NCAAB: Kansas vs. Texas odds, preview, and pick

The Kansas Jayhawks have found themselves at the top of the Big 12 standings in 16 of the last 17 seasons, a nearly unprecedented run of success in major college sports. With just two games left in the regular season and five losses in-conference already, they’re on the verge of temporarily surrendering their crown, but aren’t going down without a fight.

The Jayhawks have won five straight games, and up next is a big-time matchup on Tuesday against the struggling Texas Longhorns.

The Jayhawks have been tenacious on D

The Jayhawks knew entering this season that they would have question marks on offense, and that has been borne out, with no player on this 10-deep squad bettering 50% shooting from the field.

While offense has been a struggle, the defense has battened down the hatches and is playing superbly behind senior guard Marcus Garrett. During the Jayhawks’ recent five-game win streak, they have given up an average of just 56 points per game. They are 12th in the nation in KenPom’s defensive efficiency rankings, and will have to continue to play at this recent level to keep their win streak alive.

Texas is Looking to Bounce Back

In their most recent outing, the Texas Longhorns jumped out to a 19-point lead against the West Virginia Mountaineers, before suffering a 84-82 defeat. In that second half, teammates Courtney Ramey and Andrew Jones got into a shouting match and had to be separated, a troubling sign for a team that has now lost four of its last six contests.

Despite the altercation, Ramey had a career-high 28 points on 7-of-8 shooting from deep. Will the defeat and internal conflict that reared its head during that game continue to drag down this Texas roster, or will they use it as motivation to get back on track and try to close the season strong?

The Longhorns will end the Jayhawks' streak

While these teams are clearly going in different directions, Texas defeated the Jayhawks 84-59 back on Jan. 2 in Lawrence. It was a complete dismantling at a time when the Jayhawks were still ranked third in the country. Texas outshot, outrebounded, and outplayed Kansas, and in a sport defined by matchups and leverage, Kansas has too much to overcome to narrow that gap.

Texas has length and athleticism, and for a team like Kansas that struggles to score, the Longhorns make for a troubling opponent. Look for Texas to come out motivated and hungry, and come away with a big home win.

Score prediction: Texas 71, Kansas 65

NCAAB pick: Texas