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The Kansas Jayhawks, the No. 1 seed in the West region of the NCAA Tournament, take on the No. 16 seed Howard Bison on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET on TBS.
Howard (22-12) is coming off an impressive season that saw them finish first in the Mid-Eastern Athletic conference.
Kansas (27-7), the defending national champion, has once again been one of country's most impressive teams. The Jayhawks won the stacked Big 12 in the regular season and are hoping to make another lengthy tournament run.
Game preview: Howard vs. Kansas
This is the first time Howard has earned an NCAA Tournament berth since 1992. The odds will be stacked against the Bison. Kansas features a roster of veterans who understand what is at stake.
Howard has been firing on all cylinders as of late. They have won their last five games , including a conference tournament championship victory over Norfolk State.
The Jayhawks will be motivated to get a recent bad taste out of their mouths. The Jayhawks have won two of their last four games, including a pair of blowout losses to rival Texas. That includes getting blown out 76-56 in the conference tournament final Sunday.
Game prediction
Spread: Kansas (-22)
Total (O/U): 145.5
Moneyline: Howard (+2000) vs. Kansas (-15000)
Howard will have the odds stacked against the Bison, as expected when going up against a No. 1 seed. The Bison have a pair of players who are sure to draw attention. Freshman Shy Odom has the tools to be a player to watch out for. The 6-foot-6 wing is averaging 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 54.3%.
Sophomore guard Elijah Hawkins will look to carry the Bison against the Jayhawks as well. Hawkins is averaging 13.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 5.9 apg while shooting 47.3% from downtown.
The Jayhawks will feature one of the deepest rosters in the NCAA Tournament. Talented wing Jalen Wilson is the engine who makes the Jayhawks roll, averaging an impressive 20.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg while shooting 42.5%.
Freshman wing Gradey Dick is also a name to monitor. The 6-8 sharpshooter is expected to be a lottery selection in the 2023 NBA draft. The Jayhawks will have plenty of firepower that might prove to be too problematic for the Bison.
Jayhawks 74, Bison 50
