For Pete's Sake

Study asks fans in each state who will win NCAA Tourney. KU is the pick in Missouri

Kansas Jayhawks coach Bill Self reacts to a foul during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 9, 2023.
Kansas Jayhawks coach Bill Self reacts to a foul during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Allen Fieldhouse on Dec. 9, 2023. USA TODAY Sports

Hey, don’t shoot the messenger.

Sports aficionados in the Kansas City area know all about the rivalry between the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks. The intensity of that disdain may have cooled a bit since Mizzou left for the SEC, but there is no love lost among fans of those schools.

So it was interesting to see the results of a study that asked fans in each state to pick which school they think will win this year’s men’s NCAA Tournament. The Kansas Jayhawks are the pick for the state of Missouri, according to SolitaireBliss.com.

Basketball fans in Missouri think KU will win the NCAA Tournament.
Basketball fans in Missouri think KU will win the NCAA Tournament. Courtesy of SolitaireBliss.com

The Jayhawks also are the choice for the state of Kansas, but that was to be expected.

The study’s authors said they contacted people in every state through and online market research platform. Fans were asked to pick a likely NCAA Tournament winner from a list of 68 teams who were most expected to make the Big Dance.

This study was conducted before the NCAA Tournament field was announced, which means it was also done before KU coach Bill Self said Kevin McCullar Jr. would miss the tournament.

Pete Grathoff
The Kansas City Star
From covering the World Series to the World Cup, Pete Grathoff has done a little bit of everything since joining The Kansas City Star in 1997.
Sports Pass is your ticket to Kansas City sports
#ReadLocal

Get in-depth, sideline coverage of Kansas City area sports - only $1 a month

VIEW OFFER