2015–16 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team

The 2015–16 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team represented the University of Kansas in the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, which is the Jayhawks 118th basketball season. The Jayhawks played their home games at Allen Fieldhouse. They were led by 13th year head coach Bill Self and were members of the Big 12 Conference. They finished the season 33–5, 15–3 in Big 12 play to win their 12th consecutive regular season Big 12 title. They defeated Kansas State, Baylor, and West Virginia to be champions of the Big 12 tournament. They received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where they were the tournament's overall #1 seed. They defeated Austin Peay, UConn, and Maryland to advance to the Elite Eight where they lost to Villanova.

2015–16 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Elite Eight
ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 1
Record33–5 (15–3 Big 12)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaAllen Fieldhouse
Seasons
2015–16 Big 12 men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 1 Kansas153 .833335 .868
No. 8 West Virginia135 .722269 .743
No. 7 Oklahoma126 .667298 .784
Texas117 .6112013 .606
No. 21 Baylor108 .5562212 .647
No. 22 Iowa State108 .5562312 .657
Texas Tech99 .5001913 .594
Kansas State513 .2781716 .515
Oklahoma State315 .1671220 .375
TCU216 .1111221 .364
2016 Big 12 Tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll [1]

The Jayhawks 12 consecutive regular season Big 12 titles was at the time the longest active consecutive conference title streak in the nation, as well as only being one shy of the NCAA record of 13, which is currently held by UCLA who won 13 in a row between 1967 and 1979.[2]

In July 2015, the Jayhawks represented the United States at the World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea. The Jayhawks, along with Nic Moore from SMU and Julian DeBose from Florida Gulf Coast, went 8–0 to win the Gold Medal.

Preseason

Departures

Graduation

NamePosition
Christian GarrettG

Early draft entrants

NamePositionYear
Kelly Oubre Jr.GFreshman
Cliff AlexanderFFreshman

Transfers

NamePositionOld schoolNew school
Josh PollardGKansas[3]Utah Valley
Dwight ColebyCOle MissKansas[4]

Recruiting

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
LaGerald Vick
SG
Memphis, TNDouglass High School6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)170 lb (77 kg)May 13, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 85
Carlton Bragg Jr.
PF
Cleveland, OHVilla Angela – St. Joseph High School6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)210 lb (95 kg)Jan 8, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 89
Cheick Diallo
PF
Kayes, MaliOur Savior New American6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)225 lb (102 kg)Apr 28, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 95
Overall recruiting rankings:      Scout: #14     Rivals: #15     247Sports: #13      ESPN: #14 

World University Games

In April 2014, the Kansas basketball team was selected by the United States International University Sports Federation (US-IUSF) to represent the United States in the 2015 World University Games. Kansas was selected as the team to represent the U.S. from the schools that expressed interest. This was the second time a college team represented the United States in the World University Games; University of Northern Iowa had finished 9th in 2007.

Current university students or recent graduates, born between Jan. 1, 1990, and Dec. 31, 1997, were eligible for the 2015 Games. Only U.S. citizens were eligible for the U.S. team; therefore Cheick Diallo, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, and Dwight Coleby (from Mali, Ukraine, and Bahamas respectively) were ineligible. The Kansas travel party, consisting of 12 competitors and 11 staff (23 total), left Lawrence on June 28 and lived in the athlete village throughout the Games. There were two non-Jayhawks on the U.S. roster: guards Nic Moore of SMU[5] and Julian DeBose of Florida Gulf Coast,[6] replacing injured Kansas guard Devonte' Graham.

Team USA won all their matches in the tournament, beating Germany 84–77 in double overtime on July 13, 2015, to win the gold medal.

Roster

2015–16 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearHometown
G0Frank Mason III5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)185 lb (84 kg)JrPetersburg, VA
G1Wayne Selden Jr.6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)230 lb (104 kg)JrBoston, MA
G2LaGerald Vick6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)175 lb (79 kg)FrMemphis, TN
G4Devonte' Graham6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg)SoRaleigh, NC
G5Evan Manning6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)170 lb (77 kg)SrLawrence, KS
G10Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)195 lb (88 kg)SoCherkasy, Ukraine
G11Tyler Self6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)165 lb (75 kg)RS JrLawrence, KS
F13Cheick Diallo6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)FrKayes, Mali
G14Brannen Greene6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)JrMonroe, GA
F15Carlton Bragg Jr.6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)FrCleveland, OH
F21Clay Young6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg)RS SoLansing, KS
F22Dwight Coleby Jr.  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)240 lb (109 kg)JrNassau, Bahamas
F31Jamari Traylor6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)220 lb (100 kg)RS SrChicago, IL
F33Landen Lucas6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg)RS JrPortland, OR
F34Perry Ellis (C)6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg)SrWichita, KS
F42Hunter Mickelson6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)245 lb (111 kg)RS SrJonesboro, AR
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: July 23, 2015

Schedule

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsSite (attendance)
city, state
World University Games Exhibition
June 24, 2015*
7:00 pm
at Team CanadaW 91–83 
 28  Mason III  10  Traylor  6  Selden Jr. Sprint Center (8,235)
Kansas City, MO
June 26, 2015*
7:00 pm
vs. Team CanadaW 87–76 
 22  Selden Jr.  10  Selden Jr.  11  Mason III Sprint Center (8,415)
Kansas City, MO
July 2, 2015*
10:00 pm
vs. Team ChinaW 93–56 
 13  Vick           Seolwol Girls School Gymnasium 
Gwangju, South Korea
World University Games
July 4, 2015*
12:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Team Turkey
Preliminary Round – Group D
W 66–57 1–0
 19  Selden Jr.  9  Selden Jr.  4  Mason III Dongkang College Gymnasium 
Gwangju, South Korea
July 5, 2015*
8:30 pm, ESPNU
vs. Team Brazil
Preliminary Round – Group D
W 81–72 2–0
 23  Selden Jr.  8  3 Tied  7  Mason III Dongkang College Gymnasium 
Gwangju, South Korea
July 7, 2015*
2:30 pm
vs. Team Chile
Preliminary Round – Group D
W 106–41 3–0
 23  Mason III  14  Lucas  5  Selden Jr. Muan Indoor Gymnasium 
Gwangju, South Korea
July 8, 2015*
12:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Team Serbia
Preliminary Round – Group D
W 66–65 4–0
 21  Selden Jr.  9  Ellis  6  Moore (SMU) Dongkang College Gymnasium 
Gwangju, South Korea
July 9, 2015*
10:00 am, ESPNU
vs. Team Switzerland
Preliminary Round – Group D
W 96–57 5–0
 18  Debose (FGCU)  7  Vick  6  Moore (SMU) Muan Indoor Gymnasium 
Gwangju, South Korea
July 11, 2015*
12:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Team Lithuania
Medal round – Quarterfinals
W 70–48 6–0
 18  Mason III  9  Lucas  4  Mason III Gwangju University Gymnasium 
Gwangju, South Korea
July 12, 2015*
6:30 pm, ESPNU
vs. Team Russia
Medal round – Semifinals
W 78–68 7–0
 23  Ellis  6  2 Tied  4  Mason III Dongkang College Gymnasium 
Gwangju, South Korea
July 13, 2015*
9:00 pm, ESPNU
vs. Team Germany
Medal round – Finals
W 84–77 2OT8–0
 22  Selden Jr.  10  Ellis  6  Mason III Yeomju Gymnasium 
Gwangju, South Korea
Exhibition
November 4, 2015*
7:00 pm, Jayhawk TV/ESPN3
No. 4 Pittsburg StateW 89–66 
 22  Ellis  12  Ellis  8  Graham Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
November 10, 2015*
7:00 pm, Jayhawk TV/ESPN3
No. 4 Fort Hays StateW 95–59 
 16  Ellis  9  Bragg Jr.  6  Mason III Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
Regular season
November 13, 2015*
7:00 pm, Jayhawk TV/ESPN3
No. 4 Northern Colorado
Maui Invitational Opening Round
W 109–72 1–0
 18  Greene  7  2 Tied  9  Mason III Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
November 17, 2015*
9:20 pm, ESPN
No. 4 vs. No. 13 Michigan State
Champions Classic
L 73–79 1–1
 21  Ellis  6  Lucas  6  Graham United Center (21,461)
Chicago, IL
November 23, 2015*
9:00 pm, ESPNU
No. 5 vs. Chaminade
Maui Invitational quarterfinals
W 123–72 2–1
 18  Tied  11  Lucas  7  Tied Lahaina Civic Center (2,400)
Maui, HI
November 24, 2015*
9:00 pm, ESPN
No. 5 vs. UCLA
Maui Invitational semifinals
W 92–73 3–1
 24  Ellis  6  Ellis  7  Mason III Lahaina Civic Center (2,400)
Maui, HI
November 25, 2015*
9:00 pm, ESPN
No. 5 vs. No. 19 Vanderbilt
Maui Invitational final
W 70–63 4–1
 25  Selden  8  Ellis  3  Mason Lahaina Civic Center (2,400)
Maui, HI
December 1, 2015*
7:00 pm, Jayhawk TV/ESPN3
No. 4 Loyola (MD)W 94–61 5–1
 18  Selden Jr.  6  5 Tied  5  Mason III Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
December 5, 2015*
2:15 pm, ESPN2
No. 4 HarvardW 75–69 6–1
 21  Mason III  8  Lucas  5  Mason III Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
December 9, 2015*
7:00 pm, Jayhawk TV/ESPN3
No. 2 Holy CrossW 92–59 7–1
 15  Selden Jr.  5  Bragg Jr.  5  2 Tied Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
December 12, 2015*
7:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 2 vs. Oregon State
Kansas City Shootout
W 82–67 8–1
 22  Selden Jr.  9  Ellis  6  Mason III Sprint Center (18,612)
Kansas City, MO
December 19, 2015*
1:00 pm, Jayhawk TV/ESPN3
No. 2 MontanaW 88–46 9–1
 18  Ellis  9  Ellis  9  Mason III Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
December 22, 2015*
10:00 pm, CBSSN
No. 2 at San Diego StateW 70–57 10–1
 20  Ellis  6  Traylor  3  3 Tied Viejas Arena (12,414)
San Diego, CA
December 29, 2015*
8:00 pm, ESPNU
No. 2 UC IrvineW 78–53 11–1
 14  Ellis  9  Ellis  6  Mason III Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
January 2, 2016
3:00 pm, CBS
No. 2 No. 23 BaylorW 102–74 12–1
(1–0)
 24  Selden Jr.  6  2 Tied  4  3 Tied Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
January 4, 2016
8:00 pm, ESPN
No. 1 No. 2 OklahomaW 109–106 3OT13–1
(2–0)
 27  Ellis  13  Ellis  6  Mason III Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
January 9, 2016
8:00 pm, ESPNU
No. 1 at Texas TechW 69–59 14–1
(3–0)
 17  Mason III  10  2 Tied  5  Mason III United Supermarkets Arena (14,231)
Lubbock, TX
January 12, 2016
6:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 1 at No. 11 West VirginiaL 63–74 14–2
(3–1)
 21  Ellis  7  Ellis  3  Tied WVU Coliseum (12,097)
Morgantown, WV
January 16, 2016
1:00 pm, ESPN
No. 1 TCUW 70–63 15–2
(4–1)
 11  Selden Jr.  9  2 Tied  6  Graham Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
January 19, 2016
6:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 3 at Oklahoma StateL 67–86 15–3
(4–2)
 14  Mason III  5  2 Tied  5  Graham Gallagher-Iba Arena (11,383)
Stillwater, OK
January 23, 2016
1:00 pm, ESPN
No. 3 TexasW 76–67 16–3
(5–2)
 26  Ellis  10  Lucas  6  Graham Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
January 25, 2016
8:00 pm, ESPN
No. 4 at No. 14 Iowa StateL 72–85 16–4
(5–3)
 23  Ellis  9  Lucas  4  Graham Hilton Coliseum (14,384)
Ames, IA
January 30, 2016*
6:00 pm, ESPN
No. 4 No. 20 Kentucky
Big 12/SEC Challenge
W 90–84 OT17–4
 33  Selden Jr.  9  Ellis  5  Graham Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
February 3, 2016
8:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 7 Kansas State
Sunflower Showdown
W 77–59 18–4
(6–3)
 19  Ellis  6  Lucas  4  3 Tied Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
February 6, 2016
11:00 am, ESPN
No. 7 at TCUW 75–56 19–4
(7–3)
 23  Ellis  10  Ellis  6  Mason III Schollmaier Arena (6,516)
Fort Worth, TX
February 9, 2016
6:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 6 No. 10 West VirginiaW 75–65 20–4
(8–3)
 21  Ellis  16  Lucas  4  Graham Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
February 13, 2016
1:30 pm, ESPN
No. 6 at No. 3 OklahomaW 76–72 21–4
(9–3)
 27  Graham  10  Lucas  3  Mason III Lloyd Noble Center (12,247)
Norman, OK
February 15, 2016
8:00 pm, ESPN
No. 2 Oklahoma StateW 94–67 22–4
(10–3)
 18  Selden Jr.  10  Lucas  6  Mason III Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
February 20, 2016
5:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 2 at Kansas State
Sunflower Showdown
W 72–63 23–4
(11–3)
 16  Mason III  8  Lucas  5  Mason III Bramlage Coliseum (12,528)
Manhattan, KS
February 23, 2016
7:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 2 at No. 19 BaylorW 66–60 24–4
(12–3)
 19  Mason III  10  Lucas  7  Graham Ferrell Center (8,259)
Waco, TX
February 27, 2016
11:00 am, ESPN
No. 2 Texas TechW 67–58 25–4
(13–3)
 17  Mykhailiuk  8  Lucas  4  Graham Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
February 29, 2016
8:00 pm, ESPN
No. 1 at No. 23 TexasW 86–56 26–4
(14–3)
 20  Ellis  8  Lucas  6  Mason III Frank Erwin Center (16,540)
Austin, TX
March 5, 2016
3:00 pm, ESPN
No. 1 No. 21 Iowa StateW 85–78 27–4
(15–3)
 22  Ellis  7  2 tied  5  Mason III Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
Lawrence, KS
Big 12 Tournament
March 10, 2016
1:30 pm, ESPN2
(1) No. 1 vs. (8) Kansas State
Quarterfinals
W 85–63 28–4
 21  Ellis  6  Ellis  8  Graham Sprint Center (18,972)
Kansas City, MO
March 11, 2016
6:00 pm, ESPN2
(1) No. 1 vs. (5) No. 22 Baylor
Semifinals
W 70–66 29–4
 20  Ellis  7  2 tied  8  Graham Sprint Center (18,972)
Kansas City, MO
March 12, 2016
5:00 pm, ESPN
(1) No. 1 vs. (2) No. 9 West Virginia
Championship
W 81–71 30–4
 27  Graham  7  Lucas  7  Mason III Sprint Center (19,046)
Kansas City, MO
NCAA tournament
March 17, 2016*
3:00 pm, TNT
(1 S) No. 1 vs. (16 S) Austin Peay
First Round
W 105–79 31–4
 23  Mykhailiuk  9  Traylor  6  Graham Wells Fargo Arena (16,628)
Des Moines, IA
March 19, 2016*
6:45 pm, CBS
(1 S) No. 1 vs. (9 S) UConn
Second Round
W 73–61 32–4
 22  Selden Jr.  11  Lucas  4  2 Tied Wells Fargo Arena (16,824)
Des Moines, IA
March 24, 2016*
8:40 pm, CBS
(1 S) No. 1 vs. (5 S) No. 18 Maryland
Sweet Sixteen
W 79–63 33–4
 27  Ellis  11  Lucas  6  Selden, Jr. KFC Yum! Center (19,399)
Louisville, KY
March 26, 2016*
7:49 pm, CBS
(1 S) No. 1 vs. (2 S) No. 6 Villanova
Elite Eight
L 59–64 33–5
 17  Graham  12  Lucas  4  Mason III KFC Yum! Center (19,422)
Louisville, KY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
S=South.
All times are in Central Time.

Source: [7]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre2345678910111213141516171819Final
AP5454222211347622111N/A*
Coaches55767533213366221113

*AP does not release post-tournament rankings

References