March Madness: Kansas vs. Purdue preview, prediction, TV schedule
By Dalton Pence
Wooden Award Finalists Frank Mason III and Caleb Swanigan look to keep their respective teams alive as No. 1 seeded Kansas collides with No. 4 seeded Purdue in a Sweet 16 matchup in Kansas City.
Game Details
Thursday, March 23rd; 9:39 PM EST
CBS; Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri
Predicted Starting Lineups
Purdue
F #12 Vince Edwards: (JR; 6’8”, 225 lbs) 12.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.2 APG
F/C #50 Caleb Swanigan: (SOPH; 6’9”, 250 lbs) 18.5 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 3.O APG
G #11 PJ Thompson: (JR; 5’10”, 185 lbs) 7.2 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 3.0 APG
G #14 Ryan Cline: (SOPH; 6’6”, 195 lbs) 5.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1,6 APG
G #31 Dakota Mathias: (JR; 6’4”, 200 lbs) 9.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.7 APG
Kansas
G/F #11 Josh Jackson: (FR; 6’8”, 207 lbs) 16.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.9 APG
G/F #10 Svi Mykhailiuk: (JR; 6’8”, 205 lbs) 9.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.4 APG
C #33 Landen Lucas: (SR; 6’10”, 250 lbs) 8.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.0 APG
G #4 Devonte’ Graham: (JR; 6’2”, 185 lbs) 13.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.3 APG
G #0 Frank Mason III: (SR; 5’11”, 190 lbs) 20.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 5.2 APG
Keys to the Game
Purdue: Run the game through Swanigan
It’s been the same storyline for the Boilermakers all season long and rightfully so. Biggie Swanigan is a force to be reckoned with as he averages a double-double. With the injury to freshman big man Udoka Azubuike earlier in the season, the Jayhawks’ frontcourt has become slim. Outside of Landen Lucas, Kansas has had trouble received consistency from Carlton Bragg Jr. and Dwight Coleby. Getting Lucas in foul trouble would be vital.
Kansas: Run Purdue off the 3-point line
What about Swanigan!? Isn’t he the guy who makes the team go? Yes, he is. However, don’t underestimate his ability to shoot as he is 43.2% from behind the arc this season. As a team, Purdue shoots 40.4% from three, and it’s no secret that Swanigan’s post presence contributes to open shooters. Kansas must do something that they’ve struggled with all year: force off the three point line and effectively contest shots.
Players to Watch
Vince Edwards
The Purdue forward has averaged 21 points in the first two games of the tournament. Kansas is a team that doesn’t struggle to score, and Swanigan will need help from their second leading scorer to try to pull off the upset.
Landen Lucas
Consistency has been a quality possessed by the Jayhawk big man this season, but this is a different animal. Purdue has the twin towers down low (Caleb Swanigan and Isaac Haas) and will be a headache for Coach Self all night long. Lucas will need to play smart and stay out of foul trouble for Kansas to make their second straight Elite Eight appearance.
Next: Ranking the 16 Remaining Teams in the Tournament
Prediction
The size of Purdue is a huge advantage, but a disciplined Kansas squad with a lot of experience will basically have a home game in Kansas City. Look for the Jayhawks to pull away at the end.
Kansas 86, Purdue 81