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NCAA Basketball: No. 2 Kansas heads to Lexington to face Kentucky

By Drew Dinnhaupt

Jan 24, 2017; Morgantown, WV, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts on the bench after a made basket during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; Morgantown, WV, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self reacts on the bench after a made basket during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Headlining the Big 12/SEC Challenge, NCAA basketball blue bloods, No. 2 Kansas and No. 4 Kentucky, meet in a highly anticipated top-5 matchup.

No. 4 Kentucky hosts No. 2 Kansas this Saturday evening at 6:15 p.m. ET in college basketball’s first meeting between top five programs this season. Irregularly, this will be the only ranked matchup on Saturday, which usually hosts several ranked games.

Related Story: Previewing the Big 12/SEC Challenge

Historically, the Wildcats own this matchup, winning 22 of 29 meetings dating back to 1950. For the second consecutive year, these two legendary programs will clash again in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Kansas (No. 4 at the time) won last year’s contest by six in an overtime finish.

Ironically, both teams are coming off losses earlier this week. Kansas was handled at No. 18 West Virginia, 85-69, while Kentucky was stunned in Knoxville against the Volunteers.

The visiting Jayhawks head into this matchup at 18-2 and sit atop the Big 12 standings alongside the Baylor Bears.

Prior to their loss in Morgantown, Kansas was riding on an 18-game winning streak. They did suffer a loss in their season opener to No. 11 Indiana, which is beginning to look bad on their resume due to the Hoosiers’ poor play as of late.

The Jayhawks only have one win against a ranked opponent on their resume, which came in a two-point victory over No. 1 Duke in November. Kansas has dominated most of their competition this year, as 14 of their 18 wins have been by 10 or more points.

Kansas has perhaps the nation’s most talented backcourt. The Jayhawks top five scorers are all listed as guards, though freshman Josh Jackson and junior Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk are both capable of playing the forward position.

The Jayhawks are led by player of the year candidate Frank Mason III. The senior guard averages just under 20 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Mason shoots 51 percent from the field and over 52 percent from downtown, making him one of the most efficient scorers in the country.

Mason has a huge support group around him, including three other scorers averaging in double figures. Josh Jackson (15.5 points, 6.6 rebounds), Devonte’ Graham (13.7 points, 4.7 assists), and Mykhailiuk (10.8 points) all have contributed greatly towards Kansas’ success this season.

The front court is certainly thin for Kansas, especially with Carlton Bragg Jr’s recent indefinite suspension. Landen Lucas has been the most productive player down low, though his averages are only 7.3 points and eight rebounds per contest. Lucas has virtually no other assistance in the front court now that Bragg has been ruled out.

Despite defensive struggles, the Jayhawks are a phenomenal group offensively. They average nearly 85 points per game and are ranked 16th nationally in that category. On the glass, their 40.3 rebounds per game, as well as their 17.5 assists, are inside the top 20 nationally. They are the sixth best team in terms of offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.

The host team Kentucky Wildcats currently sit at 17-3 with a half-game lead in the SEC standings.

The Wildcats constantly show out in front of their home crowd, winning 10 of 11 games at Rupp Arena this season — their only loss comes against UCLA in December. Prior to the Bruins’ win, Kentucky held a 42-game winning streak at home and were practically unbeatable in Lexington.

Kentucky has played a slightly more rigorous schedule than the Jayhawks. The Wildcats have faced five ranked opponents and have won three of those match-ups, including a three-point victory over North Carolina on a neutral floor.

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Along with Kansas, Kentucky also holds one of the best backcourts in the country, featuring freshmen sensations Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox. Monk leads the SEC in scoring with 21.9 points per game, while Fox leads the SEC in assists per game, with 5.9, and adds 16.2 points per game. Fox is a fantastic defender as well, posting 1.6 steals per game. It will be very intriguing to see how he defends Kansas’ loaded backcourt. Isaiah Briscoe completes the backcourt trio. The sophomore is one of the most improved scorers in the SEC, averaging 14.1 points per contest while shooting 49 percent from the floor.

Isaiah Briscoe completes the backcourt trio. The sophomore is one of the most improved scorers in the SEC, averaging 14.1 points per contest while shooting 49 percent from the floor.

Kentucky surely outmatches Kansas down low. The Wildcats have many front court weapons, led by freshman Bam Adebayo (13.5 points, 6.9 rebounds). Senior Derek Willis (7.1 points, 4.6 rebounds), freshman Wenyen Gabriel (6.0 points, 6.3 rebounds) and sophomore Isaac Humphries (3.7 points, 3.8 rebounds) are among the front court options for the Wildcats.

Kentucky is almost identical to Kansas as a team. The Wildcats struggle greatly on defense, allowing over 72 points per game, but are nothing short of dominant offensively. The Wildcats average 92.3 points per game, the second-best mark in the country. Kentucky ranks as the second best team nationwide in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Like Kansas, they average just over 40 rebounds per game and dish out slightly more than 17 assists per game.

This contest will undoubtedly be a close game, but I favor Kentucky. Not only is it difficult to choose against the Wildcats at home, but UK has a much more talented and deeper front court and have a slightly better offense. Additionally, this game is crucial for the Wildcats. This will be their fourth meeting against a top-10 opponent, and I’m certain they are doing everything they can to avoid their third loss against a top-10 team. Expect a shootout in which both teams could reach 90 points on Saturday.

Next: What is wrong with the Bruins?

Regardless of the outcome, expect Gonzaga to be the number one team in the nation in next week’s AP poll. Both teams (Kansas and Kentucky) suffered a loss earlier this week, and a win over a top-5 team won’t be enough to compete for No. 1 with the undefeated Bulldogs.

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