Written by :
Published on :
Gambling911.com has an early line on the Kansas vs. Villanova game, assuming these are the two teams that make it to the second Final Four game of 2018.
As a top seed the last two seasons, Kansas made it through the regional semifinals, only to flop a game shy of the Final Four both times. In fact, this marks the sixth time Bill Self's team has been seeded first since KU won it all in 2008; the Jayhawks haven't made the Final Four one of those times.
''I think about it all the time. I just told the guys in the locker room...this year, we've got to get over the hump,'' said senior Devonte' Graham, who had 16 points.
Malik Newman led the Jayhawks (30-7) with 17 points to make it into the Elite Eight.
''This is the team everyone would have thought ... would not be in this game. We've got a legitimate shot to go to San Antonio. I think we'll play with no `what ifs.' I think we'll be loose,'' Self said.
Jayhawks are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
The Wildcats' 13 3-pointers against West Virginia give them 432 for the season, putting them 11 away from a Division I record. VMI hit 442 3-pointers in 2006-07.
Jalen Brunson led Villanova with 27 points and Omari Spellman had 18 with eight rebounds as Villanova overcame the West Virginia press by hitting 13 of 24 shots from 3-point range.
This will be their second trip to the regional finals in three seasons.
- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
