It’s Big Monday and we will see the Kansas Jayhawks travel to Morgantown, West Virginia to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. The game is scheduled for a 9:00 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on ESPN. Currently the odds for the game have Kansas favored by 8.5 points while the total sits at 130.5. Check out Sportsbook Spy to see who the Public is taking on all of today's games.
Free Analysis: Since losing to nationally-ranked Michigan State on Nov. 13 (67-64), Kansas has ripped off 17 straight victories to climb to 18-1 overall and a perfect 6-0 in Big 12 action. The program has grown accustomed to this kind of success under head coach Bill Self, as it has started 18-1 or better five times in the coach's 10-year tenure, including three times in the past four seasons. The Jayhawks most recently took care of business at home against Oklahoma on Saturday, 67-54. The Jayhawks have a one-game lead over Baylor (5-1) in its quest for a ninth straight conference title. The 18-1 start is becoming rather ho-hum around Lawrence. This is the third time in the last four seasons the Jayhawks have started 18-1 or better and the fifth time in 10 seasons under coach Bill Self. Kansas isn't exactly sliding by in those wins either, averaging 74.6 points while allowing 58.8 for a Big 12-leading 15.8 scoring margin. The Jayhawks lead the conference in field goal percentage (48.0), 3-point field goal percentage (36.5), field goal percentage defense (34.9) and blocked shots (7.6). The Jayhawks, who be unveiling new road uniforms designed and developed by adidas, start four seniors and one very talented freshman in guard Ben McLemore, who leads the team in scoring (16.2) and leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage (51.0), 3-point field goal percentage (45.6) and free throw percentage (88).
WVU has had a rocky road in its first run as a member of the Big 12, the team currently sitting with a lackluster 9-10 record. The Mountaineers have been especially shaky in recent weeks. With Saturday's loss at Oklahoma State (80-66) being the most recent, they club has dropped four of its last five to fall to 2-4 in conference play. So far its been a rough transition to the Big 12 from the Big East for the Mountaineers who blew a 13-point first half lead in Saturday's loss at Oklahoma State. West Virginia struggled against a 2-3 zone employed by the Cowboys and managed only one basket on its final 11 possessions of the first half. The Mountaineers are 6-2 at home this season but have dropped two of their last three to Kansas State and Oklahoma. Ten different West Virginia players average 12-plus minutes and all 10 have started at least two games. Junior center Aaric Murray, a transfer from La Salle, and sophomore guard Juwan Staten, a transfer from Dayton, lead the team in scoring with 9.6 averages while sophomore guard Jabarie Hinds (7.9) is the only Mountaineer to start every game this season. West Virginia is outrebounding opponents 38.1 to 35.2 and also averages 7.4 steals. WVU has not had the balance it had hoped for this season, as it ranks eighth in the Big 12 in both scoring offense (67.2 ppg) and scoring defense (66.7 ppg), while ranking last in field goal percentage (.395).
Free Pick: I like the under in this one. Kansas’ offense has struggled some of late, but their defense has been stellar and as a result just 113.8 ppg have been scored in their last 5 games, plus their road games have averaged just 120.6 ppg on the year. Kansas has allowed just 58.8 ppg on 34.9% shooting on the year and just 56.5 ppg on 36.3% shooting on the road. WVA does scoe 72 ppg at home on the year, but just 64 ppg in their 3 Big 12 ome games and 64 ppg in their last 5 games overall. WVA has allowed just 64.8 ppg at home and just 60.3 ppg in Big 12 home games. This game should be about more defense than offense. WVA will look to slow down the game and they play good defense at home, while KU plays great defense everywhere. Should be a game in the low 120’s.
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