Kansas Jayhawks
Big 12 (30-4, 15-3)
Kansas once again won a Big 12 title and their disappointing short 2015 NCAA Tournament run is long behind them. But they will remember that loss to in-state rival Wichita State in the Third Round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament and be ready to make a deeper run in 2016. In a season full of parity, the Jayhawks were one of the few teams that were relatively consistent and proved that they are capable of making a trip to the Final Four.
Big Wins: 1/30 Kentucky (90-84), 2/9 West Virginia (75-65), 2/13 at Oklahoma (66-60)
Bad Losses: 11/17 vs Michigan State (73-79), 1/12 at West Virginia (63-74), 1/19 at Oklahoma State (67-86)
Coach: Bill Self
Why They Can Surprise:
The Jayhawks rely heavily on forward Perry Ellis and guards Devonte’ Graham, Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden. Ellis is an efficient interior scorer and led the Jayhawks with 16.7 points and 5.9 rebounds. When the offense is working through the 6-8 senior, KU is a tough team to stop. But that backcourt trio is very dangerous too. Selden is the team’s most prolific outside shooter and Graham too is very dangerous from beyond the arc. Those two are a big reason why Kansas ranks in the top five in the country in three-point field-goal percentage. Mason can hit some outside shots, but he is more effective attacking the basket and finishing around the rim or getting to the free-throw line.
Why They Can Disappoint:
After the big four, Kansas has struggled to find consistency from the rest of their roster. Coach Bill Self will sometimes basically go six deep with Landen Lucas manning a forward spot and Brannen Greene filling in for the guards whenever one of them needs a rest. Lucas is a big body and a solid rebounder, but his scoring has been erratic at best. More was expected after Lucas played well in last year’s NCAA Tournament, but KU does not really need him to score. Greene helps that with impressive three-point shooting and will occasionally provide a nice offensive spark off of the bench. No matter who it is, Kansas needs somebody else to step up and take pressure off of Ellis and the regulars in the backcourt. The Jayhawks cannot let the opposition get back into a game just because Ellis and one of the guards run into foul trouble or need to rest and that is what could catch up to this Kansas team while they try and make a major NCAA Tournament run.
Probable Starters:
Devonte’ Graham, Sophomore, Guard, 11.7 ppg, 3.8 apg, 1.5 spg
Frank Mason III, Junior, Guard, 13.1 ppg, 4.7 apg, 4.4 rpg
Wayne Selden, Junior, Guard, 13.3 ppg, 2.5 apg
Perry Ellis, Senior, Forward, 16.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg
Landen Lucas, Junior, Forward, 5.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Brannen Greene, Junior, Guard, 5.8 ppg
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Sophomore, Guard, 5.2 ppg, 1.0 apg
Jamari Traylor, Senior, Forward, 3.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 81.8 (16th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.8 (81, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 49.2 (7, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 39.7 (26, 1)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.5 (53, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 42.9 (3, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.0 (162, 6)
Rebound Margin: 4.9 (47, 3)
Assists Per Game: 15.7 (43, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.2 (124, 4)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
2015 NCAA Second Round win over New Mexico State
2015 NCAA Third Round loss to Wichita State
2014 NCAA Second Round win over Eastern Kentucky
2014 NCAA Third Round loss to Stanford
2013 NCAA Second Round win over Western Kentucky
2013 NCAA Third Round win over North Carolina
2013 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Michigan
2012 NCAA Second Round win over Detroit
2012 NCAA Third Round 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 3/6
