Unbelievable: The Gonzaga basketball team has experienced a serious injury once more. Heartbreaking news
The No. 4 seed Kansas Jayhawks and the No. 5 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs square off in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament on Saturday, with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. These teams have only faced off once in their illustrious histories, with the Bulldogs defeating the Jayhawks 102-90 in November 2020. Kansas is missing guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (knee), but they did welcome back center Hunter Dickinson from a shoulder injury in the first round against Samford, where he finished with 19 points and 20 rebounds.
The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2024 NCAA tournament on a 148-106 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also has a strong 29-19 (+810) record on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has experienced enormous rewards.
Now, the model has set its sights on Kansas vs. Gonzaga. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are several college basketball odds and trends for Gonzaga vs. Kansas:
Junior guard Nolan Hickman is a poised force in the backcourt. Hickman has exceptional handles and can alter paces in a blink of an eye. He averages 13.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The Washington native totaled 11 points and made three 3-pointers in his last matchup.
Ryan Nembhard, a junior guard, is an adept passer and can score easily from mid-range or the lane. His 6.8 assists per game are a franchise record, and he averages 12.8 points each contest. In his last four games, he has finished with a double-double in three of them. Nembhard scored 13 points, dished out 11 assists, and had two steals on March 12 against Saint Mary’s. See which team to choose at SportsLine.
The Jayhawks need someone to step up in McCullar Jr.’s absence during the tournament, and rookie guard Johnny Furphy is one guy who is prepared for the situation. Furphy has excellent awareness and does a wonderful job of spacing the floor. He averages 4.8 rebounds, 9 points, and a 35% field goal percentage. In six of his previous ten games, he has scored ten or more points. Furphy scored 16 points, pulled down eight rebounds, and drained two threes in Thursday’s victory over Samford.
