UCLA vs. Kansas Preview
LAWRENCE, KS (AP) – Kansas and UCLA are two of the most successful programs in college basketball history. So far, the fourth-ranked Jayhawks have enjoyed far more success than the Bruins in 2010-11.
Kansas looks to extend the nation’s longest home winning streak to 64 on Thursday night in a Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series matchup against UCLA, which is trying to avoid a third straight defeat.
With 2,009 victories, the Jayhawks rank third in Division I history, 320 ahead of eighth-place UCLA. The Bruins, meanwhile, have appeared in 17 Final Fours and have won a record 11 NCAA titles.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook SBGGlobal.com have made Kansas –16.5 point spread favorites for Thursday’s game against UCLA. Current College Basketball Public Betting Information shows that 75% of more than 194 bets for this game have been placed on Kansas -16.5.
After last season’s upset loss to Northern Iowa in the second round of the NCAA tournament, Kansas hopes it is on its way toward the program’s 14th Final Four.
The Jayhawks (6-0) lead the nation in scoring margin at 35.3 points are shooting a Division I-best 57.8 percent from the field with 22.0 assists per game.
“They’re way up there (in the rankings) and rightfully so,” said UCLA coach Ben Howland. “(Kansas coach Bill Self has) done a fantastic job with that program.”
Self’s team has been especially strong at Allen Fieldhouse, where the Jayhawks have won 63 straight since a 69-66 loss to then-No. 10 Texas A&M on Feb. 3, 2007.
“That’s a lot of wins in a row at home,” Howland said. “Obviously, it’s a great venue. They have unbelievable fan support. It’s very loud.”
The Bruins (3-2) will have far more to worry about than Jayhawks fans. Kansas junior forward Marcus Morris, the reigning Big 12 player of the week, could present a tough matchup for Bruins sophomore forwards Reeves Nelson and Tyler Honeycutt.
Morris, averaging a career-high 19.0 points with 6.3 rebounds, scored 42 points and grabbed 17 boards in wins over Ohio and Arizona last week, leading Kansas to its second Las Vegas Invitational championship in five years.
“I thought I played well,” Morris, the tournament MVP, said after Saturday’s 87-79 win over Arizona. “I had a couple of good games early in the tourney, but a few players could have got the award. I’m proud of my teammates. They stepped up and made some big shots.”
Morris’ twin brother Markieff is averaging 12.3 points with a team-high 9.5 rebounds.
Markieff Morris led then-No. 1 Kansas with 19 points off the bench in a 73-61 victory at UCLA on Dec. 6, 2009. Marcus Morris added four points and nine boards as the Jayhawks won for the fifth time in their last seven meetings with the Bruins.
Honeycutt, who returned from injury to make his collegiate debut in last season’s matchup, equaled a career high with 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Friday’s 89-85 loss to Virginia Commonwealth in the third-place game of the NIT Season Tip-Off in New York.
“We got off to a poor start fueled by some really bad shots,” said Howland, whose team trailed by 15 at halftime in a 82-70 loss to then-No. 7 Villanova in the semifinals Nov. 24. “We were fighting uphill the whole way.”
Still, Nelson recorded his fourth straight double-double Friday with 20 points and 10 boards. He had a career-best six offensive rebounds in last season’s loss to Kansas.
“Nelson and Honeycutt are off to a great start,” Self said. “… It will be a game where there are very few easy baskets. I’m excited and our guys will be excited about playing arguably as storied of a basketball program as there is in the country.”
UCLA, 10-5 all-time versus Kansas, lost 87-70 in its last game in Lawrence on Dec. 21, 2002.
Want More From TheSpread.com? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook or Subscribe to Our News Feeds!