2012 Big 12 Tournament – Quarterfinals
#9 Texas A&M Aggies vs #1 Kansas Jayhawks
Sprint Center – Kansas City, Missouri
Thursday, March 8, 2012, 3:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Kansas -14
Current Line: Kansas -14
Opening Total: 122 1/2
Current Total: 122 1/2
Opening Money Line: Kansas -1300 / Texas A&M +850
Current Money Line: Kansas -1300 / Texas A&M +850
The 15-17 Texas A&M Aggies beat Oklahoma 62-53 in the first round of the Big 12 tournament Wednesday night. The reward for the Aggies is a date with top seed Kansas in the quarters. The Jayhawks are 26-5 and ranked #3 in the country. Kansas won the Big 12 title outright with a 16-2 record and could be in line for a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament next week. It was the 8th straight conference title for the Jayhawks. Texas A&M finished 9th in the Big 12 with a 4-14 record. Before the Oklahoma win, Texas A&M had lost 5 in a row and 9 of the last 10 games. Kansas has won 8 games in a row, including 73-63 at home against Texas to close out the regular season.
Kansas has dominated the series against Texas A&M with a 19-1 record. The Jayhawks have won 8 in a row against the Aggies. Kansas swept the season series winning 64-54 January 23 in Lawrence, and 66-58 in College Station February 22. The next loss for Texas A&M will mark the end of their time in the Big 12 as they are moving to the SEC next season.
Texas A&M is coached by Billy Kennedy. The Aggies have wins over St. John’s, Texas Tech twice, and Oklahoma St. Texas A&M has losses to Mississippi St, Florida, and Rice. The Aggies split with Oklahoma and Oklahoma St, but were swept by every other team in the Big 12 except Texas Tech.
Kansas is coached by Bill Self. The Jayhawks have losses to Kentucky, Duke, Davidson, Iowa St, and Missouri. Kansas has non-conference wins over Georgetown, UCLA, South Florida, Long Beach St, Ohio St, and USC. The Jayhawks swept every team in the Big 12 except Missouri and Iowa St.
Texas A&M is being outscored 61-60.8 this season. The Aggies are shooting 43.3% from the field, and 33.3% from 3 point range. TAMU makes 65.4% of their free throws. The Aggies average 34.1 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +1.7. Texas A&M averages 11.8 assists, 13.5 turnovers, 5.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks a game. Aggie opponents are shooting 40.4% from the field and 30.5% from 3 point range. The Aggies are ranked in the top 40 nationally in scoring defense, opponent’s field goal percentage, and opponent’s 3 point percentage. A&M forces 12.1 turn0vers a game.
Texas A&M guard Elston Turner averages 13.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1 steal a game. He makes 39.8% of his three point shots. Khris Middleton averages 12.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists a game. David Loubeau averages 10.8 points, and 4.5 rebounds a game. Ray Turner averages 9.2 points, and 5.5 rebound a game to lead the team. Dash Harris averages 4.3 assists to lead the team and 1.5 steals a game to lead the team. Keith Davis averages 0.6 blocks a game to lead the team. Forward Kourtney Roberson is day to day with an ankle injury.
Kansas is outscoring opponents 75-61 this season. The Jayhawks are shooting 48.4% from the field, including 35.4% from the three point line. Kansas is #14 nationally in field goal percentage. Kansas makes 69.4% of their free throws. Kansas averages 37.1 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +6.3. The Jayhawks average 15.6 assists, 13.4 turnovers, 7.4 steals, and 5.7 blocks a game. Kansas opponents are shooting 38.2% from the field including 34.5% from 3 point range. Kansas is #7 nationally in opponent’s field goal percentage. The Jayhawks force 14.3 turnovers a game.
Kansas Forward Thomas Robinson averages 18 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, along with 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks a game. He leads the Jayhawks in scoring and rebounding. Robinson is second in the country in rebounding and is a Naismith Award finalist. Tyshawn Taylor averages 17.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists to lead the team, and 1.2 steals a game. He is shooting 43.1% from 3 point range. Jeff Withey averages 9.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks a game to lead the team. Elijah Johnson averages 8.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.5 steals a game to lead the team. Travis Releford averages 8.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. Guard Ben McLemore and forward Jamari Taylor are both ineligible this season.
Kansas is 15-14-1 ATS and the total is 10-18-2 this season. Texas A&M is 14-11 ATS this season and the total is 9-15-1 this season. Texas A&M has covered 4 of the last 5 against Kansas, and the under is 4-1-1 in the last six. Texas A&M is 10-4 ATS overall, and in Big 12 games, 1-4 in Thursday games, and 1-5 in neutral site. The Jayhawks are 5-1 against teams with losing records, 9-3 after failing to cover, 3-7-1 after a straight up win, 1-4 in neutral site games, and 4-18 in Thursday games.
Though Kansas is obviously the better team here, A&M has played them close recently. I think Kansas will win but the Aggies could hang with the Jayhawks and give the a scare. Honestly, Texas A&M has nothing to lose, as only a miracle run to win the Big 12 tournament will extend their season.
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