently placed Kansas as the third of four No. 4 seeds, ranking them as the 15th team overall. His latest projection slots the Jayhawks in the East region, facing No. 13 seed Sam Houston in Portland, Oregon.
The Jayhawks have a bit of history in Portland, having played there once in a close game against Oregon back in 2002. If they head to Portland or San Diego for the tournament's opening weekend, it’ll mark their first West Coast postseason appearance since 2007.
Sam Houston, on the other hand, is making its third tournament appearance, with their last being in 2010. They finished second in Conference USA this season and are gearing up for a semifinal clash, with top seed Liberty already out of the picture.
In Lunardi’s Portland pod, Kansas could potentially meet No. 5 seed Tennessee or No. 12 Northern Iowa.
Kansas fans might have mixed feelings about Northern Iowa, given their upset over a top-seeded Jayhawks team in 2010. This year, UNI clawed their way to the Missouri Valley Conference title, earning an automatic tournament spot.
Some projections even pit Kansas against Northern Iowa in the first round, with On3’s bracket placing them in the South region. If this scenario unfolds, Kansas would face either No.
5 Louisville or No. 12 South Florida in the next round.
Louisville is eager for the return of their star guard, while South Florida rides a nine-game winning streak into the American semifinals under new coach Bryan Hodgson.
USA Today echoes ESPN’s prediction, pairing Kansas with Sam Houston, but suggests a matchup in Tampa, Florida-a new venue for the Jayhawks, although they’ve played nearby in Orlando.
CBS Sports, meanwhile, leans towards Kansas as a No. 5 seed, placing them in the East region against No. 12 Yale, the Ivy League's top seed.
A victory could see them face either No. 13 High Point or Big 12 rival Texas Tech, whom Kansas narrowly defeated earlier this season.
As the tournament approaches, Kansas fans are on edge, eager to see how their team will perform and where their journey will begin. With a mix of familiar foes and new challenges, this year’s bracket promises excitement and unpredictability.