The Kansas Jayhawks face their second elite opponent of a young college basketball season in tonight’s Maui Invitational final in a game that will either send Kansas to their second loss in the 2011-12 season or give them a big win over a major opponent that solidifies the possibilities of their young, thin team.
The Jayhawks watched several players exit Bill Self’s program this offseason and questions floated all summer long about just how good the team would be. They certainly knew they had dynamic players coming back, especially in star forward Thomas Robinson, who has incredible NBA potential, but beyond that, the team was as thin as they’d been in some time.
As for Duke, they’re already at 6-0 on the season and they’ve never lost in Maui, going for their fifth straight title in Hawaii. They spread the scoring well, so Kansas is going to have to watch Austin Rivers, Seth Curry and Ryan Kelly and even then the Blue Devils have the kind of depth that Kansas fans would love for their team to have. The Jayhawks will need Tyshawn Taylor and Elijah Robinson to really come on strong to keep up with Duke.
Here’s all the info you need to catch tonight’s game:
TV: ESPN
Time: 9:00pm CT
Where: Lahaina Civic Center, Maui, HI
Radio Info: 810 WHB AM (Kansas)
Betting Line: Duke Favored by 3 points (Bodog)