Kansas Jayhawks
Big 12 (28-3, 17-1)
After three straight seasons earning a 1-seed and making it past the first weekend from 2016-18, the Jayhawks had a down year for their standards in 2019. Kansas was just a 4-seed and got bounced in dominating fashion by Final Four-bound Auburn in the second round. This year, Kansas got back to their winning ways and was awarded a 1-seed yet again. The Jayhawks have the ingredients to win the whole thing with an elite defense along with the experienced duo of Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike.
Big Wins: 11/27 vs Dayton (90-84), 2/12 at West Virginia (58-49), 2/22 at Baylor (64-61)
Bad Losses: 11/5 vs Duke (66-68), 12/21 at Villanova (55-56), 1/11 Baylor (55-67)
Coach: Bill Self
Why They Can Surprise:
Kansas has had a strong season on both sides of the floor this season. They have the top defensive efficiency in the nation led by elite versatile defender Marcus Garrett. Garrett can defend four positions and allows Bill Self to be creative with his defensive matchups. In the Jayhawks’ early-season loss to Villanova, Garrett went out of the game with an injury in the first half and Kansas looked like a different team after that point. Offensively, the Jayhawks are led by sophomore guard Devon Dotson and senior big man Udoka Azubuike. Dotson is likely the quickest guard in the nation and seemingly gets to the rim at will. Meanwhile, the 270-lb Azubuike is virtually un-guardable when he gets the ball in the post, shooting 74.8% from the field.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The most glaring problem for Kansas is their lack of consistent shooting. Isaiah Moss might be the most important player for the Jayhawks in the NCAA Tournament. Moss came to Kansas as a grad transfer labeled as a sharpshooter and has shot 34.8% from three this season. Moss, Ochai Agbaji and to a limited extent Christian Braun have been the Jayhawks’ only somewhat reliable shooters. Kansas is shooting a respectable 34.4% from deep as a team this season, but the Jayhawks shoot just 18.6 threes per game, which is 278th in the nation per game. The other potential issue for Kansas is their lack of depth. Since Silvio De Sousa’s suspension, the Jayhawks haven’t played more than eight players per game. Dotson, Garrett and Agbaji play anywhere between 35 and 40 minutes per game. If Azubuike, or anyone for that matter, gets into foul trouble or suffers an injury, the Jayhawks could be in major trouble.
Probable Starters:
Devon Dotson, Sophomore, Guard, 18.1 ppg, 4.0 apg, 4.1 rpg, 2.0 spg
Ochai Agbaji, Sophomore, Guard, 10.0 ppg, 2.0 apg, 4.2 rpg
Marcus Garrett, Junior, Guard, 9.2 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.5 rpg, 1.8 spg
Isaiah Moss, Senior, Guard, 7.9 ppg
Udoka Azubuike, Senior, Center, 13.7 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.6 bpg
Ochai Agbaji, Sophomore, Guard, 10.0 ppg, 2.0 apg, 4.2 rpg
Marcus Garrett, Junior, Guard, 9.2 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.5 rpg, 1.8 spg
Isaiah Moss, Senior, Guard, 7.9 ppg
Udoka Azubuike, Senior, Center, 13.7 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.6 bpg
Key Role Players:
David McCormack, Sophomore, Forward, 6.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Christian Braun, Freshman, Guard, 5.3 ppg
Tristan Enaruna, Freshman, Forward, 2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Christian Braun, Freshman, Guard, 5.3 ppg
Tristan Enaruna, Freshman, Forward, 2.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense:
Scoring Defense:
Field-Goal Percentage:
Field-Goal Defense:
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game:
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage:
Free-Throw Percentage:
Rebound Margin:
Assists Per Game:
Turnovers Per Game:
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2019 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Northeastern |
| 2019 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Auburn |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Pennsylvania |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Seton Hall |
| 2018 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Clemson |
| 2018 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Duke |
| 2018 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to Villanova |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over UC Davis |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Michigan State |
| 2017 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Purdue |
| 2017 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Oregon |
| 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 3/8
