Kansas takes on short-handed UNC Sunday
KANSAS JAYHAWKS (30-6)
vs. NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (32-5)
NCAA Tournament - Elite Eight
Tip-off: Sunday, 5:05 p.m. EDT – St. Louis, MO
Line: Kansas -2½, Total: 143½
Second-seeded Kansas enters its elite matchup against top-seeded North Carolina as a slight favorite with the questionable status of Kendall Marshall’s wrist leaving the Tar Heels in flux.
This game could come down to the big men. Kansas has one of the nation’s best rebounders in Thomas Robinson, who is averaging 13.7 RPG in the tournament. But Tar Heels C Tyler Zeller put up a 20-point, 22-rebound effort against Ohio. Which storied program will reach the Final Four? For the answer, check out the College Basketball Pass for picks covering all the big games in college basketball each weekday.
Robinson (17.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG) and Tyshawn Taylor (16.6 PPG, 4.7 APG) are the primary scoring threats for the Jayhawks. Kansas beat the Wolfpack in the Sweet 16 even though Taylor shot just 2-of-14 from the field. He has been cold the entire tournament (8.7 PPG on 33% FG), but is bound to pick it up again (48% FG on season) and has found other ways to contribute with five assists, three steals and 10 boards against NC State. Junior G Elijah Johnson (10.0 PPG, 3.6 APG) has had a great tournament, hitting 60% of his shots, including 7-of-15 threes. But, the true X-factor could be Withey—if he can play with the same type of presence as he did Friday, Zeller and 6-foot-11 John Henson will have trouble getting any close shots, which will severely limit the North Carolina offense. This four-star FoxSheets trend also sides with the Jayhawks:
NORTH CAROLINA is 1-11 ATS (-11.1 Units) in road games when playing with one or less days rest over the last 2 seasons. The average score was N CAROLINA 75.5, OPPONENT 75.9 - (Rating = 4*).
It appears that Marshall will not play Sunday, which is bad news for the Tar Heels, even though scrappy backup guard Stilman White played admirably in his absence. Although White only scored two points, he played 32 minutes at point guard with six assists and zero turnovers. Still, without Marshall, the offense is slower and committed 24 turnovers in the near-loss to Ohio on Friday. North Carolina cannot just rely on outscoring a team to win.
ACC Defensive Player of the Year John Henson (13.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG) will need to shut down Robinson while ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller (16.5 PPG, 9.7 RPG) will need to avoid getting shut down by Withey. And, the real key for North Carolina coming out on top is arguably the most talented player in the game, Harrison Barnes, showing his true colors. Barnes (17.2 PPG) was just 3-of-16 FG with five turnovers against Ohio, even though he had size advantages the entire game. He needs to play and shoot better than that if Roy Williams’ team is going to make it to the Final Four. This three-star FoxSheets trend also likes the Heels to win Sunday.
KANSAS is 2-11 ATS (15.4%, -10.1 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 this season. The average score was KANSAS 71.7, OPPONENT 69.1 - (Rating = 3*).
KANSAS JAYHAWKS (30-6)
vs. NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS (32-5)
NCAA Tournament - Elite Eight
Tip-off: Sunday, 5:05 p.m. EDT – St. Louis, MO
Line: Kansas -2½, Total: 143½
Second-seeded Kansas enters its elite matchup against top-seeded North Carolina as a slight favorite with the questionable status of Kendall Marshall’s wrist leaving the Tar Heels in flux.
This game could come down to the big men. Kansas has one of the nation’s best rebounders in Thomas Robinson, who is averaging 13.7 RPG in the tournament. But Tar Heels C Tyler Zeller put up a 20-point, 22-rebound effort against Ohio. Which storied program will reach the Final Four? For the answer, check out the College Basketball Pass for picks covering all the big games in college basketball each weekday.
Robinson (17.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG) and Tyshawn Taylor (16.6 PPG, 4.7 APG) are the primary scoring threats for the Jayhawks. Kansas beat the Wolfpack in the Sweet 16 even though Taylor shot just 2-of-14 from the field. He has been cold the entire tournament (8.7 PPG on 33% FG), but is bound to pick it up again (48% FG on season) and has found other ways to contribute with five assists, three steals and 10 boards against NC State. Junior G Elijah Johnson (10.0 PPG, 3.6 APG) has had a great tournament, hitting 60% of his shots, including 7-of-15 threes. But, the true X-factor could be Withey—if he can play with the same type of presence as he did Friday, Zeller and 6-foot-11 John Henson will have trouble getting any close shots, which will severely limit the North Carolina offense. This four-star FoxSheets trend also sides with the Jayhawks:
NORTH CAROLINA is 1-11 ATS (-11.1 Units) in road games when playing with one or less days rest over the last 2 seasons. The average score was N CAROLINA 75.5, OPPONENT 75.9 - (Rating = 4*).
It appears that Marshall will not play Sunday, which is bad news for the Tar Heels, even though scrappy backup guard Stilman White played admirably in his absence. Although White only scored two points, he played 32 minutes at point guard with six assists and zero turnovers. Still, without Marshall, the offense is slower and committed 24 turnovers in the near-loss to Ohio on Friday. North Carolina cannot just rely on outscoring a team to win.
ACC Defensive Player of the Year John Henson (13.8 PPG, 10.1 RPG) will need to shut down Robinson while ACC Player of the Year Tyler Zeller (16.5 PPG, 9.7 RPG) will need to avoid getting shut down by Withey. And, the real key for North Carolina coming out on top is arguably the most talented player in the game, Harrison Barnes, showing his true colors. Barnes (17.2 PPG) was just 3-of-16 FG with five turnovers against Ohio, even though he had size advantages the entire game. He needs to play and shoot better than that if Roy Williams’ team is going to make it to the Final Four. This three-star FoxSheets trend also likes the Heels to win Sunday.
KANSAS is 2-11 ATS (15.4%, -10.1 Units) when the total is 140 to 149.5 this season. The average score was KANSAS 71.7, OPPONENT 69.1 - (Rating = 3*).
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