Preview: Kansas (15-4, 4-0) at Nebraska (12-6, 2-3)

Wed. Jan. 28, 2009—7:00 pm EST

Kansas (15-4, 4-0) at Nebraska (12-6, 2-3) 

Spread: Kansas -4.5

The Kansas Jayhawks look to stay unbeaten in the Big 12 as they travel to Lincoln to take on the pesky Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Backcourt Advantage: Kansas.
This game will be all about tempo.  Kansas will look to get out quickly in transition and create fastbreak opportunities.  Nebraska, on the other hand, will need to make this a slow-paced, half-court game if they want to give themselves a chance to win.  Cornhusker seniors Steve Harley (12.1 PPG) and Ade Dagunduro (10.7 PPG) will have their hands full in accomplishing that, though, because Kansas junior Sherron Collins (18.7 PPG), the Jayhawks’ only returning contributor from last year’s National Championship team, is one of the best players in the country in transition.  He is usually the one dictating the tempo of the game.

Frontcourt Advantage: Kansas.
Sophomore center Cole Aldrich (15.4 PPG, 9.8 RPG) is having a remarkable season for Kansas in his first year as a starter.  The Jayhawks have out-rebounded their opponents by nearly 6 RPG, while Nebraska has been out-rebounded by 4 RPG.  Therefore, look for the Jayhawks to dominate inside with Aldrich and Marcus and Markieff Morris, freshmen brothers from Philadelphia, PA.

Momentum: Kansas.
Kansas is 4-0 in Big 12 play and really has yet to be challenged, winning by an average margin of 17 points.  There’s no reason to think they’ll be challenged by Nebraska either, a team they’ve beaten 11 straight times (10 of which were by double-digits).

Prediction: Kansas -4.5

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