Villanova Wildcats at Kansas Jayhawks Pick – NCAAB Predictions

One of the most anticipated college basketball games of the season will take place on Saturday morning. The Kansas Jayhawks will host the Villanova Wildcats in a rematch of last season’s National Championship Semifinal Game. Villanova embarrassed the Jayhawks in that game en route to a National Championship. Kansas will have revenge on their mind in this season’s matchup.

Kansas has not lost since that game last March, bringing a perfect 8-0 record into this matchup. The Jayhawks come in as the second-ranked team in the latest AP poll and have a pair of top-10 wins to their name this season. Villanova has struggled at times this season, but come in as the 21st ranked team in the nation. The Wildcats enter the week with an 8-2 record and have a game at Pennsylvania before this matchup with Kansas.

Villanova Looking For Leaders

Villanova is still looking for a true leader after losing point guard Jalen Brunson the NBA Draft a season ago. The Wildcats are averaging a pedestrian 75 points per game this season and scored just 46 points against Michigan earlier this season. Jay Wright still has his team playing terrific defense, allowing only 64.8 points per game. A trip to historic Allen Fieldhouse will really test the toughness of a young Vilanova squad.

Phil Booth and Eric Paschall are two of the returning players from last year’s title team, and they are the offensive stars. Booth and Paschall have combined to average more than 30 points and 9 rebounds per game this season, but they need some help from the guards. Villanova is shooting just 34 percent from the three-point line this season, after being one of the best shooting teams in the country a season ago. The Wildcats will need some offense to keep up with an explosive Kansas squad.

Kansas Has Plenty of Weapons

While the Wildcats are looking for more consistent offense, Kansas features one of the best offensive attacks in the nation. The Jayhawks are pouring in 81.4 points per game this season, but they are capable of reaching triple digits. Kansas scored 92 against Michigan State and 87 against Tennessee in their two biggest wins of the season.

Transfer Dedric Lawson leads the team with 19.1 points per game this season and poured in 20 points in the Jayhawks most recent win. Lagerald Vick is one of the best shooters in the country, averaging 16.3 points per game on 56 percent shooting from the three-point line. Kansas also has a terrific post player in Udoka Azubuike. The Jayhawks have all of the weapons necessary to make a run at a National Championship.