The last time Kansas was the No. 1 overall seed, in 2010, the Jayhawks were stunned by No. 9 seed Northern Iowa in the second round.
In a tournament that appears to be as open for taking as any in recent memory, can this Kansas team avoid the same ignominious fate?
Colorado fans, of course, hope not. Should the Buffaloes get past Connecticut in the first round, coach Tad Boyle would get a matchup with his alma mater, though he had no desire Sunday to look ahead to such a story line.
“It would be a great opportunity, because it means we would have advanced, but we’re not going to put the cart in front of the horse.”
Kansas fans, meanwhile are likely dreaming of another national championship, what would be the fourth in school history and the second with coach Bill Self (2008).
For much of what has been a season full of surprises and major upsets, it was fair to wonder whether a team was ever going to emerge as a worthy favorite.
By virtue of winning its final 14 games, including victories over NCAA Tournament teams Kentucky, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Baylor, West Virginia and Oklahoma, the Jayhawks have established themselves as such a team.
Still, Kansas has plenty to prove. It hasn’t been as far as the Sweet 16 since 2013, haunted by a series of frustrating upsets in early rounds.
Colorado fans wouldn’t mind seeing that trend continue.
South Regional
Favorite: Kansas
Another season, another Big 12 Conference title for the Jayhawks. Kansas has won at least a share of that league’s regular-season championship 12 consecutive seasons, all with coach Bill Self. No other coach has won that many consecutive titles at the same school. The Jayhawks kept the streak alive during one of the most competitive seasons the Big 12 has seen in years, and they also stormed through the conference tournament in Kansas City, Mo., defeating West Virginia in the title game Saturday. This team is a strong threat to win the NCAA title.
Sleeper: California
The Golden Bears have won nine of their past 11 games and nearly made it to the Pac-12 Tournament title game in Las Vegas, falling to Utah 82-78 in overtime in the semifinals Friday. The Bears feature two of the nation’s premier freshmen — Jaylen Brown and Ivan Rabb — and they have found their footing with the return of sharpshooting guard Tyrone Wallace.
Upset alert
South Dakota State over Maryland. The 12-over-5 always is a trendy upset pick, and the Jackrabbits are an experienced team that has a 26-7 record and won the Summit League championship.
Bracket breakdown
Kansas has played as consistently well as anyone this season, but the Jayhawks have a history of being upset in the NCAA Tournament. Third-seeded Miami could have the speed and balance to pose a threat and bust the bracket.
