No. 9 Kansas and No. 15 Oklahoma have played each other before. It will not be the same game whatsoever. Kansas lost to rival Kansas State a couple weeks ago but stormed back with two-straight wins to secure at least a share of its 11th consecutive Big 12 regular season title. Oklahoma lost a heartbreaker against No. 17 Iowa State but looks to rebound well against a Jayhawk team that’s missing a couple of key pieces. Tipoff is at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Why You Should Care
This game isn’t going to be what it was a month ago. Junior forward Perry Ellis, who is leading the team in scoring, will be sitting out with a sprained knee he suffered against West Virginia. This is in the midst of an investigation into Cliff Alexander’s eligibility, which is forcing him to sit a third game in a row. These two players being absent from the game presents a huge upside to Oklahoma who will be seeking revenge for its 85-78 loss earlier this season.
Match-up to Watch
This is a game where Kansas will have to lean on its plethora of guards to try and run up the score in this one. Oklahoma will have its own stable to try and stop them. I do see this one swinging in Oklahoma’s favor because without Ellis, this Kansas team doesn’t have a huge playmaker. Oklahoma has Big 12 player of the year candidate in Buddy Hield.
X-Factor
Hield is the man to watch in this one. He has to have a big game. This is a huge game for him because he is facing off against Ellis for player of the year in the Big 12 and since Ellis isn’t on the floor to show voters he deserves it, Hield will look to sway some of those people his way.
Prediction
Kansas may have the beautiful Top 10 standing, but that isn’t going to help when two premiere talents aren’t in your lineup on game day. Oklahoma will take this one, 77-62.
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