BeeJay Anya is considering 16 schools, including Final Four members Ohio State, Kansas, Louisville.

“I’m just trying to take it one step at a time right now,” Anya said.

The 6-foot-9, 270-pound Anya is also looking at Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Rutgers, Memphis, UCLA, Arizona, Indiana, Notre Dame, Seton Hall and DePaul.

He is considered a top-20 prospect in the class of 2013.

Deshaun Thomas is averaging a team-high 21.8 points per game during the NCAA tournament.

 “When you’ve got a guy who’s averaging 22 a game for your team, going into the season you would think that’s for sure Jared Sullinger, and it’s not. It’s the guy who opens things up for Jared Sullinger,” KU coach Bill Self said of Thomas. “And that’s what makes me, you know, as worried as anything, is how do you give one guy all the attention where another guy’s getting 22 a game?”

Self has at times used a triangle-and-two defense to make non-shooters take shots, but Ohio State’s offensive weapons render that strategy untenable.

“We’re going to have to defend all five spots,” Self said. “That’s one of the biggest challenges, especially when they have a four-man who’s red-hot right now and can stretch it.”

Kansas assistant Danny Manning is expected to be named Tulsa’s next head coach. The two sides had yet to reach an agreement on the length of the contract

“I’ll comment: ‘not done deal,’’’ Jayhawks head coach Bill Self said. “He’s had talks with them and interviewed. I know that he was very encouraged and excited about the prospect of it. It’s not done. It’s not done, but there are talks going on. Who knows what will happen next?”

Manning has been an assistant coach on Self’s staff since 2007.

Isaiah Cousins, a 6-foot-4 combo guard from Mount Vernon, NY, has committed to Oklahoma.

Cousins chose the Sooners over Rhode Island, Dayton, Xavier and Virginia Tech.

He averaged 16 points as Mount Vernon's point guard as a senior last season.

Bill Self pointed to something intangible as the reason for his team’s success.

“It’s unbelievable to me how much these guys enjoy competing,” Self said. “The longer they compete with each other, the more they like each other. We’ve had some close teams in the past, but I don’t think we’ve had a team this close.

“There is something about this team and how they get on each other and hold each other accountable. Only teams that really care about each other do those things. It sounds easy in theory, but unless you really love your brother next to you, you’re not going to jump his butt when he does wrong. These guys hold each other pretty accountable.”

Team chemistry has helped Kansas survive its first three tourney games — over Purdue (63-60), North Carolina State (60-57) and North Carolina (80-67), Self indicated.

“These guys, I don’t know if ‘cocky’ is the right word, but they’ve got something about them right now that they just think they can rely on someone to make a play,” Self said.

Alex Oriakhi received his official release from UConn, which means he can begin talking to prospective schools.

North Carolina, Missouri and Duke are among the teams that have reached out to Oriakhi, who averaged a career-low 21.5 minutes and 4.8 rebounds per game as a junior.

He will not consider Duke, according to a source.

Shabazz Muhammad seems to have narrowed his college choices.

“I’m considering five but there are three that [stand out],” Muhammad announced.

UCLA, Duke, and Kentucky (in no order) have put themselves in the forefront, with Kansas and UNLV rounding out the top five.

Muhammad is expected to announce his decision on April 11 — the first day of the spring signing period which runs through May 16.

Myck Kabongo has decided not to enter the NBA draft and will return to Texas next season.

"I'm more than excited about being here next year," Kabongo told the Longhorn Network. "I think that being at Texas is the best thing for me.

"It's about being ready. I want to be someone who is ready to play and contribute at the next level.”

Kabongo averaged 9.6 points, 3 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.

He was projected as a late first to early second round pick.

Frank Martin will leave Kansas State to become the next head coach of South Carolina.

South Carolina is replacing Darrin Horn after a 10 win season.

Kansas shifted into a triangle-and-two defense near the 8-minute mark of its 80-67 Midwest Regional final win over the Tar Heels.

“Everywhere you went, there was help defense right there and ready,” Harrison Barnes said. “I remember the one time: I caught it on the left wing, pump fake, Travis Releford goes in the air. I take one dribble and Elijah Johnson or Tyshawn Taylor is right there.”

North Carolina went scoreless over the final five minutes as the Jayhawks ended the game on 12-0 run.

“I don’t know what they were playing,” said John Henson, who had just four of his 10 points after halftime. “But they sagged the big man into the lane. And I think that really disoriented our offense.”

Barnes indicated that the North Carolina players didn’t know that the triangle-and-two scheme was part of Kansas’ defense repertoire.

“They haven’t done it in the past,” said Barnes, who finished with 13 points while missing all five of his three-point attempts. “But they tried it out against us.”