Through the Phog
Fansided

Kansas basketball: Villanova provides big test for Jayhawks

By Dylan Morrell

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks dribbles the ball during the first half of the game against Marquette Golden Eagles during the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament at Barclays Center on November 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks dribbles the ball during the first half of the game against Marquette Golden Eagles during the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament at Barclays Center on November 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Kansas basketball will travel to Philadelphia tomorrow to take on #18 Villanova. This will be the Jayhawks’ biggest test of the season thus far.

Kansas basketball couldn’t win consistently on the road last season, and it ultimately cost them a conference championship and higher seed in the NCAA tournament. The Jayhawks were 3-8 last year on the road; however, they were undefeated in Allen Fieldhouse.

This year’s squad plays two back-to-back road games beginning with Villanova on Saturday and Stanford on Sunday, December 29th. They’ll be the Jayhawks’ first true road games of the season and last games before conference play begins.

The matchup with Villanova is especially intriguing considering the way this season has gone.

Top five teams have been losing almost like clockwork, and everyone knows how much trouble the number one team has had hanging on to their number one ranking. Now that the Jayhawks are in possession of the number one ranking, they have to face their biggest challenge of the season so far against Villanova.

The Wildcats are off to a good start this season despite having two losses. Both of the losses were to ranked teams either on the road or at a neutral site, and Villanova is undefeated at home so far.

Nova also has one of the best offenses in the country according to KenPom, so the Jayhawk defense will certainly be tested by the Wildcats. The three-pointer is especially important to Villanova, therefore Kansas will have to find a way to force the Wildcats to work the ball inside.

With the Wildcats shooting over 38% from behind the arc, Kansas doesn’t want to find itself in a “2018 Final Four” scenario.

READ MORE: KU hoops: Five things to know about Villanova

In a year that’s been absolutely wild so far, the Jayhawks have been one of the more consistent teams. Kansas is currently on a nine-game win streak, and a road win against a top 20 team would easily solidify Kansas basketball as the best team in the country.

ku football. Les Miles shifts focus from junior college recruits. light

This volatile nature of this season is an excellent opportunity for the Jayhawks. It seems like nobody is safe, and as long as the Jayhawks can keep playing the way they have been, they’ll have a good chance at bringing home championship number six.

You can catch Kansas and Villanova at 11:00 AM (CT) Saturday morning on FOX.

Home/Kansas Jayhawks Basketball