Kansas vs. Cal Baptist: First Round Showdown

0:00On March 19, Kansas faces California Baptist in the first round of the NCAA tournament, tomorrow as the fourth seed against the 13th. It's a big moment for J-Hawk fans after last year shocking first round loss to 10th-seated Arkansas, the first such upset in 18 years under. Coach Bill Self, California Baptist is making its debut in the big dance after claiming the WAC title. The Lancers transition to Division 1 just 8 years ago and boasts the gritty style, ranking 11th nationally in offensive rebounding. Percentage, that could test Kansas's big men who have struggled lately in the pain. Still, Cal Baptist lost its only top level game this season by 31 points and lacks firepower beyond its star point guard. Experts across the board are siding with Kansas, from ESPN analysts to CBS Voices, with hardly anyone predicting an upset. Crack-a-pulls show just 6.9% picking the Lancers to advance, lower than most other 13th seeds.

1:00Kansas isn't firing on all cylinders after a rough big 12 tournament showing, but it boasts a perfect 7 and 0 record as double digit. Favorites this year, Rem protection from freshman Florid Badunga should help shut down drives. While the Lancers bring fresh energy to their first tournament run, Kansas's experience in talent make them heavy favorites to move on and avoid. Another Early Exit.