Kansas' explosive start bodes well for back-to-back titles

Kansas' Jalen Wilson celebrates scoring during the NCAA men's basketball tournament first round matchup. Kelsey Kremer/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kansas' explosive start to NCAA Tournament bodes well for back-to-back title hopes

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 3/16/23

The defending champion Kansas Jayhawks opened this year's NCAA Tournament run with a blowout victory, knocking off No. 16 Howard 96-68 on Thursday in the opening round of the West Region bracket.

Thursday's impressive offensive explosion not only sends a message to the rest of the field but also bodes well for the Jayhawks' pursuit of back-to-back national titles.

According to ESPN Stats and Info, Kansas' 96 points against the Bison were the most by a defending champion in an NCAA Tournament opener since the Florida Gators downed Jackson State, 112-69, in 2007. Furthermore, Florida is the last program to win consecutive titles.

Kansas' 96 points are the most scored by a defending national champion in its NCAA Tournament opener since Florida in 2007.

That Gators team was the last to win back-to-back national titles. pic.twitter.com/FMloTKrNpK
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 16, 2023

Kansas came out firing, building a 13-point lead at halftime before pulling away in the second half after outscoring Howard 46-31. All five Jayhawks starters finished in double figures. Forward Jalen Wilson led the way scoring a game-high 20 points, while guard Gradey Dick scored 19 and added 11 rebounds.

The Jayhawks managed such a performance without head coach Bill Self patrolling the sidelines. Self continues to recover from an emergency heart procedure, which forced him to miss Kansas' Big 12 tournament run. After being discharged from the hospital on Sunday, there was hope that Self would be back on the bench soon. However, prior to Thursday's first-round matchup against Howard, the school announced that Self would miss the game and offered no further update on when he could potentially return.

Even without Self, Kansas is among the favorites to win the NCAA title. Following the Jayhawks' win over Howard, they have the third-best chances to win it all (+1300), behind only Alabama (+700) and Houston (+550), per OddsChecker.

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