19. Kansas (23-10)
Bill Self knows how to win basketball games and build that winning culture and there have been times when this Kansas team looks just as great as some of his past champions. The Jayhawks picked up some phenomenal wins earlier in the season and that’s a big reason why they’re in great shape on Selection Sunday. They also ended the season on a sour note with four losses in their last seven games, though none of that matters during the Big 12 Tournament.
The Jayhawks started the event with a legitimate challenge from TCU, surviving for a 78-73 win over the Horned Frogs. Darryn Peterson continued his impressive freshman campaign with 24 points and 8 rebounds. Unfortunately, they once again ran into a buzz saw and this time it was Houston, falling 69-47 in the semifinals. Peterson led the scoring with 14 points while Flory Bidunga grabbed 12 boards but this night belonged to the Cougars, while Kansas had their lowest scoring output of the entire season.
While Kansas didn’t exactly grab the momentum they were after, it’s not time to freak out in Lawrence either. Peterson remains the real deal when he’s on the court and it’s all about what the players around him can get done. Kansas has legitimate talent but the interior offense has just been absent down the stretch. Self knows how to inspire his teams for the Big Dance but it’s not going to be easy if they keep playing like this.