No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 16 UC Davis Preview
Where: Bank of Oklahoma Center – Tulsa, Oklahoma
When: Friday, March 17, 2017, 6:55 PM ET
Line: Kansas Jayhawks (-23.5) vs. UC Davis Aggies (+23.5); total: 145.5 – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Writer’s Prediction: Kansas Jayhawks (-23.5)
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Betting on the Kansas Jayhawks (-23.5)
Kansas had another terrific season, one which brought about a record-tying 13th-consecutive Big 12 regular season title. They went out in the very first round of the Big 12 tournament, but they were without star freshman Josh Jackson due to suspension in their loss to TCU.
That loss snapped the Jayhawks’ 12-game winning streak to end the regular season. But despite their constant winning, they were involved in way too many close games throughout the year and haven’t been very reliable against the spread. They’ve gone just 7-12-1 against the spread in their last 20 games.
However, you’d still figure Kansas shouldn’t have too many problems advancing past UC Davis. The trio of Frank Mason (21 PPG, 5 APG), Devonte Graham (13 PPG, 4.3 APG), and Jackson (16 PPG, 7 RPG) has delivered the goods all season long against top competition. Mason and Graham form arguably the best backcourt in the country with their talent and experience. They won’t be easily rattled.
The Jayhawks have one of the top offenses in the country – they’re ranked No. 9 in efficiency – and should be able to score enough to pull away from a UC Davis team that just struggles to put points on the board.
Betting on the UC Davis Aggies (+23.5)
The UC Davis Aggies just about survived their First Four matchup with North Carolina Central as they escaped with a 67-63 win – their first ever NCAA Tournament victory. Big man Chima Moneke led the Aggies with 18 points and 12 boards, while guards Brynton Lemar and Lawrence White had 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Despite shooting 46 percent from the field against NC Central, UC Davis doesn’t have a particularly prolific or efficient offense. They averaged 70 points per game (240th in the country) and ranked 291st in offensive efficiency during the regular season.
The Aggies don’t have the shooters to rain down 3s, but they are aggressive in driving inside and getting to the paint. That’s why they’re one of the leaders in getting to the free throw line at 23 per game. They went 18-of-22 from the line against NC Central, which is a bit of an outlier since they shot just 66 percent on the season.
Kansas doesn’t have a lot of size or depth up front, so Moneke has a chance to do some damage down low. And if the Aggies can get Kansas big man Landen Lucas in foul trouble, their chances of staying within striking distance should improve significantly.
Writer’s Prediction
Kansas (-23.5) takes care of business with a big first-round win over UC Davis.
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