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Big 12 Tournament: Kansas basketball vs. Oklahoma live stream, odds, channel, prediction

By Mike Phillips

AMES, IA - FEBRUARY 13: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Kansas Jayhawks drives the ball past Tre Jackson #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the first half of play at Hilton Coliseum on February 13, 2021 in Ames, Iowa. The Kansas Jayhawks won 64-50 over the Iowa State Cyclones.(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - FEBRUARY 13: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Kansas Jayhawks drives the ball past Tre Jackson #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones in the first half of play at Hilton Coliseum on February 13, 2021 in Ames, Iowa. The Kansas Jayhawks won 64-50 over the Iowa State Cyclones.(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /
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Kansas basketball kicks off its run in the Big 12 Tournament with a showdown against the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Big 12 Tournament figures to be a heavyweight slugfest as many of the projected top teams from the league vie for slots near the top of the bracket on Selection Sunday. Two teams that could be in the mix for spots inside the Top 16 square off Thursday night as Kansas takes on Oklahoma for a spot in the semifinals.

The Jayhawks have held their own in a season that was rough for blue bloods, finishing in second place in the Big 12 after wrapping the conference slate with a big win over Baylor, the only loss the Bears have suffered this season. Bill Self scheduled an impromptu home game against UTEP to keep his team sharp ahead of the conference tournament and it almost backfired as Kansas had to rally in the second half to top the Miners.

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There is a big concern for Kansas, however, as forward David McCormack is out for the Big 12 Tournament due to COVID protocols. McCormack is the Jayhawks’ most reliable post presence so his absence could be problematic in this game.

This contest also presents a big opportunity for Oklahoma, which slumped down the stretch to the tune of a four-game losing streak before beating Iowa State yesterday in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. The skid has sent the Sooners tumbling down the seed line but a win here could restore some faith in Oklahoma’s ability to make noise in the NCAA Tournament.

These teams haven’t met since January when each team won on its home floor. The absence of McCormack could turn this version into more of a perimeter contest, which should favor the Sooners if they can get hot from deep.

How to bet and watch Kansas vs. Oklahoma

    • Date: Thursday, March 11
    • Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
    • Location: Kansas City, MO
    • Venue: T-Mobile Center
    • TV: ESPN
    • Live Stream: WatchESPN
    • Line: Kansas -2.5 (FanDuel)
    • Prediction: Oklahoma 79, Kansas 77

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