Kansas vs West Virginia NCAA 2013

BIG-12 CONFERENCE MATCHUP 

KANSAS JAYHAWKS (-8) VS WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

This marks the first meeting between these two Big-12 rivals this season With tip-off scheduled for 9PM EST on ESPN in the WVU coliseum, the Jayhawks (16-1) look to stay unbeaten in january, while West Virginia (9-10) is trying to secure their 7th win at home this season. 

The Jayhawks have the longest active win streak in the nation right now at 17. They have been consistently climbing the top 25 ranking since their win streak began, entering this game at #3. This team hasn’t lost since the beginning of november, and I don’t think West Virginia will be the ones to end that.

Much of the Jayhawks success has come through playing tough defensively. They are limiting opponents to a 34.9% field goal percentage, the best defensively in the nation. While that ranking is largely a reflection of the play by senior centre Jeff Withey. He is 1st in the Big-12 and 3rd in the country averaging 4.3 blocks per game. Look for him to make it difficult all evening long for the Mountaineers to score points in the paint. 

While the Jayhawks can limit you on defense, they will also challenge you. They are shooting 48% from the floor (19th) on offense, on route to averaging 74.6 points per game (40th in the country). To say West Virginia will have their hands full would be an understatement. This is only their 4th game against a ranked opponent this season, and in the previous three meetings (Gonzaga, Michigan and Kansas State) they allowed an average of 76 points, while losing by an average of 16. This game should be like a walk in the park for Kanas, I expect them to win big. 

TRENDS 

KANSAS 

• 8-5 against the spread this season after allowing 60 points or less
• 7-3 against the spread versus a team with a losing record the last 3 seasons
• 4-0 straight up on the road this season
• 40-5 straight up against conference opponents the last 3 seasons