By Vasantha
Kansas lost to Arkansas in the second round of the men's tournament without Coach Bill Self. The No. 15 seed Princeton beat Missouri to advance.
N.C.A.A. men's champion Kansas is out. Despite playing without their head coach, Bill Self, Kansas lost 72-71 to No. 8 seed Arkansas.
It was Kansas' first chance to repeat as men's champion since Florida won in 2006 and 2007.
After winning Sunday's Connecticut-Saint Mary's game in Albany, N.Y., the Razorbacks advanced to the round of 16. Kansas (28-8) won the Big 12, while Arkansas (22-13) finished tied for ninth in the Southeastern Conference.
The Jayhawks became the second No. 1 seed to get bounced from the tournament in less than 24 hours, after No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson toppled No. 1 seed Purdue on Friday night.
Six consecutive defending champions have now been eliminated before the round of 16. Alabama in the South and Houston in the West were the only No. 1 seeds left. Neither team lost Saturday.
In 2018, only two No. 1 seeds made it to the round of 16; it also happened in 2004, 2000, and 1981.
To celebrate the upset, Arkansas coach Eric Musselman pulled off his shirt in front of the Razorback fans.