A REPEAT EFFORT?
[ 1 KANSAS ] The defending national champion Jayhawks earned their fifth No. 1 seeding since 2016 and 16th overall despite suffering their largest Big 12 tournament loss in the final to Texas. Only North Carolina (17) has been seeded No. 1 more often.
[ 2 UCLA ] Falling to Arizona in the Pac-12 tournament final and injuries to senior Jaylen Clark and freshman Adem Bona might have cost the Bruins a No. 1 seed.
[ 3 GONZAGA ] The Bulldogs have reached the NCAA tournament in each of coach Mark Few’s 24 seasons but have never won a championship.
[ 4 CONNECTICUT ] The Huskies won their first 14 games and nine of their last 10 before losing 70-68 to Marquette in the Big East tournament semifinals.
Cinderella search
No. 12 seed Virginia Commonwealth outscored Dayton by 18 points in the second half of the Atlantic 10 tournament final and has won nine games in a row. Saint Mary’s is a good draw and VCU could storm to the Sweet 16 to face Kansas.
Top players
Jalen Wilson, forward, Kansas The Big 12 player of the year won’t be drafted nearly as high as freshman teammate Gradey Dick, but he’s capable of shooting Kansas into the Final Four.
Drew Timme, forward, Gonzaga Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer is another exceptional college player who triggers yawns from NBA scouts, but he’s a senior leader and crafty low-post scorer.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., guard, UCLA The Pac-12 player of the year is a probable second-round NBA pick whose physicality and ability to create midrange shots are central to UCLA’s title hopes.
Rim shots
Kansas coach Bill Self missed the Big 12 tournament after going to the hospital Wednesday night complaining of chest tightness and balance concerns. He was discharged Sunday and said he planned to coach in the NCAA tournament.
No. 8 seed Arkansas could have as many as five players picked in this year’s NBA draft, led by freshman guard Nick Smith Jr., who could be the first college player taken. Anthony Black is another potential firstround pick.
Howard ended a 31-year NCAA drought with a 65-64 win over Norfolk State in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference final. The Bison were 4-29 in coach Kenny Blakeney’s first season in 2019-20.