Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Longhorns Preview
Where: Frank Erwin Center – Austin, TX
When: Saturday, February 25, 2017 – 6:00 PM ET
Line: Kansas Jayhawks vs Texas Longhorns – view all NCAAB lines
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Betting on the Kansas Jayhawks (25-3, 13-2 Big 12)
Point Spread: ALL GAME LINES HERE
With a record-tying 13th-straight Big 12 championship on the line Wednesday night, coach Bill Self’s boys responded like men. Kansas made quick work of TCU, 87-68, as they outscored the Horn Frogs by 18 points in the second half.
The Jayhawks, as usual, were led by their big three – Frank Mason’s 20 led all scorers, DeVonte Graham had 17 points and a game-high seven assists, and freshman Josh Jackson, who had an injury scare early in the game and successfully returned, provided another all-around stat line by tallying 15 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists.
As they look to sweep the season series against Texas for the third consecutive season, expect the trio to power the Big 12 champs. Mason (20.3 PPG) leads the conference in points, Jackson is fifth in the same list (16.5 PPG) and paces all Big 12 freshmen, and Graham ranks fourth in threes made (69) and second in assist-to-turnover ratio.
The strong offense of the ‘Hawks will easily be there (82.9 PPG, sixth overall in offensive efficiency), but don’t count out their team defense. They picked the Longhorns’ pockets 14 times (season-high) in the previous meeting, helping them pull out the 79-67 victory.
Kansas is 9-1 on the road this season (4-5-1 ATS).
Betting on the Texas Longhorns (10-18, 4-11 Big 12)
Point Spread: ALL GAME LINES HERE
Head coach Shaka Smart’s underwhelming “sophomore year” with the Longhorns continues. The 77-62 loss to West Virginia Monday night was their second-worst loss this season and fourth consecutive defeat.
With a horrid offense (288th in scoring, 181st in efficiency), their strength on the other side of the floor is their best trait, since they are the only team with a losing record to have a top 25-ranked defense.
In the Mountaineers game, however, defending became their bigger obstacle, and not offense. They let Jevon Carter score a season-high-tying 24 points and seldom-used Lamont West, who only averaged 5.7 points and 11.6 minutes per game coming in, drop career-highs of six treys and 23 points.
A lot will obviously have to be improved if they want to avoid another season sweep from the Jayhawks.
Offensively, Tevin Mack is the guy to watch out for, as he leads Texas in points (14.8 PPG) and threes, although their main man in the paint, Jarrett Allen (13.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.5 BPG), presents the similar type of scoring production. Allen filled up the stat sheet nicely in last month’s meeting with Kansas – 22 points, 19 rebounds, and three blocks. There is hope that he can have a repeat performance, with the visitors being a bit thin in bodies down low.
The Longhorns are 10-7 at home this season (9-8 ATS).
Writer’s Prediction
Kansas wins, 80-69.
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