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PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Kansas basketball suffered a 79-72 defeat on Thursday during the 2025 men’s NCAA tournament against Arkansas.
Here’s more on how the No. 7-seed Jayhawks (21-13) lost in the West region against the No. 10-seed Razorbacks (21-13):
RELATED: Hometown star Zeke Mayo is eager to represent Kansas basketball during March Madness
It’s been clear all season long how much Zeke Mayo, a Lawrence native, has valued his opportunity to play for his hometown school. He’s talked about it numerous times, including ahead of the start of the NCAA tournament. But his opportunity to represent Kansas in March Madness will be a memory that comes with a loss.
Mayo delivered as a shooter, finishing 5 for 8 from the field and 4 for 5 from behind the arc on the way to 18 points. He even found other ways to affect the game, collecting six rebounds and two assists. But a team that didn’t always have the depth this season many thought it would, too often looked like a team without enough around Mayo and his fellow key starters.
Kansas was leading 67-64 as the game closed in on three minutes remaining in the second half, when KJ Adams appeared to suffer a lower leg injury. He had to be helped off of the court, as he didn’t put much weight on his left foot as he walked. He went back to the locker room and didn’t return to the game.
Kansas had appeared to be doing just enough to get by Arkansas late. The Jayhawks looked like they had the momentum, despite their struggles early on — especially as the second half began. But they couldn’t overcome Adams’ departure.
Since Kansas’ national title run in 2022, the Jayhawks had fallen short of even reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament with each successive trip. Back-to-back exits in the round of 32 followed in 2023 and 2024, with the 2023 loss coming against Arkansas. And now their latest NCAA tournament trip will be even shorter than those.
This loss shouldn’t sting like the one in 2023. This KU team didn’t have the same potential to make a deep run like that Jayhawks squad did. But given this season’s team’s preseason expectations it’s not like it’ll be easy to overlook.
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas basketball exits NCAA tournament with loss against Arkansas
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Here’s more on how the No. 7-seed Jayhawks (21-13) lost in the West region against the No. 10-seed Razorbacks (21-13):
RELATED: Hometown star Zeke Mayo is eager to represent Kansas basketball during March Madness
Zeke Mayo’s leading effort comes in a loss
It’s been clear all season long how much Zeke Mayo, a Lawrence native, has valued his opportunity to play for his hometown school. He’s talked about it numerous times, including ahead of the start of the NCAA tournament. But his opportunity to represent Kansas in March Madness will be a memory that comes with a loss.
Mayo delivered as a shooter, finishing 5 for 8 from the field and 4 for 5 from behind the arc on the way to 18 points. He even found other ways to affect the game, collecting six rebounds and two assists. But a team that didn’t always have the depth this season many thought it would, too often looked like a team without enough around Mayo and his fellow key starters.
KJ Adams exits game late in second half
Kansas was leading 67-64 as the game closed in on three minutes remaining in the second half, when KJ Adams appeared to suffer a lower leg injury. He had to be helped off of the court, as he didn’t put much weight on his left foot as he walked. He went back to the locker room and didn’t return to the game.
Kansas had appeared to be doing just enough to get by Arkansas late. The Jayhawks looked like they had the momentum, despite their struggles early on — especially as the second half began. But they couldn’t overcome Adams’ departure.
Kansas’ Sweet 16 drought will continue
Since Kansas’ national title run in 2022, the Jayhawks had fallen short of even reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament with each successive trip. Back-to-back exits in the round of 32 followed in 2023 and 2024, with the 2023 loss coming against Arkansas. And now their latest NCAA tournament trip will be even shorter than those.
This loss shouldn’t sting like the one in 2023. This KU team didn’t have the same potential to make a deep run like that Jayhawks squad did. But given this season’s team’s preseason expectations it’s not like it’ll be easy to overlook.
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Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas basketball exits NCAA tournament with loss against Arkansas
Continue reading...
