KU basketball prediction: Can Kansas cover vs. Towson ... with or without Peterson?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas projects to win and cover the 17.5-point spread at Allen Fieldhouse.
- Towson controls offensive boards but struggles on three-point and free throws.
- KU defense and turnover control should limit Towson and enable big win.
The Kansas men’s basketball team will face Towson on Tuesday.
The No. 17-ranked Jayhawks (8-3) defeated NC State on Saturday, while Towson lost to UCF.
Here is more about Tuesday’s game, including a scouting report and game prediction:
Kansas basketball vs. Towson: Game details
When: 8 p.m Central, Tuesday, Dec. 16
Where: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence)
TV/streaming: ESPN2
Opponent’s record: 6-4
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) ranking: 142
Betting line: KU is a 17.5-point favorite.
All statistics are from KenPom.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats only include Division I competition
Towson Strengths
- Glass cleaners: Towson ranks No. 38 in offensive rebounding percentage (37.3).
- Don’t foul often: The Tigers rank No. 53 in foul rate.
- Plenty of experience: Towson ranks No. 100 in Division-I experience (1.83 years on average).
Towson Weaknesses
- Issues from deep: Towson ranks No. 330 in 3-point percentage.
- Nothing easy at the line: The Tigers rank No. 318 in free-throw percentage (66.2%).
- Offensive struggles: Towson ranks No. 259 in effective field goal percentage (48.3%).
Towson Name to Know
6-foot-9 junior forward Tyler Tejada (No. 15)
+ Great scorer (18.8 points per game)
+ Good rebounder (5.7 rebounds per game)
+ Elite free-throw shooter (93.5% at the line)
- Struggles from deep (27.5% on 3-pointers)
- Turnover prone (1.7 turnovers per game)
Kansas-Towson game prediction
With or without KU freshman star Darryn Peterson, the Jayhawks should win this game. The question is whether KU will cover the gaudy spread.
Overall, Kansas matches up well against Towson. The Tigers are not a great offensive team, and outside of their rebounding ability, they don’t rank well in most metrics.
This year’s KU squad prides itself on defense, and it’s hard to see Towson scoring with ease against the Jayhawks. On top of that, there’s a clear talent difference between both teams.
It’s why the spread is so big. As long as KU doesn’t let Towson get too many offensive rebounds and takes care of the ball, this should be an easy victory.
Kansas 78, Towson 59
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: Kansas (-17.5)
Shreyas’ season record: 10-1
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 9-2
KU Player to Watch: Flory Bidunga
KU big man Flory Bidunga had an underwhelming game vs. NC State. He struggled with foul trouble that limited him in the first half. When he did return, his impact wasn’t great.
He finished with eight points and 11 rebounds. In recent weeks, Bidunga hasn’t contributed as much on the offensive end. The last time he scored more than 13 points was when KU faced Notre Dame on Nov 24 (he had 18 points).
This is the perfect game for Bidunga to play aggressive and look for his shot more. If Bidunga wants to become KU’s second option on offense, he needs to assert himself. There’s no better opportunity than against a team like Towson.
