PREMIUM
UNC-KU OVER 159.5: NCAAB BEST BET
(NCAAB) Tar Heels (UNC) vs. Jayhawks (KU),
Total: 159.50 | -112.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 159.50 | -112.00 Over
Result: Win
I'm confident that these teams will combine for 160-plus points on Friday at Allen Fieldhouse.
The Tar Heels have three proven guards in RJ Davis, Seth Trimble and Elliot Cadeau, plus sharpshooter Cade Tyson. UNC's guards will be their engine on Friday, putting pressure on Kansas' guards, who, aside from Dajuan Harris Jr., aren't proven perimeter defenders. Plus, KU has two guards already out, Elmarko Jackson and Shakeel Moore, and another redshirting, so their rotation could be too thin to deal with the Tar Heels' collection of quality guards. I expect North Carolina to attack the not-exactly-nimble Hunter Dickinson in pick and rolls, as KU will struggle to defend ball screens, leading to open shots from the mid-range and long range.
On the other end of the court, expect Kansas to dominate in the paint. UNC lost big man Armando Bacot, and struggled at the rim and on the glass in its opener against Elon. That's a major concern against Dickinson, Flory Bidunga and the uber-athletic KJ Adams Jr. UNC is going to struggle to defend Dickinson one-on-one and will be liable to putbacks and offensive rebounds by Adams.
North Carolina is high-tempo (35th in adjusted tempo, per KenPom) and both teams love to get out in transition for fast break buckets, too. With all that said, this total should surpass 159 points.
The Tar Heels have three proven guards in RJ Davis, Seth Trimble and Elliot Cadeau, plus sharpshooter Cade Tyson. UNC's guards will be their engine on Friday, putting pressure on Kansas' guards, who, aside from Dajuan Harris Jr., aren't proven perimeter defenders. Plus, KU has two guards already out, Elmarko Jackson and Shakeel Moore, and another redshirting, so their rotation could be too thin to deal with the Tar Heels' collection of quality guards. I expect North Carolina to attack the not-exactly-nimble Hunter Dickinson in pick and rolls, as KU will struggle to defend ball screens, leading to open shots from the mid-range and long range.
On the other end of the court, expect Kansas to dominate in the paint. UNC lost big man Armando Bacot, and struggled at the rim and on the glass in its opener against Elon. That's a major concern against Dickinson, Flory Bidunga and the uber-athletic KJ Adams Jr. UNC is going to struggle to defend Dickinson one-on-one and will be liable to putbacks and offensive rebounds by Adams.
North Carolina is high-tempo (35th in adjusted tempo, per KenPom) and both teams love to get out in transition for fast break buckets, too. With all that said, this total should surpass 159 points.
