As the NCAA Tournament looms, Kansas men's basketball is looking to improve on their No. 7 seed from last year. Head coach Bill Self believes the Jayhawks are sitting around a 4 or 5 seed as they head into the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals. Kansas is set to face the winner of the TCU-Oklahoma State game, with tipoff scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center.
Self is cautiously optimistic about their seeding, noting that a strong performance in the tournament could bump them up a notch. If they make it past Thursday's quarterfinals, the Jayhawks will face a formidable opponent in the semifinals, potentially clashing with teams like Houston, West Virginia, or BYU.
The Arizona Wildcats, sitting as the No. 1 seed, are the favorites to reach the final, and even a loss early in the Big 12 tournament is unlikely to shake their top NCAA seed.
Travel logistics for the tournament have been a hot topic, with fewer charter planes available. Self hasn't received any official word on this but is open to nearby locations like St. Louis or Oklahoma City for the first rounds, which could ease travel stress.
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has pegged Kansas as a 4 seed, potentially heading to San Diego for a first-round matchup against Hofstra. A victory there could set up a second-round showdown against either Vanderbilt or High Point. Historically, the NCAA aims to keep top seeds close to home, which could work in Kansas’ favor.
The Jayhawks are eager to finish this season stronger than in recent years. Last year, they fell to Arizona in the Big 12 tourney and then faced an early exit in the NCAAs against Arkansas.
The year before, they made it past Samford but were stopped by Gonzaga in the second round. Kansas fans will remember their national title in 2022, and there's hope for a return to that form.
Self emphasizes the importance of balancing the Big 12 tournament with the upcoming NCAA challenges. He appreciates the league's decision to conclude the tournament on Saturday, allowing teams more preparation time before Selection Sunday. This change, credited to former Texas Tech coach Bob Knight, has been a strategic move to ensure teams are ready for the big stage.
Self recalls Knight's influential presence in coaches' meetings, advocating for the Saturday finish as a way to better prepare teams for the NCAA grind. It's a decision that has paid dividends, giving teams like Kansas a better shot at success in March Madness.