KANSAS CITY, Mo. â The Arizona Wildcats will get a quick rematch with Kansas in a Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal game Thursday, and the Jayhawks could be a little more tired this time.
Despite crushing UCF by 51 points in early January, sixth-seeded Kansas needed overtime to beat the Knights 98-94 in a second-round game Wednesday at T-Mobile Center and earn the right to play third-seeded Arizona again. The game is scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m. and will be carried on ESPN.
Kansas beat the Wildcats 83-76 on March 8 on Senior Day, and Jayhawks coach Bill Self said his team would need a better overall effort to do it again. Arizona shot 47.3% at Kansas but allowed the Jayhawks to shoot 49.3% overall and 38.1% from 3-point range.
"I actually thought on Saturday we had four seniors play very, very, very well and it was barely enough ... in our building," Self said. " It's going to take a great energy-type game. We're going to have to play big, obviously, and we gotta be able to guard the ball probably better than we did on Saturday.
Kansas head coach Bill Self is seen on the sidelines during the second half against UCF in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.Â
"Saturday was a really good basketball game that was well played by both teams. It could have gone either way. We just made probably a couple more plays down the stretch."
On Wednesday, the Jayhawks couldn't stop UCF guard Jordan Ivy-Curry, whose efforts put the game in overtime and nearly cost the Jayhawks.
Kansas center Hunter Dickinson had 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Jayhawks, scoring six of his points in overtime. Dickinson, who had 33 points and 10 rebounds against Arizona on March 8, hit a 3-pointer early in overtime and returned for a dunk with 2:21 left that gave the Jayhawks a 90-87 lead.
Kansas' Hunter Dickinson (1) holds the ball away from UCF's Darius Johnson (3) during the second half in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament, Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.
Ivy-Curry converted a three-point play with 18 seconds left to pull the Knights within 94-92 but UCF center Moustapha Thiam missed a potential game tying eight-footer with two seconds left and Kansas hung on at the free-throw line from there.
In regulation, Ivy-Curry hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 14 seconds left to tie the game at 83 while Kansasâ KJ Adams stepped his foot on the baseline under the basket to turn the ball over with three seconds left.
That left UCF with 3.8 seconds for a chance to win, and Ivy-Curry drove down to the left wing but his jumper at the buzzer was well off.
UCF was without its point guard, Darius Johnson, in overtime after he fouled out with 1:13 left in regulation, while Kansas point guard Dajuan Harris fouled out in overtime.
UCF guard Darius Johnson (3) shoots between Kansas guards Rylan Griffen (6) and Zeke Mayo (5) during the first half in the Big 12 men's tournament Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.Â
Kansas led 40-37 at halftime and by 14 with 13:27 left when A.J. Storr hit a 3-pointer to give the Jayhawks a 61-48 lead. But UCF went on a 19-3 run to erase Kansasâ lead and go ahead 67-64 with 8:47 left.
From there the game stayed close and Kansas entered the final minute of regulation with an 81-80 lead.
Rated No. 1 in the Associated Pressâ Top 25 preseason poll, Kansas (21-11) finished just sixth in the Big 12 but has won four of its last six games.
Arizona (20-11) has lost five of its last eight games, including road games at Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas, as well as home games against BYU and league champion Houston.
