The NCAA Tournament selection show is underway, and fans of the Kansas Jayhawks are certainly not pleased with what region they were selected to be in.
The Jayhawks have been one of the best teams in college basketball this season. However, they didn’t have the ideal ending to their season, losing the Big 12 Championship Game to Texas. This seems to be a loss that has come back to cost them in a big way.
Many anticipated that Kansas would be the No. 2 overall one seed and be placed in the Midwest Region. However, Houston received that honor despite their loss on Sunday in the American Athletic Conference Championship to Memphis.
CBS’s Seth Davis shared his reaction to the news shortly after it was revealed on the NCAA Tournament selection show.
“I do not see the case for Houston over Kansas on the overall seed line… If Kansas is in this spot, Kansas is going to Kansas City… Kansas had 10 more Quad 1 wins and a much harder strength of schedule.”
"I do not see the case for Houston over Kansas on the overall seed line… if Kansas is in this spot, Kansas is going to Kansas City… Kansas had 10 more Quad 1 wins and a much harder strength of schedule."- Seth Davis pic.twitter.com/mIDot2Z5vm
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 12, 2023
Many around the college basketball world echoed Davis’s sentiments on social media, thoroughly shocked at this decision by the selection committee.
So Kansas doesn't get the Midwest Region and won't open in Kansas City.
They'll either be in the East (NY) or West (Vegas) https://t.co/fkzE1qWTW8
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/CWilliamson44/status/1635041716079329280
Houston is the No. 1 seed in the Midwest
Ahead of Kansas 👀
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1635041187471175682
Houston gets Kansas City instead of Kansas?
WOW.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 12, 2023
Instead, Kansas was selected to be the No. 1 seed in the West Region, which many believe is an extremely tough draw for them with a number of extremely talented teams they may face off against.
West Region is brutal
Kansas
UCLA
Gonzaga
UCONN
Saint Mary's
TCU— Julia Lobaina (@julia_lobaina) March 12, 2023
Committee did not do Kansas any favors.
Tossed the Jayhawks out west, get winner of Arkansas-Illinois in second round, and then could get UConn in Sweet 16.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 12, 2023
The West Regonal is the blue blood region.
Kansas, UCLA, UConn, Gonzaga.
(Save your blue blood opinions)— PJ Green (@PJGreenTV) March 12, 2023
Kansas has the toughest draw that they didn’t get last year.
— Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1) March 12, 2023
As Seth Davis alluded to, Kansas will now miss out on playing in front of their hometown fans in Kansas City, Missouri in the Midwest Region in a potential Sweet 16 game. They will be playing in Las Vegas should they make it to the Sweet 16.
One positive for Kansas is that head coach Bill Self will be returning from a health issue to coach his team in the tournament. He notably missed the entirety of the Big 12 Tournament. Regardless, they will attempt to fight through a significantly tougher road this year to attempt to repeat as National Champions.
