Kansas vs. Marquette Preview; How to watch, prediction, best bet

The No. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks take on the No. 4 ranked Marquette Golden Eagles in a matchup of unbeaten teams to close out day two of the Maui Invitational on Tuesday.

Kansas has already been tested in the “Champions Classic”, taking down a very talented Kentucky Team a week ago. The Jayhawks struggled a bit against Chaminade University in their Maui Invitational opener, but should be ready to go in this one.

Marquette similarly struggled in their tournament opener, albeit against a much more talented UCLA team, and still remains unbeaten on the young season.

Kansas opens up as a 4-point favorite, but could Marquette hand Bill Self’s team its first loss of the season?

Read down below for our full guide and preview ahead of this Big East/Big 12 showdown.

How to watch.

The entire Maui Invitational can be seen exclusively on the ESPN Family of Networks and the ESPN App. This game airs on ESPN at 10:30 Eastern. Kanoa Leahey and Bill Walton will have the call for this top 4 matchup, with Angel Gray providing updates from the sideline.

Kansas Jayhawks Team Preview

The Kansas Jayhawks are clearly the best and most talented team in college basketball.

Transfer Hunter Dickinson has been the best player in the nation through the first two weeks of the season. The senior is averaging 24 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block this year to lead a talented supporting cast to a 4-0 record.

As for that supporting cast, senior Kevin McCullar Jr. would be the best player on 95% of teams in Division 1. McCullar has been lights out from the field, averaging nearly 18 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game. The guard pairs with Dickinson to create the best center/guard duo in college basketball.

Guard Dajaun Harris is no slouch himself, averaging 8 points and 8 assists a game.

Add-in forward K.J Adams and his 12.5 PPG to the mix, and this Jayhawks team seems absolutely unstoppable.

They may be just that.

Marquette Golden Eagles team preview

Many people may have forgot because of the early NCAA Tournament exit, but Shaka Smart’s Marquette team was one of the best squads in the nation last year.

That is important because the bulk of this Golden Eagles team is exactly the same.

They still are led by reigning Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek, who is making an early bid to win the award again with his 13-point, 5-rebound, and 6-assist averages.

His backcourt mate, junior guard Kam Jones, has improved his 15 PPG from last year into 18 PPG in the young season this year.

Senior forward, and probably Marquette’s most important player tonight, Oso Ighodaro, has also improved. Ighodaro has scored at least 13 points in every game so far, giving Shaka Smart the consistency he needs in the front court.

This team is a lot like Kansas. Marquette has an all-conference player with a supporting cast that can carry the load on any given night.

Best Bet

These teams are so similar, but Kansas is just downright more talented.

If the Jayhawks struggle to shoot the ball against a great Marquette defense this game is going to be close throughout.Even if that happens, Kansas is good enough to pull one out at the end.

With a close spread, I’m willing to lay the 4 points here on Kansas. If they play to the best of their abilities the Jayhawks should win this game by about 11. If not, I could still see Hunter Dickinson and Co. pulling out a win with some free throws at the end covering the 4 points.

Prediction

Marquette may keep this game close with defensive intensity on a neutral court, but Kansas is just too talented.

Jayhawks fly past the Eagles, 84-75.