AZUBUIKE OUT VS. OHIO STATE, AGBAJI AND GARRETT A "FULL GO"
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Lawrence - Following an afternoon practice, Kansas coach Bill Self offered optimistic news on two Jayhawks, but some grim news for another.
Jayhawks big man Udoka Azubuike is out for the game Friday vs. Ohio St. While his x-ray was negative, the fear is that there is ligament damage that could sideline him for good this season. Self was clearly agitated with the entire topic. “How many times is this going to happen to this kid? Look, we don’t know yet. We know it’s not broken. It’s more swollen today. We know he’s out this Friday and if we were to get to Sunday, I wouldn’t put my money on it.”
But on the bright side, Self said that junior Marcus Garrett and sophomore Ochai Agbaji are a “full go” for Friday. While Garrett was limited in practice, he seemed mobile on the floor and sounded positive. “I’m good. Coach Self says I’m good so I’m good,” Garrett said with a smile.
Agbaji, meanwhile, wore a neoprene sleeve on this right elbow. Self said he just had a little soreness near the “funny bone” but that it wasn’t an injury.
Self said the team was “focused and sharp” in practice Tuesday. They will head to Houston on Wednesday.
In the South region in Houston, #1 Kansas will tip off against #5 Ohio St. at 8:39 pm (all times Central) on Friday. That game will be preceded at 6:08 pm by #3 Louisville (29-7) against #2 Kentucky (30-6). The winner of the South regional will face off in the Final Four against the winner of the West regional. In Los Angeles, the West, also played on Friday, will match #1 Gonzaga (34-2) and #4 Oregon (28-8) at 6:29 pm and #11 Indiana (22-13) and #2 Villanova (29-7), which has a 8:57 pm tip-off.
On the other side of the bracket, the East regional games at New York start on Thursday with #1 Baylor (30-5) taking on #4 Michigan State (24-9) at 6:05, followed by an 8:33 pm tilt between #6 Michigan (23-13) and #2 San Diego St. (34-3). That same evening, in Indianapolis, the Midwest regional will start at 6:34 pm with defending national champion #6 Virginia (26-8) battling #10 St. Mary’s (28-8). #1 Dayton (34-2) will take on #4 Duke (27-7) in the last game Thursday, starting at 8:52 pm.
National basketball writers and TV personalities have adjusted their Final Four predictions heading into the Sweet 16. Here is a sampling -
-Jay Bilas - Kansas, Gonzaga, San Diego St., Duke
-Jay Williams - Kentucky, Villanova, San Diego St., Duke
-Doug Gottlieb - Kentucky, Gonzaga, Michigan, Dayton
-Jeff Goodman - Kentucky, Gonzaga, Baylor, Dayton
-Pat Forde - Kentucky, Villanova, Baylor, Duke
-Gary Parrish - Kansas, Villanova, Michigan St., St. Mary’s
-Rob Dauster - Kentucky, Gonzaga, Baylor, Dayton
-Eamonn Brennan - Louisville, Gonzaga, Baylor, Duke
-Seth Davis - Kentucky, Gonzaga, San Diego St., Duke
-Andy Katz - Kansas, Villanova, Michigan St., Dayton
-Mike DeCoursey - Kansas, Villanova, Baylor, Virginia
-Jason King - Kansas, Oregon, Michigan St., Dayton
