NBA DRAFT WATCH: CBB 'ELITE 8' PREVIEW: KANSAS VS MIAMI, FL (SUN. 03. 27. 22.)

Isaiah Wong and Kameron McGusty have the Hurricanes in the Elite 8 ready to take on Kansas
(Photo Credit: Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press)

KANSAS (31-6, 14-4; 1st in Big 12, #1 Seed in Midwest Region)

Earning both the Big 12 regular season and conference tournament titles, this Jayhawks squad can be described as a solid and steady Bill Self-coached team, having won 8 straight going back to their last loss on March 1st to TCU, a team that won in the first round of the tournament verse Seton Hall. All-American performer Ochai Agbaji has been a steady leader in his senior season, while junior wing Christian Braun has displayed the type of ability that may see him selected in the first round of the upcoming NBA Draft. Elsewhere, Kansas keeps a few more formidable players in senior big David McCormack who has developed into a strong presence in the paint, while versatile forward Jalen Wilson is starting to convince analysts and fans alike with his various tools to impact a game. Junior Dajuan Harris starts at the point providing steady minutes for the Jayhawks, while noted college veteran and Arizona State transfer senior Remy Martin has shown flashes of his high-energy style of play that can help build momentum when he enters off the bench. 

EXPECTED ROTATION

33 David McCormack (6'10, 265 SR: 10.0 pts, 6.9 reb, 75.7 FT%)

10 Jalen Wilson (6'8, 215 SO: 11.2 pts, 7.3 reb, 47.8 FG%)

30 Ochai Agbaji (6'5, 210 SR: 18.9 pts, 5.2 reb, 39.2 3P%)

2 Christian Braun (6'6, 205 JR: 14.3 pts, 6.5 reb, 2.7 ast)

3 Dajuan Harris (6'1, 160 JR: 5.4 pts, 4.2 ast, 1.4 stl)

11 Remy Martin (6'0, 175 SR: 8.6 pts, 2.6/1.4 A/TO, 46.6 FG%)

44 Mitch Lightfoot (6'8, 225 SR: 4.6 pts, 2.8 reb, 66.4 FG%)

55 Jalen Coleman-Lands (6'4, 187 SR: 3.9 pts, 48.1 FG%, 45.3 3P%)

MAIAMI, FL (26-10, 14-6; 4th on ACC, #10 Seed in Midwest)

6-1 since the beginning of March, Miami earned victories in their last couple of regular season games before advancing to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament where they narrowly lost to a Final Four bound Duke team 80-76. Led by one of the few head coaches in basketball with more experience than opposing coach Bill Self, in Jim Larranaga — who is familiar with making a Final Four run himself —Miami has made it to this point of the season with positive perimeter play. Charlie Moore, who starts at point guard — was once at Kansas just a few years ago before transferring to DePaul and then arriving in Miami for his final year of eligibility — is one of the better facilitators in college basketball. Isaiah Wong is a dynamic combo guard who has an explosive first step and a scorer's mentality. On the wing Kameron McGusty has good size and length to score the ball against tough defense which has him on the NBA radar. Listed as a guard on the roster, junior Jordan Miller is an active athlete who positively plays the role of an undersized '4' in the starting lineup for the Hurricanes. At the '5' sixth-year senior Sam Waardenburg, sustains solid size while also being able to operate from the perimeter on the offensive end. Off the bench Anthony Walker brings energy and experience in addition to his athleticism and length which is of effect on each end of the floor. 

EXPECTED ROTATION

21 Sam Waardenburg (6'10, 225 SR: 8.6 pts, 1.3 blk, 42.1 3P)

11 Jordan Miller (6'6, 202 JR: 10.3 pts, 6.0 reb, 1.8 stl)

23 Kameron McGusty (6'5, 190 SR: 17.8 pts, 4.9 reb, 1.8 stl)

2 Isaiah Wong (6'3, 180 SO: 15.3 pts, 4.3 reb, 45.3 FG%)

3 Charlie Moore (5'11, 180 SR: 12.6 pts, 4.7 ast, 2.0 stl)

1 Anthony Walker (6'9, 210 SO: 5.0 pts, 2.4 reb, 46.7 FG%)

4 Bensley Joseph (6'1, 195 FR: 2.3 pts, 1.6 reb, 83.3 FT%)

55 Wooga Poplar (6'5, 195 FR: 2.4 pts, 1.3 reb, 8.5 mpg)