Kansas Jayhawks basketball vs. UCF game prediction: Can KU win on the road Sunday?
The No. 7-ranked Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team visits UCF on Sunday.
KU lost to WVU on Tuesday, while UCF defeated Texas Tech.
Here is a scouting report and prediction for Sunday’s game:
No. 7 Kansas vs. UCF
When/where: 3 p.m. Centra Time, Addition Financial Arena
TV/streaming: ESPN+
Opponent’s record: (10-2, 1-0 Big 12)
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) Ranking: 63
Betting line: Kansas is a 5.5-point favorite
All statistics are from KenPom.com, Hoop-Math.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats only include Division I competition.
UCF Strengths
Good defense: The Knights rank No. 79 in adjusted defensive efficiency (100.4). Adjusting defensive efficiency is the number of points given up per 100 possessions. KU ranks No. 12 in the same metric.
Free-throw converters: UCF ranks No. 30 in free-throw percentage (77.9).
Just red-hot: The Knights have won six straight games.
UCF Weaknesses
Turnover battle: UCF ranks No. 152 in turnover percentage (17.2).
Close-range woes: The Knights rank No. 200 in two-point percentage (50.1).
New faces: UCF ranks No. 263 in minutes continuity percentage (22.5).
UCF Name to Know
6-foot-7 junior guard Keyshawn Hall (No. 7)
+ Leading scorer (15.8 PPG)
+ Solid facilitator (4.8 assists per game)
+ Great rebounder (6.6 rebounds per game)
+ Solid free throw shooter (shooting 79.7% on free throws)
- Not a good shooter at home (shooting 26.7% on 3-pointers)
- Turnover prone (averaging 2.4 turnovers per game)
Game Prediction
Kansas’ road struggles over the last year are well documented. And playing this torrid Knights squad will be no easy task.
Luckily for the Jayhawks, however, UCF doesn’t match up well with KU. By most metrics, the Knights’ offense is pretty mediocre. On top of that, UCF struggles to rebound the ball and turns it over a lot.
With KU desperately needing a convincing road win, we can expect the Jayhawks to attempt to control Sunday’s game from the opening tip.
I think they’ll be able to do just that. I like the Jayhawks in this one.
Kansas 75, UCF 68
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: Kansas (-5.5)
Shreyas’ season record: 9-3
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 5-7
KU Player to watch: Flory Bidunga
During KU’s furious comeback attempt against West Virginia on New Year’s Eve, KU freshman Flory Bidunga completely changed the complexion of the game after being subbed in for KJ Adams.
His defense was stellar and his offense gave KU a rim-runner for fast breaks. He finished with eight points and 11 rebounds in 17 minutes.
KU coach Bill Self raved about Bidunga afterward and mentioned the idea of playing him more. Let’s see if Bidunga can build off what he showed last week if he’s given extended minutes at UCF.
