Kansas
vs.
Oklahoma
College Basketball
Pick – Analysis
3/7/15
With the help of other Conference teams beating up on each other, Kansas has once again won the Big 12. After all, it will be their 11th straight title, an unprecedented number. One has to think, winning the best Conference in the country would mean a 1-seed. But not so fast.
The Jayhawks close the season with a difficult matchup at a hungry Oklahoma team coming off a disappointing result at Iowa State. At half time, the Sooners were up by 19 points against the Cyclones and then gave up 59 in the second half. While playing in Norman isn’t the same as LAwrence, the Sooners are still pretty tough to beat playing at home. Their only home loss this year was back on Jan. 10 in a surprising OT Game against Kansas State. Other than that, they’ve taken out the best of the Big 12 on their home cOurt.
Everyone knows about Kansas’ domination at home, but the reason they aren’t a 1-seed right now is because of their road woes. The Jayhawks have lost three of their last Four road Games, and their last two road wins have come against Texas Tech and TCU. Considering Oklahoma gave Kansas a nice test the first time around, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Sooners pulled off this win.
Oklahoma is still playing for a shot at a 3-seed and this Game will be vital to those chances. In the first meeting (Kansas won 85-78), Cliff Alexander was a huge difference maker off the bench going for 13 points and 13 rebounds. It’s unlikely he’ll even play in this Game, but that Game was his only double-double of the Conference season. Alexander only has 6 points and 12 rebounds in his last Four Games combined. Without Alexander being a factor, Kansas lacks a bit in the paint and Texas and West Virginia exposed that weakness in KU’s last two Games.
Perry Ellis was huge against the Longhorns going for 28 points and 13 boards, and he has been killing it lately, but expecting those kinds of numbers every Game is a stretch for him. Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, he picked up a knee injury in the first half on Tuesday and won’t play against Oklahoma. This is a huge blow for the Jayhawks.
Oklahoma will likely have the edge on the boards with TaShawn Thomas and Ryan Spangler doing work. Spangler will likely draw LAnden LUcas now, while Thomas will have Jamari Traylor. An even matchup has turned into a Sooners advantage without Ellis.
The battle of the backcOurts is probably one of the best, if not the best in the conference. The trio of Frank Mason, Wayne Selden and Kelly OUbre match up with Isaiah Cousins, Jordan Woodard and Buddy Hield.
The Sooners were able to claw back in the last meeting due to Hield and Cousins combining for 44 points. The Jayhawks trio went for 34 points, mainly because Selden struggled with just five to his name. That’s where Kansas will need more production if it wants to win on the road without Alexander or Ellis.
This is a tall order for the Jayhawks without Ellis, having to win at Oklahoma in their home finale. The fans will be pumped in Norman and while Oklahoma doesn’t have a ton of seniors, it’s not like they’ll take this Game lightly. Any time you have a shot to beat Kansas, you put everything into it and the Sooners will do just that.
Our Pick – Oklahoma by 10