Arkansas knocks out defending champion and No. 1 seed Kansas

Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Eric Musselman (without shirt) celebrates with forward Makhel Mitchell (left) after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks at Wells Fargo Arena. Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas knocks out defending champ Kansas as another No. 1 seed goes down

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 3/18/23

There will be no repeat champion in the NCAA men's tournament after the defending champion Kansas Jayhawks saw their season come to an end on Saturday in a thrilling 72-71 loss to Arkansas.

The Razorbacks are now onto the Sweet 16 for the third year in a row.

Kansas also becomes the second No. 1 seed to not make it out of the first weekend of the tournament this year, joining the Purdue Boilermakers who were upset by No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday.

While not quite as stunning as a 16-1 upset, this game still stands out because Arkansas found itself trailing by as many as 11 points, while Kansas had not lost a game this season after leading at halftime. The Jayhawks led by seven points at the break on Saturday.

But Arkansas started to cut into that deficit in the second half and took the lead for good in the final minute.

Freshman Jordan Walsh made one of the biggest shots of the second half when he gave Arkansas a lead with this clutch 3-pointer.

The freshman is NOT AFRAID

via @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/Ji6XeoIFBx
— Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball (@RazorbackMBB) March 18, 2023

He finished the day with 10 points off the bench, including that big shot.

The big what if for Kansas here, and throughout the offseason, is how this season would have gone if head coach Bill Self had been on the sidelines for the tournament.

He has not been coaching for two weeks due to health issues. That is not to say his absence is the only reason Kansas did not win, but Self is one of the best coaches in the country and not easily replaced on the spot.

Arkansas will play the winner of Sunday's St. Mary's-UConn game in the Sweet 16 next week.

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