CHICAGO — Kansas is one win away from a spot in the Final Four.
The Jayhawks, who entered Friday’s Sweet 16 contest against No. 4 seed Providence College as the only No. 1 seed left in the men’s NCAA Tournament, squandered a 13-point second half lead but still managed to upend the Friars, 66-61, in a Midwest Regional semifinal at the United Center.
Remy Martin scored 23 points, his most in a game as a Jayhawk, and grabbed seven rebounds with three assists. Jalen Wilson scored 16 points with 11 boards for KU, which will play No. 11 seed Iowa State or 10th-seeded Miami in the Elite Eight on Sunday for a spot in the Final Four in New Orleans.
Martin scored 13 of his 23 points in the first half in helping KU (31-6) grab a 24-12 lead and 26-17 halftime margin.
David McCormack, who was limping noticeably at times because of his sore foot, scored eight points (4 of 6 from line with two boards) for KU, which last reached the Final Four in 2018, when Villanova ousted the Jayhawks, 95-79 in the national semifinals in San Antonio. Since then, KU was knocked out in the Round of 32 in both 2019 (by Auburn) and 2021 (by USC). There was no tournament in 2020 because of COVID-19.
Christian Braun had 10 boards to go with six points for KU. Ochai Agbaji had just five points on 2-of-8 shooting in 37 minutes.
Al Durham scored 21 points and Noah Horcher added 10 points for Providence (27-6).
Martin, KU’s super senior transfer from Arizona State, hit 6 of 9 shots the first half. Wilson had 10 rebounds to go with seven points. Agbaji had two points on 1-of-6 shooting the first half. He was 0 for 4 from 3-point range as KU made 2 of 10 3s to Providence’s 1-of-13 3-point shooting.
