Kansas and Auburn to battle for Sweet 16 berth Saturday

Junior forward Mitch Lightfoot

SALT LAKE CITY – Coming off its 13th-straight opening round victory Thursday, No. 4 seed Kansas (26-9) will look to punch its ticket to the Sweet 16 for the 10th time in 13 years when the Jayhawks meet No. 5 seed Auburn (27-9) in the second round of the NCAA Championship Saturday inside Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jayhawks and Tigers will tip-off at approximately 8:40 p.m. (CT) on TBS, with Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst) and Lisa Byington (reporter) set to call the action.
 
TIP-OFF

• Kansas is making its 48th NCAA Tournament appearance and has a 108-46 record in the event. The Jayhawks have advanced to 31 Sweet 16 contests, 15 Final Fours and three of their five national championships have been in NCAA Championship format (1952, 1988, 2008).
• Kansas’ 30-consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, beginning in 1990, is the longest active streak and the longest consecutive in NCAA tourney appearances history.
• Since seeding in the NCAA Tournament began in 1979, this is the fifth time Kansas entered the event a No. 4 seed. KU was also a No. 4 seed in 1994, 2001, 2004 and 2006 with the last two in the Bill Self era. The Jayhawks are 8-4 all-time as a No. 4 seed and 5-0 versus the No. 5 seed.
• This year marks the 19th-straight season that the Jayhawks have earned a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament.
• This season, Kansas has faced 15 different teams in the 2019 NCAA Tournament field with a combined record of 14-7.
• With the 87-53 win against Northeastern (3/21), Kansas has won its last 13 NCAA Tournament first-round games, a string which started in 2007. Kansas is 23-10 all-time in Round of 32 games (since 1981).
• Entering the week, only three active players – Marcus Garrett, Mitch Lightfoot, Chris Teahan – had played in NCAA Tournament contests. Garrett and Teahan were members of last year’s Final Four team and Lightfoot was also part of KU’s 2017 Elite Eight run.
• With its No. 17 ranking this week, Kansas has now been inside the top-25 of the Associated Press poll for 200-consecutive weeks, a streak which began on Feb. 2, 2009. North Carolina holds the next-longest active streak at 100 weeks.
• RS-Junior Dedric Lawson, the Big 12’s Newcomer of the Year as well as a Sporting News and USBWA All-American, is one of only two players participating in the NCAA Tournament to be averaging 18-plus ppg and 10-plus rpg (Dylan Windler of Belmont).

 
ABOUT KANSAS
Ranked No. 17/17 nationally, Kansas is 26-9 overall and finished third in the 2019 Big 12 race with a 12-6 record. Kansas his coached by Bill Self who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. Self is 473-105 in his 16th season at Kansas and 680-210 in his 26th season overall.
 
In all games, Kansas ranks in the top three in the Big 12 in scoring offense (second at 75.7), field goal percentage (third at 46.5) and field goal percentage defense (third at 40.5). KU has outrebounded seven of its last eight opponents and has a +3.0 rebound margin. Kansas also averages 7.3 3-pointers made, 13.3 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.9 blocked shots per game. In three Big 12 Championship games, in which KU finished runner-up, the Jayhawks averaged 73.0 points, a +8.0 rebound margin, 13.3 assists, 7.3 steals and 6.0 blocks.
 
Redshirt-junior F Dedric Lawson was named to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team where he averaged 19.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals in three games. On most every All-America team and national player of the year list, Lawson leads the Big 12 in scoring at 19.3 ppg, rebounding at 10.3 rpg and with 21 double-doubles after his 25-point, 11-rebound effort against Northeastern (3/21). The Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team selection, Lawson leads KU with 37 blocked shots and his 1.1 blocks per game are sixth in the conference.
 

 
Freshman G Devon Dotson is averaging 16.0 points per game in his last five games. He joined Dedric Lawson on the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team where he averaged 15.7 points, 4.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the three games. Dotson averaged 12.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.8 apg and 1.3 spg in Big 12 play. An All-Big 12 Third Team honoree, Dotson ranks 13th in the Big 12 in scoring (12.3), sixth in assists (3.5), 13th in field goal percentage (48.0), 10th in steals (1.3) and ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6).
 
Freshman G Ochai Agbaji has started the last 14 games for Kansas and has pulled down five or more rebounds in his last two games. After his 13 point against Northeastern, Agbaji has eight games of 10 or more points, including three 20-point efforts. Agbaji pulled his redshirt prior to the TCU game (1/9) and averages 8.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest.
 
Freshman G Quentin Grimes had a solid Big 12 Championship where he averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals with six 3-pointers made in the three contests. His 18 points against West Virginia (3/15) were his third most this season. Grimes is second on the team with 52 3-pointers made this season. He averages 8.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest.
 
Sophomore G Marcus Garrett is averaging 8.3 rebounds in his last four games. He also had a solid Big 12 Championship where he averaged 7.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Included was a career-high 15 rebounds, with seven points and four assists in the title game against Iowa State (3/16). Garrett ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 1.5 steals per game. He scored 8.8 points in Big 12 play.
 
Other KU regulars include freshman F David McCormack (3.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg), redshirt-sophomore G K.J. Lawson (3.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg), redshirt-sophomore G Charlie Moore (3.0 ppg, 20 3-pointers), and junior F Mitch Lightfoot (2.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg). McCormack has started each of the last 12 games and has pulled down five or more rebounds in four of his last five game. K.J. Lawson scored 13 points against Northeastern (3/21), which was his third double-figure game of the season.
 
ABOUT AUBURN
Located in Auburn, Alabama, win an enrollment 25,469, Auburn is 27-9 and takes a nine-game winning streak into the Kansas contest after its 78-77 win against New Mexico State (3/21). The Tigers are ranked No. 14/18 in the national polls and finished tied for fourth in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with an 11-7 league record. Auburn was the SEC automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament after winning four games in four days claiming the conference tourney title. Auburn is coached by Bruce Pearl who is 97-71 in his fifth season at Auburn and 559-216 in his 24th season overall.
 
Auburn averages 79.5 points per game and has a +11.2 scoring margin, which ranks 21st nationally. The Tigers lead the nation in 3-point field goals made this season with 408 and are third nationally in 3-point field goals attempted (1,083), fourth in 3-pointers made per game (11.3) and fourth steals at 9.4. Auburn pulls down 34.3 rebounds per game and also averages 14.4 assists and 4.8 blocked shots per game.
 
Senior G Bryce Brown leads Auburn in scoring at 15.7 points per game. He also has made a team-high 124 3-pointers and is second on the squad with 70 assists. Junior G Jared Harper is next in scoring at 15.3 points per game and also second with 92 3-pointers made. Harper leads Auburn with 206 assists and has 42 steals. Sophomore F Chuma Okeke leads Auburn with 6.8 rebounds per game to complement his 11.8 scoring average. Okeke has made 50 3-pointers and leads the team with 44 blocked shots and 63 steals. Other Auburn starters include senior G/F Malik Dunbar (6.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and junior F Anfernee McLemore (6.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg). Dunbar has made 39 3-pointers and has 33 steals, while McLemore is second on the team with 39 blocked shots. Other Auburn regulars include junior G Samir Doughty (7.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg), senior F Horace Spencer (4.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg), junior G J’Von McCormick (3.9 ppg) and junior F Danjel Purifoy (3.3 ppg). Doughty is second on the team with 51 steals and has 63 assists.
 
THE SERIES
Kansas and Auburn are meeting for the second time with the Tigers defeating the Jayhawks, 66-64, on March 16, 1985, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in South Bend, Indiana.
 
Kansas and Auburn have two common opponents from the 2018-19 season. Kansas defeated Tennessee, 87-81 in overtime, in the finals of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Nov. 23, while Auburn went 2-0 versus Tennessee, which included an 84-64 win in the SEC Tournament title game. Kansas lost at Kentucky, 71-63, in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 26, while Auburn was swept by Kentucky in its two meetings this season.
 
A KANSAS WIN WOULD…
Make Kansas 27-9 and give KU 27 victories for the fifth-straight season and the 12th time in the last 13 seasons beginning in 2006-07 … Advance Kansas to its 32nd round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament and its 24th Sweet 16 (with the term starting in 1975) … Give KU its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament second-game victory and make KU 25-10 all-time in second games played in the event … Make the KU-Auburn series tied at 1-1 and make the Jayhawks 2-1 against SEC foes this season … Make KU 7-1 in neutral-site games this season … Make Kansas 109-46 all-time in NCAA Tournament games … Make Bill Self 474-105 while at Kansas, 681-210 all-time and 49-19 in the NCAA Tournament (39-14 while at KU) … Make Kansas 2,275-858 all-time.
 
A KANSAS LOSS WOULD…
End Kansas’ season at 26-10 … Give the Jayhawks 10 losses in a season for just the second time in Bill Self’s 16-year tenure in Lawrence with the other in 2014 … End a Kansas three-straight second-round NCAA Tournament win streak which started in 2016 … Make Kansas 24-11 in NCAA Tournament second round games played … Drop KU to 8-5 all-time as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament … Make Kansas 6-2 in neutral-site games this season … Make Bill Self 473-106 while at Kansas, 680-211 all-time and 48-20 in the NCAA Tournament (38-15 while at Kansas)… Make Kansas 2,274-859 all-time.
 
NORTHEASTERN LEFTOVERS

• The Jayhawks hit 70.4 percent from the field in the second half (19-of-27), Kansas’ best shooting performance in a half this season and its best since KU shot 72 percent (18-25) in the second half against West Virginia on March 10, 2018.
• Northeastern opened the second half on a 5-0 run but KU responded with an 18-2 run of its own to take a 55-32 lead, Northeastern never got back within 20 points.
• KU’s 34-of-61 mark from the field tallied a season-best 55.7 percent shooting percentage.
• KU held its opponent to under 60 points for the sixth time this season, the Jayhawks are a perfect 6-0 in those contests and 168-1 under Self.
• The 53 points were the fewest by a Jayhawk opponent in the NCAA Tournament since Kansas defeated Detroit, 65-50, on March 16, 2012.
• Kansas held the Huskies to 28.1 percent shooting on the day, Northeastern’s worst shooting performance of the season.
• Northeastern started 3-of-4 from deep and, after that point, went 3-for-24 from long range.
• Redshirt-junior F Dedric Lawson recorded his 21st double-double of the season which ties him for third all-time on the Kansas single-season list with Cole Aldrich (2009) and Raef LaFrentz (1997).
• Devon Dotson’s two assists moved him past Kirk Hinrich who dished 123 in 2000 for sixth all-time in assists during a single season by a Kansas freshman.
• K.J. Lawson’s six field goals were a season-high and his 23 minutes marked the third time he has played 20 or more minutes in 2018-19.

 
KANSAS VS. THE 2019 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD
Kansas has faced 15 NCAA Tournament teams in 2018-19 with a 14-7 record. Those include No. 2 seed Kentucky (0-1), No. 2 Michigan State (1-0), No. 2 Tennessee (1-0), No. 3 Texas Tech (1-1), No. 4 Kansas State (1-1), No. 5 Marquette (1-0), No. 6 Iowa State (1-2), No. 6 Villanova (1-0), No. 7 Wofford (1-0), No. 9 Baylor (2-0), No. 9 Oklahoma (1-1), No. 11 Arizona State (0-1), No. 12 New Mexico State (1-0), No. 13 Northeastern (1-0) and No. 13 Vermont (1-0).
 
KANSAS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT

• This year marks Kansas’ 48th NCAA Tournament appearance, which ranks third nationally: Kentucky (57), North Carolina (49), Kansas (48), UCLA (47).
• Kansas’ 30-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, from 1990-2019, is the nation’s longest active streak and the best all time. North Carolina is second with 27 straight from 1975-2001.
• Under head coach Bill Self, Kansas is 38-14 (73.1 percent) in the NCAA Tournament with 10 Sweet 16s, eight Elite Eights, three Final Fours, one NCAA National Championship and one NCAA runner-up finish.
• The average seed under Self is 2.0 with eight No. 1 seeds, three No. 2 seeds, two No. 3 seeds and three No. 4 seeds. Kansas was a No. 1 seed in the last three NCAA Tournaments and, prior to this year, was a 1 or 2 seed each of the last nine events.
• In the last 17 NCAA Tournaments, Kansas has a 47-16 (74.6 percent) record with one NCAA National Championship (2008), five Final Fours (2002-03-08-12-18) and 10 Elite Eight (2002-03-04-07-08-11-12-16-17-18) appearances.
• Kansas sports an all-time NCAA Tournament record of 108-46. The Jayhawks’ 108 wins trail only Kentucky (128), North Carolina (124) and Duke (112).
• KU will play its 155th NCAA Tournament game on Saturday. The Jayhawks’ 154 games in the event rank third all-time in NCAA history, behind Kentucky (180) and North Carolina (179).
• KU’s NCAA Tournament winning percentage of 70.1 percent ranks sixth all-time for a minimum of 20 games played.
• Kansas coach Bill Self is making his 21st-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach, which is the fifth-best consecutive string in tourney history by a head coach: 24 Mike Krzyzewski (1996-2019), 23 Dean Smith (1975-97), 22 Tom Izzo (1998-2019), 21 Bill Self (1999-2019), 20 Roy Williams (1990-2009), 17 Rick Barnes (1996-2012). Self, Krzyzewski and Izzo are the only active streaks.
• KU is one of nine schools that has won at least three NCAA Tournaments. The Jayhawks won the NCAA crown in 1952, 1988 and 2008. The other schools are: UCLA (11), Kentucky (8), North Carolina (6), Indiana (5), Duke (4), Connecticut (4), Kansas (3), Louisville (3) and Villanova (3).
• Kansas has appeared in the Final Four 15 times, making KU one of just six schools to reach the Final Four 10-plus times: North Carolina (20), UCLA (17), Kentucky (17), Duke (16), Kansas (15) and Ohio State (10).
• Five different Jayhawks have been named NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player, including B.H. Born in 1953 and Wilt Chamberlain in 1957, who both won the award even though KU lost in the title game. Clyde Lovellette (1952) and Danny Manning (1988) also won the honor. Mario Chalmers won the Most Outstanding Player Award for the 2008 NCAA Championship.

 
SEED NOTES
Since seeding in the NCAA Tournament began in 1979, this is the fifth time Kansas entered the event a No. 4 seed. KU was also a No. 4 seed in 1994, 2001, 2004 and 2006 with the last two in the Bill Self era. The Jayhawks are 8-4 all-time as a No. 4 seed. Kansas is 5-0 all-time against the No. 5 seed with the last win against the seed coming in KU’s 2018 run to the Final Four, an 80-76 win versus Clemson in the Sweet 16 in Omaha, Nebraska.  
 
CRADLE OF TOURNAMENT COACHING LEGENDS
There are 11 head coaches who have advanced to the NCAA Tournament who graduated from the University of Kansas. In fact, the 127 combined NCAA Tournament wins by those coaches are easily the most by graduates of any one school: Phog Allen (KU 1906, 10-3), Tad Boyle (KU 1985, 1-4), Tim Carter (KU 1979, 0-2), Frosty Cox (KU 1930, 2-4), Jerod Haase (KU 1997, 1-1), Dick Harp (KU 1940, 4-2), Danny Manning (KU 1991, 0-1), Ralph Miller (KU 1942, 5-11), Adolph Rupp (KU 1922, 30-18), Dean Smith (KU 1953, 65-27) and Mark Turgeon (KU 1987, 9-8).
 
KANSAS AP RANKED FOR 200TH-STRAIGHT WEEK
With the release of the Associated Press’ final 2018-19 top-25 on March 18, the Jayhawks found themselves among those ranked for the 200th-straight week. That streak ranks as the longest-active in NCAA DI and is 100 weeks clear of the next closest school.
 
Kansas’ current streak began on Feb. 2, 2009 when KU reentered the AP ranks at No. 21. Since that week, the Jayhawks have not been slotted outside the top-20.
 

 
UP NEXT
Should Kansas win, it would advance to the Sweet 16 for the fourth-straight year. The Midwest Regional semifinals will be held in Kansas City’s Sprint Center on March 29. 

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