Kansas vs. Michigan March 29 Free Pick
A battle of 1 vs. 4 in the Sweet 16 as Kansas meets Michigan. The oddmakers have made KU a 2-point favorite ahead of the tip.
Free Pick
Kansas survived the scare with UNC last week – a game I thought they would lose. The Jayhawks pulled away in the
second half when UNC
started going cold after they basically ran out of gas. Now, the same issue that Kansas had guarding UNC is
kind of in play in this one, with the bigs of Michigan capable outside shooters but I don’t think it’s nearly to
the same degree.
Not only do I think Kansas is the better team, in terms of personnel, but I think the experience factor is being WAY overlooked in this one. Ok, I get Michigan took care of Nate Wolters and then capitalized on a good matchup with a great VCU team. I’m not completely back on the ‘waggon here though. The Wolverines start three Freshman. Kansas starts four Seniors (including a 5th year with Trav Releford). I’ve heard the argument that Michigan is going to shred the Kansas perimeter D but I can’t say I really agree with it. With Withey a little closer to the paint, Elijah Johnson, Releford, McLemore, and Naadir Tharpe will turn up the heat on the great Michigan guards. Michigan is going to get theirs from the perimeter – it’s what they do. But I don’t see the Wolverines torching this Kansas defense that was considered one of the best in the nation earlier in the year (and I don’t know where the talks disappeared to).
Back to the McGary/Withey matchup. People are quick (like I was last week) to overreact and talk about how a perimeter-oriented big is going to take advantage of Withey. Well I have a question. Why aren’t we talking about a Senior with a superior post game and a three inch advantage taking a Freshman to school on the block? If I’m Kansas I try to get Withey involved early and often on the block and force Michigan to double. As much as the matchup will be tough on Withey, it should be even tougher on the young McGary.
Aside from that matchup, I really like Kansas just about everywhere else, too. It’s gone unnoticed because Michigan has romped in two games, but Trey Burke has semi-struggled in two tournament games and Elijah Johnson is not a good remedy for a shooting slump. The Senior will hawk Burke and put pressure on him on both ends of the floor. It should be a great showdown. I really do like Johnson/Relefor/McLemore vs. Burke/Hardaway/Stauskas. Kevin Young is a tough matchup for Glenn Robinson III, as he is for just about any big scorer.
These are two teams that matchup pretty well with each other and obviously either can win but I like Kansas here. Bill Self has a huge coaching edge over Beilein and I like the experience and depth of KU to take this one. Watch out for Tharpe and my boy Perry Ellis coming off the pine for KU as a part of their superior seven-man rotation. Where we stand right now in the NCAA Tournament I actually like this Kansas team to emerge from the right hand side of the bracket but we are a ways away from there. KU to move on and cover.
Free Pick: Kansas -2