KU basketball vs. Brown game prediction: Jayhawks set for game vs. red-hot Bears
The No. 8-ranked Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team is set to face Brown on Sunday.
KU beat NC State on Dec. 14, while Brown defeated Rhode Island on Dec. 10.
Below is a scouting report and prediction of the game.
No. 8 Kansas vs. Brown
When/where: 2:15 p.m., Allen Fieldhouse
TV/Streaming: ESPN
Opponent’s record: 7-3
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) Ranking: 172
Betting line: Kansas is a 23.5-point favorite
All statistics are from KenPom.com, Hoop-Math.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats only include Division I competition.
Brown’s Strengths
Good offense: The Bears rank No. 68 in effective field-goal percentage (54.2). KU ranks No. 45 in the same metric.
Elite defense: Brown ranks No. 47 in opponent three-point percentage (27.2).
Red hot: Brown has won six straight games, the 10th longest streak in the nation.
Brown’s Weaknesses
Nothing easy at the line: Brown ranks No. 326 in free-throw percentage (64.8).
Weak schedule: Brown’s strength of schedule ranks No. 359.
Defensive struggles: Brown ranks No. 192 in adjusted defensive efficiency (108). Adjusted defensive efficiency is the number of points allowed per 100 possessions.
Brown Name to Know
6-foot senior guard Kino Lilly (No. 10)
+ Leading scorer (20.2 points per game)
+ Solid facilitator (3.9 assists per game)
+ Three straight games with 20+ points
+ Elite from deep (shooting 44.4% on 3-pointers)
+ Solid free-throw shooter (shooting 81.8%)
- Not much of a rebounder (2.1 rebounds per game )
- Turnover prone (averaging 2.9 turnovers per game)
Game Prediction
The Jayhawks will have to watch out for a Bears’ squad that isn’t afraid to shoot from beyond the arc — 35.3% of Brown’s points come on 3-pointers.
When Brown does drive and the Jayhawks find themselves out of positon, fouling is not a bad option, as the Bears are shooting only 64.8% at the free-throw line.
It should be a Jayhawks blowout.
Kansas 78, Brown 57
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: Brown (+23.5)
Shreyas’ season record: 8-2
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 3-7
KU Player to watch: Shakeel Moore
Kansas guard Shakeel Moore is finally back to full health. Kansas coach Bill Self hopes that Moore will be the backup to Dajuan Harris and provide KU with elite perimeter defense.
He only played two minutes in KU’s win over NC State, so seeing how Moore fares with increased minutes on Sunday will be important as KU opens conference play vs. West Virginia on Dec. 31.
