Kansas or Cal Baptist? How to pick 4 vs. 13 matchup in 2026 March Madness bracket

Kansas or Cal Baptist? How to pick 4 vs. 13 matchup in 2026 March Madness bracket originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Bill Self, Darryn Peterson, and the Kansas Jayhawks know what it takes to win it all in March Madness, but they enter the 2026 tournament needing to prove they can shake off a rocky finish to the season. As a No. 4 seed in the East Region, Kansas faces an intriguing opening-round test against WAC champion Cal Baptist, a defensive-minded squad that will look to turn the Jayhawks’ recent offensive struggles into a full-blown upset alert.

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The Jayhawks arrive in Buffalo with a 23-10 record and the prestige of a Bill Self-led roster, but they are searching for consistency after a humbling 69-47 loss to Houston in the Big 12 semifinals. To navigate a path that potentially includes heavyweight matchups against blue bloods like Duke or UConn, Kansas must rely on the elite shot-creation of freshman phenom Darryn Peterson. The projected top-five NBA pick has been the engine of the Jayhawks’ attack, averaging nearly 20 points per game, and his ability to dominate on the perimeter is the key to unlocking a deep run.

However, the Jayhawks cannot afford to overlook a Cal Baptist Lancers team that is riding a massive wave of momentum into its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Cal Baptist has won 13 of its last 15 games, fueled by the heroics of WAC Player of the Year Dominique Daniels Jr., who is coming off a staggering 41-point performance in the conference semifinals. While Flory Bidunga and the Kansas frontcourt offer a significant size advantage, the Lancers’ top-40 nationally ranked scoring defense is designed to frustrate high-major opponents. If Kansas allows Daniels to get into a rhythm early, the Jayhawks could find themselves in a 40-minute dogfight far earlier than expected.

Here is a complete preview of the matchup as Kansas starts the campaign for its fifth national…

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Publish date : 2026-03-16 18:51:00

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