In the lead-up to the NCAA Tournament, Kansas faced a crucial moment to fine-tune their game and make a lasting impression on the selection committee. Unfortunately, they managed just 47 points, missing 17 consecutive shots in a tough outing against Houston in Kansas City. It's not exactly the ideal warm-up for March Madness.
After the game, Kansas coach Bill Self offered a dose of perspective. “If we could have played better ... and been more competitive in the game, does that make us more prepared for next week?
I’m not sure it does.” His words hint at a bigger picture-these recent weeks could serve as valuable lessons, potentially inspiring the team moving forward.
So, is there a precedent for teams turning things around at this time of year? Absolutely.
Kansas and Missouri are both entering the tournament on different paths but share some striking similarities: neither team is playing its best basketball right now, and both are heavily reliant on a single player. For Kansas, star freshman Darryn Peterson's return has disrupted the team’s rhythm.
His shooting struggles, with just 36% accuracy over the last seven games, have left Kansas with a 3-4 record in that span. Meanwhile, Mizzou has become overly dependent on Mark Mitchell, as their supporting cast has faded in March.
Yet, there's hope. Kansas was ranked as the sixth-best team in the country from mid-January to mid-February, according to Bart Torvik metrics.
They were outplaying eventual top seeds like Florida and Duke. Mizzou, during February, ranked as the 20th-best team-certainly not a typical 10-seed performance.
So, can they rediscover that form? History suggests they can.
Seven of the last 11 national champions didn’t win their conference tournaments, and many Final Four teams have entered the NCAA Tournament on the heels of struggles. Auburn, Alabama, and even national champion Connecticut have all turned things around after rough patches.
Kansas and Mizzou have shown glimpses of greatness earlier this season. The challenge now is not just about flipping a switch but understanding why they’ve hit a rough patch and how to regain their form.
Time may be short, but the potential is there. They’ve done it before, and with the right adjustments, they can certainly do it again.