One of the biggest games in Texas basketball in quite some time will happen on Saturday as the 25th ranked Texas Longhorns will host the 6th ranked Kansas Jayhawks. A quick preview of the big game in the Drum:
[colored_box color=yellow]TEXAS LONGHORNS vs. KANSAS JAYHAWKS
Date:Â Saturday, February 1, 2014
Location: Â Frank Erwin Center – Austin, TX
Time: Â 3:00 PM CST
Television: Â ESPN[/colored_box]
Jayhawks Best PlayerÂ
Andrew Wiggins
Wiggins isn’t getting a lot of press right now but he is the team’s leading scorer, 4th in assists and 3rd in rebounds. Maybe the issue was the media making this freshman out to be the next Lebron James, but Andrew Wiggins has become comfortable with the college game and is starting to come into his own. He has scored 17 or more points in 4 of his last 5 games. He is a bit of a matchup problem for the Longhorns.
Player to watch
Wayne Selden Jr.Â
The Jayhawks love their big men. Joel Embiid, Perry Ellis and Andrew Wiggins are the stars of this team. The Longhorns like to go down low and work the paint and are also very tough in the defensive paint as well. Look for the Jayhawks to rely on their guards to step up and Wayne Selden Jr. is a player that can assume that role for the Jayhawks if the Longhorns take away the paint.
Keys to a Longhorns victoryÂ
Attack the paint
Yes, the Jayhawks are big but that doesn’t mean they aren’t prone to foul trouble. Isaiah Taylor loves to drive to the rim and he must be fearless and absorb the hits he will take because that will create foul trouble for the Kansas big men.
Hit 3 point shots.
Texas is 8th in the Big 12 in 3 point percentage. If the Longhorns want to pull off the upset, they have to make 3 point shots. If the Jayhawks are concerned about the 3 point shot making ability in the game, that will open lanes for Javan Felix and Isaiah Taylor to drive and open up Cameron Ridley down low.
Prediction
I believe the young Longhorns will start off the game nervous, pushing too hard in the first 4 minutes of the game. That’s to be expected from a young team in a big game. I think Texas finally settles down and stays with the Kansas Jayhawks for 35 minutes in this game. Unfortunately college basketball games are 40 minutes long so I am predicting end of game free throws that benefit the Jayhawks..
Kansas wins 78-69
