Kansas Jayhawks
Big 12 (25-9, 12-6)
Kansas’ amazing run of 15 straight Big 12 titles has come to an end. The Jayhawks finished with a 12-6 conference record and that is not acceptable in Lawrence. But despite those struggles in Big 12 action, KU picked up some nice wins out of conference against Michigan State, Tennessee and Villanova. This team can certainly pull things together in the NCAA Tournament and reach the Final Four and beyond.
Big Wins: 11/6 vs Michigan State (92-87), 11/23 vs Tennessee (87-81), 2/2 Texas Tech (79-63)
Bad Losses: 12/22 at Arizona State (76-80), 1/19 at West Virginia (64-65), 1/29 at Texas (63-73)
Coach: Bill Self
Why They Can Surprise:
The Jayhawks lost senior guard Lagerald Vick in early February and that changed this team. Without Vick, the Jayhawks have struggled with their outside shooting and that has put a lot of pressure on forward Dedric Lawson. The junior transfer from Memphis averages 19.1 points and 10.3 rebounds and he can even step outside and knock down some shots. Lawson is now the carrying this team. David McCormack and Mitch Lightfoot have not been getting too many minutes, but they do provide some options in the frontcourt and are solid rebounders.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Without Vick, this was a very different team. Devon Dotson, Ochai Agbaji, Quentin Grimes and Marcus Garrett are underclassmen who picked up the slack as much as possible. Dotson has been the most prolific scorer off the bunch, while Grimes is the guy who can add quick offense with his outside shooting ability. However, he is shooting just 34.5 percent from beyond the arc. With Vick out for the NCAA Tournament, Coach Bill Self will have to continue to rely on his younger players and that has not worked out too well so far this season.
Probable Starters:
Devon Dotson, Freshman, Guard, 12.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.6 apg
Lagerald Vick, Senior, Guard, 14.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Ochai Agbaji, Freshman, Guard, 8.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Quentin Grimes, Freshman, Guard, 8.3 ppg, 2.0 apg
Dedric Lawson, Junior, Forward, 19.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg
Key Role Players:
David McCormack, Freshman, Forward, 3.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg
Mitch Lightfoot, Junior, Forward, 2.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg
Marcus Garrett, Sophomore, Guard, 7.3 ppg
K.J. Lawson, Sophomore, Guard, 2.9 ppg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.6 (101st in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 70l1 (151, 7)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.4 (69, 3)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.7 (30, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.5 (203, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.5 (118, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 69.5 (204, 4)
Rebound Margin: 2.0 (117, 5)
Assists Per Game: 13.4 (176, 6)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.4 (220, 8)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 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 3/10
