Arkansas upset defending champion Kansas to gain Sweet Sixteen bid

Kansas’ national title defense ended in the second round of NCAA Tournament on Saturday when Arkansas’ Ricky Council IV made five free throws in the closing seconds and the eighth-seeded Razorbacks beat the No. 1 seed Jayhawks 72-71.

Davonte Davis scored 25 points and Council added 21 as Arkansas rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit. Kansas, playing without ailing coach Bill Self, became the second top seed not to escape the tournament’s first weekend after Purdue lost on Friday night to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson.


Davonte Davis #4 of the Arkansas Razorbacks reacts against the Kansas Jayhawks during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 18, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Arkansas shocked Kansas in a close-scoring game to punch its ticket to the Sweet Sixteen.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Kevin McCullar Jr. #15 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 18, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Jayhawks’ dreams of being back-to-back champions were subdued by the Razorbacks.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Arkansas and coach Eric Musselman return to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year. The Razorbacks will play either Saint Mary’s or UConn in the West Region semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Musselman and his players rushed to a second of fans sitting courtside after the final buzzer. Musselman ripped his polo shirt off, waved it over his head and shouted with joy.

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