Andy Katz Predicts Historic College Basketball Program to Suffer March Madness Upset

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mathey Gibson | Last updated Mar 17, 2025 6:19 PM ET

When it comes to NCAA Tournament predictions, Andy Katz is one of the most respected voices in the game.

On Monday, Katz released his projected bracket, and one prediction, in particular, raised eyebrows—a potential first-round upset involving a college basketball blue blood.

Katz has No. 10-seeded Arkansas knocking off No. 7-seeded Kansas in the opening round, a matchup that carries plenty of intrigue for multiple reasons.

Both teams enter March Madness after disappointing conference tournament showings.

Arkansas, now under the leadership of John Calipari, and Kansas, led by Hall of Famer Bill Self, haven’t exactly lived up to their usual standards this season. But for the Jayhawks, their struggles have been particularly glaring.

Kansas finished sixth in the Big 12 with a 21-12 overall record and a mediocre 11-9 mark in conference play—a far cry from the dominance fans have come to expect.

Meanwhile, Arkansas arrives at the tournament with a 20-13 record, going 8-10 in SEC competition.

While Kansas holds an 8-6 edge in the all-time series, the Razorbacks won their last meeting in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, proving they can take down the Jayhawks when it matters most.

But what truly makes this potential upset so fascinating is the coaching battle. Bill Self versus John Calipari in the first round? That’s unheard of.

These two coaching legends are more accustomed to meeting in Final Fours and national championship games, not battling it out in the Round of 64.

With the pressure on and history at stake, this is shaping up to be one of the must-watch matchups of the tournament—and if Katz is right, it could be an early exit for Kansas.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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