WRITER: Matt Tait

Why this KU run, at this particular time, means so much for a Kansas basketball team that sits 1 win shy of a national title

New Orleans — Throughout his 19 seasons in charge of the Kansas basketball program, KU coach Bill Self has always celebrated the fact that the school expects to win championships and that the opportunity to do it is always there. But it’s been 10 years since the Kansas Jayhawks have found themselves in this position — one win away from a national title. In those 10 years, the program, it’s players and ...

KU-Villanova Notebook: KU senior Ochai Agbaji's pose a player of the year statement

New Orleans — Kansas senior Ochai Agbaji has been known, throughout his career, for his humble nature and friendly demeanor. That’s what made his uncharacteristic gesture early on in KU’s 81-65 Final Four clubbing of Villanova on Saturday night at Caesars Superdome, worth paying attention to. After the fourth make in an early barrage of 3-pointers by the KU All-American, Agbaji dropped his shoulders ...

One more: Behind big nights by Agbaji, McCormack Kansas rolls past Villanova and into Monday's NCAA title game

New Orleans — In the days leading up to Saturday’s 81-65 Kansas victory over Villanova at the Final Four, Wildcats coach Jay Wright was asked a lot about that 2018 win over the Jayhawks, which featured Villanova draining an NCAA-record 18 3-pointers. Wright recalled looking down at Kansas coach Bill Self during that one and thinking “I’ve been there.” Little did Wright know, he would be there ...

Kansas, Villanova don't care if they're playing in the Final Four shadow of Duke and North Carolina

New Orleans — On a stage with four college basketball powerhouses, Kansas basketball coach Bill Self said this week that he thought the shine of the first-ever Final Four matchup between Duke and North Carolina has fewer people talking about the Kansas-Villanova matchup that will precede it on Saturday night. “It’s perfect,” said KU guard Christian Braun on Friday. “We don’t need anyone to talk us ...

Game Day Breakdown: No. 1 seed Kansas basketball vs. No 2 seed Villanova - 2022 Final Four

No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (32-6) vs. No. 2 Villanova Wildcats (30-7) Time: 5:09 p.m., Saturday, April 2, 2022 Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana TV: TBS | Radio: IMG Jayhawk Radio Network Keys for Kansas 1. 3-point defense Even though this Villanova team is very different from the one that torched the Jayhawks in the 2018 Final Four, they’re still more than capable of getting hot from ...

Self's mother has been back in the bleachers for every stop on KU's run to the Final Four

New Orleans — Bill Self Sr. died nine days before KU was to host Kentucky in January, and amid the sadness and tears that the family was experiencing at the time, a bright spot emerged for his wife Margaret. With Self Sr. ailing, it had been four years since Margaret last attended a Kansas basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse, and KU coach Bill Self and the rest of his family thought it would be good for her ...