Kansas needed three extra periods to put away Buddy Hield’s Oklahoma Sooners during their first meeting this season. Now, both programs are set to go head-to-head one more time and provide the entire basketball world another showdown for the ages. But this time, the Sooners will be the ones playing in front of their home crowd. Can the Sooners get their revenge? Or will the Jayhawks find a way to beat them again?
Let’s now take a comprehensive look at this massive Big 12 matchup. And if you’re craving for more college hoops action, check out our preview of the UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Oklahoma Sooners Preview
Where: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, Oklahoma
When: Saturday, February 13, 2:30 PM ET
Line: Kansas Jayhawks at Oklahoma Sooners– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Kansas Jayhawks (20-4, 8-3 Big 12)
In the face of tremendous pressure, the sixth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks were able to deliver the goods. They defeated No. 10 West Virginia on Tuesday night, during which Perry Ellis scored a game-high of 21 points and three assists to help his squad notch the entertaining 75-65 victory. But the unexpected hero of that night was none other than Landen Lucas, who arguably had his best game of the season.Lucas put up nine points, a career-high 16 rebounds and four blocks to make sure that the Jayhawks sustained their momentum before they travel to Norman for their highly-anticipated encounter with the No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners. Kansas is 5-5 SU and 6-4 ATS in its last 10 road games.
Needless to say, the Jayhawks are going to go all out on offense in this one. They have several scoring weapons in Ellis, Wayne Selden Jr. and Frank Mason III to lead them opposite an Oklahoma defense that’s giving up 71.4 points this season.
Ellis, who boasts team-bests of 16.9 points and 6.5 rebounds, is averaging almost 20 points per game in his previous five games. He also scored 27 points along with 13 boards in their first meeting with the Sooners on January 4.
Selden Jr. and Mason III, meanwhile, have been making their marks in several ways, as they are tallying 27.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.2 assists combined this year.
Defensively, though, the Jayhawks need to be very wary of Buddy Hield. He exploded for 46 points on them last month and has been imposing his will in almost every game. It’s a good thing that Kansas’ defense has been really sturdy lately, yielding just 60.0 points in its last three games.
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Betting on the Oklahoma Sooners (16-2, 5-2 Big 12)
After a surprising loss to Kansas State, the third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners quickly got back on track by edging past No. 24 Texas on Monday night, 63-60. It was indeed a hard-fought game for the Sooners, who were able to rally back from a 31-22 first half deficit thanks to the heroics of Buddy Hield.
Hield went 7-of-18 from the field for a game-high 27 points to go along with five rebounds and two assists. But his biggest play of the game was when he nailed the game-winning three-pointer from the left wing with just 1.3 seconds remaining on the clock.
Moving forward, the Sooners will now strive to build on this momentum when they play host to the No. 6 Kansas Jayhawks. Oklahoma is 10-0 SU and 4-6 ATS in its past 10 home games.
Expect Hield to continue piling up the points again. He’s not the country’s second-leading scorer (25.7 PPG) for nothing. Hield will be set to test a Jayhawks defense that is giving up 68.6 points per game this season.
Apart from him, the duo of Isaiah Cousins and Jordan Woodard should be tough covers for Kansas. Both are putting up around 13 points per game and are shooting 46.8% and 48.6% from three-point territory.
Defense, however, will arguably be of utmost importance for the Sooners. They’ll be matching up against one of the best offensive teams in the nation. The Jayhawks are averaging 81.2 points per game.
Writer’s Prediction
Oklahoma wins it in overtime, 88-82.
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