Where is KU headed?

KU coach Bill Self faced the usual barrage of questions about today’s release of the NCAA Tournament pairings.

“Do you think you are a 1 or a 2 seed?” he was asked.

“I think we’re a 2,” Self said.

“Is there any doubt?” was the follow-up query.

“Did I say it like there was no doubt?” he said with a smile, indicating he has no way of knowing for sure. “I think we are a 2. Louisville, Arizona if they win and one ACC team is a 2.

“Two ACC teams, Kentucky and Illinois are 1s. That leaves one other team, Oklahoma State could be one,” Self continued, coming up with nine teams instead of eight.

As for whether KU will be shipped to Oklahoma City, Indianapolis or Tucson, Ariz., today … “It probably doesn’t matter,” he said. “Selfishly, I’d like to see Oklahoma City. It’s easier for our fans, certainly easier for my family,” added the Edmond, Okla., native.

Day of rest

Self was asked if losing in the semis might be good in that it would provide the Jayhawks an extra day of rest before NCAA Tournament week.

“That’s what we’ll tell our guys,” Self said. “I think in some ways we rode Wayne pretty hard, so I know an extra day will benefit him.”

Wayne Simien scored 28 points in 39 minutes against Kansas State on Friday and 30 points in 36 minutes against OSU.

“I’d much rather win and have a chance to cut down nets,” Self said, also indicating it would have been good to have had the injured Keith Langford back for the final. “An extra day would have been good for Keith to get out there and play because I don’t have any hesitation that he would have played tomorrow for sure. This is important, but not as important as next week. Anything to get you better prepared for next week is the most important thing, and winning sometimes has a lot to do with being prepared.”

Simien’s take

Simien is taking a wait-and-see approach to the NCAA Tournament.

“As far as the seeding standpoint, there’s really no telling,” he said. “You just have to wait and see tomorrow. I think we picked up a little bit of momentum these last two games, even though a loss is a loss.

“Coach said he feels much better about the team now than he did coming into the tournament. That’s a big positive. We need to tweak and tune a few things to make sure we’re prepared for next weekend and the weeks to come.”

Lee on the tourney

“It doesn’t really matter,” Michael Lee said of location and seeding. “It’s more about matchups anyway this time of year.”

Graybeards

OSU’s Daniel Bobik, who had 11 points, all in the second half, is 25 years old, the oldest player on the oldest team in America. Bobik served a two-year Mormon mission before starting his career. Other aged Cowboys: Aaron Pettway (24), and 22-year-olds John Lucas, Frans Steyn, Joey and Stephen Graham and Ivan McFarlin. The Graham twins, Steyn, McFarlin and Crawford already have earned bachelor’s degrees.

“I think being older really helps,” Bobik said. “It’s helped us in big games.”