Kansas Jayhawks at Missouri Tigers, Mizzou Arena, Columbia, MO
Saturday, March 5, 2011, 12:00 pm Eastern, TV: CBS
Opening Line: Kansas -3 1/2
Current Line: Kansas -2 1/2
Opening Total: 155
Current Total: 156
Money Line: Kansas -165 / Missouri +145
Kansas can clinch the Big 12 regular season title outright with a win Saturday at arch-rival Missouri. Kansas is ranked #2 in both polls and will probably be a number 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. For Missouri, this game is is important for seeding in next week’s Big 12 tournament. Right now, Missouri is 8-7 in conference, in fifth place a game behind Texas A&M and Kansas St. Depending on what happens in the other conference games, Missouri can finish as high as fourth with a win against Kansas or as low as seventh with a loss. The top 4 teams get first round byes in the conference tournament. Kansas is 28-2 overall and 13-2 in the Big 12 a game ahead of Texas. Texas holds the tiebreaker as they beat Kansas in Lawrence earlier in the season. Kansas has won 4 straight games since losing to In-state rival Kansas St February 14. The four game streak includes a 64-51 home win over Texas A&M. Missouri is 22-8 overall and 8-7 in conference. they are currently ranked in the top 25 but they have lost 2 straight games to Kansas St 80-70 and Nebraska 69-58. Both of those losses were on the road. Missouri has not lost at home this season, going 17-0. All of the Tigers’ losses have been on the road or at neutral locations, including getting pasted at Kansas February 7 103-86.
Kansas leads the overall series 170-94 including 64-56 in Columbia. Kansas has won 4 of the last 5 games in the series, and gone 5-0 ATS in those games, and 3 of those 5 have gone under the total. Missouri has won 52 of their last 54 home games. However, the 2 losses are to Kansas. Missouri is 9-1 ATS in home games after a conference loss. Kansas is 30-17 ATS versus conference teams with winning records the last 3 seasons. The Jayhawks are 15-6 ATS conference foes scoring 77 points or more per game the last three seasons.
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 17.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists a game. Big Brother Markieff averages 13.6 points, 8.3 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. Kansas Guard Josh Selby averages 10.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. He also shoots 38.2% 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. Guard Tyrel Reed averages 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 steals a game to tie for the team lead. Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor averages 8.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, leads the team in assists with 4.6 a game and averages 1.2 steals a game. Forward Thomas Robinson is averaging 8.2 points, and 6.3 rebounds a game. Brady Morningstar averages 6.6 points 1.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and leads the team in steals with 1.6 a game. Kansas is outscoring opponents 83-65 on the season. Kansas is shooting 52.1% from the field and 39.5% from 3-point range. The Jayhawks are holding opponents to 39.7% shooting from the field. Kansas makes 67.4% of their free throws. Kansas averages 38 rebounds and has a rebounding margin of +7.3. The Jayhawks average 18.3 assists and 13.4 turnovers a game. They force 14.9 turnovers a game on defense. Kansas averages 8.5 steals and 4.5 blocks a game.
Missouri has no significant injuries right now. Missouri has 5 players scoring in double digits. Guard Marcus Denmon averages 16.8 points to lead the team, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.8 steals a game to tie for the team lead. He is also shooting 46.5% from 3 point range. Forward Laurence Bowers averages 11.4 points, 6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2 blocks a game to lead the team. Forward Ricardo Ratliffe averages 10.9 points, 6.4 rebounds to lead the team, 1.4 assists, and 1.4 blocks a game. Guard Kim English averages 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.3 steals a game. Guard Michael Dixon averages 10.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 steals a game to lead the team. Phil Pressey averages 4.1 assists to lead the team, and 1.8 steals a game to also lead the team. Missouri is outscoring opponents 82-71 on the season. Missouri is shooting 46.9% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range. Tiger opponents are shooting 43.3% from the field. Missouri is shooting 72.7% from the free throw line. Missouri averages 35.8 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of -1. The Tigers average 16.8 assists and 13 turnovers a game. Missouri forces 18.1 turnovers a game on defense. They average 9.6 steals and 5.2 blocks a game.
Expect lots of offense as these two teams both average over 80 points a game, and aren’t exactly the best defensive teams. The last time these two teams met they combined for 189 points. I think they will easily eclipse the 156 point total set up by the oddsmakers. It should be an entertaining match-up between two long time rivals.
As the regular season winds down and postseason play gets underway, our college basketball handicappers are red hot. Don’t miss out on any more winners this season.
