After defeating Georgetown and UCLA in back-to-back nights, the No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks get a second chance against a top ten opponent this season when they play No. 6 Duke Wednesday in the final of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.
The 6-0 Blue Devils, who defeated Tennessee and Michigan en route to the final, are a -3 point favorite.
They are lead in scoring by their starting back-court of junior Seth Curry and freshman Austin Rivers, and the Jayhawks duo of Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Johnson should be able to pressure the less athletic Duke guards.
Up-front, Thomas Robinson could have a big game against an unimposing Blue Devil front-line, especially if he can get starting power forward Mason Plumlee in foul trouble and force Coach K to guard him with either Miles Plumlee or Ryan Kelly.
Duke, with only seven players averaging more than 15 minutes a game, is in the same boat as the Jayhawks when it comes to depth, so it will be an interesting challenge for both coaches to see if they expand their rotations in their third game in as many days.
For Kansas, the game is an opportunity for a statement non-conference victory that would help them significantly in March while also giving them another measuring stick against an elite team after falling to No. 2 Kentucky in New York City last week.
The game, which will be televised nationally at 9:00 PM on ESPN, is expected to be a high-scoring up-and-down affair, with the over/under set at 146.5 points.