The NCAA Tournament is finally here and tonight it’s No. 4 Kansas taking the court on Friday evening against No. 13 California Baptist in an opening round matchup. The Jayhawks have an incredibly consistent track record of success in the NCAA Tournament and are hoping to add another impressive run to the list. Here’s a preview, prediction, key storylines, and updated odds to keep an eye on in this matchup as we get set for tonight’s game.
Kansas vs. California Baptist Basketball Updated Odds
The Jayhawks opened as a 13.5-point favorite over California Baptist, with an over/under of 136.5 total points. By the time we got to Friday afternoon, on gameday, KU moved up to a 14-point favorite, and the over/under has slid up to 141.5 total points.
Key Storyline: How Ready is Darryn Peterson?
There’s no question that Darryn Peterson is one of the most talented players in the country, but his readiness for the NCAA Tournament comes with a bit of nuance. After dealing with multiple injuries that sidelined him for stretches of the season, Peterson has worked his way back into a significant role for Kansas, logging consistent minutes down the stretch and showing flashes of the elite shot-making ability that makes him so dangerous. He has played more than 25 minutes in every game since February 18th, and he’s been highly productive, averaging 19.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. That said, the concern doesn’t completely go away. The injury history is still fresh, and with the intensity and quick turnaround of March Madness, durability becomes a real factor.
Match Up to Watch: Who Wins the Rebound Battle?
Usually when discussing matchup breakdowns we look at the offensive and defensive ranks. This time, we head straight to the rebounding category as both teams fall into the elite category. California Baptist leads the WAC in rebounds this season by a large margin, recording 39.9RPG. The next closet team in the league is UT Arlington at 37.1. Kansas is a great rebounding team as well, as the Jayhawks are second in the Big 12 Conference, averaging 38.8 per game. Whoever wins this one will likely win the rebound battle and give themselves multiple opportunities to score on the offensive end of the court.
Prediction: Kansas 76, California Baptist 64
The 4 vs. 13 matchups can sometimes be a bit of a grind when entering the tournament, but Kansas has the team and the experience to avoid the slip. Darryn Peterson, Melvin Council, and Flory Bidunga are going to be hard ton stop, and Bill Self lives for moments like these. California Baptist has had a great season and absolutely deserves to be here, but as folks have said for the last few months, whatever seed Kansas is given for the Big Dance is going to be too low. Give me the ‘Hawks here.
