NCAA Tournament Predictions: South Region: 1. Kansas vs. 16. Western Kentucky

By Kels Dayton
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Updated: March 18, 2013

Guard Elijah Johnson (Getty Images)

1 Kansas (29-5, 14-4 Big 12)- As head coach Bill Self put it, the Jayhawks have had a terrific season. They just had a bad week. In games that were not played between February 2-9, Kansas went 29-2. During that week, the Jayhawks went 0-3 and lost to Big 12 bottom feeder TCU. Which Jayhawks team will show up in the NCAAs? Bet on the 29-2 version. Kansas is loaded with talent, led by senior guard Elijah Johnson, who is the team’s emotional leader and most important player. Johnson can take over games; he went for 36 in an overtime win against Iowa State, but he tends to defer to his talented teammates because he is the point guard and that’s what point guards do.

Freshman sensation Ben McLemore leads the team in scoring at 16.4 points per game. He also puts up 5.3 boards per contest. He is an athletic freak with a tremendous wingspan and leaping ability, and will likely be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft come June. The ‘Hawks also rely on the presence of Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Jeff Withey, who averages a staggering 3.8 blocks per game. He also puts up 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest. Kansas’ offensive numbers are gaudy; they share the ball well and get easy looks thanks to their balanced attack and precise high-low offense.

KEY STATS:

14th Field Goal Percentage (.480)

16th Rebounding (39.1)

19th Assists Per Game (15.6)

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Guard T.J. Price (Greenwich Time)

16 Western Kentucky (20-15, 10-10 Sun Belt)- For the second straight season, Western Kentucky emerged from the depths of the Sun Belt standings to capture the league tournament title in stunning fashion. The Hilltoppers reached the NCAAs as a 7-seed in the Sun Belt last year and have done so as a 6-seed this season. WKU is led by a trio of double-digit scorers, including 6-4 sophomore guard T.J. Price, who averages 15.3 per game. Forward George Fant (12.6 points , 6.8 rpg) and guard Jamal Crook (12 ppg, 4 apg) came up big in the Sun Belt tournament as well, leading the Hilltoppers back to the Big Dance.