Mason’s Kansas has grit to be great
Best round- of- 64 matchup
Michigan vs. Oklahoma State: When Michigan’s plane skidded off a runway during an aborted takeoff, sports was put into perspective. But it shouldn’t mask how well Michigan is playing, winning 10 of its last 12 games. If seniors Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin can replicate their recent play, they could continue the hot streak. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State is riding a three- game skid, but those were close losses to fellow Midwest Regional teams Kansas and Iowa State. The Cowboys are led by Jawun Evans, who is maybe the best point guard you don’t know, and swingman Jeffrey Carroll. The winner of this matchup could keep playing for a while.
Potential upset
Rhode Island is back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999, but it’s clear from the No. 11 seed that the selection committee didn’t think too much of the Rams. But led by E. C. Matthews and a consistently tough defense, Rhode Island is a decent bet for a first- round upset of Creighton.
The sleeper
It’s hard to call a No. 3 seed a sleeper, but when Oregon went from a potential No. 1 seed to No. 3 in about 24 hours, it was hard to argue. Not so much because of the Ducks’ loss to Arizona in the Pac- 12 tourney final, but because of the loss of Chris Boucher to a torn left ACL the night before. But give Dana Altman aweek to prepare, and it’s possible Oregon could rebound to make a deep run.
The winner
Kansas regularly gets dinged for early NCAA exits, but this is a team that developed unnatural toughness during the regular season. The Jayhawks have won a ton of nail- biters, and that’s the kind of grit that, fused with obvious talent, could take Kansas a long way.
Kansas was without Josh Jackson during a loss to TCU in a Big 12 tourney quarterfinal, but it showed the peril for a team that goes barely seven deep. Led by senior point guard Frank Mason III, the Jayhawks are capable of getting back to the Final Four for the first time since 2012.