KU’s Self: ‘No shot’ at No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed

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Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg picked up a technical foul during a timeout with 7:27 left in the half. It opened the door for a KU run, but Iowa State closed the half strong.

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Perry Ellis had 21 points on nine-of-10 shooting.

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Iowa State senior DeAndre Kane hit a three-pointer that pushed the lead to 59-52 with 14:28 left. KU would never get closer than six.

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Iowa State shot 54 percent.

After Friday’s loss, Kansas coach Bill Self said he expects to be a two or three seed in the NCAA Tournament when the field is announced on Sunday. After suffering a ninth loss, he doesn’t believe the Jayhawks have a chance for a No. 1.

“No shot,” he said.

The Jayhawks have now suffered nine losses before the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000.

“We played a really good schedule,” Self said, “and who knows if we’ll be a two (seed). I mean, who knows how the other games will play out, and we’re not going to be disappointed with whatever happens.”

For the most part, Kansas’ players said they’d be happy with any path to the Final Four in Arlington, Texas. But freshman Andrew Wiggins conceded that a No. 1 seed was coveted.

“I think every team wants to be a one-seed, no matter what anyone says, really,” Wiggins said. “The one-seed has the easiest path. But we fear no one. You give us any seed, we’re still going to fight to the end, and try to come out on top.”

One juicy scenario: If the Jayhawks can land the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, that would set up a potential Elite Eight matchup with undefeated Wichita State, the likely No. 1 seed in the Midwest.

Wiggins said he’d discussed the possibility with his older brother Nick, a senior at Wichita State.

“We talk about it from time to time,” Wiggins said, before his voiced trailed off. “Not too much. We just play basketball.”

• Junior guard Naadir Tharpe was zero for three from the field with nine assists. Tharpe said his recent offensive slump had nothing to do with the dislocated thumb he suffered against Oklahoma State on March. 1.

• After scoring 22 points on Friday, Wiggins has scored 93 points in his last three games. That is believed to be the highest three-game total since Kansas began tracking such records during the 1988-89 season.

This story was originally published March 14, 2014 at 11:02 PM with the headline "KU’s Self: ‘No shot’ at No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed."