Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kansas Jayhawks
The Oklahoma Sooners and the Kansas Jayhawks knew that there would be plenty on the line when they met in each team’s second game of Big 12 conference play, but they may not have seen it potentially being a matchup between the No. 1 and 2 teams in the country. That’s exactly what’s shaping up on Monday night, though, as the Sooners and Jayhawks meet in Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas thus far this season has been led by a returning core of starters led by Wayne Selden and Perry Ellis, both of whom have been playing at an incredibly high level on their way to a 12-1 record to this point in the year. Buddy Hield has been leading the way for the Sooners as one of the most prolific scorers in the country, but he’s not alone as Jordan Woodard and Ryan Spangler have been forces for the Sooners as well. All in all, Oklahoma vs Kansas has every making of an instant classic.
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Details for Monday’s game are below:
Date: Monday, Jan. 4
Start Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Lawrence, KS
Arena: Allen Fieldhouse
TV Info: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Here
Ticket information: For Kansas Jayhawks ticket info click here. For Oklahoma Sooner ticket info click here.
Keys to Victory
For Kansas in this matchup, their biggest key is going to be getting out to the Sooners on the perimeter and defending the Oklahoma shooters. Oklahoma ranks 16th in the country through their first 12 games in terms of three-pointers made per game and third in the country in terms of three-point percentage. The Sooners offense relies heavily on their efficiency from long range and, if the Jayhawks want to hand Oklahoma their first loss, Kansas is going to have to limit their effectiveness from deep.
Oklahoma on the other hand will need to control the defensive glass in the manner that they have all season. Kansas has been the fifth most efficient offense in college basketball through their first 13 games, shooting 51.6 percent from the floor. Meanwhile, Oklahoma leads the country in defensive rebounds per game. The Sooners can’t afford to give such an efficient Kansas team any second-chance opportunities and most continue to control the defensive boards to make sure that happens.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Oklahoma -6
Moneyline: Kansas -260, Oklahoma +220
O/U: 156
Prediction
This is going to be a high-scoring affair with two of the best offenses in the country squaring off and, with how evenly matched and experienced these two Big 12 giants are, you have to think that it’ll come down to the wire. However, I think Hield is the best player on the court for this matchup and ultimately think that gives the Sooners the edge to stay perfect in the 2015-16 season.
Final Score: Oklahoma Sooners: 87, Kansas Jayhawks: 84