The 13th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will attempt to right the ship, as the take on the New Mexico Lobos at the Sprint Center in the Kansas City Shootout on Saturday. The game has a start time of 7:00 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on ESPN 2. Current odds have Kansas listed as 7 point favorites, while the total sits at 143.
Analysis: After winning five straight games to start the 2013-14 campaign, Kansas has fallen in three of its last four outings, including recent back-to-back setbacks to Colorado (75-72) and Florida (67-61). Despite the team's lack of wins lately, Kansas remains a highly efficient squad at the offensive end of the floor, averaging 77.1 ppg, and doing so on just under 50 percent shooting (.498). Wiggins, one of the most hyped freshmen in recent memory, averaged 14.3 points through his first seven games but was largely inconsistent. He scored 22 points and shot 60.0 percent against Duke on Nov. 12, but turned in a six-point, 2-for-9 shooting performance versus UTEP on Nov. Perry Ellis (13.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg) is the only other Jayhawk currently averaging double digits, although Mason (9.1 ppg), Joel Embiid (8.9 ppg) and Wayne Selden Jr. (8.6 ppg) aren't far off the mark. Kansas has lost back-to-back games for just the seventh time in Self’s 11 seasons at the school.
Craig Neal's first season in Albuquerque has gotten off to a fast start, with his Lobos winning seven of their first eight games. The lone loss came to Massachusetts in the Charleston Classic on Nov. 22. The Lobos are currently averaging an impressive 81.6 ppg, while limiting foes to 71.0 ppg. The Lobos have a guard, a forward and a center each averaging better than 18 points, giving them a variety of methods to sting opponents. Cameron Bairstow has been one of the most improved players in the country this season, averaging a team-high 19.8 points and 7.1 rebounds after posting 9.7 and 5.9 as a junior. Alex Kirk adds 18.6 ppg and is tops on the team in rebounding (10.4 rpg) and blocked shots (27). The Lobos have won their last three regular-season games on neutral floors against ranked non-conference opponents.
Pick: I like the Under here. I tend to play more Unders in Jayhawk games, because they don't really push tempo, plus they play great defense. Now coming off BB losses I expect them to really clamp down on the defensive end of the floor. The Lobos play good offense, but they are not an run an gun team as they search for a good shot before hoisting one up. On defense the Lobos do allow 71 ppg, but on just 37.6% shooting. Both teams are below average from long range and Kansas struggles from the charity stripe. Should also be a tight game throughout, whichmeans both teams take their time down the stretch. I look fir a game in the low 130s here.
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