in NCAA B Articles

This will be a battle of two stout defenses as the fourth-seeded Salukis attempt to upset the top-seeded Jayhawks. The Salukis have been living up to their reputation, playing with a defense notorious for being “hard as nails.” Now they will clash with an explosive Kansas offense that is peaking at the perfect moment.

Southern Illinois’ defense will have to be in top form Thursday night. They held their previous two opponents to an average of 50 points, but the Jayhawks average 79.5 points per game. The Salukis must be patient with their offense and hope that their defense can frustrate the Jayhawks by applying pressure to their perimeter.

Kansas’ turnover-happy defense has averaged 9.0 turnovers per game, and their potent offense will storm the Salukis, attempting to run the score early on and pad a lead they know that Southern Illinois will not be able to keep up with. But the Salukis’ are a hard-nosed defense, and will present Kansas with a lot of frustration if they can not get going early.

The Salukis’ are not much of a Cinderella at the number four seed, but they will need all the magic of a fairy godmother to knock off the Jayhawks. The problem dogging Kansas is their history for blowing it in the tournament. Expect that tradition to continue as the Salukis hound the ‘Hawks defensively, while keeping this game tight in the UNDER and engineering a tremendous upset over the top seed in the West.

Thursday, March 22nd --- HP Pavilion, San Jose --- 7:10pm EST

NCAA Basketball Free Pick: Southern Illinois 63 Kansas 59
Result: Southern Illinois 58 Kansas 61

Ringo’s Tournament Record: 17-7

Go to the BetUS.com action!