Norm Roberts identifies challenge in defending national championship

As the NCAA Tournament gets set to start, few teams will have as big a target on their back as Kansas. The defending national champion and a No. 1 seed, everyone will be gunning for the Jayhawks.

But most probably wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s the approach interim coach Norm Roberts is taking.

“It is difficult, but you know the tough thing is that when you’re at Kansas — I shouldn’t say the tough thing, the good thing is when you are at Kansas you are always getting everybody’s best shot every time you play,” Roberts said. “So it’s just added on to us being national champions and those type of things.”

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Kansas has been excellent this season, though it wasn’t competing at full strength by season’s end.

In the Big 12 Tournament title game, guard Kevin McCullar was limited due to back spasms. He’s expected to be back after practicing just fine on Wednesday.

As far as the expectations of the defending national champion, Kansas isn’t doing a whole lot of talking about those. It’s time to get down to business.

“We haven’t talked about that a ton,” Roberts said. “What we have talked about is staying in the moment and playing for now. This is a different team. What we accomplished last year was fantastic. We enjoy it. We’re honored by it but we understand it’s a whole new situation.”

Jalen Wilson dishes on lofty expectations

Perhaps taking his cue from his interim coach, Kansas star Jalen Wilson talked about what it’s like to enter the tournament as a No. 1 seed and the defending national champion.

He knows the road to a second straight title won’t be easy, and Kansas’ opponents will likely give them everything they have. He stressed the importance of taking things one weekend at a time as the team begins its quest.

“It’s a blessing to be back here as a No. 1 seed,” Wilson said. “I don’t think anyone really is looking at it as us repeating. I think it’s us going to win it again. As far as this is something for us. To do that is going to take us winning two games at a time, each weekend, and understand every game is going to be a battle, no matter who we’re playing. Just appreciate the moment that we’re in. Doesn’t come too often that you’re a No. 1 seed so it’s great to have this opportunity in front of us and to go do it.”