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DES MOINES, Iowa — Kansas’ countrywide title defense ended in the next spherical of NCAA Event on Saturday when Arkansas’ Ricky Council IV produced five cost-free throws in the closing seconds and the eighth-seeded Razorbacks beat the No. 1 seed Jayhawks 72-71.
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Davonte Davis scored 25 details and Council additional 21 as Arkansas rallied from a 12-place second-50 percent deficit. Kansas, taking part in devoid of ailing mentor Bill Self, turned the 2nd leading seed not to escape the tournament’s very first weekend immediately after Purdue missing on Friday evening to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson.
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Arkansas (22-13) and coach Eric Musselman return to the Sweet 16 for the 3rd straight yr. The Razorbacks will engage in possibly Saint Mary’s or UConn in the West Location semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday.
Musselman and his players rushed to a team of admirers sitting down courtside following the last buzzer. The 58-yr-previous mentor ripped his polo shirt off, waved it over his head and shouted with joy.
Self has been with the Jayhawks (28-8) due to the fact they arrived in Des Moines and has attended techniques and meetings, but he nonetheless doesn’t sense nicely adequate to coach a game immediately after obtaining a coronary heart technique March 8 to clear clogged arteries.
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Longtime assistant Norm Roberts was performing coach for a fifth straight recreation in Self’s absence.
Kansas, bidding to turn into the initial repeat nationwide champion considering that Florida in 2006-07, was ahead 35-27 at halftime and misplaced for the first time in 27 game titles when getting into the second fifty percent with a lead. Kansas experienced been 47- in the NCAA Event when top by eight factors or more at the half.
Davis scored 21 of his factors in the 2nd 50 %. He fouled out with 1:56 still left, turning matters in excess of to the veteran Council, a transfer from Wichita State who scored 9 of the Razorbacks’ last 11 factors.
Council’s no cost toss place Arkansas forward to continue to be, 68-67, with 24 seconds remaining. He then rebounded his possess pass up of the next totally free throw and produced two much more to give the Razorbacks a three-stage guide.
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The groups traded no cost throws, and Arkansas despatched Kansas’ Jalen Wilson to the line with 3 seconds remaining to avert a likely tying 3-pointer. Wilson built the very first free of charge toss and appeared to check out to miss out on the next intentionally, but it banked challenging off the glass and in, and Kansas never ever regained possession.
Wilson led the Jayhawks with 20 points.
Arkansas was playing a No. 1 seed for the 3rd straight 12 months. Final 12 months, the Razorbacks knocked out Gonzaga on the way to their next straight Elite 8.
Arkansas, which beat Illinois in the to start with round, was viewed as a scary matchup for the Jayhawks with its explosive transition match and skill to enjoy lockdown protection.
But situations have been much less than perfect for the Razorbacks. Guard Anthony Black tweaked a nagging ankle damage early and went to the bench to get re-taped and transform shoes, and fellow guard and projected high NBA very first-spherical draft pick Nick Smith Jr. picked up two rapid fouls and was restricted to 10 minutes and no details in the to start with 50 %. Also, major male Kamani Johnson was ill and played with a sore toe.
The Razorbacks were being too keen to shoot 3-tips early. They skipped 8 of 9 in the 1st half and couldn’t get their jogging video game heading.
Kansas looked in entire manage early. The Jayhawks bought their supporters out of their seats with a collection of electric plays that provided Gradey Dick’s quick-split dunk off Dajuan Harris’ steal, Wilson’s contested inside basket on an and-a single and his primal scream directed at Arkansas supporters, and Joseph Yesufu’s higher-arcing 3 from the logo to conquer the shot clock.