Maryland (27-8 overall) is in the S16 for the first time since 2003, and gets a shot at the #1 seed overall Kansas.
From our preseason CBB preview:
http://baltimorespor...etball-preview/
Kansas: Rustin Dodd, Kansas City Star, and Tom Keegan, Lawrence Journal-World
Baltimore Sports and Life: Kansas has won the Big 12 eleven straight years. Two players were lost to the NBA Draft, but the top three scorers (Perry Ellis, Frank Mason III, and Wayne Selden, Jr) return. This summer, Kansas represented the US at the World University Games – beating Germany in Double OT for the Championship. There is experience, and pedigree. As the season prepares to begin, what is the biggest question facing Bill Self’s team?
Dodd: For the moment, freshman big man Cheick Diallo, a McDonald’s All-American, has not been cleared academically by the NCAA. The Jayhawks lack a true rim protector in the middle, and they struggled to find consistently interior scoring last year. Diallo is not a natural scorer, but he could be the best option to pair with Perry Ellis in the middle. Kansas coach Bill Self is hopeful he’ll know more in the coming weeks.
Keegan: The biggest question facing Bill Self’s team surrounds the eligibility of center Cheick Diallo, a 6-foot-9 sprinter blessed with a 7-foot-4 wingspan. The NCAA Clearinghouse has not ruled on the eligibility of the Mali native who was named MVP of the McDonald’s All-American game and the Jordan Brand Classic. Kansas will be a top five team without him, my pick to win the national title with him. He projects as a disruptive force defensively, blocking shots, stealing and deflecting passes and using his speed to get back on defense so Kansas doesn’t allow easy buckets on the break.
Baltimore Sports and Life: Outside of the aforementioned Ellis, Mason, Selden trio; who on the roster interests you the most? What are your thoughts on the Jayhawks post rotation?
Dodd: The frontcourt rotation could be interesting. Ellis will play 30 to 35 minutes per game, and if Diallo is cleared, he will see plenty of time. But the Jayhawks also have a trio of veterans — Landen Lucas, Jamari Traylor and Hunter Mickelson — who could all contribute in reserve roles. They also have freshman forward Carlton Bragg, who is a skilled stretch-four type. Self prefers to play no more than four bigs, so the competition will be a main story line entering the season.
Keegan: Outside of Ellis, Mason and Selden, I’m excited to see what type of sophomore season Kansas will get from Devonte Graham, a pass-first guard who shoots well from the outside, is extremely intelligent and a natural leader. He does everything well and will start in the backcourt with Mason, enabling Selden to move to the third ball handler, instead of the second.
Thoughts on Kansas rotation, assuming Diallo gains eligibility:
Starting five: Graham, Mason, Selden, Ellis, Diallo.
Bench post players in order of minutes: Carlton Bragg, Hunter Mickelson, Landen Lucas and Jamari Traylor.
Bench perimeter players in order of minutes: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Brannen Greene, LaGerald Vick.
Self said he plans to go with nine-man rotation. Vick is a candidate for redshirt. Brannen Greene, best pure shooter on the team, has a penchant for not hustling back on defense. If he continues that, he will walk his way out of the rotation. Traylor not a good rebounder, which will hurt his cause for playing time.
Kansas is 32-4 overall... they were 15-3 in the Big 12's regular season, and they won the Big 12 Tourney.
They've beat Austin Peay, and UConn so far in the NCAAT.
Individual stats found here.
Full schedule and boxscores found here.
Ken Pomeroy Ratings As Of March 20th:
Overall:
Maryland: 24th
Kansas: 2nd
Adjusted Offensive Efficiency (points per 100 possessions):
Maryland: 24th
Kansas: 11th
Adjusted Defensive Efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions):
Maryland: 45th
Kansas: 5th
Adjusted Tempo (possessions per 40 minutes):
Maryland: 224th
Kansas: 112th
