The Kansas Jayhawks won’t be defending their national title.
After leading by as many as 12 with 15 minutes left to play, Kansas faltered down the stretch to suffer a 72-71 loss to Arkansas in the Round of 32 on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. A defending champion still has not made it to the second weekend since 2016.
In a game that was dominated by officiating, it was fitting that this anticlimactic finish was decided at the free throw line. Arkansas guard Ricky Council IV went to the line on a blocking foul by Kevin McCullar Jr., who fouled out with 23 seconds left to play. Council connected on the free throw to give the Razorbacks a 68-67 advantage.
But he missed the second.
Joseph Yesufu, who came in for McCullar, got a piece of the ball on the rebound before it got away from him. Council ended up with it, drawing another opportunity to get to the charity stripe. This time, he made two more free throws and the Razorbacks’ victory was never in doubt.
Jalen Wilson accidentally made the final free throw while trying to miss on purpose to end the game.
Arkansas had two players foul out before the final buzzer. Kansas had just one player foul out, but every frontcourt member dealt with foul trouble throughout the game. In the end, it helped seal KU’s fate.
Wilson led the Jayhawks with 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting. K.J. Adams Jr. finished with 14, McCullar registered 12, and Dajuan Harris Jr. delivered 12.
Arkansas will now head to Las Vegas for the Sweet 16.
