Despite an upset loss to Baylor in their first Big 12 tournament game and a 19-point loss at Texas Tech the week before that, the 10-point favored Jayhawks were regular season champions. Their last five games include victories at Oklahoma and at home against Missouri and Texas, after losing all five starters from last year’s title-winning team.

No. 14 seeds were 17-96 in the history of the NCAA tournament before this year, with Northwestern State’s win over Iowa in 2006 the most recent success.

The Jayhawks have a 15-6 lead in the series, including an 84-74 victory in their last meeting in the 2008 Big 12 championship game. The Longhorns took the last regular-season meeting, 72-69 in Austin on Feb. 11, 2008.

Texas controls their own destiny on Saturday as far as keeping their season alive. A win in Lawrence may not be absolutely necessary to reach the NCAA tournament, but it would remove all doubt.

Can the Longhorns make up for an inconsistent season with a big win?

Don't expect another loss like that, but the Red Raiders will be in tough despite playing at home. Texas Tech has dropped six straight for the first time since losing seven in a row in 2001. The Red Raiders lost their third straight at home Saturday, 78-63 to Oklahoma.

Texas Tech has won the last two meetings with Kansas at United Spirit Arena, but has lost 17 of 20 all-time against the Jayhawks.

Bettors may want to lean towards the Red Raiders. The home team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings between these teams. Head over to the Bodog Sportsbook for all of your NCAA lines.

Last year’s handicapper heroes from Kansas have taken a step back from their Orange Bowl-winning effort. While the Jayhawks (6-4 SU, 5-4 ATS) are still a dangerous team under coach Mark Mangino, Kansas is just 0-4 SU and 2-2 ATS as an underdog this year. The ‘Hawks are 13.5-point home dogs (-115) this Saturday.

This will be only the ninth matchup between the two Big 12 clubs since 1901. Kansas won the first two games, but is 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS since the conference was founded in 1994. Get your NCAA football odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.

The Jayhawks are 9-point favorites at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. Before coach Mark Mangino arrived in time for the 2002 campaign, the Jayhawks were the dregs of the Big 12 and were regularly pummeled by K-State. No longer – Kansas is 3-1 SU and ATS in the last four contests.

The Wildcats are getting just 3.9 yards per carry this year without tailback James Johnson, who graduated, and Leon Patton, who was kicked off the team last month. Their air attack is still potent with QB Josh Freeman (15 TDs, five INTs), and their awful defense allows 31.4 points per game.

"You brought new glory to one of our nation's most storied basketball programs, and you gave your fans all across America one more reason to chant: Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!," Bush said.

Kansas topped Memphis in an NCAA tournament where four No. 1s made it to the Final Four for the first time ever.

"I know you got to be excited about winning an incredibly tough tournament," the president said. "And your fans are excited, and I'm excited to welcome you to the Rose Garden. It's a big deal, as far as I'm concerned, to welcome KU to the Rose Garden."

After the Rose Garden ceremony Bush then led the Jayhawks on a tour of the Oval Office.

The NBA finals start Thursday at 6:05 p.m. ET. Get your NBA odds in the Bodog Sportsbook!

Kansas coach Bill Self decided to stay with the Jayhawks after winning a national title. (AP Images)

There was speculation that Kansas basketball coach Bill Self had interest in taking a job with Oklahoma State's program, but he ended those rumors Thursday when he told ESPN.com that he turned the job down.

"I couldn't see leaving this place," Self said, his Jayhawks just grabbed the national title for the first time in 20 years. "This is where we want to be."

According to ESPN, Self said he spoke with Oklahoma State athletics director Mike Holder on Wednesday night and was asked if he would be interested.

Self plans on working out a long-term contract with Kansas but is still reeling at the Jayhawks' improbable NCAA tournament.

"I'm still in shock about how we won," Self said. "I'm most proud we made so many plays under pressure."

Did you love the NCAA tournament? Well some more playoff basketball is starting soon. Get your NBA odds in the Bodog Sportsbook!

In case you missed it last night, here's Luther Vandross and One Shining Moment, saluting the 2008 Kansas Jayhawks, men's college basketball national champions.

Kansas guard Mario Chalmers, the most outstanding player of the 2008 NCAA tournament final, celebrates after nailing a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. (AP Images)

The experts doubted the Memphis Tigers all season long. They said they couldn't hit free throws… and they were right.

On Monday night in San Antonio, Memphis missed four of its last five free-throw attempts in the second half to allow Kansas junior Mario Chalmers to nail a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining and send the NCAA tournament final into overtime.

The Jayhawks went on to claim their fifth NCAA men's basketball national championship – their third in the tournament – with a 75-68 victory. Chalmers was named the game's most outstanding player for his last-gasp shot, part of a 16-point performance.

Darrell Arthur was the leading scorer for the two-point underdog Jayhawks, pouring in 20 points on 9-for-13 shooting. Arthur also pulled down 10 rebounds.

"We made so many plays down the stretch," Kansas coach Bill Self said after the game, growing emotional as he thanked the fans for all their support.

Freshman guard Derrick Rose led the way for Memphis, scoring 18 points and grabbing six boards. Two of his points were a result of a miraculous shot off the glass with just over four minutes to play and the shot clock expired.

Chris Douglas-Roberts also factored in the game, scoring a game-high 22 points for the Tigers. However, three big misses from the charity stripe are no doubt the things he'll remember most.

Memphis big man Joey Dorsey fouled out late in the second half, giving Kansas a big edge in the paint during the extra frame.

Derrick Rose and the Memphis Tigers look for the first National Title in program history tonight. (AP Images)

Two No. 1 seeds will dance for it all this evening as the Memphis Tigers take on the Kansas Jayhawks in a highly-anticipated NCAA championship final game.

Memphis has been led throughout the tourney by the fantastic guard play of Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts. The pair were outstanding in the national semifinal vs. UCLA, dominating the Bruins' duo of Darren Collison and Russell Westbrook.

Kansas, however, did much of the same to the vaunted Carolina backcourt in the other national semifinal. Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers continued to do the business on the defensive end of the court, limiting Ty Lawson and Marcus Gineyard to a mere nine points between them.

What does it mean? It's going to be a real battle at the one and two spots and the game will probably be decided on the perimeter. Currently, Kansas is a +2-point underdog, +110 on the moneyline. Total is currently set at 148, a high but not impossible number to reach given the explosive offensive weapons on both teams.

Some betting trends to consider:

• Kansas is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
• Memphis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
• Kansas: 36-3 SU, 20-15-2 ATS
• Memphis: 38-1 SU, 20-19 ATS

NCAA Basketball Betting!