Kansas vs. Belmont preview: Jayhawks host Bruins

Few teams have given Kansas any problems since a narrow loss to Michigan State back in November. The Jayhawks will try to dispatch of Belmont with that same ease.

Riding a six-game winning streak, No. 9 Kansas will play the Bruins on Dec. 15, after a week off following its blowout victory over Colorado. The non-conference game will be another chance for the Jayhawks to boost their record and sharpen their skills in the weeks leading up to a huge matchup with No. 7 Ohio State on Dec. 22.

Since that game against Michigan State, which Kansas lost, 67-64, the Jayhawks haven't gotten much of a challenge. During the six-game win streak, Kansas has won all but one of its games by double digits, including the most recent pounding of Colorado, 90-54. Only Oregon State, which lost by just six points, has kept it close against the Jayhawks.

Belmont, which will play Middle Tennessee State on Dec. 13 before coming to Lawrence, started the season hot at 4-0 but has hit a rough patch lately. The Bruins had lost two of their last three, falling to Northeastern and VCU, before crushing Lipscomb University, 100-66. Belmont's Ian Clark nailed seven three-pointers en route to 30 points in the win; he's the Bruins' leading scorer with 19.4 points per game.

Tipoff for Saturday's game will be at 7 pm ET.