Kansas Jayhawks vs UCF Knights Predictions: Retribution

The Kansas Jayhawks collapsed late against the Houston Cougars, irritating the fanbase, the players AND head coach Bill Self. Tonight, they get to take their frustrations out on the UCF Knights, who come to town looking for some redemption after getting absolutely demolished at home just a few weeks ago by this same team. 

Will they be able to get revenge? Or will the Jayhawks bounce back in a big way and quiet some of the concerns?

Our crew gives their thoughts:

Kyle Davis

Check out our UCF Preview for Kyle's full breakdown and prediction.

Derek Noll

Kansas won’t beat UCF by over 50 like they recently did in Orlando, this much I am certain of. What I’m not so certain of is how this group reacts after their absolute meltdown (twice!) against Houston. Do they storm back and take the rest of the season by the scruff of the neck and dominate the way we know they can? Or will they constantly relive the horrors of Saturday night in Allen? The truth is it will probably be somewhere in between, but for me, I’m looking to Zeke Mayo to step up, starting in the game against UCF. He knows that despite everything that also went wrong (terrible free throw shooting being an obvious place to start), he and his turnovers were the reason that Kansas lost. A massive comeback game from Zeke is a good place to re-start the season which at this point is sliding toward a four seed and the potential to play a team just like Houston in the Sweet Sixteen which no one wants. For today, I’ll take the Jayhawks to get us feeling better again. 

Kansas 80, UCF 68.

Brendan Dzwierzynski

 I am going to be optimistic here. Maybe that’s ill-advised, but when has that ever stopped me? I believe this Kansas team will respond positively to Saturday’s meltdown and will take out its rage in kind on UCF. My wish is that Bill Self will ride the hot hands and we’ll see tons of Bidunga and Griffen throughout the game. There’s really no reason not to at this point. I’m confident in a Mayo bounce-back effort, and after the first meeting down in Orlando I’m just not sure the Knights will have many answers in this matchup. Give me a big win to get the Jayhawks back on track. 

Kansas 83, UCF 65.

Andy Mitts

For all intents and purposes, Kansas was plenty good enough to win that game against Houston. Some fluky late-game execution issues and the requirement to rely on one of the most seemingly disinterested Jayhawks in the Bill Self era for big bench minutes isn't enough to change my opinion of the overall talent level of the team. KJ should be back for limited minutes tonight, meaning that Storr will either have to put up or see his minutes all but disappear. They are significantly better than UCF, who doesn't have any sort of answer in the interior.

Kansas 83, UCF 58.

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