Here’s how to watch Thursday’s Sweet 16 battle between Kansas and Purdue online.
Kansas is the lone top seed in the tournament that hasn’t really been tested yet. Though Michigan State pulled close around the 12-minute mark of their Round of 32 game before they proceeded to blow them out over the rest of the game. Kansas probably isn’t the best team in the country, but they might be playing like it right now.
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Much of that is down to the guard-centric attack. The tandem of POTY-candidate Frank Mason III and Devonte Graham is dangerous both inside and outside the arc. They’re both hitting well above 40 percent on threes, and key a Kansas offense that’s ranked in the top-5 in the country. Freshman Josh Jackson has also flourished as the year’s worn on. His athleticism, defense, and playmaking were always clear. Now his shot is following (he’s hit 43 percent plus in conference play), and he’s getting more comfortable. Kansas is a dangerous 1-seed, poised to make a run in a depleted bracket.
But they’ll have to get through Purdue first, and the Boilermakers pose unique matchup problems for everyone. Led by a National Player of the Year candidate in Caleb Swanigan, Purdue depends on lineups bigger than those just about anyone else in the country can match. Swanigan is dangerous in the post and beyond the arc, where he’s hitting 43 percent.
Whether it’s Isaac Haas, a 7-foot-2 center, or tournament breakout star Vince Edwards, who’s scored 21 points in both tournament games, they’re very difficult to handle inside. Plus, they have multiple 40 percent-plus shooters dotting the perimeter around the inside games of their big men. It’s a tough, versatile squad capable of getting it done on both ends.
Next: All live stream info in one place
Date: Thursday, March 23
Start Time: 9:39 p.m. ET
Location: Kansas City, MO
Venue: Sprint Center
TV: CBS
Live Stream: CBS All Access, Stream 2, Stream 3
And they may just pose matchup problems for Kansas, who has downsized a bit this year despite a traditionally big-dominant scheme. The Jayhawks are likely still talented enough on the perimeter to compensate, but they’ll get a true test in their Sweet 16 matchup.