After Kansas' tough 69-47 loss to Houston at the T-Mobile Center, KU coach Bill Self took an optimistic stance, emphasizing that the Big 12 tournament's outcome would soon be forgotten. "I'd love to have played longer and been more competitive," Self admitted, but he highlighted that come Sunday, everyone starts fresh with a 0-0 record, ready to tackle the NCAA Tournament.
The stakes are high for the Jayhawks, as guard Melvin Council Jr. pointed out: "The only thing next week is win or go home." This means every potential matchup in the NCAA Tournament's first weekend is crucial.
With the selection show looming, questions swirl about whether KU's earlier win over TCU secured them a No. 4 seed or if the loss to Houston might bump them to a No. 5.
Historically, KU under Self has never been a No. 5 seed, dipping only as low as a No. 7 last season. The program's only No. 5 seeds came under Larry Brown in the '80s. CBS Sports, which has been a bit more conservative in their seed predictions, still places KU as the top No. 4 seed despite recent losses by Alabama and Nebraska.
In CBS's projection, KU is in the East region, facing No. 13 High Point, alongside No.
5 St. John’s and No.
12 Akron. High Point, with a 30-4 record, clinched their spot by winning the Big South tournament.
Key players include guard Rob Martin and forward Terry Anderson, who have been standout performers.
St. John’s, featuring former Jayhawk Zuby Ejiofor, poses another challenge.
Ejiofor has been a powerhouse in the Big East, leading his team in multiple categories. Akron, on the other hand, benefitted from a major upset in the MAC tournament.
ESPN also places KU as a No. 4 seed, but in the Midwest region, potentially facing No. 13 Northern Iowa.
This matchup stirs memories of the 2010 upset where Northern Iowa toppled a top-seeded Kansas team. This year's Panthers, led by guard Trey Campbell, have shown resilience by winning their conference tournament despite a rocky season.
The other half of KU's ESPN-projected pod includes Akron and No. 5 Arkansas. The Razorbacks, who have been a thorn in KU's side in recent tournaments, are led by SEC standout Darius Acuff Jr.
Fox Sports suggests a matchup against Northern Iowa in the East region, with Alabama and High Point also in the mix. Meanwhile, On3 has dropped KU to a No. 5 seed, pairing them with Akron and No. 4 Gonzaga in the South region.
Despite these varied predictions, uncertainty lingers about KU's exact path in the tournament. Their recent 4-5 stretch has dashed hopes of a higher seed and the chance to play close to home. As the selection show approaches, Jayhawk fans eagerly await to see how their team's journey will unfold.