By all accounts, Darrion Peterson will be available for the Jayhawks’ game against the UCF Golden Knights today at 1 p.m. The game will air on NBC Sports Network for television viewers and on Peacock Channel for subscribers. Kansas currently leads by 4.5 points.
The gap may seem a little tight, but UCF has been solid so far this season. They finished in the KenPom top 50 with an 11-1 record. Their only loss was to a tough Vanderbilt team in November, and they beat Texas A&M…well, this is where it gets a little difficult to judge how good this team is. Besides A&M and Vandy, Pitt (No. 94) is the only other team in KenPom’s top 100 where they have played.
advertise
They are tougher on offense than on defense. KenPom ranks their offense 35th, but their defense only ranks 90th. The Cavaliers rank just 92nd inside the three-point line but 12th behind the arc, shooting just under 40% from three. That alone could make them dangerous in any given game, although their 3-point shooting percentage isn’t very high at all, suggesting that part of their 3-point shooting may come from shot selection.
Another thing to note when UCF has the ball is their exceptional offensive rebounding. Their numbers may be a bit inflated due to playing a lot of mid-to-lower major teams, but their OR% still ranks fourth nationally. Kansas needed to smash the backboard to prevent UCF from stealing extra possessions on the glass.
I expect Kansas to win this game, but a team that shoots high 3-pointers and wipes out the offensive glass is always a concern for me. I was prepared for this game to be a little too close and Kansas might fall behind at times, especially early in the game.