Kansas’ Andrew White (3) works under the net against pressure from Wake Forrest’s Aaron Rountree, left, and Andre Washington, right, as teammate Joel Embiid (21) assists during an NCAA college basketball game in Paradise Island, Bahamas, on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013.READ MOREThis is part of Mark Wiedmer’s annual series on teams with the potential to make the basketball Final Four.• Louisville Cardinals basketball dynasty a possibility• Arizona’s Cactus Cats could win it all• No 40-0 breeze for Kentucky, but long run possible• Syracuse ready to return to Final Four• No shocker if Wichita reaches Final Four again• San Diego State coach Steve Fisher’s real masterpiece• Florida again has that Final Four look• Ex-UTC Mocs’ brother shines for Duke• North Carolina basketball team peaking at right time
It had been a tough nine days for the Kansas basketball program before Sunday’s news that 7-foot freshman center Joel Embiid was flying to Los Angeles on Monday to consult a specialist about his tender lower back.
But road losses at Oklahoma State and West Virginia merely hurt the No. 10 Jayhawks’ seeding for the NCAA tournament. The loss of Embiid, even if it’s only for the tourney’s opening weekend of March 20-23, could KO their dream of a fourth NCAA title.
“It’s nothing where he won’t be feeling great in four weeks with some rest,” coach Bill Self told the Kansas media Sunday evening. “But we don’t have four weeks.”
No, the Jayhawks have less than two weeks. And given the losses they’ve suffered against Kansas State, Okie State and West Virginia with Embiid out altogether or limited by the injury, it’s questionable just how far Kansas can advance without him.