Kansas to Face Bradley in First Round of NCAA Championships

March 12, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Fresh off its 80-68 victory in the Big 12 Championship game, the <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Kansas men’s basketball team (25-7) learned it will play Bradley University (20-10) in the first round of the NCAA Championship. The Jayhawks earned a four seed in the Oakland region and will play their first game against the 13th-seeded Braves on Friday, March 17, at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich. <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Kansas is making its 17th-straight appearance in the NCAA Championships and 35th overall. Should the Jayhawks advance, they would play the winner of the No. 5 Pittsburgh (24-7) vs. No. 12 Kent State (25-8) game on Sunday, March 19th, in Auburn Hills. Exact game times will be announced on Monday, March 13th.

Check back with www.kuathletics.com for updates.

Kansas Jayhawks Selection Show Quotes

March 12, 2006

Head Coach Bill Self

On his thoughts in regards to the bracket:

“It’s a tough bracket. I kind of thought we would be a four seed before the game even started. We are not complaining at all about the seed. That is one of the negatives about playing a game that butts right up to the selection show; you might not get a chance to benefit from it from a seeding standpoint, but once you get in it’s all about match-ups.”

On playing Bradley:

“I know enough about Bradley being at Illinois. I know they love their ball and Jim (Les) has done a good job there. They have a couple of guys that I know of that the NBA people are very, very high on. It is a very tough first round match-up, and whichever team, Bradley or ourselves is fortunate enough to advance you definitely have a tough five seed playing a 12 seed. I have seen Pitt play enough and they are about as good as anybody, so they could have made a case where they could have been a possible three seed. It will be an interesting deal and we are excited to be in the tournament. I know our approach needs to be a lot better than what is was last year going into the tournament.”

Senior Guard Jeff Hawkins

On his thoughts on where Kansas is seeded:

“We are happy where we are seeded and know that we have a lot of work to do and a little bit of time before we play on Friday, so we are going to take it day by day.”

SophomoreCenter C.J. Giles

On where they are seeded and his feeling about it:

“We are really happy. We have a tough pool with Bradley and Pitt in our region. We just need to go out there and play like we have been the last couple of games and we will be fine.”

On Bradley’s Center Patrick O’Bryant:

“I spoke to Coach Self about him and he told me that he plays a lot like me. I know that I just need to guard him as much as I did LaMarcus (Aldridge) and we will be fine.”

On section of the bracket they are in:

“We feel very confident. We are going to take this and not just settle on a Big 12 Championship. Every day we have got to use this as a stepping stool to get better and get to that next level.”

SophomoreCenter Sasha Kaun

On the way Kansas is playing right now:

“I like the way we are playing. Things are working pretty good for us. Our guys are playing great and the inside presence is pretty good. I think we are doing really good right now.”

On playing against Bradley’s Patrick O’Bryant:

“He is a really big guy who plays really good inside. I am going to try and get ready for this game as much as possible. They are a great team so we just need to prepare.”