Speedy recap: Kansas falls to Arkansas in Round of 32

Sports

Kansas forward Jalen Wilson (ten) defends against a shot from Arkansas guard Ricky Council IV (1) through the 1st half on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo by Nick Krug

The Kansas Jayhawks will not be defending their national title.

Soon after major by as several as 12 with 15 minutes left to play, Kansas faltered down the stretch to endure a 72-71 loss to Arkansas in the Round of 32 on Saturday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. A defending champion nevertheless has not produced it to the second weekend considering the fact that 2016.

In a game that was dominated by officiating, it was fitting that this anticlimactic finish was decided at the totally 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 totally free throw to give the Razorbacks a 68-67 benefit.

But he missed the second.

Joseph Yesufu, who came in for McCullar, got a piece of the ball on the rebound just before it got away from him. Council ended up with it, drawing yet another chance to get to the charity stripe. This time, he produced two additional totally free throws and the Razorbacks’ victory was under no circumstances in doubt.

Jalen Wilson accidentally produced the final totally free throw although attempting to miss on goal to finish the game.

Arkansas had two players foul out just before the final buzzer. Kansas had just 1 player foul out, but every single frontcourt member dealt with foul problems all through the game. In the finish, it helped seal KU’s fate.

Wilson led the Jayhawks with 20 points on five-of-9 shooting. K.J. Adams Jr. completed with 14, McCullar registered 12, and Dajuan Harris Jr. delivered 12.

Arkansas will now head to Las Vegas for the Sweet 16.

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Written By Shane Jackson

Shane is a sports writer for the Lawrence Journal-Globe and KUsports.com and 1 of the hardest operating persons we have on employees.Soon after operating for the Journal-Globe in a component-time capacity through his college days at KU, Jackson returned to the paper following covering prep sports and K-State for the Manhattan Mercury.In addition to assisting out with all of our KU coverage, Jackson is in full manage of our coverage of the higher college sports scene in and about Lawrence, writing stories, covering games, organizing freelance writers and photographers and maintaining track of the schedule of the dozens of prep teams in the location.A former eight-man football star in compact town Kansas, Jackson has a actual appreciation for all higher college athletes and enjoys telling their stories, from the star of the group to the much less heralded players living outdoors of the spotlight.

Jackson, a diehard fan of the Baltimore Ravens, lives in Lawrence and plays golf anytime he possibly can.

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