Jayhawks to outrace Huskies?
Riding a five-game winning streak, can UConn parlay its late-season surge into an upset victory over top overall seed Kansas?
Oddsmakers seem skeptical. The Jayhawks are designated as 8-point favorites by online sports book Bovada.lv entering tonight’s 6:45 p.m. clash in the South Region.
KU smashed No. 16 seed Austin Peay, 105-79, on Thursday. Senior forward Perry Ellis scored 21 points as Bill Self’s squad shot 56 percent overall.
While the Jayhawks have claimed 15 in a row, though, the Huskies are enjoying their own torrid stretch. That continued in their 74-67 first-round triumph over Colorado. UConn loves to play an inside-out game, as evidenced by its top-10 two-point percentage defense while also ranking 14th in block percentage.
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Unfortunately, Kansas is more than willing to play that game. Junior Landen Lucas has even come on in recent weeks to supplement Ellis’ mammoth post production, and that doesn’t even begin to touch on the prolific backcourt tandem of Frank Mason and Devonte’ Graham.
The X-factor here: Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie has never lost in seven tourney games. But while his program is riding an indisputable wave of momentum, the Jayhawks’ undeniable talent advantage will win out – and big.
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