The Kansas Jayhawks and Memphis Tigers meet Tuesday night in a rematch of the 2008 national title game. Here’s a preview from BroburySports.com.
LVSC opened Kansas as a 13-point favorite, but check out the latest odds at BroburySports.com.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN at 10 pm ET and is being played in St. Louis. That is equal distance between both schools, but you have to assume there will be more Kansas fans.
These two squads met in an epic title game back in April, 2008. Memphis, led by point guard Derrick Rose, looked like they had the game in hand. However, a Mario Chalmers three-pointer sent it into overtime and Kansas prevailed.
Kansas is the consensus favorite to win the national title this year, although no starters from the championship team remain. They do have two of the top-10 players in the country with center Cole Aldrich and guard Sherron Collins.
The Jayhawks opened this season on Friday with a 101-65 win over Hofstra. The spread was a whopping 27 ½-points and Kansas led by 21 at the end of the half.
Highly touted freshman Xavier Henry was the big story, overshadowing Aldrich and Collins. Henry had 27 points on 8-for-12 shooting, setting a freshman debut record at this historic powerhouse.
Henry’s performance was especially painful for Memphis. He had committed to the school before coach John Calipari decided to leave for Kentucky. Now Henry will get to face the team he spurned.
Steep fall for Memphis
Memphis finished 33-4 last year, losing in the Sweet Sixteen to Missouri. Freshman Tyreke Evans scored 33 points in that game and then left for the NBA. That was expected, but it still hurt.
John Pastner is the new coach after serving as a Calipari assistant last year. Senior guard Doneal Mack is the only Memphis player with more than 10 starts on his resume. He averaged 8.7 PPG last year, fifth on the team.
The Tigers opened up with an 82-53 win over Jackson State. There was no pointspread due to the lopsidedness of the mathcup. Duke transfer Elliot Williams had 19 points in his first Memphis game. He started in a three-guard backcourt with Roburt Sallie and Willie Kemp. Mack came off the bench.
The problem Memphis will have versus Kansas is up front, going against Aldrich and company. That’s the biggest reason for this large spread.
Bet on this great college basketball matchup at BroburySports.com
