No. 4 Kansas Aims to Regain Form, Face Tourney Debutant Cal Baptist

Jayhawks look to bounce back from late-season struggles as Lancers make first NCAA Tournament appearance

Mar. 19, 2026 at 10:35pm

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No. 4 seed Kansas faces 13th-seeded California Baptist in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament's East Region. The Jayhawks (23-10) have lost five of their last nine games, including a 22-point defeat to Houston in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals. However, Kansas is optimistic as it enters the postseason, led by potential No. 1 NBA draft pick Darryn Peterson. Cal Baptist (25-8), the Western Athletic Conference champion, is making its NCAA Tournament debut after a successful transition to Division I.

Why it matters

This matchup pits a traditional NCAA Tournament powerhouse in Kansas against an upstart program in Cal Baptist that is making its first appearance in the Big Dance. The Jayhawks are looking to regain their form and make a deep run, while the Lancers aim to pull off an upset in their inaugural tournament appearance.

The details

Kansas has weathered some late-season struggles, with standout freshman Darryn Peterson missing 11 games during the regular season. However, Peterson has scored at least 24 points in three of the five contests leading into the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks also rely on Tre White, Flory Bidunga, and Melvin Council Jr., each of whom has appeared in all 33 games. Cal Baptist, led by WAC Player of the Year Dominique Daniels Jr., has played stifling defense all season, ranking eighth in the nation in 3-point defense.

  • The NCAA Tournament first-round matchup between Kansas and Cal Baptist will take place on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • Kansas lost to Houston 69-47 in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament last Friday, March 14, 2026.

The players

Darryn Peterson

A freshman at Kansas who is a potential No. 1 overall pick in the next NBA draft. He is averaging a team-high 19.8 points per game this season.

Tre White

A Kansas player who has appeared in all 33 games this season, averaging 13.8 points per game.

Flory Bidunga

A Kansas player who has appeared in all 33 games and is averaging 2.6 blocks per game, helping the Jayhawks' stifling defense.

Melvin Council Jr.

A Kansas player who has appeared in all 33 games this season, averaging 12.9 points per outing.

Dominique Daniels Jr.

The WAC Player of the Year for Cal Baptist, averaging 23.2 points per game. He has scored at least 22 points in each of the last six games, including a 41-point performance in the WAC Tournament semifinals.

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What they’re saying

“No matter what, in this sport whenever you don't feel well, you always feel better after you practice. Guys' attitudes were great. They're excited.”

— Bill Self, Kansas Head Coach

“Truly a dream come true, for our players, for our coaches, for our athletic department, for our university.”

— Rick Croy, Cal Baptist Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of the Kansas-Cal Baptist matchup will face the winner of the game between No. 5 seed Saint Mary's and No. 12 seed Drake in the second round of the East Region on Sunday, March 23, 2026.

The takeaway

This first-round clash between a traditional NCAA Tournament powerhouse in Kansas and an upstart program making its debut in Cal Baptist promises an intriguing clash of styles, as the Jayhawks look to regain their form and the Lancers aim to pull off a historic upset in their inaugural tournament appearance.