Lehigh Mountain Hawks vs Kansas Jayhawks
The breakdown: Kansas, the number one team in the country, is the favorite to win the entire tournament. The Jayhawks have lost just two games all season and just won the Big 12 Tournament days ago. Lehigh has the unenviable task of trying to match up with one of the most athletic and versatile teams in Division 1. The Mountain Hawks won the Patriot League Tournament, beating Lafayette, to earn an automatic berth.
Why Kansas will win: Kansas is a 25.5 point favorite, and is in no danger to lose this game. No 16 seed has ever beaten a 1 seed in the tournament, and Kansas will not jeopardize that streak. One key for Kansas has been their points per possession, which ranks third in the country at 1.145 – in other words, the Jayhawks make the most of all of their possessions.
Why Lehigh will win: Like any mid major team, Lehigh is going to need to shoot the ball extremely well for 40 minutes to have a chance at pulling off this monumental David and Goliath type upset. The Mountain Hawks are 62nd in the country in field goal percentage, and will need to convert three pointers and free throws to keep this game reasonably close.
Pick: Kansas wins by 20 or more.
