The hunt for the national title continue for the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks and the No. 5 Maryland Terrapins after they repulsed their respective opponents in the Round of 32. One team’s title dreams, however, is about to end on Thursday as Bill Self’s and Mark Turgeon’s boys collide in what should be an entertaining matchup between two of the highest scoring teams in the nation.
Read on below for a detailed preview of this contest. You can also click here for our preview of No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 5 Indiana.
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March Madness No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 5 Maryland Preview
Where: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville
When: Thursday, March 24, 9:40 PM ET
Line: Kansas Jayhawks (-7) vs. Maryland Terrapins (+7); total: 145.5 – view all March Madness lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
Betting on the Kansas Jayhawks
No. 1 overall seed Kansas barged into the third round of the NCAA tournament with a convincing 73-61 win over Connecticut on Saturday. It was a dominating performance by the reigning Big 12 champions who handed Kevin Ollie his first NCAA tournament loss as head coach of the Huskies.
Selden is finally living up to his promise after struggling over his first four NCAA tournament games. Selden, who averaged just 2.5 points per game the past two NCAA tournaments, is lighting it up in this year’s Big Dance. He’s averaging 18 points in this NCAA Tournament thus far. Ellis is another player who’s playing some solid basketball of late. He has now scored 20-plus points in six of his last seven games.
The Jayhawks will need more of the same from their two stars if they are to beat Maryland this coming Friday. Bill Self’s men will have their work cut out for them, however, against a Maryland defense that’s allowing just 66.5 points per game this season, 49th in the entire nation. That won’t faze the Jayhawks, though, who are 11th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 118.7 points per 100 possessions this season.
Kansas is 10-0 SU and 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games.
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Betting on the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament with a 73-60 victory over No. 13 seed Hawaii on Sunday night. Four starters scored in double figures for the Terrapins who booked a Sweet 16 showdown with top-seeded Kansas.
Melo Trimble erupted for a game-high 24 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field. His lone three-pointer in the second half helped trigger a 14-0 run that swung the game in Maryland’s favor. It has been that way all season for the Terrapins who have relied on the offensive brilliance of Trimble to get them through this campaign. Trimble leads Maryland not only in scoring (14.5 PPG), but also in assists (5.0 APG) and steals (1.3 SPG) as well.
That being said, the Terrapins are not just a one-man team. Four other players are averaging in double-figures for Maryland this season, namely Diamond Stone (12.6 PPG), Robert Carter (12.6 PPG), Jake Layman (11.7 PPG) and Rasheed Sulaimon (11.0 PPG). Thanks to their talented starting lineup, the Terrapins have become one of the best offensive teams in the country. According to KenPom.com, they are 24th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 113.9 points per 100 possessions this season.
They have a battle in their hands, though, in the next round as they have to deal with the length and size of No. 1 Kansas. The Jayhawks have used those advantages to the hilt this season, particularly on the defensive end. They are fifth in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing just 92.2 points per 100 possessions this season.
For the Terrapins to unlock such a rock-solid defense, it’s vital that they knock down their outside shots. Maryland had difficulty with the three-ball in the game against Hawaii, shooting just 1-of-18 from beyond the arc. The Terrapins are 48th in the nation in three-point percentage, nailing 37.4 percent of their long bombs this season.
The Terrapins are 5-5 SU and 4-5-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
Writer’s Prediction
Kansas (-7) eases past Maryland, 82-71.
