Kansas Jayhawks Eye Upset As Hunter Dickinson Leads Charge In March Madness

As the anticipation builds for the NCAA tournament, the Kansas Jayhawks find themselves in an unusual position, entering the March Madness as a No. 7 seed. Few could have predicted this trajectory for a team that began the season ranked No. 1.

Kansas, with a record of 21-12 overall and 11-9 in the Big 12, is led by senior center Hunter Dickinson, who has had a standout season with averages of 17.6 points and 10 rebounds per game. With Dickinson's extensive experience in the NCAA tournament—including previous runs to the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 while at Michigan—he is expected to be a pivotal figure in the Jayhawks' quest for a deep playoff run.

“I’m super grateful I was able to get back here one more time before the end of my career,” Dickinson told Sports Illustrated, highlighting the thrill of competing in March Madness, a time where upsets and surprises are the norm. The significance of his final tournament is palpable. He emphasizes, “After being in the tournament, you understand that it’s a different ball game. Every possession, every turnover, every offensive rebound matters.”

As they prepare to face the No. 10 seeded Arkansas Razorbacks, coached by the legendary John Calipari, the Jayhawks are no strangers to adversity. Kansas has endured an inconsistent season, showcasing both their prowess against top teams, including victories against Duke and Michigan, and their vulnerability, highlighted by a historic loss to BYU, where they fell 91-57, marking one of their largest defeats under Bill Self.

Going into this first-round match-up set for March 20, 2025, Kansas is not the favored team in the eyes of many analysts. With Arkansas on a trajectory of renewed resilience after overcoming significant injuries this season, Kansas must recalibrate and muster a full 40 minutes of competitive energy. As Dickinson stated, “This will be a test of who’s going to be more consistent for 40 minutes.”

The West Region of the bracket features a competitive field, showcasing coaches with a remarkable pedigree; combined, the coaches in this region boast 17 Final Four appearances and six national championships. Kansas’s placement in the tournament marks their lowest seed since the 1999-2000 season, making this an uncharacteristic challenge for a program with a storied history.

Despite the setbacks, there is cautious optimism among the Jayhawks. Dickinson believes that their prior experiences give them the confidence needed to compete. “When you look at our resume and some of the wins that we’ve had, it’s against some of the best teams in the country... that gives us the confidence to know we can play with anybody,” he remarked.

The match against Arkansas will set the stage for potential matchups against higher seeds, including No. 2 St. John's, further challenging Kansas's aspirations. The game will air at 7:10 p.m. ET at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I., where fans of both teams will look forward to a thrilling opening round encounter.

For Kansas, the keys to success lie in their fundamentals, their ability to play as a cohesive unit, and in Dickinson's performance. When he shoots at least 55% from the field, Kansas boasts a 13-0 record; however, when he falls below that mark, they struggled with an 8-12 record. This emphasizes the need for him to lead effectively on both ends of the court.

With ambitious dreams of a deep tournament run and a chance for Dickinson to etch his name into Kansas basketball lore, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Jayhawks aim to bounce back from a tumultuous season and reclaim their status as contenders in college basketball.

Will Kansas find the consistency it needs to advance beyond the first round and make a serious tournament push? Time will tell, but the signs are there that this veteran team still has the capacity to surprise.