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Foul trouble for Elijah Johnson begins with cheap shot on Mitch McGary

Kansas point guard Elijah Johnson connected with a shot early in the first half of Friday's Sweet 16 matchup with Michigan.

Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, it wasn't what they had in mind.

Johnson hit 6-foot-10 Michigan freshman Mitch McGary with a cheap shot below the belt as the Wolverines inbounded the ball less than two minutes into the game. Referees reviewed the play and assessed a flagrant 1 foul to Johnson, a somewhat lenient ruling considering replays appeared to suggest the low blow was intentional.

The flagrant foul was the start of a nightmarish first half for Johnson.

The Kansas point guard had to sit after committing his second foul on a charge with 16:43 left in the first half. Coach Bill Self showed confidence in the senior by reinserting him back into the game midway through the first half, but Johnson picked up a third personal foul mere seconds later.

TBS analyst Steve Kerr's simple explanation? "Karma," Kerr said.