This might be the most important game of Kansas’ season, and a loss here could cause some serious confidence issues for a program that is looking to formulate an identity.

This will not be a home game for Kansas, but it’s pretty darn close. The selected venue is the Spring Center in Kansas City, and it should see Jayhawk blue more so than any other color.

New Mexico comes to town with a 7-1 record and an impressive and veteran roster. Cameron Bairstow and Alex Kirk are formidable interior bodies who should be able to not only bang with Kansas on the glass but also step out and force Joel Embiid, Tarik Black and Jamari Traylor to play outside more than they like.

UNM also boasts one of the better point guards nationally in senior Kendall Williams. The 6’4, 180 lb senior has scored in double figures every time out through eight games. He has been a consummate floor leader and has done a tremendous job at getting others around him more involved, handing out 10 assists on two separate occasions.

But Williams will have his hands full here. Kansas has two or three ball handlers who can play the position. While none are as good as Williams, they won’t have to log the minutes he does. Depth in general will force an uphill battle for the Lobos at virtually every position. While Kansas is struggling, depth is the one thing they have a ton of.

Kansas doesn’t necessarily grade out highly in bench minutes because Self is still struggling to determine the best possible rotation for his crew. But, make no mistake, this team is balanced and deep.

Their issues at Florida were massive. They got dominated on the defensive boards the entire first half and their guards looked lost at times in dealing with a 1-3-1 zone. New Mexico is not athletic enough to conjure up a similar defensive formation and have it work successfully, but they are a group that has played together for a while and done it in a successful manner.

The Jayhawks should be about a six point favorite here, and Vegas has issued a line of 5.5. I can’t see a ton of value in playing either side. Kansas lacks the offensive explosiveness right now to cover this number comfortably, but i do believe they should be the right side. Look for a 2H opportunity should Kansas come out flat again as I think they wear UNM down, but I’m not expecting a poor first half considering what happened in Gainesville.