Preview: Kansas

Vitals

Tip: 3:00 PM
Location: Lawrence, KS
TV: Big 12 Network
Online Stream: here
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Online radio: here
Announcers: Dave Armstrong and Chris Piper
Line: Jayhawks -9.5

Records

Cowboys – 14-5 (4-3)
Jayhawks – 19-1 (7-0)

Best win

Cowboys – NC State (KenPom: #36)
Cyclones – Ohio St. (KenPom: #11)

Worst loss

Cowboys – Virginia Tech (KenPom: #158)
Jayhawks – Michigan St. (KenPom: #16)

KenPom rank

Cowboys – #21
Jayhawks – #7

Data nerds

[table id=89 /]

Adj. efficiency – Points per 100 possessions (adjusted for quality of opponent and site of game).
Adj. tempo – Possessions per game (adjusted for schedule and pace of other team).
Effective FG % – Takes into account extra value of 3s.

Three things to watch

1. McLemore-Smart showdown – It’s going to be fantastic. They probably won’t guard each other (Markel will likely be on McLemore) but to watch two of the three best freshmen in the Big 12 go at it on a Saturday afternoon in Phog Allen…there’s nothing better.

2. Rock/hard place – OSU is one for its last 21 on the road. Kansas has more Big 12 titles (8) than home losses (7) under Self. Not sure what else to tell you there.

3. No turnovers – What does KU not do well? Besides nothing? But where can you exploit them? You can’t, really, but one place they semi-struggle is creating turnovers on defense. They’re actually one of the worst teams in the nation at this. And thankfully, other than Withey, they don’t particularly grab offensive rebounds that well (144th in the country). If OSU can hit some shots (and I’m talking like Markel and Forter combine to go 14-20 from three) then OSU can win today.

Prediction

KyPort: Jayhawks – 72-68
KenPom: Jayhawks 67-58