Tonight, the final week of the regular season kicks off as No. 14 Kansas (21-8) is set for its second consecutive showdown in the desert, this time against Arizona State (15-14) in Tempe.
Heading into this one, Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley is desperately in need of a signature win this season in hopes of keeping his job for another year.
Not to mention, there are some familiar faces on the opposing sideline, starting with former assistant Jerrance Howard, who was a part of the KU staff from 2013–21. Additionally, former KU Class of 2023 commit Marcus Adams Jr. is now in his junior season but has been sidelined since early January due to an undisclosed injury. Â
Since a win in this one won’t boost the Jayhawks’ résumé all that much, they are simply looking to stay in line with their current projection, as a loss would likely drop them a seed line. Â
As it stands, KU currently sits on the No. 3/4 seed line according to every major bracketology outlet.
ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi has the Jayhawks sitting on the No. 3 line, while other leading outlets like FOX and CBS Sports currently project Kansas as a No. 4.
When taking a look at Bracket Matrix, a website that compiles projections from nearly every notable bracketologist in one place, it’s clear that analysts are divided on whether KU belongs on the No. 3 or No. 4 line.
Regardless of where things currently stand, we’ll have a much clearer view of what the bracket will look like less than a week from now once the regular season concludes.
Fortunately for Kansas, it has a favorable schedule in the final week before conference tournaments, especially compared to other teams seeded nearby. This gives the Jayhawks a great opportunity to solidify a spot on the No. 3 line if they can go 2–0 this week.
If they can get through this week without any blemishes, they’ll have a chance to move up to the No. 2 line during the Big 12 Tournament next week in Kansas City. For that to happen, they would not only need to win their final two regular-season games, but would likely also have to reach the championship game of the Big 12 Tournament.
Though Kansas could realistically finish anywhere from the No. 5 overall team (the top No. 2 seed) to the No. 20 overall team (the last No. 5 seed) between now and Selection Sunday, it currently appears they’ll land on the No. 3/4 line, barring a series of surprising results.
Can the Jayhawks stay on track with their projections and get out of the week unscathed?
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