Kansas Jayhawks
Big 12 (28-4, 16-2)
Since their trip to the national championship game in 2012, Kansas had failed to live up to their lofty expectations during the NCAA Tournament. Trips to the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eights are great for most programs, but it is disappointing for the Jayhawks. Last season KU lost to Villanova in the Reginal Finals and this group will hope to take the next step to the Final Four.
Big Wins: 11/15 vs Duke (77-75), 1/28 at Kentucky (79-73), 2/18 at Baylor (67-65)
Bad Losses: 11/11 vs Indiana (99-103), 2/4 Iowa State (89-92), 3/9 vs TCU (82-85)
Coach: Bill Self
Why They Can Surprise:
The Jayhawks have four superb scoring options on the perimeter. Senior Frank Mason III leads the way with 20.8 points per game and dishes out a team high 5.1 assists. Not many players can attack the basket as effectively as Mason, but he also is amazingly consistent shooting from beyond the arc. Devonte’ Graham and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk are not as consistent shooting the ball as Mason, but both are very dangerous from long range. Josh Jackson is a big 6-8 freshman who averages 16.4 points, 3.1 assists and 7.2 rebounds. Jackson is not a great shooter, but opposing defenders have a very tough time dealing with his size and speed. Jackson’s size and rebounding ability are a big reason the Jayhawks are so strong on the glass. Landen Lucas, a 6-10 center, leads the team with 8.4 rebounds per game. Lucas does not get many opportunities to be a dominating scoring threat in the paint, but he can score when needed.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Kansas does not have many flaws, but there are a few that have led to losses this season. The most noticeable is the team’s three-point shooting defense. In the overtime home loss to Iowa State, the Cyclones connected on 18-of-34 three-pointers. Those are tough numbers even for Kansas to overcome. The Jayhawks also committed 21 turnovers in that contest, compared to just 11 for Iowa State. When Kansas loses the turnover battle and allows a lot of three-pointers, they will be in a close game. And this is not a team that wants to be in close games due to their poor free-throw shooting. Mason and Graham are the only consistent free-throw shooters in the starting five.
Probable Starters:
Frank Mason III, Senior, Guard, 20.8 ppg, 5.1 apg, 4.1 rpg
Devonte’ Graham, Junior, Guard, 13.1 ppg, 4.3 apg
Josh Jackson, Freshman, Guard, 16.4 ppg, 3.1 apg, 7.2 rpg, 1.0 bpg
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Junior, Guard, 9.6 ppg, 1.3 apg
Landen Lucas, Senior, Center, 7.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg
Key Role Players:
Carlton Bragg, Sophomore, Forward, 5.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Lagerald Vick, Sophomore, Guard, 7.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 82.7 (18th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 72.0 (174, 8)
Field-Goal Percentage: 48.8 (14, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.7 (68, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.7 (69, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 40.8 (6, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.0 (293, 9)
Rebound Margin: 4.3 (52, 2)
Assists Per Game: 16.3 (27, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.0 (164, 4)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2016 NCAA Round of 64 win over Austin Peay
2016 NCAA Round of 32 win over Connecticut
2016 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Maryland
2016 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Villanova
2015 NCAA Round of 64 win over New Mexico State
2015 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Wichita State
2014 NCAA Round of 64 win over Eastern Kentucky
2014 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Stanford
2013 NCAA Round of 64 win over Western Kentucky
2013 NCAA Round of 32 win over North Carolina
2013 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Michigan
2012 NCAA Round of 64 win over Detroit
2012 NCAA Round of 32 win over Purdue
2012 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over North Carolina State
2012 NCAA Regional Final win over North Carolina
2012 NCAA National Semifinal win over Ohio State
2012 NCAA National Final loss to Kentucky
2011 NCAA Round of 64 win over Boston U
2011 NCAA Round of 32 win over Illinois
2011 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Richmond
2011 NCAA Regional Final loss to VCU
2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over Lehigh
2010 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Northern Iowa
2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over North Dakota State
2009 NCAA Round of 32 win over Dayton
2009 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Michigan State
2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Portland State
2008 NCAA Round of 32 win over UNLV
2008 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Villanova
2008 NCAA Regional Final win over Davidson
2008 NCAA National Semifinal win over North Carolina
2008 NCAA National Final win over Memphis
2007 NCAA Round of 64 win over Niagara
2007 NCAA Round of 32 win over Kentucky
2007 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Southern Illinois
2007 NCAA Regional Final loss to UCLA
*all team stats through 3/5
