The No. 13-seed Samford Bulldogs (29-5, 15-3) will attempt to upset the No. 4-seed Kansas Jayhawks (22-10, 10-8) tonight in this first-round Midwest Region matchup. The Jayhawks come into this one shorthanded, as star guard Kevin McCullar Jr. is out for the season with a knee injury. This is a massive loss for Bill Self’s squad, as McCullar leads the team with 18.3 points a game. With Kansas losing four of its last five contests, it’ll now have to right the ship without its top player.
Samford, on the other hand, is riding high. The Bulldogs have won four straight contests, winning the Southern Conference tournament over ETSU on March 11th. The well-rested squad sports a dangerous offense, ranking fifth in the country with 86 points a game. Will they be the latest team to knock off a blue blood early on in the tournament?
Who Are the Samford Bulldogs?
Samford has been quietly dominating the Southern Conference all season, finishing with the best record in school history. The Alabama-based program is ranked 82nd in Kenpom and 74th in the NET but is 0-2 against Quad 1 opponents. The program is also 0-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. It’s time for the Bulldogs to prove they can hang with the heavyweights.
Forward Achor Achor has been leading the way, registering 15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks a game on 59.9 percent shooting. The Australian international is coming off a heater, recording 25 points and nine rebounds against ETSU.
What’s Been Wrong With the Kansas Jayhawks This Year?
The Jayhawks have lost their last two games by a combined 50 points. They fell to No. 1 Houston 76-46 in the regular-season finale, then lost 72-52 to Cincinnati in the Big 12 tournament. The team has dealt with injuries to McCullar Jr. and center Hunter Dickinson all season, causing them to trot out shorthanded lineups. Dickinson is the team’s second-best player, averaging 18 points along with 10.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks a game. The Michigan transfer has been practicing fully and will play in this one, providing Kansas a lifeline.
How Will This One Play Out?
While Samford is healthier and currently playing better, the team’s defense could be its downfall. The Bulldogs give up 74.4 points a game, ranking 256th in the country. The Jayhawks, however, rank 79th with 69.1 points allowed. Kansas also checks in at 41st overall with a 47.6-percent effective field goal percentage allowed. Samford will need to contain Dickinson inside in order to have any chance of winning.
Either way, this matchup promises to be one of the most thrilling on tonight’s slate. A floundering, shorthanded giant looks to right the ship against an upstart mid-major program looking for its first-ever March Madness victory. Tip-off is at 9:55 eastern at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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