Richmond Can’t Hang for 40 Minutes with Kansas
The Spiders may have an intimidating mascot, which is why several people picked them to get this far. However, their road ends here as they will attempt to beat the No. 1 seeded Kansas Jayhawks.
Richmond is capable of keeping it close and staying in this game, but in the end the Jayhawks will prevail. Kansas has the killer instinct to close out games in the final minutes. Their defensive intensity will turn up a notch or two in the closing minutes to solidify their trip to the Elite Eight.
The Spiders top two players in Kevin Anderson and Justin Harper won’t be missing much tonight. Anderson is averaging 19 points per contest during the tournament, and Harper averages 16. The two seniors will do their best to make sure Richmond stays in this game. And just how are they going to do that you ask? Knocking down their three point jumpers.
For a 6’10” forward Harper can really shoot the three ball. He was a .465 perecent from beyond the arc during the season, but hasn’t shot the trifecta that well this tournament. Anderson hit his threes in the Spiders first tournament game, but was ice cold against Morehead State.
Anderson and Harper have to have a spectacular night to keep Richmond in this game. The Jayhawks know how to win and are very hungry for a National Title. Marcus and Markieff Morris will be the difference makers tonight.
Both players are averaging a double double this tournament, and Markieff actually leads in scoring. Marcus led the Jayhawks in scoring all year, but Markieff is averaging 19 points per game so far in the big dance. These twins are 6’9″ and 6’10” and around 240-pounds. Their presence down low has been difficult for many teams to stop this year.
The Morris twins, along with the fact that the Jayhawks will face a double digit seed twice this weekend, are the main reason Kansas will reach the Final Four. A win over No. 12 seed Richmond tonight, and then a victory over the winner of the first ever No. 10 vs No. 11 seed on Sunday will get the Jayhawks into the Final Four for the 14th time in school history.
Kansas is too strong and too deep for Richmond to win this game.
Prediction: The Jayhawks scare some folks, but win late 73-67