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Red-hot No. 10 Kansas visits Temple on Monday
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Published: 12/22/2014  at  4:46:00 AM
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KANSAS JAYHAWKS (9-1)

at TEMPLE OWLS (7-4)

Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, PA
Tip-off: Monday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Line: Kansas -7, Total: 136.5

No. 10 Kansas looks to extend its eight-game winning streak on Monday night as it travels to Philadelphia to take on Temple.

Kansas (5-4 ATS, 5-3 OVER) has rebounded nicely since getting blown out in its second game of the season against Kentucky by ripping off eight straight wins (5-2 ATS). Temple (3-6 ATS, 4-1 UNDER) is just getting its entire roster back as Jesse Morgan and Devin Coleman are ready to go after transferring in. In their first game playing on Thursday, the duo combined for seven three-pointers in an 82-62 victory at Delaware. These two schools played two seasons ago in Lawrence, with the Jayhawks holding on for the 69-62 victory. While both rosters are very different now, both of these teams have remained strong on the glass this season, and that could be the biggest key to this game. The Jayhawks are a perfect 6-0 ATS on the road over the past three seasons when grabbing 45+ rebounds, while they are also 21-9 ATS in the past three seasons when outrebounding their opponent by double-digits. In Kansas' one loss this season, it was outrebounded 47-42. Temple holds its opponents to 39.1% shooting from the field, and the Jayhawks are 0-6 ATS the past two seasons when shooting between 40% FG and 46% FG.

Can Temple pick up a huge home win on Monday night? For the latest college basketball picks, check out The Platinum Sheet for all the Expert picks. The experts have begun the 2014-15 season by posting a collective 53.1% ATS mark (78-69) in Best Bets. The five experts are led by StatFox Gary's stellar 62% ATS record (18-11), while StatFox Zach is 57% ATS (17-13) and StatFox Brian is 53% ATS (16-14) to open the season.

The Jayhawks are not the same juggernaut offensively they have been in the past, but Kansas is starting to figure it out. Coach Bill Self’s team enters Monday night’s game ranked 52nd in the nation in rebounding (39.1 RPG), 103rd in scoring (72.0 PPG) and 176th in assists (12.8 APG), but are shooting a subpar 42.6% FG (212th in nation). But the Jayhawks defense has been solid this season limiting opponents to 63.8 PPG (135th in nation) on 40.7% FG and 33.0% threes. But the offense appears to be catching up with the defense, and could be there very soon if freshman SG Kelly Oubre (5.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 47% threes) builds off his best game as a college basketball player. In a 96-69 win against Lafayette on Saturday, he scored 23 points (9-of-15 FG, 4-of-7 threes) with 10 rebounds in just 25 minutes of action. That performance was especially big as Kansas go-to scorer, SF Perry Ellis (13.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG) was limited due to illness. Ellis has the ability to step out and hit the jump shot, making him difficult for opposing post players to guard. The sophomore backcourt of PG Frank Mason III (10.9 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.8 RPG) and SG Wayne Selden Jr. (9.4 PPG, 3.4 APG, 3.1 RPG) are continuing to improve. Mason III does a great job of breaking down the defense and opening up things for his teammates. The Jayhawks don’t have a lot of guys that can score at will, so Mason’s ability to create things for his teammates is a huge asset. Speaking of huge, 6-foot-8, 240-pound PF Cliff Alexander (8.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG) leads the team in rebounding despite playing only 18.8 minutes per game.

Now that Temple has its full roster, the Owls should start improving on the offensive end. Entering Monday night’s game, Temple ranks 83rd in the nation in rebounding (37.6 RPG), but also rank 249th in assists (11.5 APG), 264th in scoring (64.2 PPG) and an atrocious 340th national rank in shooting (36.9% FG). While the team has four losses on the season, two of them are to Duke and Villanova, two undefeated, top-10 teams. Junior SG Quenton DeCosey (14.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 41% threes) has been the leading scorer on the team, as he can score anywhere on the court. He's actually shooting much better from three-point range (41%) than from inside the arc (35% two-pt FG). His job has been made easier with senior SGs Jesse Morgan (16.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4-of-8 threes) and Devin Coleman (9.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3-for-6 threes) being back on the team. Both of these players can shoot from long range, which should open up some driving lanes for the Owls. With senior PG Will Cummings (14.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.7 APG) also more than capable of scoring, the Owls have the type of guards that can take over a game. Sophomore SF Mark Williams (6.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG) is the one frontcourt player that the Owls will be counting on to have a big game, but he is shooting a dismal 33% FG this season, including 7-of-24 threes (29%). Junior PF Jaylen Bond (6.1 PPG) leads the team in rebounding (6.2 RPG), but has to stop shooting so much from downtown, where he's made only 2-of-17 threes.


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