March Madness is here, having gotten underway earlier this week with the First Four games. The First Round action led off today with some exciting battles, and there’s plenty more to come before the day’s over. The road to the Final Four is wide, but will get skinnier with each game.

Kansas Takes on Howard

The #1 Kansas Jayhawks are almost ready to face the Howard Bison. The Jayhawks have had an incredible season, with a record of 27 wins and only seven losses, including an impressive 13-5 in conference play. Their latest victory was a resounding 20-point blowout against Texas, with a final score of 76-56.

That marked Kansas’ ninth win in their last eleven games, with the only two losses coming at the hands of Texas. The Jayhawks have been averaging a solid 74.9 points per game, while keeping their opponents to just 67.9 points.

Jalen Wilson has been an undisputed star player for the Jayhawks this season, leading the team with an impressive 20.1 points per game alongside eight rebounds. It’s clear that this team is at the top of its game and poised to make a big impact in postseason play.

The Bison have been putting on a display of great basketball this season, as well, holding a record of 22-12 (11-3). In their latest outing at the MEAC Tournament Finals, they managed to edge past Norfolk State with a narrow margin of 65-64. Their stunning form over the last two months has seen them emerge victorious in 14 of their 16 games.

At the forefront of Howard’s stellar performances, this season is Elijah Hawkins, who has been leading with an average of 13 points per game. However, his contribution to the squad extends beyond just his scoring ability, as he has also been instrumental in setting up his teammates for their baskets.

However, for all of Howard’s abilities, is going to run into trouble today. Kansas has too much offensive power and too much experience. The Bison aren’t going to go down without a fight, but the Jayhawks will win.

Duke Meets Oral Roberts For the First Time

The Duke Blue Devils and the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles have never met on the court as opponents. That changes today. Duke took out the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC Championship to set themselves up for March Madness, and are ready for battle.

The Blue Devils average 72.5 points a game, while giving up just 63.9. Kyle Filipowski, in his first year, has been the go-to shooter, putting up 20 points or more in three of the team’s last four games. There’s a lot of talent in the freshman class that will deliver results today.

The Golden Eagles had a really good March Madness run last year and are back for more. They defeated the North Dakota State Bison for the Summit League Championship title after taking complete control of the game, and won’t be an easy opponent for Duke. At 30-4 on the season, they did better than the Blue Devils, who finished 26-8.

The Golden Eagles like to play fast and loose, a strategy that has worked well this season. However, the Blue Devils know how to develop a cadence that leads to more points. As a result, Duke takes the game.