Arkansas upsets No. 1 Kansas in tourney thriller
DES MOINES, Iowa– Kansas’ worst fears about the Jayhawks’ second-round NCAA competition matchup with Arkansas came to life. As an outcome, the Jayhawks are no longer around to defend in 2015’s title.Kansas, the front runner in the West, fell to the Razorbacks 72-71. Arkansas, the region’s eighth seed, will move on to the Sweet 16. Kansas ends up being the second No. 1 seed in this year’s competition to fall, following Purdue.Since the NCAA expanded the competition field in 1985, only
3 times have several No. 1 seeds failed to reach the Sweet 16 before this year: 2000, 2004 and 2018. The Razorbacks removed a No. 1 seed from the tournament for the second straight season, having actually done so versus Gonzaga in 2015. This time, coach Eric Musselman was so moved by the achievement that he leapt up on a courtside table at Wells Fargo Arena, removed his t-shirt and led Arkansas fans in a” Pig Sooie” cheer.Editor’s Picks “I have actually been coaching a long period of time which’s as terrific of a win as I’ve ever belonged of because of the history of Kansas,” Musselman said.
“A lot of people didn’t believe we were going to win our first-round game.” As sweet as the success was for Musselman and the Razorbacks, the defeat was that bitter for the Jayhawks. They were hoping to be the first back-to-back champions because Florida in 2006 and 2007. The Jayhawks were without head coach Bill Self on Saturday as he continues to recuperate from a heart procedure.Going into the game, Kansas was worried about the length, depth and athletic ability of the Razorbacks, and indeed those Arkansas qualities turned out to be a problem for Kansas
. Arkansas outrebounded Kansas 36-29 and outscored the Jayhawks in second-chance points 15-2. Arkansas smothered among Kansas ‘top long-range shooters, Gradey Cock, who was simply 1-of-3 from 3 and had 7 points.”We just wanted to give no airspace obviously to No. 4, Gradey Dick,”Musselman stated.
“He’s an extraordinary shooter, among the best shooters in college basketball.”We didn’t desire Gradey to see any daytime.
We felt like if we might hold him to four or five 3-ball efforts they would play to our advantage.”On Friday, Roberts compared the Razorbacks to Texas in regards to their physical qualities. The Longhorns beat the Jayhawks two times in recent weeks, both times by double digits. “They have some long professional athletes that inconvenienced on [Penis] to get shots,” said Norm Roberts, who substituted Self throughout Kansas’2 tournament games.”I do not think we evaluated as well as we wanted to for him, possibly we could have ran a couple of more things for him, however they did nullify him a little bit. I believed we shared the ball respectable and we had a lot of balance, but they did do an excellent job of preventing him from getting open looks. “Arkansas put up a furious second-half rally after trailing by as numerous as 12 points as Razorbacks safeguard Davonte Davis placed on a spectacular second-half program. With Arkansas ‘two leading scorers in the regular season, Ricky Council IV and Nick Smith Jr., having a hard time, Davis carried his team. He
was 7-of-9 shooting with a number of the shots objected to and 6-of-7 from the free toss line for 21 points in the second half.”Coach Mus said to get downhill,”Davis stated. “I seem like we all did something to help us win.”Davis fouled out with 1:56 remaining and the Razorbacks down 64-63. Council took over from there. He made a stepback jumper and 5 complimentary throws to send the Jayhawks house.