The California Baptist Lancers will play against the Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. This first-round game in the East Region will take place at Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA. The game is scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2026, at 9:45 PM ET and will be broadcast on CBS.
The Lancers finished their regular season with a 25-8 record and a 15-5 record in the Western Athletic Conference. They recently won against Utah Valley with a score of 63-61. Dominique Daniels Jr. scored 23 points in that game. The Lancers also secured wins against Utah Tech and Southern Utah in their recent games.
The Kansas Jayhawks ended their regular season with a 23-10 record and a 13-7 record in the Big 12 Conference. They are ranked #17 in the AP poll. In their last game, they lost to Houston with a score of 47-69. Before that, they won against TCU and Kansas State. Darryn Peterson was a key player, scoring 24 points against TCU.
Kansas Preview
The Kansas Jayhawks are ranked #17 in the AP poll. They play in the Big 12 Conference. Last season, they had a regular season record of 23-10 and a conference record of 13-7. In the 2025 postseason, Kansas lost in the first round to Arkansas with a score of 72-79.
In recent games, the Jayhawks had mixed results. They lost to the Houston Cougars 47-69, where their field goal percentage was 24.6%. Before that, they won against the TCU Horned Frogs 78-73. In that game, they had a field goal percentage of 37.9%. They also won against the Kansas State Wildcats 104-85, with a field goal percentage of 59.2%.
Offensively, the Jayhawks average 75.6 points per game. They have a field goal percentage of 45.3% and make 7.4 three-pointers per game. Their free throw percentage is 76.7%, and they average 38.8 rebounds per game. Defensively, they average 5.5 steals and 5.7 blocks per game.
The team’s betting trends show they have a straight-up record of 21-12. As favorites, they have a record of 20-6. Against the spread, they are 14-18-1 overall. In terms of totals, they have gone over in 12 out of 33 games. Key players include Darryn Peterson, who averages 19.8 points per game, and Flory Bidunga, who averages 9.2 rebounds per game.
California Baptist Preview
The California Baptist Lancers play in the Western Athletic Conference. In the 2026 regular season, they had an overall record of 25-8. Their conference record was 15-5, showing strong performance within their conference.
In recent games, the Lancers have been doing well. They won against Utah Valley Wolverines with a score of 63-61. Dominique Daniels Jr. scored 23 points in this game. Martel Williams and Bradey Henige also contributed with 8 and 11 points, respectively.
The Lancers also secured a win against Utah Tech Trailblazers, scoring 86-72. Dominique Daniels Jr. was the top scorer with 41 points. Jayden Jackson added 19 points, and Thomas Ndong scored 8 points in this game.
For the season, Dominique Daniels Jr. leads the team with an average of 23.2 points per game. Martel Williams follows with 12.8 points per game. The team averages 73.0 points per game and rebounds well, with 39.9 rebounds per game.
Statistical Breakdown for Kansas vs California Baptist
The game between Kansas Jayhawks and California Baptist Lancers will be shaped by several key stats. Kansas has a higher points per game average and a better field goal percentage. They also have a strong free throw percentage, which can be important in close games. California Baptist, on the other hand, excels in rebounding, which could give them more second-chance opportunities. The performance of key players like Darryn Peterson for Kansas and Dominique Daniels Jr. for California Baptist will also be crucial.
- Kansas Points Per Game: 75.6
- California Baptist Points Per Game: 73.0
- Kansas Field Goal Percentage: 45.3%
- California Baptist Field Goal Percentage: 43.2%
- Kansas Free Throw Percentage: 76.7%
- California Baptist Free Throw Percentage: 71.9%
- Kansas Rebounds Per Game: 38.8
- California Baptist Rebounds Per Game: 39.9
- Kansas Key Player: Darryn Peterson (19.8 PPG)
- California Baptist Key Player: Dominique Daniels Jr. (23.2 PPG)
Betting Insights
The California Baptist Lancers and the Kansas Jayhawks bring interesting betting trends to their upcoming game. The Lancers have struggled against the spread, while the Jayhawks have shown mixed results. Both teams have unique patterns in over/under outcomes. Here are the top five betting trends to consider for this game:
- The Lancers are 0-3 against the spread in their last 3 games.
- The Lancers have not hit the over in their last 5 games (0-5).
- The Jayhawks have gone over in their last 3 games (3-0).
- The Lancers are 11-21 against the spread in all games.
- The Jayhawks are 14-18-1 against the spread in all games.
Free Betting Prediction for Kansas vs California Baptist
In this game, the Kansas Jayhawks have the advantage. They have a higher points per game average and a better field goal percentage. Kansas also has a strong free throw percentage, which can be key in tight situations. The Jayhawks have shown they can score well, especially with players like Darryn Peterson leading the way.
California Baptist will rely on their rebounding strength. They average more rebounds per game than Kansas, which can lead to more second-chance points. Dominique Daniels Jr. is a standout player for the Lancers and will need to perform well for them to stay competitive. However, the Lancers have struggled against the spread recently, which might be a concern.
Considering the stats and recent performances, Kansas is likely to win. Their offensive power and home advantage make them the stronger team. The Jayhawks’ ability to score and defend will be tough for the Lancers to overcome, especially with the spread set at -14.5 for Kansas.
- Our Free Prediction: Kansas -14.5
