How to watch Arkansas-Kansas, scheduled lineups, more NCAA tournaments

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The 8-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks have an opportunity to defeat the 1-seeded Kansas Jayhawks in the second round of Saturday’s NCAA tournament at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

Both teams took care of business in the first round as the Razorbacks defeated 9-seed Illinois 73-63 and 16-seed Kansas Howard 96-68.

Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman is familiar with facing 1-seeded teams as the Razorbacks face a top-seeded team for the third time in three years. The Hogs lost to 1-seeded and eventual Nations Champion Baylor in the 2021 Elite Eight and defeated the 1-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs in the 2022 Sweet 16.

“We spoke at breakfast this morning,” Musselman said Thursday. “We talked about our experiences with Baylor. We talked about our experience with Gonzaga. Some of the things that we did really well, some of the things that maybe we could have done better against Baylor.

“We talked about the mentality you have to have to get into this particular game. I don’t know what – no luck playing number ones against three in three years. I don’t know if that has ever happened before. But if that has happened before, it certainly hasn’t happened with many programs.”

The Jayhawks — who may be without head coach Bill Self for a fifth straight season due to a reported cardiac catheterization — have what Musselman called perhaps the best starting five in the country. Led by Big 12 Player of the Year Jalen Wilson, Kansas will be locked down.

“It’s March Madness for a reason,” said Kansas guard Kevin McCullar. “Anyone can be beaten and everyone is in the tournament for a reason. It really doesn’t matter what your set is when you’re here. You have to look to your next matchup and go out there and play.”

While the Razorbacks battled their way through the regular season with three straight losses and then went 1-1 in the SEC tournament, they still feel confident about winning or going home now, especially after the win in the first round against Illinois.

“You have to trust Muss because he obviously knows what he’s doing,” said forward Kamani Johnson. “As with any huge fanbase, it’s always like the world is on fire when we fight, but that’s thanks to Muss for what he’s been doing since he’s been here. Two consecutive Elite Eights and tomorrow was going to be big Statement for our program. I can’t say enough about the coach that he was and a leader for the program.

The winner of Saturday’s competition will advance to the Sweet 16 for a matchup with the winner of 4-Seed UConn and 5-Seed St. Mary’s on Thursday or Friday.

Here are watch/listen details, notes, expected lineups, stats, odds and more for Saturday’s game between Arkansas and Kansas:

~ Arkansas and Kansas have met on 13 previous occasions. The Jayhawks hold an 8-5 lead in the series.

~ This is the second time Arkansas has faced Kansas in the NCAA tournament. Then No. 2 Razorbacks (also 2nd seeded) lost 93-81 to then No. 12 Kansas (3rd seeded) at the 1991 NCAA Elite Eight in Charlotte.

~ Arkansas is coming off a first round win over Illinois. This is the first time since 1996, ’95 and ’94 that the Razorbacks have won three straight NCAA Inaugural games.

~ For the third year in a row, Arkansas will face a 1 seed. Previously, Arkansas lost to 1-seeded (3rd-place) Baylor in Elite 8 2021 and defeated 1-seeded Gonzaga in Sweet 16 2022.

~ Ricky Council recorded his first double-double as a razorback and third of his career in Thursday’s win over Illinois. He had 16 points (11 of 12 at the free-throw line) and had a season-high 10 rebounds, including eight defensive ones.

~ Anthony Black is the only player in the SEC to rank in the top 25 in five major categories (Pts • Rebs • Asts • Stl • Blk). He ranks 3rd in steals (2.00), 4th in assists (4.06), 18th in points (12.82), 22nd in rebounds (5.11 ) and 23rd in blocked shots (0.62).

WHO: 8-seed Arkansas Razorbacks (21-13) vs. 1-seed Kansas Jayhawks (28-7)

If: Saturday March 18 at 4:15pm CT

Where: Des Moines, Iowa – Wells Fargo Arena (16,110)

TV: CBS (Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce)

Stream/Online: NCAA GAME CENTER

Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)

Matchday information and how to listen online/mobile: Razorback Gameday App

National Sirius/XM Broadcasting: 136 (Sirius) / 206 (XM) || SXM App: Channel 967

#0 – G Anthony Black – Fri, 6’7″, 198 lbs.

2022-23 stats per game: 34.7 min, 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.0 steals, 3.1 turnovers, 0.6 blocks, 46.0 fg%, 30.7 3fg%

#1 – G Ricky Council IV – Jr., 6’6″, 205 lbs.

2022-23 stats per game: 33.9 min, 16.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 2.1 turnovers, 0.3 blocks, 44.3 fg%, 27.4 3fg%

#3 – G Nick Smith Jr. – Fri, 6’5″, 185 lbs.

2022-23 stats per game: 26.5 mins, 13.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.7 turnovers, 0.1 blocks, 38.1 fg%, 33.3 3fg%

#4 – G Vomste Davis – Jr., 6’4″, 185 lbs.

2022-23 stats per game: 33.3 mins, 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 2.1 turnovers, 0.1 blocks, 41.6 fg%, 34.9 3fg%

#20 – F. Kamani Johnson – Sr., 6’7″, 230 lbs.

2022-23 stats per game: 11.4 min, 2.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.4 turnovers, 0.2 blocks, 50.0 fg%

#3 – G Dajuan Harris Jr. – r-Jr., 6’1″, 175 lbs.

2022-23 stats per game: 34.2 mins, 8.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.1 steals, 1.9 turnovers, 0.4 blocks, 47.3 fg%, 41.2 3fg%

#4 – G Gradey Dick – Fri., 6’8″, 205 lbs.

2022-23 stats per game: 32.6 min, 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.3 turnovers, 0.3 blocks, 41.1 fg%, 39.9 3fg%

#15 – G Kevin McCullar – r-Sr., 6’6″, 210 lbs.

2022-23 stats per game: 30.7 mins, 10.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 2.1 turnovers, 0.7 blocks, 43.5 fg%, 29.5 3fg%

#10 – F Jalen Wilson – r-Jr., 6’8″, 225 lbs.

2022-23 stats per game: 35.4 mins, 20.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 2.4 turnovers, 0.5 blocks, 42.5 fg%, 33.8 3fg%

#24 – F KJ Adams Jr. – Sun, 6’9″, 270 lbs.

2022-23 stats per game: 27.3 mins, 10.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.6 turnovers, 0.8 blocks, 63.1 fg%

Vegas: Arkansas is a 4.5 point underdog (BetSaracen)

ESPN: Arkansas has a 40.4% chance of winning

(some information courtesy of Arkansas and Kansas Communications)

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