Samford vs Kansas Basketball Predictions: It's Go Time
The Kansas Jayhawks limped into the postseason with two blowout losses, one to the Houston Cougars in the regular season finale and the other in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament without both Kevin McCullar and Hunter Dickinson.
But the start of the NCAA Tournament brings a new season, where legacies can be built and struggles in the regular season forgotten with big performances. Can Kansas put all of that aside and get their tournament started with a big win against an up-tempo Samford Bulldogs squad? Hunter Dickinson is back, but
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Kyle Davis
Check out our Samford Preview for Kyle's full breakdown and prediction.
Derek Noll
I’m glad I waited until Bill Self told us that Kevin McCullar wouldn’t play to write this up, but even with that news, I’m taking Kansas to win. They have the superior talent and size and a sped up Kansas team which will be constantly pressed can still run anyone out of the gym on any given day. Sure, Samford will chuck up a bunch of threes but Bucky Ball has its downsides too, one of which is the fact that they go one and done offensively more often than you’d like, especially if the threes aren’t falling. If the Bulldogs aren’t making their threes, Kansas wins this going away. I think they’ll make some, enough to have all Jayhawk fans biting their fingernails , but KU will prevail.
Kansas 80, Samford 76.
Brendan Dzwierzynski
Am I dumb for thinking this McCullar situation will be a galvanizing moment for KU, at least for one game? Probably. But I do think Kansas will win. The Jayhawks aren’t great with ball security but I also think they’ll be able to handle the Samford press fairly well, and with so much pressure it should lead to open looks on the offensive end when KU breaks it. Defensively, against all those threes, we’ll see how prepared KU is but the size mismatch should help. I don’t expect much from the Jayhawks in this tournament, but I am expecting a win tonight.
Kansas 81, Samford 72.
Caleb Sisk
Check out Caleb's full breakdown of the 1st Round in the Midwest regional, including a prediction for today:
Obviously McCullar being out hurts, but we have seen Kansas go ballistic without him, and there is something to be said for the certainty of knowing that he is going to be out the rest of the season. Defensively, the big worry is keeping Samford from hitting transition threes, but I think Kansas will manage that. And the speed everyone talks about with this team also works against the Bulldogs, as they turn the ball over A LOT. There is plenty to be worried about in the next round and beyond, but I don't think the Jayhawks go one-and-done.
Kansas 74, Samford 62.
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