The Preview: Kansas Jayhawks v. Lehigh Mountain Hawks

Bet on this game on www.sportsbook.com Which hawk will prevail…okay dumb question.

2010-03-19

Which hawk will prevail…okay dumb question.

The number one seeded, as well as favorites in this year’s tournament, the Kansas University Jayhawks will be facing the number 16 seeded Lehigh Mountain Hawks in the Midwest regional. Opening tip-off will be at 9:30 pm eastern time, March 18, 2010, at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

So the question isn’t who’s going to win, because a 16 seeded team has never beat a number one seeded team in the first round, but the better question is by how much and when will the Jayhawks pull their starters and put in the reserves. Fun fact, since the tournament went to its current format of 64 teams, a number 16 seed has never beaten a number one seed.

Before we answer the important questions and start betting on www.sportsbook.com, there are something very familiar things about this game. Let’s travel back into time to the 2005 tournament where the Jayhawks were matched up against Bucknell in the first round, and yes they also played at Oklahoma City’s Ford Center and yes the Bucknell’s are from the Patriot League too. Oh wait more crazy similarities, the game was also on March 18th and at night, and oh did I mention the Jayhawks lost. If you believe in superstition, signs, voodoo magic, and funky mojo I might stay away from this game, but then again, that stuff does not exist. OK, just had to get that crazy talk out of the way, I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t tell you guys about it.

Leading the Jayhawks in the Midwest Region are Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, two key pieces in the team's 2008 title run. The Jayhawks earned the overall number one seed based on an 18-1 record against Big 12 opponents, which includes three wins over Kansas State, a team in the mix for a top seed until falling to the Jayhawks in the conference final Saturday.

Currently the spread has the Kansas Jayhawks giving up 25.5 points, with how dominant the Jayhawks have been throughout the season as well as down the stretch, I don’t think this spread is too hard to reach. The Jayhawks averaged 81.8 points per game and has given up 63.8 points per game, if we do the quick math that is a difference of 18 points, but their opponents were mainly from their own conference, the Big 12. Playing a team from the Patriot League (is that a conference? Who knew) the Kansas Jayhawks can add another 8 points to their average or stop the Mountain Hawks from scoring all together.

The only chance Lehigh can even keep up with the Jayhawks is if freshman guard C.J McCollum can have a great game. McCollum leads the team in scoring with an 18.9 points per game average and leads his team with 70 three pointers and 40 steals. He is also the second assists leader behind senior guard Marquis Hall with 76. However, the Jayhawks have probably done their homework and will be able to contain the freshman.

All signs point to the Jayhawks as the easy bet. Go to www.sportsbook.com to make your bets.

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