Week one honors have officially been handed out after a busy week of Champions Indoor Football, and the first CIF Offensive Player of the Week recipient is none other than rookie Liberty quarterback Jerod Evans.

Evans played exceptionally well in his debut, helping Salina to a 75-45 shootout victory over the Topeka Tropics last Saturday.

The rookie completed 86% of his passes for 174 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions, with just two incompletions all game.

Evans also carried the ball three times for seven yards and two additional scores, bringing his touchdown total on the day up to eight.

The Liberty will be back in action on Saturday, March 11 when they make the trip to Sioux City to battle the Bandits.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618021366432.png" alt="Coverage of Salina Liberty football is presented by Ryan Roofing" />
 <figcaption>Coverage of Salina Liberty football is presented by Ryan Roofing</figcaption>
 </figure>Week one honors have officially been handed out after a busy week of Champions Indoor Football, and the first CIF Offensive Player of the Week recipient is none other than rookie Liberty quarterback Jerod Evans.Evans played exceptionally well in his debut, helping Salina to a 75-45 shootout victory over the Topeka Tropics last Saturday.The rookie completed 86% of his passes for 174 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions, with just two incompletions all game.Evans also carried the ball three times for seven yards and two additional scores, bringing his touchdown total on the day up to eight.The Liberty will be back in action on Saturday, March 11 when they make the trip to Sioux City to battle the Bandits.

Liberty QB Jerod Evans named CIF Offensive Player of the Week

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Otis Taylor, the longtime Kansas City Chiefs 
wide receiver who along with quarterback Len Dawson formed one of the 
NFL's dynamic duos, died Thursday after more than a decade of health 
problems. He was 80.

Taylor's family, who had been caring for him 
as he dealt with Parkinson's disease and dementia, confirmed that he had
 passed away a mere seven months after Dawson, his close friend and 
teammate.

Taylor spent all 10-plus years of his career in Kansas 
City, where he was a fourth-round pick out of Prairie View A&amp;M in 
the 1965 AFL draft. He went on to have two 1,000-yard seasons during an 
era in which the passing game was still evolving, and he finished his 
career with 7,306 yards and 57 touchdown catches.

"Otis made my job easy,” Dawson once said. “If you got the pass to Otis, you knew he’d catch it.”

Taylor
 is perhaps best remembered for the 46-yard touchdown pass in the 1970 
Super Bowl that clinched the Chiefs' victory over the Vikings. He was 
part of two AFL championship teams, was voted to the Pro Bowl after the 
AFL-NFL merger in 1971 and 1972 and was inducted into the Chiefs' ring 
of honor in 1982.

Yet for all the plaudits during his playing 
days, Taylor continually came up short of enshrinement in the Pro 
Football Hall of Fame. He was a senior finalist this past year but 
failed to make it through to the final round of voting.

Taylor was
 diagnosed with Parkinson's and associated dementia in 1990, and in 
2012, his family filed a lawsuit against the NFL claiming it was legally
 responsible for health issues he experienced beginning with seizures in
 1969.

Bedridden and largely unable to talk in recent years, the 
lawsuit sought financial help for his care, overseen for more than a 
decade by his sister, Odell, a licensed vocational nurse, along with his
 wife Regina and son, Otis Taylor III.

After his playing days and before his health problems, Taylor spent 11 years as a scout for the Chiefs.

He
 found himself at the center of another controversy in 1987, when NFL 
players had gone on strike. Taylor was arriving to Arrowhead Stadium for
 work when Jack Del Rio, who had just been traded to the team, mistook 
him for a replacement player and attacked him. Taylor pressed charges 
against Del Rio, now the defensive coordinator of the Washington 
Commanders, and the two settled out of court.

“My family and I 
would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Otis’ wife Regina, his
 sister Odell and the entire Taylor family as we mourn his passing,” 
Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. “He was one of the most 
dynamic receivers of his era, and he helped revolutionize the position. 
Off the field, he was kind and dedicated to his community. Our thoughts 
and prayers are with his family. Otis’ legacy will live forever.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678483121679.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs' Otis Taylor (89) catches a first quarter pass from quarterback Len Dawson during the AFL championship game in Oakland, Calif., Jan. 4, 1970. (AP Photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs' Otis Taylor (89) catches a first quarter pass from quarterback Len Dawson during the AFL championship game in Oakland, Calif., Jan. 4, 1970. (AP Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Otis Taylor, the longtime Kansas City Chiefs 
wide receiver who along with quarterback Len Dawson formed one of the 
NFL's dynamic duos, died Thursday after more than a decade of health 
problems. He was 80.Taylor's family, who had been caring for him 
as he dealt with Parkinson's disease and dementia, confirmed that he had
 passed away a mere seven months after Dawson, his close friend and 
teammate.Taylor spent all 10-plus years of his career in Kansas 
City, where he was a fourth-round pick out of Prairie View A&amp;M in 
the 1965 AFL draft. He went on to have two 1,000-yard seasons during an 
era in which the passing game was still evolving, and he finished his 
career with 7,306 yards and 57 touchdown catches."Otis made my job easy,” Dawson once said. “If you got the pass to Otis, you knew he’d catch it.”Taylor
 is perhaps best remembered for the 46-yard touchdown pass in the 1970 
Super Bowl that clinched the Chiefs' victory over the Vikings. He was 
part of two AFL championship teams, was voted to the Pro Bowl after the 
AFL-NFL merger in 1971 and 1972 and was inducted into the Chiefs' ring 
of honor in 1982.Yet for all the plaudits during his playing 
days, Taylor continually came up short of enshrinement in the Pro 
Football Hall of Fame. He was a senior finalist this past year but 
failed to make it through to the final round of voting.Taylor was
 diagnosed with Parkinson's and associated dementia in 1990, and in 
2012, his family filed a lawsuit against the NFL claiming it was legally
 responsible for health issues he experienced beginning with seizures in
 1969.Bedridden and largely unable to talk in recent years, the 
lawsuit sought financial help for his care, overseen for more than a 
decade by his sister, Odell, a licensed vocational nurse, along with his
 wife Regina and son, Otis Taylor III.After his playing days and before his health problems, Taylor spent 11 years as a scout for the Chiefs.He
 found himself at the center of another controversy in 1987, when NFL 
players had gone on strike. Taylor was arriving to Arrowhead Stadium for
 work when Jack Del Rio, who had just been traded to the team, mistook 
him for a replacement player and attacked him. Taylor pressed charges 
against Del Rio, now the defensive coordinator of the Washington 
Commanders, and the two settled out of court.“My family and I 
would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Otis’ wife Regina, his
 sister Odell and the entire Taylor family as we mourn his passing,” 
Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. “He was one of the most 
dynamic receivers of his era, and he helped revolutionize the position. 
Off the field, he was kind and dedicated to his community. Our thoughts 
and prayers are with his family. Otis’ legacy will live forever.”

Longtime Chiefs wide receiver Otis Taylor dies at age 80

Kansas State guard Desi Sills (13) dribbled past TCU guard Shahada Wells (13) in the Big 12 quarterfinals on Thursday, March 9, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (Kansas State Athletics photo)

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Everything seemed to be going against TCU entering the Big 12 Tournament. The Horned Frogs were coming off a lopsided loss to Oklahoma, they'd drawn a quarterfinal matchup against Kansas State for what felt like a road game, and some off-the-court issues threatened to become a distraction.

Mike Miles and Chuck O'Bannon made sure none of that mattered.

The duo hit four 3-pointers apiece and each had 22 points, silencing the heavily pro-Wildcats crowd and leading the No. 22 Horned Frogs to an 80-67 victory on Thursday night to reach the tournament semifinals.

TCU will face seventh-ranked Texas, which routed Oklahoma State in its quarterfinal, on Friday night.

“We all came together, knew what we needed to do,” Miles said. “When you make shots, everything is better. Chuck started to make shots. I started to make shots. And it gave us energy on the defensive end.”

TCU played without center Eddie Lampkin Jr., who posted screenshots on social media a day earlier of text messages that appeared to accuse coach Jamie Dixon of player mistreatment and “racial comments.” Dixon and the school have declined to comment on the posts other than to say Lampkin had stepped away from the team.

JaKobe Coles added eight points and Emanuel Miller seven for the sixth-seeded Horned Frogs (21-11), who had been beaten by the Wildcats in four of the past five tournaments but will now play for a spot in the title game.

“We didn't really take any bad shots all game long. I would struggle to find one or two,” Dixon said. “We did a lot of shooting yesterday, we did a lot of shooting these last two days. The guys worked so hard, they focused, they were ready. My coaches came in after warmups and said, 'They’re ready. They're ready to play a good team.'”

Keyontae Johnson had 14 points and seven boards to lead the No. 3 seed Wildcats (23-9), though he fouled out with more than six minutes left in the game. Desi Sills also had 14 points and Markquis Nowell finished with 11.

“This is on me,” Kansas State coach Jerome Tang said. “I didn't do a very good job of preparing these guys for how physical and with what force people play with in the Big 12 Tournament. And that will not happen again.”

The Wildcats got off to the the hot start, buoyed by a partisan crowd that had traveled down Interstate 70 to make its voice heard inside T-Mobile Center. But the Wildcats began to struggle with turnovers — 11 in the first half alone — and that allowed the Horned Frogs time enough to find their footing.

It was Miles who not only calmed them down but gave them a big offensive boost. The all-conference guard hit two early 3s and had 12 first-half points, helping TCU take a 37-32 lead into the locker room.

Johnson, the Wildcats' leading scorer, took an inadvertent elbow to his right eye and went to the locker room in the closing seconds of the first half. The Florida transfer appeared to have sutures on his brow when he returned with the rest of the team for the start of the second, though they didn't seem to bother him.

Good thing, too. Johnson's 3-pointers were all that kept Kansas State in the game for a while.

Miles and O'Bannon simply wouldn't miss, though. During one scorching stretch of five trips down the floor, Miles bookended a 3-pointer by O'Bannon with two 3s of his own, and after a miss by Micah Peavy, O'Bannon hit another 3 to give the Horned Frogs a 66-51 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the game.

The Horned Frogs were never threatened the rest of the way.

“Every guy gave us good minutes and that's hard to do against a really good team,” Dixon said, “so I'm proud of them and how they played. We did what we wanted to do. We played really unselfish and good basketball.”

TCU had huge advantages in turnovers and second-chance points, and along with 11-of-25 shooting from the arc, the Wildcats simply couldn't keep up. It was reminiscent of the Horned Frogs' 82-68 win over Kansas State in January.

Kansas State can rarely overcome an off night from Nowell, its do-it-all guard. But he was just 1 of 9 on 3-pointers, missing several wild shots from well beyond the arc, and had an uncharacteristic five turnovers.

The Horned Frogs play the second-seeded Longhorns on Friday night for a spot in the title game.

The Wildcats head home to await their NCAA Tournament seed on Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678446594306.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State guard Desi Sills (13) dribbled past TCU guard Shahada Wells (13) in the Big 12 quarterfinals on Thursday, March 9, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (Kansas State Athletics photo)By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Everything seemed to be going against TCU entering the Big 12 Tournament. The Horned Frogs were coming off a lopsided loss to Oklahoma, they'd drawn a quarterfinal matchup against Kansas State for what felt like a road game, and some off-the-court issues threatened to become a distraction.Mike Miles and Chuck O'Bannon made sure none of that mattered.The duo hit four 3-pointers apiece and each had 22 points, silencing the heavily pro-Wildcats crowd and leading the No. 22 Horned Frogs to an 80-67 victory on Thursday night to reach the tournament semifinals.TCU will face seventh-ranked Texas, which routed Oklahoma State in its quarterfinal, on Friday night.“We all came together, knew what we needed to do,” Miles said. “When you make shots, everything is better. Chuck started to make shots. I started to make shots. And it gave us energy on the defensive end.”TCU played without center Eddie Lampkin Jr., who posted screenshots on social media a day earlier of text messages that appeared to accuse coach Jamie Dixon of player mistreatment and “racial comments.” Dixon and the school have declined to comment on the posts other than to say Lampkin had stepped away from the team.JaKobe Coles added eight points and Emanuel Miller seven for the sixth-seeded Horned Frogs (21-11), who had been beaten by the Wildcats in four of the past five tournaments but will now play for a spot in the title game.“We didn't really take any bad shots all game long. I would struggle to find one or two,” Dixon said. “We did a lot of shooting yesterday, we did a lot of shooting these last two days. The guys worked so hard, they focused, they were ready. My coaches came in after warmups and said, 'They’re ready. They're ready to play a good team.'”Keyontae Johnson had 14 points and seven boards to lead the No. 3 seed Wildcats (23-9), though he fouled out with more than six minutes left in the game. Desi Sills also had 14 points and Markquis Nowell finished with 11.“This is on me,” Kansas State coach Jerome Tang said. “I didn't do a very good job of preparing these guys for how physical and with what force people play with in the Big 12 Tournament. And that will not happen again.”The Wildcats got off to the the hot start, buoyed by a partisan crowd that had traveled down Interstate 70 to make its voice heard inside T-Mobile Center. But the Wildcats began to struggle with turnovers — 11 in the first half alone — and that allowed the Horned Frogs time enough to find their footing.It was Miles who not only calmed them down but gave them a big offensive boost. The all-conference guard hit two early 3s and had 12 first-half points, helping TCU take a 37-32 lead into the locker room.Johnson, the Wildcats' leading scorer, took an inadvertent elbow to his right eye and went to the locker room in the closing seconds of the first half. The Florida transfer appeared to have sutures on his brow when he returned with the rest of the team for the start of the second, though they didn't seem to bother him.Good thing, too. Johnson's 3-pointers were all that kept Kansas State in the game for a while.Miles and O'Bannon simply wouldn't miss, though. During one scorching stretch of five trips down the floor, Miles bookended a 3-pointer by O'Bannon with two 3s of his own, and after a miss by Micah Peavy, O'Bannon hit another 3 to give the Horned Frogs a 66-51 lead with just under 10 minutes left in the game.The Horned Frogs were never threatened the rest of the way.“Every guy gave us good minutes and that's hard to do against a really good team,” Dixon said, “so I'm proud of them and how they played. We did what we wanted to do. We played really unselfish and good basketball.”THE TAKEAWAYTCU had huge advantages in turnovers and second-chance points, and along with 11-of-25 shooting from the arc, the Wildcats simply couldn't keep up. It was reminiscent of the Horned Frogs' 82-68 win over Kansas State in January.Kansas State can rarely overcome an off night from Nowell, its do-it-all guard. But he was just 1 of 9 on 3-pointers, missing several wild shots from well beyond the arc, and had an uncharacteristic five turnovers.UP NEXTThe Horned Frogs play the second-seeded Longhorns on Friday night for a spot in the title game.The Wildcats head home to await their NCAA Tournament seed on Sunday.

🏀 MBB: No. 22 TCU takes down No. 12 K-State in Big 12 tourney

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Playing without&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-self-kansas-jayhawks-big-12-782eaae1c65322c7a106eb1850159e1e">ailing coach Bill Self</a>&nbsp;on the sideline, third-ranked Kansas turned to big offensive performances from Jalen Wilson and Dajuan Harris Jr. along with some stingy defense to pull away from West Virginia 75-61 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.

Wilson had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Harris had 13 points with eight assists, as the top-seeded Jayhawks (26-6) began the defense of their tournament crown by knocking off the Mountaineers for the third time this season.

They will play fifth-seeded Iowa State, which beat Baylor earlier in the day, in Friday night's semifinals.

Erik Stevenson had 13 points to lead the No. 8 seed Mountaineers (19-14), who likely secured an NCAA bid with an opening win over Texas Tech. Tre Mitchell and Joe Toussaint added 11 points apiece and Emmitt Matthews Jr. had 10.

Gradey Dick had 18 points for the Jayhawks. KJ Adams finished with 13.

Kansas officials announced about five hours before tipoff that Self was being treated at the University of Kansas Health System for an undisclosed illness. The 60-year-old Hall of Fame coach was present for Wednesday's practice at T-Mobile Center and appeared to be in normal condition when speaking with reporters.

The school declined to provide details of the illness but said “Self is doing well and receiving great care.”

His longtime assistant, Norm Roberts, led the team against the Mountaineers. Roberts filled a similar role early in the season, while Self was serving a school-imposed four-game suspension, and the Jayhawks won each of the games.

They trailed midway through the half Thursday, but the Mountaineers got sloppy on offense, turning it over 11 times over the first 20 minutes. That allowed the Jayhawks to reel off an 18-2 run and take a 31-23 lead into the locker room.

West Virginia got within 35-30 early in the second half, but it struggled to make stops. The Jayhawks scored on seven consecutive trips down floor at one point. And after a tough bucket by Adams made it 60-48 with 8 minutes to go, the springy forward slammed down Harris' ally-oop pass from just inside the midcourt line to punctuate the run.

Harris hit big man Ernest Udeh Jr. for another alley-oop jam a few minutes later as the Jayhawks cruised to the win.

West Virginia was hanging precariously on the NCAA Tournament bubble in late February before a strong finish, beginning with a win over Oklahoma State and featuring wins over Iowa State, Kansas State and Texas Tech. In fact, the only two losses by the Mountaineers since Feb. 18 came against the Jayhawks.

Kansas bounced back nicely from a regular season-ending 75-59 loss at No. 7 Texas, which could have zapped much of the momentum the reigning national champs had built with a seven-game win streak.

The Jayhawks will play the Cyclones on Friday night for a spot in the championship game.

The Mountaineers head home to await their NCAA Tournament seed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678410958158.png" alt="Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr. celebrates after making a basket in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Conference tournament Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (Kansas Athletics photo)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr. celebrates after making a basket in an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Conference tournament Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (Kansas Athletics photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Playing without&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-self-kansas-jayhawks-big-12-782eaae1c65322c7a106eb1850159e1e">ailing coach Bill Self</a>&nbsp;on the sideline, third-ranked Kansas turned to big offensive performances from Jalen Wilson and Dajuan Harris Jr. along with some stingy defense to pull away from West Virginia 75-61 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament.Wilson had 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Harris had 13 points with eight assists, as the top-seeded Jayhawks (26-6) began the defense of their tournament crown by knocking off the Mountaineers for the third time this season.They will play fifth-seeded Iowa State, which beat Baylor earlier in the day, in Friday night's semifinals.Erik Stevenson had 13 points to lead the No. 8 seed Mountaineers (19-14), who likely secured an NCAA bid with an opening win over Texas Tech. Tre Mitchell and Joe Toussaint added 11 points apiece and Emmitt Matthews Jr. had 10.Gradey Dick had 18 points for the Jayhawks. KJ Adams finished with 13.Kansas officials announced about five hours before tipoff that Self was being treated at the University of Kansas Health System for an undisclosed illness. The 60-year-old Hall of Fame coach was present for Wednesday's practice at T-Mobile Center and appeared to be in normal condition when speaking with reporters.The school declined to provide details of the illness but said “Self is doing well and receiving great care.”His longtime assistant, Norm Roberts, led the team against the Mountaineers. Roberts filled a similar role early in the season, while Self was serving a school-imposed four-game suspension, and the Jayhawks won each of the games.They trailed midway through the half Thursday, but the Mountaineers got sloppy on offense, turning it over 11 times over the first 20 minutes. That allowed the Jayhawks to reel off an 18-2 run and take a 31-23 lead into the locker room.West Virginia got within 35-30 early in the second half, but it struggled to make stops. The Jayhawks scored on seven consecutive trips down floor at one point. And after a tough bucket by Adams made it 60-48 with 8 minutes to go, the springy forward slammed down Harris' ally-oop pass from just inside the midcourt line to punctuate the run.Harris hit big man Ernest Udeh Jr. for another alley-oop jam a few minutes later as the Jayhawks cruised to the win.THE TAKEAWAYWest Virginia was hanging precariously on the NCAA Tournament bubble in late February before a strong finish, beginning with a win over Oklahoma State and featuring wins over Iowa State, Kansas State and Texas Tech. In fact, the only two losses by the Mountaineers since Feb. 18 came against the Jayhawks.Kansas bounced back nicely from a regular season-ending 75-59 loss at No. 7 Texas, which could have zapped much of the momentum the reigning national champs had built with a seven-game win streak.UP NEXTThe Jayhawks will play the Cyclones on Friday night for a spot in the championship game.The Mountaineers head home to await their NCAA Tournament seed.

🏀 MBB: No. 3 Kansas beats West Virginia without ailing Self

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">March Madness</a> is 
coming up fast. Here is what to know along with some key games to watch 
and who's on the bubble ahead of Selection Sunday for the NCAA 
Tournament:

All eyes will be on the conference tournaments this week:

— <a href="https://theacc.com/sports/2018/1/12/2017-18-new-york-life-acc-tournament.aspx">The ACC Tournament is March 7-11</a> in Greensboro, North Carolina.

— <a href="https://admin.big12sports.com/tournaments/?id=1041">The Big 12 Tournament is March 8-11</a> in Kansas City, Missouri.

— <a href="https://bigten.org/sports/2022/10/20/2023MBBT.aspx">The Big Ten Tournament is March 8-12</a> in Chicago.

— <a href="https://www.bigeast.com/tournaments/?id=146">The Big East Tournament is March 8-11</a> in New York.

— <a href="https://pac-12.com/mens-basketball-tournament-2023">The Pac-12 Tournament is March 8-11</a> in Las Vegas.

— <a href="https://www.bridgestonearena.com/events/detail/2023-sec-mens-basketball-tournament">The SEC Tournament is March 8-12</a> in Nashville, Tennessee.

Selection Sunday is March 12, when <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket">bracket matchups will be set</a> for the First Four and first- and second-round <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-02-21/2023-march-madness-mens-ncaa-tournament-schedule-dates-times">games that stretch from Florida to California</a>.

Sweet
 16 weekend will see games in New York City (East Region), Las Vegas 
(West), Kansas City, Missouri (Midwest), and Louisville, Kentucky 
(South).

Where is the Final Four? In Houston, on April 1, with the championship game on April 3.

Basketball aficionados, take note: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-kansas-city-march-madness-264616d053a2dc26ccf1f59999c0ea5b">The women's NCAA Tournament</a> will hold its Final Four in Dallas, a four-hour drive up the road from Houston.

Who's
 going to win the national championship? With the regular season over, 
the betting favorites as of this week to reach the Final Four are 
Houston, Alabama, Kansas and Purdue, according to <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/ncaab?tab=final-four">FanDuel Sportsbook</a>. That matches the top teams in <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-02-18/division-i-mens-basketball-committee-reveals-top-16-seeds-three-weeks-selection">the NCAA's initial seed watch</a>. UCLA is in the mix near the top in <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">the AP Top 25</a>, too.

These teams are already going dancing after landing their league's automatic bid: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennesaw-state-liberty-asun-atlantic-sun-conference-5b09f7866f7c962b6240905cfb971449">Kennesaw State</a> (26-8, Atlantic Sun), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/campbell-unc-asheville-big-south-conference-a41680d93065815045140d736d2929dc">UNC Asheville</a> (27-7, Big South), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-ziggy-reid-javon-bennett-tanner-thomas-nico-galette-c22c114822b241c1990b7f789466574f">Fairleigh Dickinson</a> (19-14, Northeast), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mvc-championship-drake-bradley-0cafbe568b4c18386c99944f407b2f1d">Drake</a> (27-7, Missouri Valley), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chattanooga-furman-southern-conference-socon-f73c63056db9426a1cd7728db9cf86c7">Furman</a> (27-7, Southern), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sun-belt-south-alabama-louisiana-tournament-ncaa-560ca5dfbffdf02126b1aa254f5e50d1">Louisiana-Lafayette</a> (26-7, Sun Belt), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/southeast-missouri-state-tennessee-tech-ovc-a1c488e92b79f977e42cb9a431f90c30">Southeast Missouri State</a> (19-16, Ohio Valley), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/gonzaga-saint-marys-west-coast-conference-ncaa-tournament-8309d967f68424b76b6eb8d40e35babc">Gonzaga</a> (28-5, West Coast), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/charleston-unc-wilmington-a5a96b049c0254c4e02e13b104f2583f">College of Charleston</a> (31-3, Colonial Athletic Association), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-state-oral-roberts-d72cdca23a50685e2b63eca07e7f8ed9">Oral Roberts</a> (30-4, Summit League), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/northwestern-state-texas-am-corpus-christi-b6bda8e49d4f699d690bbb8b318980dc">Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi</a> (23-10, Southland), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/northern-arizona-montana-state-big-sky-conference-c956fc0ad669863a5b90839c4b29f6d6">Montana State</a> (25-9, Big Sky), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/northern-kentucky-cleveland-state-75d8750c09d58ac260f2ab8469945170">Northern Kentucky</a> (22-12, Horizon League) and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lafayette-colgate-a865298447d891db81c6243f7f85902b">Colgate</a> (26-8, Patriot League).

Rutgers
 (19-13). The Scarlet Knights advanced in the Big Ten Tournament with a 
62-50 win over Michigan, another bubble team. Rutgers had dropped five 
of seven heading into the tournament.

Iowa State (19-12). If the 
Cyclones still needed a win to crack the NCAA Tournament field, they got
 a big one, 78-72 over No. 11 Baylor in the Big 12 quarterfinals. It was
 their third win over Baylor this season and second in five days.

Mississippi
 State (21-11). The Bulldogs got a much-needed, 69-68 overtime win over 
Florida to boost their candidacy. Mississippi State has wins over No. 25
 Missouri, No. 22 TCU and No. 18 Texas A&amp;M.

No.
 1 Houston (29-2) vs. East Carolina (16-16), American Athletic 
quarterfinals, Friday, 1 p.m. Eastern (ESPN2). League player of the year
 Marcus Sasser is trying to lead the Cougars to their third straight AAC
 Tournament title. East Carolina advanced with a 73-58 victory over 
South Florida.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sec-mens-basketball-tournament-march-madness-51792d2210d54fe0ae90ae5eaf7abd65">No. 4 Alabama</a>
 (26-5) vs. Mississippi State, SEC Tournament quarterfinals, Friday 1 
p.m. Eastern (ESPN). The regular-season champion Crimson Tide have 
endured slow starts lately but are led by league player of the year 
Brandon Miller.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-ten-tournament-edey-purdue-indiana-85e45df58085324368dd595da5640cab">No. 5 Purdue</a>
 (26-5) vs. Rutgers, Big Ten quarterfinals, Friday, noon Eastern (Big 
Ten Network). Led by 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey, a favorite to win 
national player of the year, the Boilermakers are seeking their second 
Big Ten Tournament championship after winning in 2009.

Associated Press<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">March Madness</a> is 
coming up fast. Here is what to know along with some key games to watch 
and who's on the bubble ahead of Selection Sunday for the NCAA 
Tournament:KEY DATESAll eyes will be on the conference tournaments this week:— <a href="https://theacc.com/sports/2018/1/12/2017-18-new-york-life-acc-tournament.aspx">The ACC Tournament is March 7-11</a> in Greensboro, North Carolina.— <a href="https://admin.big12sports.com/tournaments/?id=1041">The Big 12 Tournament is March 8-11</a> in Kansas City, Missouri.— <a href="https://bigten.org/sports/2022/10/20/2023MBBT.aspx">The Big Ten Tournament is March 8-12</a> in Chicago.— <a href="https://www.bigeast.com/tournaments/?id=146">The Big East Tournament is March 8-11</a> in New York.— <a href="https://pac-12.com/mens-basketball-tournament-2023">The Pac-12 Tournament is March 8-11</a> in Las Vegas.— <a href="https://www.bridgestonearena.com/events/detail/2023-sec-mens-basketball-tournament">The SEC Tournament is March 8-12</a> in Nashville, Tennessee.MARCH MADNESSSelection Sunday is March 12, when <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket">bracket matchups will be set</a> for the First Four and first- and second-round <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-02-21/2023-march-madness-mens-ncaa-tournament-schedule-dates-times">games that stretch from Florida to California</a>.Sweet
 16 weekend will see games in New York City (East Region), Las Vegas 
(West), Kansas City, Missouri (Midwest), and Louisville, Kentucky 
(South).Where is the Final Four? In Houston, on April 1, with the championship game on April 3.Basketball aficionados, take note: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-kansas-city-march-madness-264616d053a2dc26ccf1f59999c0ea5b">The women's NCAA Tournament</a> will hold its Final Four in Dallas, a four-hour drive up the road from Houston.BETTING GUIDEWho's
 going to win the national championship? With the regular season over, 
the betting favorites as of this week to reach the Final Four are 
Houston, Alabama, Kansas and Purdue, according to <a href="https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/ncaab?tab=final-four">FanDuel Sportsbook</a>. That matches the top teams in <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-02-18/division-i-mens-basketball-committee-reveals-top-16-seeds-three-weeks-selection">the NCAA's initial seed watch</a>. UCLA is in the mix near the top in <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll">the AP Top 25</a>, too.WHO'S INThese teams are already going dancing after landing their league's automatic bid: <a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennesaw-state-liberty-asun-atlantic-sun-conference-5b09f7866f7c962b6240905cfb971449">Kennesaw State</a> (26-8, Atlantic Sun), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/campbell-unc-asheville-big-south-conference-a41680d93065815045140d736d2929dc">UNC Asheville</a> (27-7, Big South), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-ziggy-reid-javon-bennett-tanner-thomas-nico-galette-c22c114822b241c1990b7f789466574f">Fairleigh Dickinson</a> (19-14, Northeast), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mvc-championship-drake-bradley-0cafbe568b4c18386c99944f407b2f1d">Drake</a> (27-7, Missouri Valley), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chattanooga-furman-southern-conference-socon-f73c63056db9426a1cd7728db9cf86c7">Furman</a> (27-7, Southern), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sun-belt-south-alabama-louisiana-tournament-ncaa-560ca5dfbffdf02126b1aa254f5e50d1">Louisiana-Lafayette</a> (26-7, Sun Belt), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/southeast-missouri-state-tennessee-tech-ovc-a1c488e92b79f977e42cb9a431f90c30">Southeast Missouri State</a> (19-16, Ohio Valley), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/gonzaga-saint-marys-west-coast-conference-ncaa-tournament-8309d967f68424b76b6eb8d40e35babc">Gonzaga</a> (28-5, West Coast), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/charleston-unc-wilmington-a5a96b049c0254c4e02e13b104f2583f">College of Charleston</a> (31-3, Colonial Athletic Association), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-state-oral-roberts-d72cdca23a50685e2b63eca07e7f8ed9">Oral Roberts</a> (30-4, Summit League), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/northwestern-state-texas-am-corpus-christi-b6bda8e49d4f699d690bbb8b318980dc">Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi</a> (23-10, Southland), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/northern-arizona-montana-state-big-sky-conference-c956fc0ad669863a5b90839c4b29f6d6">Montana State</a> (25-9, Big Sky), <a href="https://apnews.com/article/northern-kentucky-cleveland-state-75d8750c09d58ac260f2ab8469945170">Northern Kentucky</a> (22-12, Horizon League) and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lafayette-colgate-a865298447d891db81c6243f7f85902b">Colgate</a> (26-8, Patriot League).BUBBLE WATCHRutgers
 (19-13). The Scarlet Knights advanced in the Big Ten Tournament with a 
62-50 win over Michigan, another bubble team. Rutgers had dropped five 
of seven heading into the tournament.Iowa State (19-12). If the 
Cyclones still needed a win to crack the NCAA Tournament field, they got
 a big one, 78-72 over No. 11 Baylor in the Big 12 quarterfinals. It was
 their third win over Baylor this season and second in five days.Mississippi
 State (21-11). The Bulldogs got a much-needed, 69-68 overtime win over 
Florida to boost their candidacy. Mississippi State has wins over No. 25
 Missouri, No. 22 TCU and No. 18 Texas A&amp;M.GAME(S) TO WATCHNo.
 1 Houston (29-2) vs. East Carolina (16-16), American Athletic 
quarterfinals, Friday, 1 p.m. Eastern (ESPN2). League player of the year
 Marcus Sasser is trying to lead the Cougars to their third straight AAC
 Tournament title. East Carolina advanced with a 73-58 victory over 
South Florida.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sec-mens-basketball-tournament-march-madness-51792d2210d54fe0ae90ae5eaf7abd65">No. 4 Alabama</a>
 (26-5) vs. Mississippi State, SEC Tournament quarterfinals, Friday 1 
p.m. Eastern (ESPN). The regular-season champion Crimson Tide have 
endured slow starts lately but are led by league player of the year 
Brandon Miller.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-ten-tournament-edey-purdue-indiana-85e45df58085324368dd595da5640cab">No. 5 Purdue</a>
 (26-5) vs. Rutgers, Big Ten quarterfinals, Friday, noon Eastern (Big 
Ten Network). Led by 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey, a favorite to win 
national player of the year, the Boilermakers are seeking their second 
Big Ten Tournament championship after winning in 2009.

March Madness 2023: Tension climbing for bubble teams

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self will miss the Big 12 Tournament after going to the emergency room Wednesday night for what doctors called “a standard procedure,” and it's uncertain whether he will be back for the NCAA Tournament.

Dr. Steve Stites, the chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health System, said Self did not have a heart attack, which some outlets had reported, but that he remained a patient Thursday. Stites also did not describe the nature or extent of the procedure, though Self is expected to make a full recovery.

“We didn't really let the guys know until this morning because nothing was concrete what was going on,” said Kansas assistant Norm Roberts, who led the No. 3 Jayhawks to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-west-virginia-big-12-98660b6b6b3faef70391aa1b7524f715">a 78-61 win over West Virginia</a>&nbsp;in the quarterfinal round.

“Coach is doing good,” Roberts added. “I talked to him on the phone (after the game). He's doing well. He already wants to watch film and all of that. He's doing well. He's doing better.”

Kansas officials announced that Self was ill about five hours before tipoff Thursday and that Roberts would be the acting coach. It's a role he filled earlier in the season when Self served a school-imposed four-game suspension.

The Jayhawks are the defending Big 12 Tournament champions and are trying to secure a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, where they will attempt to defend the national championship they won last April.

“Just come together through it all. Coach Self obviously would want that,” Kansas guard Gradey Dick said. “A lot of what he preaches with us is next man up, and in this case it was coach. And it's kind of a little similar to the start of the season. Obviously a little more serious now with Coach Self but we're hearing it's all good.”

The 60-year-old Hall of Fame coach led Kansas to the regular-season championship in the toughest conference in the nation this season, despite losing several key players from the team that beat North Carolina for the national title last April.

He was present Wednesday for a shootaround at T-Mobile Center and appeared healthy. He met with reporters for about 20 minutes outside the locker room and said his team was ready for another March run.

“We’ve talked about we’re going to Kansas City to try to put ourselves in position to win this thing, but knowing we better take one game at a time,” Self said Wednesday. “I’ve put the emphasis on, ‘Let’s go play our best.’ What the (Big 12) tournament does, it can validate what your regular season’s been. And this is an opportunity to validate it.”

Self is 581-130 during his two decades with Kansas, and is 788-235 in his 30 seasons as a head coach, including stops at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois. He's led the Jayhawks to a pair of national championships, beating Memphis for the title in 2008, and the regular-season Big 12 title was his 17th in 20 seasons in Lawrence.

With the retirement of Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim on Wednesday, Self climbed up the list of the winningest active coaches in men's college basketball behind Bob Huggins, John Calipari and Rick Pitino.

“Coach Self has always treated me very well. Really respect him and respect their program,” said Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger, whose team will face the Jayhawks in Friday night's Big 12 Tournament semifinals. “Certainly want to wish him the best. I texted him earlier today and let him know we're keeping him in our thoughts.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self will miss the seventh-ranked Jayhawks' quarterfinal game against West Virginia in the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday with what the school called an undisclosed illness.

Kansas officials announced the news about five hours before tipoff between the top-seeded Jayhawks and eighth-seeded Mountaineers. Assistant Norm Roberts will serve as the acting coach; he filled the same role earlier in the season when Self served a school-imposed four-game suspension.

“Self is doing well and receiving great care at the University of Kansas Health System,” the school said Thursday in a statement. It did not say whether Self would be back should the Jayhawks advance to the semifinals.

The 60-year-old Hall of Fame coach led Kansas to the regular-season championship in the toughest conference in the nation this season despite losing several key players from the team that beat North Carolina the national title.

He was present for a shoot-around at T-Mobile Center on Wednesday and appeared to be in normal condition. He met with reporters for about 20 minutes outside the locker room and said his team was ready for another March run.

“We’ve talked about we’re going to Kansas City to try to put ourselves in position to win this thing, but knowing we better take one game at a time,” he said. "I’ve put the emphasis on let’s go play our best. What the (Big 12) tournament does, it can validate what your regular season’s been. And this is an opportunity to validate it.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self will miss the Big 12 Tournament after going to the emergency room Wednesday night for what doctors called “a standard procedure,” and it's uncertain whether he will be back for the NCAA Tournament.Dr. Steve Stites, the chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health System, said Self did not have a heart attack, which some outlets had reported, but that he remained a patient Thursday. Stites also did not describe the nature or extent of the procedure, though Self is expected to make a full recovery.“We didn't really let the guys know until this morning because nothing was concrete what was going on,” said Kansas assistant Norm Roberts, who led the No. 3 Jayhawks to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-west-virginia-big-12-98660b6b6b3faef70391aa1b7524f715">a 78-61 win over West Virginia</a>&nbsp;in the quarterfinal round.“Coach is doing good,” Roberts added. “I talked to him on the phone (after the game). He's doing well. He already wants to watch film and all of that. He's doing well. He's doing better.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678402776530.png" alt="Statement from KU Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Statement from KU Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas officials announced that Self was ill about five hours before tipoff Thursday and that Roberts would be the acting coach. It's a role he filled earlier in the season when Self served a school-imposed four-game suspension.The Jayhawks are the defending Big 12 Tournament champions and are trying to secure a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, where they will attempt to defend the national championship they won last April.“Just come together through it all. Coach Self obviously would want that,” Kansas guard Gradey Dick said. “A lot of what he preaches with us is next man up, and in this case it was coach. And it's kind of a little similar to the start of the season. Obviously a little more serious now with Coach Self but we're hearing it's all good.”The 60-year-old Hall of Fame coach led Kansas to the regular-season championship in the toughest conference in the nation this season, despite losing several key players from the team that beat North Carolina for the national title last April.He was present Wednesday for a shootaround at T-Mobile Center and appeared healthy. He met with reporters for about 20 minutes outside the locker room and said his team was ready for another March run.“We’ve talked about we’re going to Kansas City to try to put ourselves in position to win this thing, but knowing we better take one game at a time,” Self said Wednesday. “I’ve put the emphasis on, ‘Let’s go play our best.’ What the (Big 12) tournament does, it can validate what your regular season’s been. And this is an opportunity to validate it.”Self is 581-130 during his two decades with Kansas, and is 788-235 in his 30 seasons as a head coach, including stops at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois. He's led the Jayhawks to a pair of national championships, beating Memphis for the title in 2008, and the regular-season Big 12 title was his 17th in 20 seasons in Lawrence.With the retirement of Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim on Wednesday, Self climbed up the list of the winningest active coaches in men's college basketball behind Bob Huggins, John Calipari and Rick Pitino.“Coach Self has always treated me very well. Really respect him and respect their program,” said Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger, whose team will face the Jayhawks in Friday night's Big 12 Tournament semifinals. “Certainly want to wish him the best. I texted him earlier today and let him know we're keeping him in our thoughts.”-----------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self will miss the seventh-ranked Jayhawks' quarterfinal game against West Virginia in the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday with what the school called an undisclosed illness.Kansas officials announced the news about five hours before tipoff between the top-seeded Jayhawks and eighth-seeded Mountaineers. Assistant Norm Roberts will serve as the acting coach; he filled the same role earlier in the season when Self served a school-imposed four-game suspension.The Jayhawks are the defending Big 12 Tournament champions and are trying to secure a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, where they will attempt to defend the national championship they won last April.“Self is doing well and receiving great care at the University of Kansas Health System,” the school said Thursday in a statement. It did not say whether Self would be back should the Jayhawks advance to the semifinals.The 60-year-old Hall of Fame coach led Kansas to the regular-season championship in the toughest conference in the nation this season despite losing several key players from the team that beat North Carolina the national title.He was present for a shoot-around at T-Mobile Center on Wednesday and appeared to be in normal condition. He met with reporters for about 20 minutes outside the locker room and said his team was ready for another March run.“We’ve talked about we’re going to Kansas City to try to put ourselves in position to win this thing, but knowing we better take one game at a time,” he said. "I’ve put the emphasis on let’s go play our best. What the (Big 12) tournament does, it can validate what your regular season’s been. And this is an opportunity to validate it.”

Update: KU coach Self to miss Big 12 tourney after medical procedure

Big 12 scoring and rebounding leader Jalen Wilson&nbsp;of Kansas is the unanimous pick as The Associated Press Big 12 player of the year.

Kansas State senior forward Keyontae Johnson joined Wilson as the only unanimous first-team picks in the selections revealed Tuesday. Johnson, a transfer from Florida who has turned into a top player after&nbsp;a frightening collapse more than two years ago, was also selected as newcomer of the year in voting by a panel of 17 journalists who cover the league.

First-year Kansas State coach Jerome Tang was voted as coach of the year. After 19 seasons as an assistant for coach Scott Drew at Baylor, including the national championship two years ago, Tang directed the Wildcats to a 23-8 record in the regular season and third place in the Big 12 standings after being picked to finish last in a preseason poll of league coaches.

Wilson, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, goes into this week's Big 12 tournament leading the league with 19.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.&nbsp;The 6-6 Johnson&nbsp;averages 17.8 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Texas graduate guard Marcus Carr, Baylor senior guard Adam Flagler and K-State junior guard Markquis Nowell round out the first-team picks. The 5-8 Nowell is the Big 12's top free-throw shooter (88.5%), and also leads the league with 7.7 assists and 2.5 steals a game.

The second-team picks are senior Damion Baugh and junior Mike Miles Jr. from TCU, along with Kansas freshman guard Gradey Dick, Baylor freshman guard Keyonte George and Kansas senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr., a transfer from Texas Tech.

Johnson got 13 of the 17 votes for newcomer of the year, while Baylor's George got the other four.

Tang was the overwhelming choice for top coach with 15 votes. The remaining two votes went to Texas interim coach Rodney Terry, who led the Longhorns to a second-place finish in the Big 12 following the&nbsp;December dismissal and eventual firing of Chris Beard.

u-Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State, 6-6, 230, Sr., Norfolk, Virginia.

u-Jalen Wilson, Kansas, 6-8, 225, Jr., Denton, Texas.

Marcus Carr, Texas, 6-2, 175, Gr., Toronto.

Adam Flagler, Baylor, 6-3, 185, Sr., Duluth, Georgia.

Markquis Nowell, Kansas State, 5-8, 160, Sr./Jr., New York.

Damion Baugh, TCU, 6-4, 195, Sr., Nashville, Tenneseee.

Gradey Dick, Kansas 6-8, 205, Fr., Wichita, Kansas.

Keyonte George, Baylor, 6-4, 185, Fr., Lewisville, Texas.

Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas, 6-6, 210, Sr., San Antonio.

Mike Miles Jr., TCU, 6-2, 195, Jr., Dallas.

Coach of the year&nbsp;— Jerome Tang, Kansas State

Player of the year&nbsp;— Jalen Wilson, Kansas.

Newcomer of the year&nbsp;— Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678220497060.jpeg" alt="Jalen Wilson, Big 12 Player of the Year" />
 <figcaption>Jalen Wilson, Big 12 Player of the Year</figcaption>
 </figure>Big 12 scoring and rebounding leader Jalen Wilson&nbsp;of Kansas is the unanimous pick as The Associated Press Big 12 player of the year.Kansas State senior forward Keyontae Johnson joined Wilson as the only unanimous first-team picks in the selections revealed Tuesday. Johnson, a transfer from Florida who has turned into a top player after&nbsp;a frightening collapse more than two years ago, was also selected as newcomer of the year in voting by a panel of 17 journalists who cover the league.First-year Kansas State coach Jerome Tang was voted as coach of the year. After 19 seasons as an assistant for coach Scott Drew at Baylor, including the national championship two years ago, Tang directed the Wildcats to a 23-8 record in the regular season and third place in the Big 12 standings after being picked to finish last in a preseason poll of league coaches.Wilson, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, goes into this week's Big 12 tournament leading the league with 19.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.&nbsp;The 6-6 Johnson&nbsp;averages 17.8 points and 7.0 rebounds.Texas graduate guard Marcus Carr, Baylor senior guard Adam Flagler and K-State junior guard Markquis Nowell round out the first-team picks. The 5-8 Nowell is the Big 12's top free-throw shooter (88.5%), and also leads the league with 7.7 assists and 2.5 steals a game.The second-team picks are senior Damion Baugh and junior Mike Miles Jr. from TCU, along with Kansas freshman guard Gradey Dick, Baylor freshman guard Keyonte George and Kansas senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr., a transfer from Texas Tech.Johnson got 13 of the 17 votes for newcomer of the year, while Baylor's George got the other four.Tang was the overwhelming choice for top coach with 15 votes. The remaining two votes went to Texas interim coach Rodney Terry, who led the Longhorns to a second-place finish in the Big 12 following the&nbsp;December dismissal and eventual firing of Chris Beard.FIRST TEAMu-Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State, 6-6, 230, Sr., Norfolk, Virginia.u-Jalen Wilson, Kansas, 6-8, 225, Jr., Denton, Texas.Marcus Carr, Texas, 6-2, 175, Gr., Toronto.Adam Flagler, Baylor, 6-3, 185, Sr., Duluth, Georgia.Markquis Nowell, Kansas State, 5-8, 160, Sr./Jr., New York.SECOND TEAMDamion Baugh, TCU, 6-4, 195, Sr., Nashville, Tenneseee.Gradey Dick, Kansas 6-8, 205, Fr., Wichita, Kansas.Keyonte George, Baylor, 6-4, 185, Fr., Lewisville, Texas.Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas, 6-6, 210, Sr., San Antonio.Mike Miles Jr., TCU, 6-2, 195, Jr., Dallas.Coach of the year&nbsp;— Jerome Tang, Kansas StatePlayer of the year&nbsp;— Jalen Wilson, Kansas.Newcomer of the year&nbsp;— Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State.

🏀 Kansas star Jalen Wilson named AP Big 12 player of the year

Riley County Falcons fall to Phillipsburg in first round

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Allen Fieldhouse is about to get a facelift.

The historic home of defending national champion Kansas will soon undergo a significant renovation to upgrade its fan amenities, hospitality spaces and premium seating options while retaining the feel of the original building.

Jayhawks athletic director Travis Goff said the multimillion dollar project, which will be funded by private donations, will include state-of-the-art videoboards, a new sound system and lighting, reimagined concourses on all three levels, along with changes to the adjacent Wagnon Student Athletic Center.

“We only see it when it's full on game night, and then it's perfect,” said coach Bill Self, whose third-ranked Jayhawks open the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinal round Thursday. "But you know, we don't see what the fans go through or deal with, and you know, the amenities and concessions and all these things.

“I think it puts us in a position that for the next 10, 15, 20 years that we’re not going to have to do much to a building that’s already thought of to be about as fine a place to watch a game as it is.”

Affectionately nicknamed “The Phog,” Allen Fieldhouse was built along a stretch of Naismith Drive and opened on March 1, 1955, for a game against rival Kansas State. Since then, the iconic structure with its simple bowl seating and clerestory windows behind each of the baskets is consistently ranked among the top venues in college hoops.

It helps that the Jayhawks, who recently hung their sixth national title banner in its rafters, rarely lose there.

The arena has gone through plenty of facelifts through the years. The indoor track that once ran through the original concourse is long gone, and renovations in 2005 cleaned up the brick façade while creating the new Booth Family Hall of Athletics on the east side of the building. Another round of upgrades in 2009 widened concourses, improved the restrooms and built new locker rooms, training rooms, film rooms and players lounges.

The announced renovations to Allen Fieldhouse come nearly five months to the day that Kansas announced long-awaited renovations to Memorial Stadium, the Anderson Family Football Complex and other football facilities.

The school spent years studying ways to renovate one of the more archaic stadiums in college football. But it took a breakthrough season by coach Lance Leipold and a bowl appearance to generate enough support for the project.

Last week, the school released renderings of upgraded locker rooms and weight rooms that will be ready for next season. The project could eventually cost more than $300 million with new convention and retail spaces along that create what Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod has called “a primary campus entrance” for students and alumni.

“These renovations will enhance the gameday experience for Jayhawks, including our students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors,” Goff said of the Allen Fieldhouse project, adding the improvements will drive “new student recruitment, alumni engagement and donor relations, all of which benefit the university and our broader academic mission.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678361830840.png" alt="Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas Athletics photo)" />
 <figcaption>Allen Fieldhouse (Kansas Athletics photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Allen Fieldhouse is about to get a facelift.The historic home of defending national champion Kansas will soon undergo a significant renovation to upgrade its fan amenities, hospitality spaces and premium seating options while retaining the feel of the original building.Jayhawks athletic director Travis Goff said the multimillion dollar project, which will be funded by private donations, will include state-of-the-art videoboards, a new sound system and lighting, reimagined concourses on all three levels, along with changes to the adjacent Wagnon Student Athletic Center.“We only see it when it's full on game night, and then it's perfect,” said coach Bill Self, whose third-ranked Jayhawks open the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinal round Thursday. "But you know, we don't see what the fans go through or deal with, and you know, the amenities and concessions and all these things.“I think it puts us in a position that for the next 10, 15, 20 years that we’re not going to have to do much to a building that’s already thought of to be about as fine a place to watch a game as it is.”Affectionately nicknamed “The Phog,” Allen Fieldhouse was built along a stretch of Naismith Drive and opened on March 1, 1955, for a game against rival Kansas State. Since then, the iconic structure with its simple bowl seating and clerestory windows behind each of the baskets is consistently ranked among the top venues in college hoops.It helps that the Jayhawks, who recently hung their sixth national title banner in its rafters, rarely lose there.The arena has gone through plenty of facelifts through the years. The indoor track that once ran through the original concourse is long gone, and renovations in 2005 cleaned up the brick façade while creating the new Booth Family Hall of Athletics on the east side of the building. Another round of upgrades in 2009 widened concourses, improved the restrooms and built new locker rooms, training rooms, film rooms and players lounges.The announced renovations to Allen Fieldhouse come nearly five months to the day that Kansas announced long-awaited renovations to Memorial Stadium, the Anderson Family Football Complex and other football facilities.The school spent years studying ways to renovate one of the more archaic stadiums in college football. But it took a breakthrough season by coach Lance Leipold and a bowl appearance to generate enough support for the project.Last week, the school released renderings of upgraded locker rooms and weight rooms that will be ready for next season. The project could eventually cost more than $300 million with new convention and retail spaces along that create what Kansas Chancellor Douglas Girod has called “a primary campus entrance” for students and alumni.“These renovations will enhance the gameday experience for Jayhawks, including our students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors,” Goff said of the Allen Fieldhouse project, adding the improvements will drive “new student recruitment, alumni engagement and donor relations, all of which benefit the university and our broader academic mission.”

🏀 Allen Fieldhouse at Kansas to get extensive renovations

by BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post

RILEY COUNTY - On Tuesday evening, students, staff and community members descended on Riley county High School for a pep rally send off for the Girls Basketball team as they head to Hutchinson for the State Basketball tournament Wednesday.

The Falcons won the Sub-State Championship on Saturday, punching their ticket to KSHSAA 3A State Basketball for the first time in 6 years.

Former Riley County High School Head Coach Harold Oliver addressed the crowd, talking about the history of taking teams to the state tourney.

Harold Oliver is currently the principal for Riley County High School and spoke to the team about the three "W's": 'Where you start'; 'Where you're at'; and 'Where you're going.'

Senior and Team Captain, CJ Rignell, thanked the students and fans for their continued support throughout the season and asked for fans to follow them to Hutchinson and support them on their State Tourney journey.

To give the team a proper send-off a free throw contest was organized with a team of special guests competing against the girls basketball team.

Fathers of the girls basketball players and managers dressed up in old basketball uniforms and joined their daughters on the court for the free throw contest.

Falcons tip off at 2:00 pm at HCC-Hutchinson Sports Arena against Phillipsburg.

by BECKY GOFF Little Apple Post<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/bukFQtiR-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Sign in front of school" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>RILEY COUNTY - On Tuesday evening, students, staff and community members descended on Riley county High School for a pep rally send off for the Girls Basketball team as they head to Hutchinson for the State Basketball tournament Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678294171880.jpeg" alt="Riley County Girls Basketball Team headed to State 2023" />
 <figcaption>Riley County Girls Basketball Team headed to State 2023</figcaption>
 </figure>The Falcons won the Sub-State Championship on Saturday, punching their ticket to KSHSAA 3A State Basketball for the first time in 6 years.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/KNGs4BWY-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Team introductions" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>Former Riley County High School Head Coach Harold Oliver addressed the crowd, talking about the history of taking teams to the state tourney.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/0wKIcR0U-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Harold Oliver addresses crowd" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>Harold Oliver is currently the principal for Riley County High School and spoke to the team about the three "W's": 'Where you start'; 'Where you're at'; and 'Where you're going.'<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/Pvd5Kt7E-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Harold Oliver addressing team" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>Senior and Team Captain, CJ Rignell, thanked the students and fans for their continued support throughout the season and asked for fans to follow them to Hutchinson and support them on their State Tourney journey.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/b4gStMXc-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="CJ Rignell thanks crowd" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>To give the team a proper send-off a free throw contest was organized with a team of special guests competing against the girls basketball team.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/ImDS0ivK-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Free Throw contest intro" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>Fathers of the girls basketball players and managers dressed up in old basketball uniforms and joined their daughters on the court for the free throw contest.<div><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/NhzDSHhn-60zMcgvZ.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="RCHS free throw contest" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>Falcons tip off at 2:00 pm at HCC-Hutchinson Sports Arena against Phillipsburg.

🎥: Pep Rally at Riley Co. High for Girls BBall team heading to State Tourney

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer

Big 12 scoring and rebounding leader Jalen Wilson of Kansas is the unanimous pick as The Associated Press Big 12 player of the year. Kansas State senior forward Keyontae Johnson joins Wilson as the unanimous first-team All-Big 12 picks. Johnson, a transfer from Florida, was also selected as newcomer of the year. Texas graduate guard Marcus Carr, Baylor senior guard Adam Flagler and K-State junior guard Markquis Nowell round out the first-team picks. First-year Kansas State coach Jerome Tang is the AP coach of the year in the Big 12.

Big 12 scoring and rebounding leader Jalen Wilson of Kansas is the unanimous pick as The Associated Press Big 12 player of the year.

Kansas State senior forward Keyontae Johnson joined Wilson as the only unanimous first-team picks in the selections revealed Tuesday. Johnson, a transfer from Florida who has turned into a top player after a frightening collapse more than two years ago, was also selected as newcomer of the year in voting by a panel of 17 journalists who cover the league.

Wilson, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, goes into this week's Big 12 tournament leading the league with 19.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The 6-6 Johnson averages 17.8 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Tang was the overwhelming choice for top coach with 15 votes. The remaining two votes went to Texas interim coach Rodney Terry, who led the Longhorns to a second-place finish in the Big 12 following the December dismissal and eventual firing of Chris Beard.

Coach of the year — Jerome Tang, Kansas State

Player of the year — Jalen Wilson, Kansas.

Newcomer of the year — Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State.

AP All-Big 12 Voting Panel: Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News; Arne Green, Salina Journal; Jordan Guskey, Topeka Capital-Journal; Justin Jackson, The Dominion Post; Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman; Eric Kelly, KWKT-TV, Waco, Texas; Eli Lederman, Tulsa World; Justin Martinez, The Oklahoman; Jared MacDonald, Charleston Gazette-Mail; Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register; Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle; Dean Ruhl, Tulsa World; Carlos Silva Jr., Lubbock Avalanche-Journal; Matt Tait, Lawrence Journal-World; Jacob Unruh, The Oklahoman; John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald.

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports WriterBig 12 scoring and rebounding leader Jalen Wilson of Kansas is the unanimous pick as The Associated Press Big 12 player of the year. Kansas State senior forward Keyontae Johnson joins Wilson as the unanimous first-team All-Big 12 picks. Johnson, a transfer from Florida, was also selected as newcomer of the year. Texas graduate guard Marcus Carr, Baylor senior guard Adam Flagler and K-State junior guard Markquis Nowell round out the first-team picks. First-year Kansas State coach Jerome Tang is the AP coach of the year in the Big 12.Big 12 scoring and rebounding leader Jalen Wilson of Kansas is the unanimous pick as The Associated Press Big 12 player of the year.Kansas State senior forward Keyontae Johnson joined Wilson as the only unanimous first-team picks in the selections revealed Tuesday. Johnson, a transfer from Florida who has turned into a top player after a frightening collapse more than two years ago, was also selected as newcomer of the year in voting by a panel of 17 journalists who cover the league.First-year Kansas State coach Jerome Tang was voted as coach of the year. After 19 seasons as an assistant for coach Scott Drew at Baylor, including the national championship two years ago, Tang directed the Wildcats to a 23-8 record in the regular season and third place in the Big 12 standings after being picked to finish last in a preseason poll of league coaches.Wilson, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, goes into this week's Big 12 tournament leading the league with 19.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The 6-6 Johnson averages 17.8 points and 7.0 rebounds.Texas graduate guard Marcus Carr, Baylor senior guard Adam Flagler and K-State junior guard Markquis Nowell round out the first-team picks. The 5-8 Nowell is the Big 12's top free-throw shooter (88.5%), and also leads the league with 7.7 assists and 2.5 steals a game.The second-team picks are senior Damion Baugh and junior Mike Miles Jr. from TCU, along with Kansas freshman guard Gradey Dick, Baylor freshman guard Keyonte George and Kansas senior guard Kevin McCullar Jr., a transfer from Texas Tech.Johnson got 13 of the 17 votes for newcomer of the year, while Baylor's George got the other four.Tang was the overwhelming choice for top coach with 15 votes. The remaining two votes went to Texas interim coach Rodney Terry, who led the Longhorns to a second-place finish in the Big 12 following the December dismissal and eventual firing of Chris Beard.FIRST TEAMu-Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State, 6-6, 230, Sr., Norfolk, Virginia.u-Jalen Wilson, Kansas, 6-8, 225, Jr., Denton, Texas.Marcus Carr, Texas, 6-2, 175, Gr., Toronto.Adam Flagler, Baylor, 6-3, 185, Sr., Duluth, Georgia.Markquis Nowell, Kansas State, 5-8, 160, Sr./Jr., New York.—"u-" denotes unanimous selection.SECOND TEAMDamion Baugh, TCU, 6-4, 195, Sr., Nashville, Tenneseee.Gradey Dick, Kansas 6-8, 205, Fr., Wichita, Kansas.Keyonte George, Baylor, 6-4, 185, Fr., Lewisville, Texas.Kevin McCullar Jr., Kansas, 6-6, 210, Sr., San Antonio.Mike Miles Jr., TCU, 6-2, 195, Jr., Dallas.Coach of the year — Jerome Tang, Kansas StatePlayer of the year — Jalen Wilson, Kansas.Newcomer of the year — Keyontae Johnson, Kansas State.AP All-Big 12 Voting Panel: Chuck Carlton, Dallas Morning News; Arne Green, Salina Journal; Jordan Guskey, Topeka Capital-Journal; Justin Jackson, The Dominion Post; Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram; Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman; Eric Kelly, KWKT-TV, Waco, Texas; Eli Lederman, Tulsa World; Justin Martinez, The Oklahoman; Jared MacDonald, Charleston Gazette-Mail; Randy Peterson, Des Moines Register; Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle; Dean Ruhl, Tulsa World; Carlos Silva Jr., Lubbock Avalanche-Journal; Matt Tait, Lawrence Journal-World; Jacob Unruh, The Oklahoman; John Werner, Waco Tribune-Herald.

KU's Wilson AP Big 12 player of year; KSU's Tang, Johnson honored

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs are about to have two big holes to fill, along with plenty of salary cap space to do it, as they enter free agency and begin putting together a roster for the defense of their Super Bowl title.

The Chiefs plan to decline using the franchise tag for the second time on left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., and they will release pass rusher Frank Clark, a person familiar with the decisions told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither of the moves has been officially made.

The Chiefs and Brown's representatives spent all last season working on a long-term deal for him, but the two sides never could reach an agreement and he wound up earning about $16.6 million on the franchise tag. Brown would have made more under second-year franchise tag rules and the Chiefs were unwilling to go there with his salary.

The deadline for teams to use the franchise tag is later Tuesday. And the Chiefs and Browns could still agree to a long-term deal by Monday, at which point he can begin negotiating with other teams.

"As always, it's more beneficial for us to get something done long term," Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said last week at the scouting combine. "Unlike last year, I think we have at least a runway to work with. We've gotten to know his team a little bit better. We're excited to get that process started."

The Chiefs, who also could lose right tackle Andrew Wylie to free agency, sent a package of draft picks to the Ravens to acquire Brown ahead of the 2021 season. He went on to start every game but one over two seasons in Kansas City, earning Pro Bowl nods each year and helping the Chiefs beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl last month.

What the 27-year-old Brown could demand on the open market is somewhat polarizing, though. He ranked in the top third of offensive tackles in metrics such as pass-block win rate but has been inconsistent at times.

As for Clark, the Chiefs were hoping to restructure a contract that would have been prohibitive for next season — the pass rusher would have counted nearly $29 million against the salary cap. They were able to do that last season and keep Clark in the fold, but they were unable to come to a similar agreement over the past two weeks.

The 29-year-old Clark had five sacks this past regular season before adding 2 1/2 more in the playoffs, moving him into third in postseason sacks since the NFL made them an official statistic in 1982. The victory over the Eagles also gave Clark his second Super Bowl ring in four years in Kansas City.

"I actually talked to him at the (Super Bowl victory) parade," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said last week. "He had to do some stuff for the actual exit physical, but I had a good talk with him. I love Frank Clark. It's just, you know, Veach has got to juggle all these different things going on. But Frank, he's a top-notch guy. I love him. Love him to death."

Much like Brown, the Chiefs would be keen to reach an agreement with Clark once he hits free agency. He became a locker-room leader this past season, and rookie George Karlaftis praised Clark for helping him adapt to the NFL.

For now, parting with Brown and Clark leave the Chiefs with gaping holes on each side of the ball. But the moves also free up more than $40 million to use in free agency, and the Chiefs are expected to have 12 selections — once compensatory picks are awarded — to further fill holes when Kansas City hosts the NFL draft next month for the first time.

"You've just got to be buttoned up on your free agency plan," Veach acknowledged. "You have to just have a plan, stick to it and knock it out of the park. And if the plan doesn't work, you have to move on quickly."

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs are about to have two big holes to fill, along with plenty of salary cap space to do it, as they enter free agency and begin putting together a roster for the defense of their Super Bowl title.The Chiefs plan to decline using the franchise tag for the second time on left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., and they will release pass rusher Frank Clark, a person familiar with the decisions told The Associated Press on Tuesday.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither of the moves has been officially made.The Chiefs and Brown's representatives spent all last season working on a long-term deal for him, but the two sides never could reach an agreement and he wound up earning about $16.6 million on the franchise tag. Brown would have made more under second-year franchise tag rules and the Chiefs were unwilling to go there with his salary.The deadline for teams to use the franchise tag is later Tuesday. And the Chiefs and Browns could still agree to a long-term deal by Monday, at which point he can begin negotiating with other teams."As always, it's more beneficial for us to get something done long term," Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said last week at the scouting combine. "Unlike last year, I think we have at least a runway to work with. We've gotten to know his team a little bit better. We're excited to get that process started."The Chiefs, who also could lose right tackle Andrew Wylie to free agency, sent a package of draft picks to the Ravens to acquire Brown ahead of the 2021 season. He went on to start every game but one over two seasons in Kansas City, earning Pro Bowl nods each year and helping the Chiefs beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl last month.What the 27-year-old Brown could demand on the open market is somewhat polarizing, though. He ranked in the top third of offensive tackles in metrics such as pass-block win rate but has been inconsistent at times.As for Clark, the Chiefs were hoping to restructure a contract that would have been prohibitive for next season — the pass rusher would have counted nearly $29 million against the salary cap. They were able to do that last season and keep Clark in the fold, but they were unable to come to a similar agreement over the past two weeks.The 29-year-old Clark had five sacks this past regular season before adding 2 1/2 more in the playoffs, moving him into third in postseason sacks since the NFL made them an official statistic in 1982. The victory over the Eagles also gave Clark his second Super Bowl ring in four years in Kansas City."I actually talked to him at the (Super Bowl victory) parade," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said last week. "He had to do some stuff for the actual exit physical, but I had a good talk with him. I love Frank Clark. It's just, you know, Veach has got to juggle all these different things going on. But Frank, he's a top-notch guy. I love him. Love him to death."Much like Brown, the Chiefs would be keen to reach an agreement with Clark once he hits free agency. He became a locker-room leader this past season, and rookie George Karlaftis praised Clark for helping him adapt to the NFL.For now, parting with Brown and Clark leave the Chiefs with gaping holes on each side of the ball. But the moves also free up more than $40 million to use in free agency, and the Chiefs are expected to have 12 selections — once compensatory picks are awarded — to further fill holes when Kansas City hosts the NFL draft next month for the first time."You've just got to be buttoned up on your free agency plan," Veach acknowledged. "You have to just have a plan, stick to it and knock it out of the park. And if the plan doesn't work, you have to move on quickly."

AP source: Chiefs sending Brown, Clark into free agency

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The bulls-eye on the back of third-ranked Kansas these days is about as big as it's been in coach Bill Self's tenure.

The Jayhawks already have defended their Big 12 regular-season championship, winning the toughest league in the country by almost any measure in outright fashion. And beginning next week, Jalen Wilson and Co. will begin defense of the national title they won with a thrilling comeback victory over North Carolina last April.

In between, they'll try to defend the conference tournament title they won by beating Texas Tech a year ago.

"It's all good winning the Big 12 and doing these big things, but like coach said, 'Now the expectations are higher,'" explained Wilson, who was voted conference player of the year Tuesday. "We have a huge target on our back. Not only for winning the conference, but everyone wants to beat Kansas. Everyone wants to beat the reigning national champions. We have to understand we're going to get everybody's best game."

The top-seeded Jayhawks open their Big 12 Tournament on Thursday against the winner of No. 8 seed West Virginia and ninth-seeded Texas Tech, who meet in the first game of a first-round doubleheader Wednesday night.

The other first-round matchup is a Bedlam showdown between seventh-seeded Oklahoma State and No. 10 seed Oklahoma. The winner of that game gets second-seeded Texas on Thursday.

Two quarterfinal games already are set: No. 10 Baylor, the fourth seed, plays fifth-seeded Iowa State in Thursday's opener, and No. 12 Kansas State, the third seed, plays sixth-seeded and No. 22 TCU in the nightcap.

"You look at it, and you can see a 1 by a name, you can see a 10 by a name, and us coaches know that there isn't that big a margin," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "And the players understand it in the Big 12 because they've seen it first-hand and up close how good everybody is, and how competitive it is, and how physical and tough it is."

The Big 12 had six teams in the Top 25 most of the season, and it will likely land at least seven in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. It could be as many as eight or nine depending on what happens in Kansas City this week.

"Anybody can beat anybody. I mean, whoever at the time is toward the bottom of the standings can beat the teams at the top," Cyclones coach TJ Otzelberger said. "There's no other league in America that has as good a coaches, as good a players, as good a programs. And so you've got to be at your best every single game. There's no night off."

One of the reasons the Big 12 has been so tough this season is that it's stacked with experience. Three seniors, a junior and a graduate were chosen first-team all-conference Tuesday, while a senior and two juniors joined freshmen Keyonte George of Baylor and Gradey Dick of Kansas on the second team.

West Virginia may have clinched an NCAA spot with its win over Kansas State last weekend, though beating the Red Raiders would allow Bob Huggins' crew to breath easier. Oklahoma State could have an at-large case with a run to the title game, while Texas Tech and Oklahoma likely need to win a championship to make the field of 68.

The Cowboys are back at the Big 12 Tournament after a one-year postseason ban. Their NCAA hopes have taken a hit in recent weeks with a five-game losing streak that finally ended with a win over the Red Raiders last weekend.

Texas Tech will join Texas in having an interim coach on the sideline this week. The school said Monday that second-year assistant Corey Williams would lead the Red Raiders after coach Mark Adams was suspended for making "an inappropriate, unacceptable and racially insensitive comment" to a player last week.

Rodney Terry has been holding down the interim job with the Longhorns since December. He took over when coach Chris Beard was suspended and subsequently fired amid allegations of domestic violence.

George struggled in his return from an ankle injury in the Bears' loss to Iowa State last week, though a few more days of recovery should help. TCU big man Eddie Lampkin Jr. has missed time with a back injury and Oklahoma State star Avery Anderson III only recently resumed basketball activities after wrist surgery.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. — The bulls-eye on the back of third-ranked Kansas these days is about as big as it's been in coach Bill Self's tenure.The Jayhawks already have defended their Big 12 regular-season championship, winning the toughest league in the country by almost any measure in outright fashion. And beginning next week, Jalen Wilson and Co. will begin defense of the national title they won with a thrilling comeback victory over North Carolina last April.In between, they'll try to defend the conference tournament title they won by beating Texas Tech a year ago."It's all good winning the Big 12 and doing these big things, but like coach said, 'Now the expectations are higher,'" explained Wilson, who was voted conference player of the year Tuesday. "We have a huge target on our back. Not only for winning the conference, but everyone wants to beat Kansas. Everyone wants to beat the reigning national champions. We have to understand we're going to get everybody's best game."The top-seeded Jayhawks open their Big 12 Tournament on Thursday against the winner of No. 8 seed West Virginia and ninth-seeded Texas Tech, who meet in the first game of a first-round doubleheader Wednesday night.The other first-round matchup is a Bedlam showdown between seventh-seeded Oklahoma State and No. 10 seed Oklahoma. The winner of that game gets second-seeded Texas on Thursday.Two quarterfinal games already are set: No. 10 Baylor, the fourth seed, plays fifth-seeded Iowa State in Thursday's opener, and No. 12 Kansas State, the third seed, plays sixth-seeded and No. 22 TCU in the nightcap."You look at it, and you can see a 1 by a name, you can see a 10 by a name, and us coaches know that there isn't that big a margin," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "And the players understand it in the Big 12 because they've seen it first-hand and up close how good everybody is, and how competitive it is, and how physical and tough it is."Especially this year.The Big 12 had six teams in the Top 25 most of the season, and it will likely land at least seven in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. It could be as many as eight or nine depending on what happens in Kansas City this week."Anybody can beat anybody. I mean, whoever at the time is toward the bottom of the standings can beat the teams at the top," Cyclones coach TJ Otzelberger said. "There's no other league in America that has as good a coaches, as good a players, as good a programs. And so you've got to be at your best every single game. There's no night off."EXPERIENCE MATTERSOne of the reasons the Big 12 has been so tough this season is that it's stacked with experience. Three seniors, a junior and a graduate were chosen first-team all-conference Tuesday, while a senior and two juniors joined freshmen Keyonte George of Baylor and Gradey Dick of Kansas on the second team.BUBBLE WATCHWest Virginia may have clinched an NCAA spot with its win over Kansas State last weekend, though beating the Red Raiders would allow Bob Huggins' crew to breath easier. Oklahoma State could have an at-large case with a run to the title game, while Texas Tech and Oklahoma likely need to win a championship to make the field of 68.WELCOME BACKThe Cowboys are back at the Big 12 Tournament after a one-year postseason ban. Their NCAA hopes have taken a hit in recent weeks with a five-game losing streak that finally ended with a win over the Red Raiders last weekend.INTERIM COACHESTexas Tech will join Texas in having an interim coach on the sideline this week. The school said Monday that second-year assistant Corey Williams would lead the Red Raiders after coach Mark Adams was suspended for making "an inappropriate, unacceptable and racially insensitive comment" to a player last week.Rodney Terry has been holding down the interim job with the Longhorns since December. He took over when coach Chris Beard was suspended and subsequently fired amid allegations of domestic violence.INJURY OUTLOOKGeorge struggled in his return from an ankle injury in the Bears' loss to Iowa State last week, though a few more days of recovery should help. TCU big man Eddie Lampkin Jr. has missed time with a back injury and Oklahoma State star Avery Anderson III only recently resumed basketball activities after wrist surgery.