NCAA First Round: California Baptist vs Kansas Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 20)

• The Lancers won the WAC Championship to punch their ticket.
• The Jayhawks hope to make a deep tournament run with star Darryn Peterson.
• This marks the first all-time matchup between the two squads.

There are plenty of unique matchups in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the Kansas Jayhawks take on the California Baptist Lancers on March 20. The former comes out as the solid favorite, paving the way for plenty of factors to come into play in this game.

How to Watch

• When: Friday, March 20, 9:45 pm ET
• Where: Viejas Arena, San Diego, California
• How to Watch: CBS

NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines

Game Preview

The Lancers (25-8) are going Dancing as a D-I squad for the first time in program history, claiming the throne as WAC Champions. CBU is one of the top rebounding teams in the nation as they enter the tournament averaging 39.9 RPG, the No. 21 rebounding average in Division I. CBU’s 7.3 RPG margin is the No. 18 margin in the nation. Thomas Ndong leads CBU with 6.6 RPG, followed by Jonathan Griman (5.9) and Bradey Henige (5.5). They are led on the offensive end by Daniels Jr., who enters the tournament averaging 23.2 PPG, the fifth most in Division I. He racked up six 30-point games this season, displaying his potency as one of the best scorers in the country.

The Jayhawks (23-10) can be a sneaky squad with the elite talent they have on the roster, making their 53rd all-time appearance in the Big Dance. KU leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense at 38.8%, which is sixth nationally, and three-point field goal percentage defense at 30.7%, which is 35th nationally. KU also leads the Big 12 in blocked shots (5.7), which is sixth nationally. An Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention, All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Freshman Team selection, freshman guard Darryn Peterson leads Kansas with a 19.8 scoring average. He has averaged 21.7 points in his last three outings, showcasing his importance to the offense.

California Baptist vs Kansas Head-to-Head

The two programs are facing each other for the first time in their respective histories.

California Baptist vs Kansas Predictions

The winner of this matchup will take on the victors between St. John’s and Northern Iowa in the second round. Darryn Peterson has showcased his ability to be one of the best players in the country, lighting up the nets in many games this season. If the Lancers can’t keep him in check, then it would be curtains for their tournament run. Our betting pick here is the Jayhawks to cover a 14-point spread.

• Free NCAAB pick: Kansas Jayhawks -14