David McCormack and Kansas Basketball faces Evan Mobley and USC Trojans

5. Marcus Garrett vs. Tahj Eaddy

This matchup between the point guards is perhaps the most important as both payers are seniors and the leaders of their respective teams. The two players are very similar though Garrett is a tad bit better on the defensive end and playmaker. It will be the 6-5 Dallas native’s job to harass Eaddy, who doesn’t turn the ball often and not turn the ball over himself.

Garrett has shown the propensity to step up his play against top competition. He has scored in double-figures in each of the last four contests, including pumping in 20 points against EWU, going along with a 14-to-5 assist/turnover ratio, and eight steals during this stretch.

4. Win the battle of the boards 

Kansas is an exceptional offensive rebounding team, hauling down 11.2 offensive boards or 31% of all available rebounds on that end, and hauls down and 52.4% of all available rebounds — which is 74th best rate in the nation. McCormack, who hauls down 12.9% of all rebounds on the offensive, is elite on the offensive glass, while Wilson is very good on the boards on that end.  Mitch Lightfoot and Tyon Grant-Foster also are very good offensive rebounds though both players see limited time on the floor.

Defensively, the Jayhawks collect 73.3% of all available rebounds on that end. Wilson is the team’s best rebounder, and he will have to be fantastic on the boards as the Trojans grab over 35% of the rebounds on the offensive end. Overall, KU has a +3.5 rebound margin.

Contrarily, USC is only an average defensive rebounding team, bringing in 72.3% of all defensive boards and allowing 10.2 offensive caroms per game.