The No. 17 Kansas Jayhawks tip off against the Texas Longhorns at the Sprint Center in a Big 12 quarterfinal. Texas had a rough end to its regular season, dropping four of its last five games, while Kansas won six of its last eight. The Jayhawks and Longhorns split their two-game season series, each earning a home win, and Kansas is a 3-point favorite tonight with the total Sportsbook at 137 points.
Standout Stats
- As mentioned above, Texas stumbled in the latter stages of the regular season, going 2-4 SU but 4-2 ATS with an average losing margin of 8.75, while Kansas went 6-2 SU and 4-3-1 ATS in its last eight games with an average winning margin of 11.67. The Longhorns were edged 80-78 at the Allen Fieldhouse by the Jayhawks on January 14 but earned revenge with a 73-63 win at the Frank Erwin Center later that month.
- The OVER has been the bet to make for these two teams recently with Texas going OVER in four of its last seven contests and Kansas going OVER in eight of its last 10. Of the Longhorns’ last seven matches, two went OVER 137 points, while eight of the Jayhawks’ last 10 went OVER 137. In their two meetings this season, they played to combined scores of 158 and 136 points.
- The Jayhawks have the 84th-ranked offense in the nation, chipping in 75.6 ppg, which is better than the Longhorns, who are rated 198th at 71.2 ppg. However, defensively, Texas ranks 55th with 67.1 ppg allowed and Kansas ranks 129th by surrendering 70.1 ppg. Kansas will be without its top two scorers in Udoka Azubuike and Lagerald Vick. Azubuike has been out since January and Vick missed the last eight contests of the year.
- Texas aims to fill up the basket from beyond the arc, while Kansas elects to get its offense from two-point range. The Longhorns get 35.9 percent of their scoring from long range, which is the 77th-highest percentage in college hoops, and the Jayhawks get 52.2 percent of their offense inside the arc, which is the 88th-highest percentage. Defensively, Texas is rated at 39th in opponent two-point percentage at 46.6 and Kansas sits 126th in opponent three-point percentage at 33.7.
- Kansas has had some difficulties protecting the ball, averaging 13.4 turnovers per game to rank 214th, while Texas allows 11.1 giveaways per game, the 34th-fewest in college hoops. Meanwhile, on the glass, Kansas has the edge in grabbing rebounds, but Texas does a better job limiting its foes’ boards.
My Best Bet for Texas vs Kansas
Texas +3
Texas is getting a boost offensively as senior guard Kerwin Roach II is back tonight from a suspension while Kansas is without its second-best scorer in Lagerald Vick, who averaged 15.5 points in the two games vs Texas, including a game-high 21 in the 80-78 win. The Jayhawks have a better offense and the Longhorns have a better defense but I think these teams are equally matched, so I will take the underdog.
