It isn't all that often that these Top 5 showdowns turn out to be as good as advertised. However, if the second meeting of the year between the Oklahoma Sooners and Kansas Jayhawks is even half as good as the four-overtime thriller we saw back in January between these two, we'll be in for a real treat as college basketball fans.
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SCHEDULING
Kansas has really stood up to the pressure of some easier games on the docket leading into this one. It has won and covered four straight, the most recent of which was a 75-65 win at home on Tuesday over West Virginia to put itself back in the discussion of being on the No. 1 line for the NCAA Tournament. A win in this game would surely remove all doubt of that distinction for the time being.
The Sooners, which had to really be looking forward to this game for quite some time after the bitterness of the loss in Lawrence, have failed to cover their last two. They were upset by Kansas State on the road last Saturday and followed that up with a narrow 63-60 escape from Texas. Do remember though, that Oklahoma looked down and out in that game against the Longhorns, and the fact that it was able to rally and win at home in a game which could've easily gone the other way could give live bettors a clue as to what's coming on Saturday afternoon.
KEY MATCHUP
Sometimes games just come down to superstars, and we know this one will, too. Buddy Hield took over that first meeting of the year by scoring 46 points with eight boards and seven assists in 54 minutes on the floor, and that game clearly was his coming out party and the boost he needed to get into the discussion for the Naismith Award this year.
He's since ended that conversation by continuing to carry this team.
Since the loss to Kansas, Hield has averaged 26.9 points per game, and he's been good for over 14 points per game in the second half. In tight games against Texas, LSU and Oklahoma State, Hield averaged over 20 per game in the second half alone.
Kansas has had its moments this year where it hasn't looked great guarding the perimeter, and Oklahoma was no exception. Both Hield and Isaiah Cousins went off, as the Sooners ended that four-overtime thriller with a ridiculous 16 threes on 33 attempts. In fact, the only reason Kansas did win that game is because six different men knocked down shots from long range.
If the Jayhawks can't get out on the perimeter and defend against Hield, at least forcing the ball out of his hands from time to time, they're sure to lose this game, and live bettors have to know that coming in.
KEY STATS & TRENDS
Bill Self has really shortened his bench of late, and if this NCAAB game becomes a marathon like the first did, this could be a big problem for the Jayhawks. Bench players accounted for just 10 points against WVU during the week, and they played a total of just 32 minutes. That's very not like Self, who loves to utilize his bench, but he's realizing here as the games go on that his starters, three of which played at least 37 minutes on Tuesday, are his best option even if they're tired.
Still, it's tough to complain about a team which averages 83.0 points per game, shoots 49.0 percent from the field and 42.2 percent from distance. If the Jayhawks keep that up on Saturday and Hield is going off, live bettors could be treated to another game in which all of the totals are sure to be flown past.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The showdown between the Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma Sooners will start at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 13, 2016, at the Lloyd Noble Center. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN.
