No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 7 Wichita State Shockers Predictions, Pick and Preview – March Madness Round of 32 – March 22, 2015

Big 12 teams took a beating on Thursday, going 0-3 in the second round of the national tournament. The Kansas Jayhawks made sure the madness stopped on Friday as they brushed aside the New Mexico State Aggies in a lopsided 19-point victory in the round of 64. They will look to carry the momentum from that huge win in the third round where they’ll next face crosstown rivals Wichita State.

Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this Midwest Regional showdown and while you’re at it, you can check out our third-round previews of Notre Dame vs. Butler and UCLA vs. UAB.
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March Madness No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 7 Wichita State Shockers Preview

Where: CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha

When: Sunday, March 22, 5:15 PM ET

Line: Kansas Jayhawks (-1.5) vs. Wichita State Shockers (+1.5); total: 134.5 – view all March Madness lines

Betting on the Kansas Jayhawks

Kansas barged into the third round of the national tournament with a resounding 75-56 win Friday over the New Mexico State Aggies. The Jayhawks finally snapped out of their horrible shooting slump to grab the precious win and seal a date with Wichita State in the round of 32.

[sc:NCAAB240banner ]The Jayhawks sizzled from beyond the arc, nailing 9 of 13 three-pointers (69.2%) against the Aggies. It was their best shooting night from the three-point-area since burying 71.4% of their three-point attempts against Virginia back in November 1996. It was a welcome relief for head coach Bill Self to see his side clicking from the perimeter once again as the Jayhawks had shot just 19.3% from three-point range in their previous seven games.

Frank Mason III starred for the Jayhawks in this game, scoring 17 points on 6 of 7 shooting from the field including a perfect 2 of 2 from beyond the arc. He led a balanced Kansas attack which saw 10 different players score. The Jayhawks are 30th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 111.3 points per 100 possessions this season.

They have a battle in their hands, though, in the next round as they’ll face the defensive-minded Wichita State Shockers. The Shockers are 15th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing just 93.1 points per 100 possessions this season.

With such a tough defensive team to contend with, the Jayhawks need to sustain their balanced offense to constantly keep the Shockers guessing. Aside from Mason, Perry Ellis (13.8 PPG), Wayne Selden Jr. (9.8 PPG) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (9.3 PPG) can all score their fair share of points. They combined for 23 points in the win over New Mexico State.

The Jayhawks are 6-4 SU and 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games.

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Betting on the Wichita State Shockers

The long wait is finally over.

It has been 22 long years since rivals Kansas and Wichita State last squared off in a meaningful basketball game. The Shockers made sure fans of both teams won’t have to wait any longer, sealing the much-anticipated Sunflower State showdown with an 81-76 victory over Indiana on Friday in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Fred Van Vleet led the Shockers against Indiana, putting up 27 points, four assists and two rebounds. Van Vleet has been a vital cog in Wichita State’s success this season, averaging 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and a team-best 5.3 assists per game. He is also a pesky defender, leading the team in steals with 1.8 swipes per game.

His backcourt partner Ron Baker (15.0 PPG) contributed on the offensive end as well, netting 15 points. The Shockers’ leading scorer struggled from the field, however, shooting just 3 of 13 including 0 for 5 from beyond the arc.

The Shockers need Baker to recover his shooting touch quickly as they’ll next face one of the best defensive teams in the nation today in the Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas is ninth in adjusted defensive efficiency, allowing just 90.9 points per 100 possessions this season.

For Wichita State to stand a chance against Kansas, they need to continue their aggressiveness in attacking the basket. Wichita State outscored Indiana, 44-24, inside the paint. The main difference in the game, however, was in the free throw line where the Shockers scored a season-high 29 points.

The Shockers made 85.3% (29 of 34) of their free throws against the Hoosiers, their third-highest percentage this season. Baker stepped up big time down the stretch in that department, shooting 7 of 8 from the free throw line in the final two minutes.

Wichita State is 9-1 SU and 6-3-1 ATS in its last 10 games.

Writer’s Prediction

Wichita State (+1.5) stuns Kansas, 75-70.
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