Top-seeded Kansas will be familiar with second foe

Something stood out when Kansas center Landen Lucas went back to look at the film of his team’s victory over Connecticut in last year’s round of 32: The Jayhawks were fired up from the beginning.

“It doesn’t hurt at all when you’ve got a big-name team you’re lining up across,” Lucas said. “We welcome it.”

Barring a monumental upset in the opener against either North Carolina Central or UC Davis, KU once again will get that benefit this season in the round of 32, as its opponent will either be eighth-seeded Miami (Fla.) or ninth-seeded Michigan State. KU begins in Tulsa on Friday evening.

“What is immediately in front of us is power-five conference teams,” KU coach Bill Self said. “We’ve obviously lost different ways in the tournament, but you think about it, you say, ‘Well Missouri Valley’s been a thorn in your side or Bucknell.’

“The fact of the matter is … the first game isn’t as well known of a game, obviously, but if you’re fortunate enough to advance, you’re going to be playing people that are well known, and players will recognize names on the other team.”

Selection Sunday is the rare day where the Jayhawks can look ahead a few rounds, if only for a few hours. Self’s philosophy has always been to focus on each week as a four-team tournament, meaning KU’s attention soon will move to NC Central and UC Davis, who face off in a play-in game at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.

“I do think it’s a little bit of a disadvantage not knowing who you’re going to play the first game,” Self said, “but obviously other teams have to do the same thing as well.”

Lucas says his teammates will be prepared regardless of the opponent, especially after KU dropped its Big 12 Tournament opener 85-82 to TCU on Thursday.

“We’ll take (the first game) as seriously as you can,” Lucas said, “and I’ll make sure we do.”

Self was impressed earlier in the season with NC Central, as he casually watched its 69-63 road loss to Ohio State on Nov. 14. The Eagles also won at Missouri, 62-52, on Nov. 28.

UC Davis, meanwhile, is familiar to Self because of its coach; Jim Les was at Bradley in 2006 when the Braves upset the fourth-seeded Jayhawks 77-73 in the NCAA Tournament first round.

Should the Jayhawks advance, they’ll get a foe from either the Big Ten or ACC.

“To have two teams that have such a big name and great history to them, it’s good for us,” Lucas said. “I think last year it helped us go out there motivated, ready to go.”

This story was originally published March 12, 2017 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Top-seeded Kansas will be familiar with second foe."