Kansas lost in the Big 12 conference semifinals and that likely cost them a #1 seed in the Big Dance. Detroit will not be a pushover and the Titans have won 5 straight and even though they only finished 3rd in the Horizon Conference this season they did not have much trouble winning the conference tourney. <\/p>\n
Detroit (15) vs Kansas (2)<\/strong> Matchup<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Preview<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Detroit Titans vs. Kansas Jayhawks Preview<\/strong><\/p>\n NCAAB lines have Kansas as a big 14-point favorite with a total of 142.5.<\/p>\n In their last games Detroit beat Valparaiso 70-50 in the Horizon tourney finals while Kansas lost to Baylor 81-72 in the Big 12 semis.<\/p>\n This season Kansas is 16-15-1 ATS with an O\/U record of 12-18-2 and Detroit is 12-19-1 with an O\/U record of 16-16.<\/p>\n The Jayhawks have lost early in the Big Dance in the last couple of seasons to teams from mid-major conferences so don’t look for them to take Detroit for granted.<\/p>\n Detroit and their 191st ranked defense has a tall task in this game trying to contain possible Player of the Year play F Thomas Robinson (17.9 ppg 11.8 rpg) and senior G Tyshawn Taylor (17.3 ppg). Robinson has been a beast this season and he creates a huge match-up problem for a Titans’ team that only ranks 201st in the nation in rebounds per game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n The Kansas defense has one main goal in this game and that is to try to contain G Ray McCallum (15.6 ppg) who was the Horizon League’s player of the year this season and has been en fuego lately averaging 23 ppg in his last 3 games. He will need help from 2nd leading scorer G Chase Simon (13.5 ppg), who has really struggled in the last couple of games.<\/p>\n 2 players that really have to step up in this game for Detroit is the frontcourt duo of F\/C Eli Holman (10.9 ppg 6.8 rpg) and F\/C LaMarcus Lowe (6.6 ppg 4.9 ppg). These guys both have the size at 6’10” and they must play well inside against Robinson and 7′ C Jeff Withey (9.3 ppg 6.2 rpg).<\/p>\n Detroit was 0-2 this season facing ranked teams, but both games were pretty close.<\/p>\n In some betting trends for this Midwest Region 2nd round game Detroit is 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 non-conference games, 2-6 ATS in their last 8 neutral site games as an underdog, and they have an Over record of 5-2 in their last 7 games.<\/p>\n Kansas is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games, 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a S.U. loss, and they have an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 neutral site games as a favorite.<\/p>\n
\nVenue\/ Stadium: CenturyLink Center Omaha, Omaha, NE<\/strong>
\nTime\/Date: 9:57 PM EST Friday, March 16, 2012<\/strong>
\nNCAA Odds From: Bovada<\/a><\/strong>
\nMoneyline: Detroit +800 \/ Kansas -1400 <\/strong>
\nSpread (ATS): Kansas -14 <\/strong>
\nOver\/Under: 142.5<\/strong><\/p>\n