Big 12 play has formally arrived in school basketball, and the opening weekend of convention play incorporates a conflict between No. 4 Kansas and Oklahoma State as a part of a loaded day of motion on CBS. The Jayhawks are the reigning nationwide champions and have asserted themselves as contenders as soon as once more with an 11-1 mark throughout non convention play.
Standing of their manner as league play opens is a defensively stout Oklahoma State squad that shall be searching for an enormous upset victory after taking some lumps in non convention play. Sixth-year coach Mike Boynton’s squad has handled some offensive struggles throughout an 8-4 begin, however there’s little doubt the Cowboys could make life tough on opponents.
Teams are capturing simply 26.9% from 3-point vary towards Oklahoma State, which is among the many finest shot-blocking groups within the nation. Junior heart Moussa Cisse leads the way in which with a mean of two.92 blocks per sport, which ranks fourth nationally. Guards Avery Anderson and Bryce Thompson lead a balanced scoring assault for the Cowboys, who’re nonetheless looking for an offensive rhythm. The group’s 32.5% 3-point capturing mark ranks 254th nationally, and Oklahoma State turns the ball over 15.1 instances per sport.
Kansas’ solely loss to date got here towards No. 7 Tennessee on Nov. 25. The Jayhawks personal wins over Duke, NC State, Wisconsin, Seton Hall, Missouri and Indiana, simply to call just a few. Despite shedding key gamers resembling Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun, David McCormack and Remy Martin from their national-title run, the Jayhawks have picked up the place they left off.
Redshirt junior ahead Jalen Wilson is main the Big 12 in scoring at 21.1 factors per sport whereas additionally averaging 9 rebounds and a couple of.9 assists per sport. Freshman phenom Gradey Dick and Texas Tech switch Kevin McCullar have additionally entered to assist substitute the departed manufacturing of Agbaji and Braun on the wing. While Kansas doesn’t have a conventional huge within the mildew of McCormack, that hasn’t damage this group defensively.
The Jayhawks accumulate 9.8 steals per sport and block 4.3 pictures, regardless of the absence of a real rim protector within the center. In complete, Kansas, is forcing 16.3 turnovers per sport. KU has misplaced simply three dwelling video games over the previous 5 seasons and shall be seeking to sink its enamel right into a turnover-prone Oklahoma State squad. The Cowboys might be menacing themselves, nonetheless, and could have nothing to lose as they enter a hostile setting with an opportunity to make a press release on the nationwide stage.
How to watch Kansas vs. Oklahoma State live
Date: Saturday, Dec. 31Â |Â Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Allen Fieldhouse — Lawrence, Kansas
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
Kansas vs. Oklahoma State prediction, picks
Oklahoma State’s offense is a piece in progress, and the Cowboys are turnover-prone, which is unhealthy news towards a Kansas group that forces a ton of steals. Look for the Jayhawks to get out in transition for some momentum-changing performs that get their dwelling followers engaged within the motion and spur runs. Oklahoma State’s protection is nice sufficient to drive the Jayhawks into periodic scoring droughts, however until the Cowboys get scorching from deep they may snuggle to maintain it shut. Prediction: Kansas -10
Who will win and canopy in each school basketball sport? Visit SportsLine to get picks from the model that simulates each game 10,000 times and is up greater than $1,200 for $100 gamers on its top-rated unfold picks the previous six years.Â
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