23 March 2024
SALT LAKE CITY (KSNT) – KU men’s basketball is working on a quick turnaround before its round of 32 game against Gonzaga.
The Jayhawks’ didn’t tipoff in the opening round, against Samford, until well after 9 p.m. CT on Thursday. Now, they’re set to meet Gonzaga at 2:15 CT on Saturday with a ticket to the Sweet 16 on the line.
“During the regular season you’re like ‘Why do we have to play this’ but that really gets you prepared for the tournament where that’s what you’re dealing with, is two games in three days,” KU senior center Hunter Dickinson said. “I think our bodies are kind of already in that mode and already prepared for it and really used to it. And so I’m glad that we had to go through those kind of stretches.”
KU played with just one day rest between games on seven occasions this season, counting twice in exhibition matches in Puerto Rico. The Jayhawks are 3-4 in the second game of a 72 or less hour back-to-back, including 2-3 in the regular season.
“After a late night. Now we’re going to prepare for a team that’s terrific and we’ll have a 20-minute walk through, you know, because we got to keep our guys off the up their feet,” KU head coach Bill Self said. “So that that that’s the challenge in the second game of a of a two game tournament.”
If Kansas wins on Saturday, it could meet No. 1 seed Purdue in the Sweet 16. The Jayhawks’ would go to Detroit for the second weekend.