OCHAI AGBAJI

Bill Self went from the Hall of Fame coach who too often failed on the big stage to the brilliant mastermind of the biggest second-half comeback in NCAA title game history.

No one in the NCAA Tournament has yet. “I’ve always felt working inside/out is the way for successful offensive basketball and that’s the way we’re going to do it,” North Carolina coach Hubert Davis. North Carolina and Kansas, the last teams standing, have numerous offensive options with multiple players who can put up 30 points any given night. But the winner of of Monday night's national championship game could come down to which team can slow the other's dynamic duo. He led Kansas with 18.9 points per game this season and has been a difference-maker through most of the NCAA Tournament, including a 21-point game against Villanova.

North Carolina has an effective inside/outside combo in Armando Bacot and Caleb Love.

Kansas coach Bill Self finds himself in the same spot that longtime North Carolina coach Dean Smith once did.

NCAA Kansas Villanova Basketball Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji (30) shoots over Villanova forward Jermaine Samuels during the second half of a college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Men's Final Four NCAA tournament, Saturday, April 2, 2022, in New Orleans. Villanova fell into a big early hole and under a barrage of 3-pointers all night, losing 81-65 to Kansas on Saturday in the national semifinals. The Wildcats went 13 for 31 from long range, including 5 of 8 by Collin Gillespie, who had 17 points in his final collegiate game. Villanova threw the Jayhawks off for a stretch by going small, cutting the lead to seven early in the second half. The Wildcats went on another short run later in the half after Kansas stretched the lead again, pulling within six with six minutes to go.

Villanova needed Justin Moore on offense, to add another scoring threat and spread the floor.

David McCormack muscled his way to 25 points, Ochai Agbaji added 21 and hot-shooting Kansas withstood every Villanova run for a 81-65 victory Saturday night that sent the Jayhawks back to the national title game.

Exactly 10 years after a bunch of one-and-done phenoms for Kentucky cut down the nets in the Big Easy, there is a much more old-school feel to this year’s Final Four.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski's final chapter will have a distinctly blue tint.

APTOPIX Kansas Miami Basketball Kansas head coach Bill Self and players hold up the winning trophy after a college basketball game in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament against Miami Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Chicago. The Jayhawks trailed by six points at halftime but outscored Miami 47-15 in the final 20 minutes. 1 seed left in the NCAA Tournament, won the Midwest for the 13th time with its ninth consecutive victory overall. SWEET HOME CHICAGOKansas improved to 6-0 in NCAA Tournament games played in the Windy City. Miami finished with 14 turnovers, compared to 11 for Kansas.

Kansas Miami Basketball Kansas' David McCormack react after making a shot and being fouled during the second half of a college basketball game in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) (Charles Rex Arbogast)CHICAGO — (AP) — Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack and Christian Braun powered a dazzling second half for Kansas, and the top-seeded Jayhawks pounded Miami 76-50 on Sunday to advance to the program's 16th Final Four. Agbaji scored 18 points, McCormack had 15 and Braun finished with 12, helping Kansas rally after a lackluster start. The Jayhawks trailed by six points at halftime but outscored Miami 47-15 in the final 20 minutes. McGusty spent two seasons at Oklahoma before transferring to Miami, averaging 13.5 points in four games against Kansas.

Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack and Christian Braun powered a dazzling second half for Kansas, and the top-seeded Jayhawks pounded Miami 76-50 to advance to the program’s 16th Final Four.

Remy Martin scored a season-high 23 points and Kansas did its part as the only No. 1 seed left in the NCAA Tournament, holding Providence to 17 first-half points and hanging on for a 66-61 victory to reach the Elite Eight.

Remy Martin scored 20 points, Ochai Agbaji put Kansas ahead for good with his first basket early in the second half, and the Jayhawks held off Creighton 79-72 to advance to the Sweet 16.

College basketball guru, Scott Gleeson, gives us his predictions on who he thinks will end up in the Final Four of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

B10 Iowa Purdue Basketball Iowa forward Keegan Murray celebrates at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue at the Big Ten Conference tournament, Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Indianapolis. The Fighting Illini never had a first-team pick until Ayo Dosunmu made it last season when Cockburn was voted to the second team. And the Hawkeyes had not had a first-team selection since the 1952 season until Luka Garza, last year's AP player of the year, made his second consecutive appearance in the five-man team. Throw in Wisconsin's Johnny Davis and the Big Ten was well represented Tuesda on the AP's first team, which also included Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe — this year's player of the year favorite — and Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji. 1 draft pick Jabari Smith of Auburn and Benedict Mathurin of Arizona rounded out the second team.

Keegan Murray has given Iowa a first-team Associated press All-American for the third straight year.

Keegan Murray has given Iowa a first-team Assocaited Press All-American for the third straight year, and Kofi Cockburn has made it two in a row for Illinois — not bad for a couple programs that haven't had a whole lot of them. The Fighting Illini never had a first-team pick until Ayo Dosunmu made it last season when Cockburn was voted to the second team. Throw in Wisconsin's Johnny Davis and the Big Ten was well represented Tuesda on the AP's first team, which also included Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe — this year's player of the year favorite — and Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji.

2s and the defending champion, Baylor, is the other top seed and a force to be reckoned with again, too. This year, the women's tournament is being branded as "March Madness," just like the men's. Also, Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, one of dozens who switched schools via the amped-up transfer portal that is displaying a penchant for reshaping college hoops — and college sports — in the blink of an eye. “It’s all about staying in the moment and having more fun than anybody in the tournament,” said Tshiebwe's coach, John Calipari. 2 seed is terrific.”___More AP coverage of March Madness: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.

College basketball fans hungering for a return to normal this March should feel happy.

B12 Texas Tech Kansas Basketball Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji drives during the second half of an NCAA college basketball championship game against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Conference tournament in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, March 12, 2022. Kansas won 74-65. 1 seed for the 10th time, third-most in history, trailing only retiring Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski with 14 and former Kansas and North Carolina coach Roy Williams with 13. Allegations against Wade stem from a wide FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball that has implicated numerous major programs, including two others in the Midwest Region: Kansas and Auburn. ___More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Kansas earned a No. 1 seed for the 15th time on Sunday, second only to North Carolina for most in college hoops history, and will open the NCAA Tournament in the Midwest Region against the play-in winner between Texas Southern and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Fort Worth, Texas.

(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Charlie Riedel)The latest on the NCAA Tournament bracket announcement:___The Kansas Jayhawks are the top seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament. Michigan made the NCAA Tournament bracket with an at-large berth despite a 17-14 record. ___The top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs are the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year. 2 seed in the West, and the Blue Devils will start coach Mike Krzyzewski's final NCAA Tournament on Friday in Greenville, South Carolina. ___The countdown is on for the unveiling of the NCAA Tournament bracket.

David McCormack had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Ochai Agbaji made a pair of clinching foul shots with just over a minute to go, and sixth-ranked Kansas beat No. 14 Texas Tech 74-65 to win the Big 12 Tournament title.

Ochai Agbaji led sixth-ranked Kansas with 18 points in a 87-63 victory over West Virginia in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Tournament.

Kansas senior guard Ochai Agbaji is the unanimous pick as The Associated Press Big 12 player of the year.

Kansas avoided a regular-season sweep by TCU, winning Thursday in the Jayhawks’ latest Big 12 Conference matchup.

Jalen Wilson had 22 points and No. 8 Kansas used a late run to beat Oklahoma 71-69.

Timmy Allen scored 24 points and his long jumper from just beyond the free throw line with 21 seconds left put Texas ahead before Marcus Carr’s free throws sealed a 79-76 win over No. 8 Kansas on Monday night.

Christian Braun and Ochai Agbaji each scored 18 points and No. 10 Kansas bolted to a big lead and routed No. 8 Baylor 83-59 to hold the top spot in the Big 12 Conference race.

13 Texas Tech on Monday night. Texas Tech (15-3, 5-3) got 17 points from Kevin Obanor and 15 for Davion Warren. After Texas Tech trimmed the deficit to 3 points, Kansas went on an 8-0 run to grab its first double-digit lead of the game. After Kansas grabbed its biggest lead of the game at 70-58, Texas Tech scored the next six points to start a 17-5 run to close regulation. Texas Tech hosts Mississippi State while Kansas hosts No.

Ochai Agbaji scored a career-high 37 points to help No. 5 Kansas avenge its only conference loss of the season with a 94-91 double overtime win over No. 13 Texas Tech. Agbaji outdueled Bryson Williams, who poured in 33 points for Tech. Kansas led by one in the second overtime when Williams banked in a 3-pointer.

One of the most heated rivalries in college basketball will be renewed on Saturday when Missouri visits No. 8 Kansas in a matchup of old Big Eight foes.

Mustapha Amzil hit a running jumper in the lane at the buzzer, and Dayton beat No. 4 Kansas 74-73.

Ochai Agbaji had 18 points and Christian Braun added 16 as No. 4 Kansas beat North Texas 71-59 in the first round of the ESPN Events Invitational on Thursday.

Gonzaga, UCLA and Kansas held the top three spots in The Associated Press' first Top 25 rankings of the regular season while Michigan climbed two spots to No. 2 Bruins had six first-place votes after beating Villanova and the Jayhawks were third following a win over Michigan State. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 following last season's run to the national championship game. Kansas (2-0) played Michigan State in a doubleheader with Kentucky and Duke at Madison Square Garden to open the season. 25 following wins over Cal State Northridge and Temple.

Gonzaga, UCLA and Kansas hold the top three spots in first regular-season AP Top 25.

Kansas Michigan State Basketball Michigan State's A.J. 3 Kansas beat Michigan State 87-74 on Tuesday night in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on the opening night of college basketball. Kansas led by seven at the half before Michigan State cut it to 48-45. It started in 2011 and has always had Michigan State, Kansas, Duke and Kentucky participating. ... Michigan State will play five of its first seven games away from home, including three at the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Ochai Agbaji scored a career-high 29 points and No. 3 Kansas beat Michigan State 87-74 at the Champions Classic on the opening night of college basketball.

3 seed Kansas. 14 seed Eastern Washington 93-84 on Saturday to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Compounding problems for Kansas: Garrett, one of the nation's best defenders, picked up his third foul before the break. AdThey finally did midway through the second half. But the Eagles' defense let them down in the second half, when Kansas began getting open looks and knocking them down.

New York Rangers coach David Quinn, middle rear, speaks to players during a timeout in the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Thursday, March 11, 2021, in Boston. The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The New York Rangers will be without coach David Quinn and his entire staff tonight against Philadelphia because of NHL COVID protocol. Kris Knoblauch, who coaches the Rangers’ top minor league affiliate, the American Hockey League’s Hartford WolfPack, will serve as acting coach. Kruger said Harmon is the only Oklahoma player to test positive or be in contact tracing. The Volunteers have had multiple positive COVID-19 test results among athletes and staff members in recent rounds of testing.

Oklahoma guards De'Vion Harmon (11) and Elijah Harkless (24) react during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Garett Fisbeck)NORMAN, Okla. – De’Vion Harmon scored 22 points and Oklahoma beat No. Reaves scored 16 points, all in the second half, and made 10 of 11 free throws. Kansas put Oklahoma in the bonus early in the second half and the Sooners took advantage, making 18 of 22 foul shots after not having a free-throw attempt in the first half. Oklahoma: Oklahoma hasn’t cracked the Top 25 this season, but now is in sole possession of third place in a league with five top-15 teams.

Baylor guard Jared Butler (12) shoots a three-point basket past Kansas guard Marcus Garrett (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, in Waco, Texas. Butler had a season-high 30 points and eight assists as the Bears remained undefeated with a 77-69 victory Monday night over No. 9 Kansas, which has lost consecutive Big 12 games for the first time in nearly eight years. “To win the Big 12, we’re going to need all 15 guys, we need everybody, we need the staff. “They were real focused, like we’ve been for every game,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said.

Cade Cunningham scored 18 points, and the Cowboys held off a late rally to beat No. “This is what the process looks like,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said. It was the fifth time in the past eight tries that Oklahoma State has beaten the Jayhawks at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Garrett missed a 3-pointer, and Oklahoma State got the ball in a scramble and called timeout with 17.8 seconds left. Oklahoma State hosts rival Oklahoma on Saturday.

14 Texas Tech 58-57 on Thursday night, giving the Jayhawks a win in their conference opener for the 30th season in a row. Texas Tech (6-2, 0-1) had one more opportunity, with coach Chris Beard calling a timeout with 6.2 seconds left to set up a final play. Mac McClung led Texas Tech with a season-high 21 points, the third 20-point game this season for the transfer from Georgetown. Texas Tech: The Red Raiders had only seven turnovers and forced 16 Kansas turnovers, and had 16 second-chance points off 13 offensive rebounds. Texas Tech plays at Oklahoma on Tuesday night.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS – Kansas forward Jalen Wilson waited a whole year for a night like Tuesday. “My team needed me to step up even though I had a slow first half, and the second half turned out to be a really good half," the redshirt freshman said. Ochai Agbaji added 17 points for Kansas, and Christian Braun had eight points and 13 rebounds. Kansas shot 30% from the field and missed three of four free throws during one stretch in the final minute when it could have sealed the win. Kansas missed 13 of its first 15 attempts and scored just five points in the first 10 minutes.