Connect with us

Kansas

Did Kansas duck UConn in the Big 12/Big East Battle?

Published

on

Did Kansas duck UConn in the Big 12/Big East Battle?


Many in the college basketball world were hoping to see No. 1 Kansas make a return trip to two-time defending national champion UConn this season in the final year of the Big 12/Big East Battle.

A year ago, Kansas defeated UConn, 69-65, in an epic matchup of the last two national champions at Allen Fieldhouse. While the leagues do not generally schedule rematches the following year, it would have been a juicy national-television game between teams that, with UConn repeating as champs earlier this year, have won the past three national titles.

While UConn head coach Dan Hurley “absolutely” wanted the game, Kansas coach Bill Self “clearly didn’t want it,” a person with knowledge of the possible matchup told NJ Advance Media. But Self said he was unaware of any potential rematch with UConn.

“I’ve never heard that,” he told NJ Advance Media by text. “My scheduler never shared that with me.”

Advertisement

A Kansas spokesman said: “It’s really up to the two conferences. They set the schedules.”

Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com also has reported on his podcast that Self didn’t want the matchup, however.

Self, a two-time NCAA champion, is a highly impressive 23-8 against UConn, Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina and UCLA, and has shown no aversion to scheduling tough non-conference schedules. This year, Kansas already has beaten North Carolina, Michigan State and Duke.

A Kansas-UConn game would have a been a huge ratings draw for “Big Fox” this weekend, but Kansas is scheduled to visit Missouri on Sunday, which complicated the situation and forced UConn and Kansas to play midweek games in the challenge.

A year ago, UConn beat North Carolina at Madison Square Garden four days after going into hostile Allen Fieldhouse.

Advertisement

Instead of a Kansas-UConn game this year, No. 25 UConn hosted No. 15 Baylor and beat them, 75-72, on Tuesday, the same night that No. 1 Kansas lost at Creighton, 76-63. Both games were on FS1.

The only game in the battle airing on “Big Fox” is Saturday’s Kansas State-St. John’s game. The other games air on FS1, FS2 and the ESPN networks.

Kansas defeated Creighton, 73-72, in 2020 in Lawrence.

Ahead of this year’s Creighton game, Self was asked if he was surprised that his team wasn’t being sent to UConn.

“If you go back and look at it, didn’t we host Creighton here a few years ago, and in the same challenge?” he said. “And Marcus [Garrett] made two of three instead of three of three that would have sent it to overtime in that right at the very end the game. So we were fortunate to win that game in front of, you know, 1,500 people, and 900 were probably Creighton fans, if I remember, right?

Advertisement

“So … you know, disappointing that we didn’t get a chance to really play Creighton at home in a true home game. Also lucky that we won it, but I kind of figured that’s where the return game would go, but I didn’t have any say so on that. I don’t know who is Connecticut hosting this year.”

Self was informed by reporters at that press conference that UConn was hosting Baylor.

“Baylor … preseason top five or six, so I can certainly understand that,” Self said.

After this year, the Big East will be done with the Big 12 Battle, and it’s also no longer involved in the Gavitt Tip-Off Games.

That opens the league up for another challenge of some sort that has yet to materialize.

Advertisement

Big 12-BIG EAST Battle Results & Schedule

December 3

Villanova 68, No. 14 Cincinnati 60

Providence 83, BYU 65

December 4

Advertisement

No. 25 Connecticut 75, No. 15 Baylor 72

Creighton 76, No. 1 Kansas 63

Texas Tech 76, DePaul 62

No. 6 Iowa State 82, No. 5 Marquette 71

TCU 76, Xavier 72

Advertisement

December 6

West Virginia 73, Georgetown 60

December 7

Kansas State at St. John’s

Butler at No. 17 Houston

Advertisement

December 8

Oklahoma State at Seton Hall

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.

Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter who covers Seton Hall and NJ college basketball for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.





Source link

Advertisement

Kansas

~!@[WATCHLIVE!TV]>> NOW Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 Free Streams ON Tv Channel

Published

on

~!@[WATCHLIVE!TV]>> NOW Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 Free Streams ON Tv Channel


Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match

Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match: Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match look to seize control of thrilling Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match. Every team in the Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match will host Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match Live mAtch Durban’s Kings Park Stadium with the Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match a single point ahead of Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match in the standings and just one behind leaders Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current Match.



Source link

Continue Reading

Kansas

[WatchLive]TV!!!] Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 Streams ON Tv Channel

Published

on

[WatchLive]TV!!!] Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 Streams ON Tv Channel


Portland Thorns FC-Kansas City Current

Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current live: Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current look to seize control of thrilling Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current. Every team in the Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current will host Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current at Durban’s Kings Park Stadium with the Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current a single point ahead of Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current in the standings and just one behind leaders Portland Thorns FC vs Kansas City Current.



Source link

Continue Reading

Kansas

Predicting Which Kansas Basketball Players Will Stay or Transfer

Published

on

Predicting Which Kansas Basketball Players Will Stay or Transfer


With the offseason quickly ramping up, several Kansas basketball players will have a pivotal decision to make in the coming weeks. Those with remaining collegiate eligibility will have to determine whether they are returning to Lawrence or exploring other opportunities on the open market.

Advertisement

The Jayhawks are no strangers to losing talent to the transfer portal, as five players departed to other schools last year (six if you include Flory Bidunga’s brief stint in the portal).

Although KU has the ability to retool its roster with transfers across the country, there are some guys whom the program would certainly like to retain. But which players will end up leaving the university for more favorable options, and how many will there be?

Advertisement

Flory Bidunga: Declare for NBA Draft

Bidunga took the biggest leap of any player on the roster this offseason, seeing his scoring average nearly triple in addition to winning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He is one of the most dominant rim protectors in the country and proved that by averaging 2.6 blocks per game.

After spending two years in Lawrence, Bidunga now has another critical decision to make after he nearly left last offseason. There have even been rumors of him transferring to another school, even with the NBA Draft on the radar.

Advertisement

Mar 12, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga (40) drives to the basket around TCU Horned Frogs forward David Punch (15) during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

Most mock drafts place him in the early-to-mid second round range, leaving some potential for his stock to rise if he returned to college. However, as an undersized center who likely won’t develop a perimeter game anytime soon, it’s difficult to see where he could improve his draft position.

Going to the NBA feels like the smartest and most logical decision for Bidunga. He would complete his lifelong dream of playing in the pros and could develop at his own pace with a team willing to invest in him.

Advertisement

Bryson Tiller: Stay at Kansas

A redshirt freshman who joined the team late last season, Tiller defied the odds and earned a spot in the starting rotation despite recovering from foot surgery. He was one of Bill Self’s most trusted options and formed a double-big pairing with Bidunga.

His final month or so of the season was quite abysmal, as he saw his averages plummet and his production take a massive hit. However, it is far too early to give up on the Overtime Elite product just yet.

Advertisement

Tiller has a smooth post game and a lot of good attributes to his skill set. Bringing him back should be one of the biggest priorities for the coaching staff this offseason, and if he’s promised a starting spot at power forward next year, it is reasonable to assume he returns.

Elmarko Jackson: Transfer from Kansas

Jackson has endured a rough ride in Lawrence since committing to the Jayhawks as a McDonald’s All-American three years ago. Following an underwhelming freshman season, he missed the entire 2024-25 campaign due to a torn patellar tendon before returning this season, where he didn’t fare much better than two years ago.

Coming out of high school, Jackson was viewed as a player with immense potential. But after three years at the school with virtually no improvement, it might be best for him to spend his final two years of eligibility elsewhere.

Advertisement

Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Elmarko Jackson (13) controls the ball against St. John’s Red Storm guard Oziyah Sellers (4) in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Advertisement

Unfortunately, allowing the game-winning basket to St. John’s that ultimately ended the season embodied what his tenure at KU has been like. That might be the last memory fans have of Jackson in the crimson and blue.

Kohl Rosario: Transfer from Kansas

Advertisement

Rosario had high expectations going into the year, starting as a member of the starting five before eventually being phased out of the rotation. The Miami native was touted as a strong 3-point shooter coming into college, but massively struggled from beyond the arc for most of the year, leading to a difficult path to playing time.

Even when Rosario wasn’t hitting his shots, though, he contributed with his athleticism and on the glass as a hustle player. Rosario is absolutely someone the coaching staff should prioritize this offseason. However, it may be best for him to leave the program to look for other opportunities.

Advertisement

Mar 3, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Kohl Rosario (7) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

He showed flashes throughout the year yet was never trusted heavily by Coach Self. He proved he belonged in the rotation in the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments, where he made an immediate impact when he entered and outplayed other bench options.

Advertisement

Ultimately, Rosario will already be competing with freshman wings Trent Perry and Luke Barnett for playing time next year. If the coaches are not going to give him minutes, there is little reason to believe he will stay another year at KU as such a high-potential player.

Paul Mbiya: Stay at Kansas

Advertisement

After riding the pine for the majority of the regular season, Mbiya showed real promise in the NCAA Tournament, scoring a season-high eight points in the Round of 64 and playing strong minutes in place of Bidunga against St. John’s in the first half as he battled foul trouble.

With his otherworldly wingspan and frame, Mbiya feels like someone who could blossom into a star long-term. Even with his raw offensive game, he has traits that should allow him to improve once he refines his skill set.

Mbiya could technically transfer this offseason without it being a massive surprise, but that stretch at the end of the year may have been enough to earn Coach Self’s trust. At the very least, he could be playing double-digit minutes per game next year as the backup five.

Advertisement

Jamari McDowell: Stay at Kansas

McDowell committed to Kansas as a member of the Class of 2023, making him and Jackson the longest-tenured players on the roster. He has been a steady bench piece who plays sparingly but offers defensive intensity and outside shooting when he enters the game.

Advertisement

Unlike Jackson, McDowell didn’t have the same level of hype coming out of high school and was never viewed as much more than a role player. He is best suited to play short spurts off the bench to provide an offensive spark when needed.

Given his clear love for Kansas, his situation is far different from Jackson’s. McDowell feels like someone who is content with limited minutes and simply wearing a Jayhawk uniform with pride.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending