DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Eric Musselman and his gamers rushed around the ground on the ultimate buzzer to rejoice with their joyfully delirious buddies from Arkansas.
The 58-year-old trainer jumped onto the clicking desk, ripped off his pink polo blouse and waved it over his head, shouting the entire whilst to the lovers’ satisfaction, as has turn into his custom after the largest of his wins.
And this was once a truly giant one.
Kansas’ nationwide identify protection resulted in the second one around of the NCAA Event on Saturday when Arkansas’ Ricky Council IV made 5 loose throws within the ultimate seconds and the eighth-seeded Razorbacks beat the No. 1 seed Jayhawks 72-71.
“I would like to lie and say that I felt composed, however we simplest led for 1:43,” he mentioned. “This has been as difficult and as up-and-down a season as I’ve ever been part of.
“For those guys to be rewarded for sticking with it and with the ability to cross to Las Vegas and take part with simplest 16 groups nonetheless status. … It’s truly onerous to make this event. It’s truly onerous to win a recreation on this event. It’s truly onerous to overcome protecting champions, No. 1 seed. We did it.”
Arkansas was once taking part in a No. 1 seed for the 3rd immediately 12 months. Final 12 months, the Razorbacks knocked out Gonzaga on tips on how to their moment immediately Elite 8. This time, the Razorbacks survived shaky offensive play early and foul hassle overdue. They changed into the primary group to overcome a No. 1 seed with 3 gamers fouling out, in line with OptaSTATS.
“That’s such a fantastic win for our program,” Musselman mentioned. “I stay telling folks that we’re getting higher. No longer many groups can get well this time of 12 months. I’ve by no means been prouder of a group like this night.”
Davonte Davis scored 25 issues and Council added 21 as Arkansas rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit. Kansas, taking part in with out ill trainer Invoice Self, changed into the second one most sensible seed to not get away the event’s first weekend after Purdue misplaced on Friday night time to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson.
Arkansas (22-13) is within the Candy 16 for the 3rd immediately 12 months and can play both Saint Mary’s or UConn within the West Area semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Self has been with the Jayhawks (28-8) since they arrived in Des Moines and has attended practices and conferences, however he nonetheless didn’t really feel smartly sufficient to train a recreation after having a middle process March 8 to transparent clogged arteries.
Longtime assistant Norm Roberts was once appearing trainer for a 5th immediately recreation in Self’s absence.
Kansas, bidding to turn into the primary repeat nationwide champion since Florida in 2006-07, was once forward 35-27 at halftime and misplaced for the primary time in 27 video games when getting into the second one 1/2 with a lead. Kansas were 47-0 within the NCAA Event when main via 8 issues or extra on the 1/2.
“Our guys had been terrific all 12 months,” Roberts mentioned. “They fought to the very finish, made massive performs. It was once difficult no longer having Trainer right here, however we don’t make any excuses. We need to line up and get it finished, and we got here up slightly bit brief as of late.”
Davis scored 21 of his issues in the second one 1/2. He fouled out with 1:56 left, turning issues over to the veteran Council, a switch from Wichita State who scored 9 of the Razorbacks’ ultimate 11 issues.
“This group was once suffering and we figured it out,” Davis mentioned. “I’m satisfied we did on the proper time. Confidently we proceed to do it.”
Out of doors the locker room, a sobbing Musselman hugged Davis and shouted, “I (expletive) love you, guy!”
Council’s loose throw put Arkansas forward to stick, 68-67, with 24 seconds left. He then rebounded his personal pass over of the second one loose throw and made two extra to present the Razorbacks a three-point lead.
The groups traded loose throws, and Arkansas despatched Kansas’ Jalen Wilson to the road with 3 seconds left to forestall a possible tying 3-pointer. Wilson made the primary loose throw and seemed to take a look at to pass over the second one deliberately, however it banked onerous off the glass and in, and Kansas by no means regained ownership.
Wilson led the Jayhawks with 20 issues however lamented grabbing simplest 4 rebounds, which he mentioned was once a think about Arkansas protecting a 15-2 benefit in second-chance issues. No ignored rebound harm extra, he mentioned, than when Kansas did not clutch the ball off Council’s ignored loose throw within the waning seconds.
“It all the time comes down to at least one play, particularly hustle performs like that,” Wilson mentioned. “It’s simply disappointing to finish like that, particularly with how nice our 12 months was once. Credit score to them for a way they performed.”
Arkansas, which beat Illinois within the first around, was once regarded as a horrifying matchup for the Jayhawks with its explosive transition recreation and skill to play lockdown protection.
However cases had been not up to ideally suited for the Razorbacks. Guard Anthony Black tweaked a nagging ankle harm early and went to the bench to get re-taped and alter sneakers, and fellow guard and projected top NBA first-round draft select Nick Smith Jr. picked up two fast fouls and was once restricted to ten mins and no issues within the first 1/2. Additionally, giant guy Kamani Johnson was once in poor health and performed with a sore toe.
The Razorbacks had been too desperate to shoot 3-pointers early. They ignored 8 of 9 within the first 1/2 and couldn’t get their operating recreation going.
Kansas was once in keep watch over for stretches however by no means may just put away the Razorbacks.
Davis began a game-turning 11-0 Arkansas run in the midst of the second one 1/2 and Jordan Walsh’s 3-pointer with 8 mins left gave the Razorbacks their first lead since their first basket of the sport.
Arkansas neutralized Wilson when it mattered maximum, permitting the All-American simplest two pictures over a 15-minute stretch of the second one 1/2.
Arkansas is within the Candy 16 for the 14th time. The one lower-seeded Razorbacks group to achieve a regional semifinal was once the 1996 squad, which was once a No. 12 underneath Nolan Richardson, who led the college to its simplest nationwide identify two years previous.
If Musselman reaches his first Ultimate 4, he’s going to evoke extra reminiscences of the ones glory years.
