KU basketball game prediction: Can Jayhawks top No. 5 UConn in Allen Fieldhouse?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- UConn favors defense and experience; oddsmakers list Huskies -1.5 favorite
- Kansas must exploit UConn foul issues and force Reed into foul trouble
- Peterson's availability will shape rotations; KU needs interior offense
The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team plays No. 5 UConn on Tuesday.
The No. 21 Jayhawks (6-2) beat Tennessee on Wednesday, while UConn defeated Illinois on Friday.
The Jayhawks lead the all-time series 4-0, with KU winning the most recent matchup in 2023.
Here is a scouting report and prediction for Tuesday’s showdown:
Kansas basketball vs. UConn: Game details
When: 8 p.m. Central, Tuesday
Where: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence)
TV/streaming: ESPN2
Opponent’s record: 6-1
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) ranking: 7
Betting line: UConn is 1.5-point favorite
All statistics are from KenPom.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats only include Division I competition
UConn Strengths
- Elite defenders: The Huskies rank No. 8 in opponent effective field goal percentage.
- Limit 3-pointers: UConn ranks No. 12 in opponent 3-point percentage (25.5%).
- Plenty of experience: The Huskies ranks No. 13 in Division I experience (2.5 years on average).
UConn Weaknesses
- Foul prone: The Huskies rank No. 269 in opponent free throw rate (41.6), which means opposing teams are getting to the free-throw line at a high rate.
- Average from deep: UConn ranks No. 122 in 3-point percentage (35.2%).
- Nothing easy at the line: The Huskies rank No. 172 in free-throw percentage.
UConn Name to Know
6-foot-11 senior center Tarris Reed Jr. (No. 5)
+ Elite scorer (15.5 PPG in just 22.8 minutes per game)
+ Great rebounder (8.3 RPG)
+ Efficient scorer (shooting 67.6%)
+ Shot eraser (2 blocks per game)
- Not much of a passer (1.3 APG)
- Turnover prone (1.3 TPG)
- Struggles at the line (61.5% on free throws)
Kansas-UConn game prediction
Kansas needs freshman star Darryn Peterson to return from injury to have its best chance in this matchup. According to coach Bill Self, he will be evaluated Tuesday morning and then it will be determined if he can play.
With or without Peterson, this matchup will be tough for the Jayhawks. Firstly, UConn coach Dan Hurley will have his squad ready to play, especially with a veteran team coming to Lawrence.
UConn also presents some challenges: Self highlighted Monday that this UConn squad is great at moving without the ball. So Kansas will have to pay special attention to cutters.
Even if Peterson does play, the Jayhawks need good a good offensive game from big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller. That will help alleviate some pressure on Peterson, if he does return.
Their inside scoring will be crucial on a day outside shot-making could be hard to come by.
The Jayhawks have already struggled shooting the 3, and UConn does an excellent job of limiting opponent 3-point makes. So Kansas will have to attack inside in hopes of getting Huskies forward Alex Karaban and center Reed into foul trouble.
If there’s one weakness the UConn’s defense has, it's being a little foul prone. The Jayhawks need to take advantage of that.
I expect this to be a close matchup — if Peterson plays — but I think it’s a lot to ask for KU to beat UConn in his immediate return. It’s hard to see him seamlessly integrating back into the lineup against a top-quality squad.
UConn 73, Kansas 67
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: UConn (-1.5)
Shreyas’ season record: 7-1
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 6-2
KU Player to Watch: Flory Bidunga
Kansas big man Flory Bidunga has had a stellar start to the season. He’s averaging 15.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, but he struggled vs. the Vols on Wednesday.
He had 13 points, but shot 5-for-15 from the field. Tennessee did an excellent job of making him uncomfortable and forcing him to take jump shots.
There’s a good chance Hurley will try to do something similar. His calling card is defense, and I expect him to throw a lot of different looks at Bidunga like the Vols did. Bidunga will need to adjust accordingly.
On top of that, Bidunga will need to limit UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. If he plays (he’s questionable), whoever wins that matchup will likely determine who wins the game.
