The UCF Knights and the Kansas Jayhawks continue Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action on Monday, Jan. 28, 2025, in Lawrence, Kansas.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. central on ESPN+. The Jayhawks (14-5, 5-3 in Big 12) are currently ranked 11th in the AP Top 25, while the Knights (13-6, 4-4 in Big 12) remain unranked.
Tuesday’s matchup between UCF and Kansas is a battle of teams currently listed in the NCAA Tournament field for the 2024-25 season. The Jayhawks are currently listed as a three-seed, while the Knights check in as the final team to reach post-season play as a 12-seed.
Here is a preview of the game.
How to Watch UCF vs. Kansas Basketball
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN+
Site: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kansas
UCF vs. Kansas Basketball Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Kansas -13
Current Line: Kansas -12.5
Over/Under: 152.5
UCF vs. Kansas Basketball Predictions
Tuesday night’s matchup for Kansas basketball follows one of the toughest losses in Bill Self’s entire history with the program, falling to Houston in double overtime. The Jayhawks had the game nearly in the bad with 18 seconds remaining before starting point guard Dajuan Harris missed back-to-back free throws and allowed a three to fall for Houston. The Cougars then forced a turnover with less than ten seconds remaining and his game-tying shot to extend the game.
Needless to say, getting back on track at home is a massive need for the Kayhawks vs. UCF.
As for the Knights, the team has experienced a nice rally to remain on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. Johnny Dawkins’ squad sits at 13-6 overall and 4-4 in league play, which puts them in the tournament field as the last team in. Their trio of Keyshawn Hall, Jordan Ivy-Curry, and Darius Johnson have been money this season in Orlando, combining for 46.4 points per game.
The biggest statistical difference in the game comes when dealing with Kansas’ offense and UCF’s defense, as the pair feature a wide margin of production. While Kansas has certainly not been elite in the stat sheet in 2024-25, they rank in the top half of the league with the No. 7 scoring offense. UCF, however, has struggled to defend most teams in the league, surrendering a league-worst 78 points per game.
Kansas 68, UCF 63
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Kansas (90.4% Chance of Winning)
