After a challenging end to their season, the Kansas men's basketball team has discovered their opponent for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks, seeded No. 4, will go head-to-head against No. 13 Samford at Salt Lake City's Delta Center on Thursday.

If they emerge victorious, Kansas will then face the winner between No. 5 Gonzaga and No. 12 McNeese just two days later. The tournament game will take place in the Midwest Region, and if the Jayhawks manage to progress beyond the first two rounds, they will be playing their Sweet 16 and potentially Elite Eight games in Detroit.

Kansas has previous experience playing in Salt Lake City during the 2018-19 season. The team comfortably defeated Northeastern in their opening game but ultimately suffered a loss to Auburn, who eventually made it all the way to the Final Four.

Having recently suffered a defeat to Cincinnati in the Big 12 Conference tournament, the Jayhawks are striving to bounce back stronger in the NCAA Tournament. With a season record of 22-10, this marks the fourth time under the leadership of Coach Bill Self that Kansas has secured a No. 4 seed, the first since their impressive run in the 2018-19 season.

On the other side, Samford enters the tournament with an impressive record of 29-5, having emerged victorious in both their conference's regular-season and tournament championships. This marks their third appearance in March Madness after their inclusions in 1999 and 2000.

As the tournament approaches, Kansas is hopeful for the return of injured players, Kevin McCullar Jr. with a knee bruise, and Hunter Dickinson, who suffered a dislocated shoulder. The team aims to have both players back at full strength as they embark on their journey in the NCAA Tournament.

The Jayhawks and the Bulldogs are set to clash on Thursday, marking the beginning of what will surely be an intense and thrilling tournament for both teams.