NCAA Basketball Kansas JayhawksKentucky Wildcats

Kansas vs. Kentucky: College Basketball Game Preview, Prediction

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By @TSturmRS





Perhaps the biggest early matchup of the 2014-15 college basketball season, the Kansas Jayhawks take on the Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 9 p.m. EST in the Champions Classic.

Kentucky enters the upcoming basketball season as the No. 1 ranked team in the country due to the number of returning players from the previous season, as well as another elite recruiting class. This is a well-deserved ranking, as this group of Wildcats could be one of the deepest, most talented teams in college basketball history. It’s going to take something special to beat this team, and although I don’t see a scenario in which they finish the season undefeated, an undefeated season is not outside the realm of possibility.

Kansas lost their two best players from the previous season, and no matter what this team does it’s going to be a struggle to get around the loss of Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid. The Jayhawks’ fantastic incoming recruits, as well as their returning veterans have the talent to take this team to the Final Four, but this team is clearly not as talented as they were last season. If Cliff Alexander can translate his game to the collegiate level immediately, then it might be a different story.

Don’t be surprised if the Wildcats struggle a bit to score in the first half and head into halftime down a bucket or two. However, Kansas will not be able to account for the all-around talent and depth of this Kentucky squad, which should pull away in the second half. Expect either Perry Ellis or Kelly Oubre to go off for 20 or more points, but it won’t be enough as the Harrison twins rip apart this Jayhawks team.

Kansas’ only hope is that Kentucky isn’t gelling as a team just yet, which isn’t likely if you paid attention to their run in the preseason.

Prediction: Kentucky 78, Kansas 69

Taylor Sturm is a Featured Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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