Big 12 Championship Game
Texas Longhorns vs Kansas Jayhawks
Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
Saturday, March 12, 2011, 6:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Kansas -4
Current Line: Kansas -4 1/2
Opening Total: 141
Current Total: 139 1/2
Money Line: Kansas -210 / Texas +175
Texas has never won the Big 12 tournament. They are 0-5 in championship games, including 3 straight losses to Kansas in the final from 2006-08. Both of these teams are ranked in the top 10. Kansas is almost assured of a#1 seed win or lose. Texas needs to win this game and get some help to get a 1 seed. However Texas will be no lower than a 2 or a 3 seed. Kansas is 31-2 overall and finished 14-2 in the Big 12 to win the conference title. Kansas has won 7 straight games including 63-62 over Oklahoma St in the Big 12 quarterfinals and 90-83 over Colorado yesterday in the semifinals. Texas is 27-6 overall and finished 13-3 in the Big 12, a game behind Kansas. A late season stretch where Texas lost 3 out of 4 games to Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas St cost the Longhorns the regular season title.They have won 3 straight since then including a 74-54 win over Oklahoma in the quarters and 70-58 over Texas A&M in the semifinals.
These two teams played only once this season, January 22 in Lawrence. Kansas jumped out to a 15 point at one point, but the Jayhawks ran out of gas and Texas stormed back to win 74-63. The night before that game Kansas forward Thomas Robinson’s mother passed away. Robinson had also lost both his grandparents in the previous month. The whole Kansas team stayed up all night with Robinson to console him the night before the Texas game. Kansas coach Bill Self was upset when this story came out because it sounded like the Jayhawks were making excuses for losing to the Longhorns. Kansas leads the overall series 17-7, and thy have won 6 out of the last 8 games. Kansas has won and covered 2 of the last 3 games in the series. Two of those three went under the total.
Texas has no significant injuries right now. Texas is led by guard/forward Jordan Hamilton. Hamilton is averaging 18.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists a game. He is the leading scorer for the Longhorns and also is shooting 39.8% from 3-point range. Forward Tristan Thompson averages 13.5 points, 8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1 steal, and 2.2 blocks a game. He leads the team in rebounding and blocks. Forward Gary Johnson averages 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists a game. Guard Cory Joseph averages 10.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3 assists to lead the team, and 1.1 steals a game to lead the team. Texas is outscoring opponents 75-61 on the season. They are shooting 45.5% from the field and 37.8% from 3-point range. Longhorn opponents are shooting 37.8% from the field. Texas makes only 64.3% of their free throws. Texas averages 40.7 rebounds and has a rebounding margin of +6.9. The Longhorns average 13.5 assists and 12 turnovers a game. Texas forces 13.1 turnovers a game on defense. Texas averages 4.6 blocks and 5.9 steals a game.
Kansas has no significant injuries right now. Kansas is led by the Morris twins, 6’9″, 235 pound Marcus and 6’10”, 245 pound Markieff. “Little Brother” Marcus averages 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists a game. Big Brother Markieff averages 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks a game. He leads the team in rebounding and blocks. Both Morris brothers shoot over 36% from 3-point range. Guard Tyrel Reed averages 10 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals a game to tie for the team lead. Kansas Guard Josh Selby averages 9.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1 steal a game. He also shoots 37.3% from 3-point range. He has missed numerous games this season due to injury and is still recovering from a stress fracture in his foot. Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor averages 8.8 points, 2 rebounds, leads the team in assists with 4.5 a game and averages 1.1 steals a game. Forward Thomas Robinson is averaging 8 points, and 6.4 rebounds a game. Brady Morningstar averages 6.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and leads the team in steals with 1.5 a game. Kansas is outscoring opponents 82-65 on the season. Kansas is shooting 51.2% from the field and 38.6% from 3-point range. The Jayhawks are holding opponents to 39.7% shooting from the field. Kansas makes 67.2% of their free throws. Kansas averages 38.6 rebounds and has a rebounding margin of +7.9. The Jayhawks average 17.8 assists and 13.6 turnovers a game. They force 14.5 turnovers a game on defense. Kansas averages 8.1 steals and 4.2 blocks a game.
This will be a great game between two of the most talented teams in the country. Despite not being in the same division in the Big 12 Texas and Kansas have built up quite a rivalry. They don’t like each other and it could get a little chippy.
Our college basketball handicappers are red hot as the countdown to Selection Sunday is underway. Don’t miss out on any more winners from not until they cut down the nets in Houston next month.
