#5 Kansas Jayhawks at Oklahoma State Cowboys
Gallagher-Iba Arena – Stillwater, Oklahoma
Saturday, March 1, 2014, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Oklahoma State -1
Current Line: Oklahoma State -1
Opening Total: 149 1/2
Current Total: 149 1/2
Opening Money Line: Oklahoma State -115 / Kansas -105
Current Money Line: Oklahoma State -115 / Kansas -105
The 22-6 Kansas Jayhawks are 13-2 in the Big 12. The Jayhawks have already clinched at least a share of the Big 12 title for an incredible 10th straight year. The Jayhawks could be inline for one of the four #1 seeds in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Kansas travels to the 18-10 Oklahoma State Cowboys Saturday night. The Cowboys are 6-9 in conference and tied with Baylor for seventh in the Big 12. OSU has won two straight games after an 8 game losing streak. Despite being ranked in the top 10 earlier this season, the Cowboys are firmly on the bubble for the tournament.
Kansas leads the series against Oklahoma State 108-54, including 35-31 in Stillwater. The Jayhawks won the first meeting this season 80-78 in Lawrence. Oklahoma State got a good look at the buzzer on a three point shot that would have won the game, but it rimmed out.
Kansas is coached by Bill Self. The Jayhawks have losses to Villanova in the Bahamas, at Colorado, at Florida, at Texas, and at Sansas State along with a home loss to San Diego State. Kansas has won 4 straight games since the KSU loss. Kansas has key wins over Duke in Chicago, Wake Forest and UTEP in the Bahamas, New Mexico in Kansas City, plus home wins over Georgetown, Toledo, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Iowa State, West Virginia, TCU, Texas, and Oklahoma 83-75 Monday night, plus road wins at Oklahoma, Iowa State, TCU, Baylor and Texas Tech. Kansas is 14-13-1 ATS and the the total is 17-10 this season.
Kansas is outscoring teams 80-69 this season. The Jayhawks are #22 in scoring nationally. Kansas is shooting 50.1% from the field and 35.4% from 3 point range. The Jayhawks are #4 nationally in field goal percentage. Kansas makes 70.5% of their free throws. Jayhawk opponents are shooting 41% from the field and 35.3% from 3 point range. Kansas averages 38.2 rebounds per game and opponents average 27.8. The Jayhawks are #36 or better in both categories. Kansas averages 16 assists, 5.6 steals, 6 blocks, and 13.7 turnovers per game, and opponents average 11.7 assists, 6.5 steals, 3.2 blocks and 11.3 turnovers per game.
Freshman guard Andrew Wiggins is projected to be an NBA lottery pick. Wiggins averages 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Forward Perry Ellis averages 13.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assist per game. Center Joel Embiid averages 11.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. He is also a likely lottery pick. Guard Wayne Selden, Jr. averages 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Guard Naadir Tharpe averages 9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Frank Mason and Jamari Traylor also get significant minutes in the rotation. Guard Tyler Self is out for the season with a foot injury.
Oklahoma State is coached by Travis Ford. The Cowboys have losses to Memphis in a tournament in Orlando, at Kansas State, at Kansas, Oklahoma twice, Baylor twice, Iowa State Texas Tech and at Texas. OSU has key wins over Memphis at home, at South Florida, over Purdue and Butler in the tournament in Orlando, South Carolina in Stillwater, Louisiana Tech in Oklahoma City, Colorado in Las Vegas, Texas, West Virginia twice, Texas Tech and TCU twice including 76-54 Monday night in Fort Worth. The Cowboys are 10-13-1 ATS and the total is 14-10 this season.
OSU is outscoring teams 81-69 this season. The Cowboys are #16 in scoring nationally. Oklahoma State shoots 47% from the field and 36.9% from 3 point range. The Cowboys are #52 in field goal percentage. OSU makes 71.7% of their free throws. Cowboy opponents are shooting 40.4% from the field and 33.1% from 3 point range. OSU is #43 in field goal defense nationally. The Cowboys are averaging 36.4 rebounds a game and allowing 33.5. OSU is #298 nationally out of 351 teams in rebounds allowed. Oklahoma State averages 14 assists, 7.9 steals, 5.5 blocks, and 10.6 turnovers per game, and opponents average 10.4 assists, 6.4 steals, 3.5 blocks, and 14.5 turnovers per game.
OSU guard Marcus Smart was suspended for 3 games for getting into a physical altercation with a Texas Tech fan in Lubbock last month. He has played the last two games. Smart averages 17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.6 steals a game. Guard Markel Brown averages 16.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1 block per game. Forward Le’Bryan Nash averages 14.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Guard Phil Forte III averages 13.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Guard-forward Brian Williams averages 6.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1.1 steals per game. Guard Stevie Clark averaged 5.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. He was kicked off the team after his second arrest in a month. Forward-center Kamari Murphy averages 6.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Forward-Center Michael Cobbins is out for the season with a broken foot. He averages 4.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
Kansas is 4-0-1 ATS after failing to cover, 4-1 in Saturday games, and 19-6-1 in Big 12 games. Eight of the last nine games in Stillwater in the series have gone under the total. The road team has covered the last 6 games in the series. The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the series recently.
Oklahoma State is 3-7 ATS against teams with winning road records, 9-25-1 against teams with winning records, 2-7-1 overall and in Big 12 games, 1-4 in Saturday games and at home.
Oklahoma State is a very dangerous team despite their lackluster record. This team was in the preseason top 10. Injuries and suspensions have taken their toll, but the Cowboys are coming back to back 22 point victories, Granted those came against the Big 12’s two worst teams in Texas Tech and TCU. Still, Oklahoma State needs this win at home to bolster their resume. I think the Cowboys pull off the close win at home.
