12A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GAMEDAY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006
2-1
KU can't lose focus against Texas A&M
KU Tip-off
LAST TIME OUT
The Jayhawks shot 72 percent from the field in the first half to put the Cornhuskers away early. But they continued to play hard in the second half, cruising to a 42-point victory.The victory snapped a two-game losing streak for Kansas and displayed the performance that Kansas coach Bill Self had been looking for.Kansas will look to build on the big victory on the road and gain momentum going into the heart of Big 12 Conference play.
14. 5 — Points per game in Big 12 Conference play by freshman guard Mario Chalmers.
35. 5 — Field goal percentage allowed by the Kansas defense this season, ranking first in the nation in field goal defense.
KEY TO VICTORY
3 QUICK FACTS
PLAYER TO WATCH
Julian Wright. The freshman forward was able to get his offensive game going against Nebraska and provided some crucial assists in the passing game as well. Wright needs to step up in a big way if the other Kansas post men continue their recent struggles.
18. 41 - Average number of assists for Kansas as a team this season, which tops the conference.
Get post production. Kansas got just 6 points from its starting post players against Nebraska, but was still able to notch a victory. This won't be acceptable tonight because Texas A&M brings a strong post presence in sophomore forward Joseph Jones. Wright and sophomore forward Darnell Jackson were impressive in the Jayhawks' last outing and could provide the necessary post production.
Kansas vs. Texas A&M 7 p.m., Wednesday, Reed Arena
Kansas
OFFENSE
The Kansas offense exploded against Nebraska on Saturday, scoring 96 points and winning by 42. It was the largest margin of victory in Big 12 Conference play since 1998. The offense capitalized on 11 three-pointers and a balanced scoring effort with five players scoring in double figures. This gave the Jayhawks one of their most complete victories of the year.
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brownwrist
DEFENSE
Kansas currently leads the nation in field goal defense, holding opponents to 35 percent shooting. The Jayhawks also have grabbed more steals and converted them into points on the offensive end of the floor.The defense will need to continue to hold strong against a Texas A&M offense that averages 72.6 points per game.
COACHES
Following two heartbreaking losses, Kansas coach Bill Self was able to keep his team focused, and it showed on Saturday. Self will need to keep his team even more focused on the road and keep everyone's minds off the blowout victory against Nebraska.The Jayhawks' toughest road game was an 89-86 overtime loss against Missouri on Jan.16 in Columbia, Mo.The Jan.11 road game against Colorado saw many KU fans, particularly from Western Kansas, make the trip to Boulder.
Texas A&M
OFFENSE
Ryan Colaianni
Texas A&M enters tonight's game against Kansas after a strong offensive performance in which it scored 86 points in an overtime victory against Iowa State. Junior guard Acie Law has started all 15 games he has played this season and shoots more than 50 percent from the field. Kansas coach Bill Self said Law was one of the premier players in the Big 12 Conference. The other main catalyst on offense is sophomore forward Joseph Jones. Jones gives the team a presence down low and also shoots more than 50 percent from the field.
DEFENSE
As a team, the Aggies are third in the Big 12 Conference allowing only 59.3 points per game. Jones is the team's best rebounder averaging 7.1 rebounds per game. The Aggies don't have a second player that averages more than four rebounds per game. While Jones is a strong rebounder, he only has six blocks in 15 games. The Aggies lack a blocking presence down low. Junior Marlon Pompey leads the team with just 18 blocks. Law is the team's best perimeter defender and leads the team in steals with 28.
COACHES
In just his fourth season as a head coach, Texas A&M coach Billy Gillespie already has led two impressive turnarounds. In his first season at the University ofTexas-EI Paso, he went 6-24. One season later, UTEP had a record of 24-8 and qualified for the NCAA tournament. When he arrived atTexas A&M, he took over a team that went 7-21 the season before he arrived and 0-16 in Big 12 Conference play. Last year, in Gillespie's first season as coach, the Aggies enjoyed a 21-10 season and a berth in the NIT, which was the school's first postseason appearance in 11 seasons.
Daniel Berk
A&M Tip-off
LAST TIME OUT
Texas A&M went back on the road Saturday at Iowa State to win 86-81 in overtime. The Aggies trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half, but they ended the game on a 11-2 run. They closed out the game late by hitting free throws.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Acie Law. Texas A&M boasts one of the most exciting players to watch in the Big 12 Conference in the junior guard, who averages 17 points per game. Law had a 35-point outburst against Oklahoma State on Jan. 11.
3 QUICK FACTS
55 — The number of years since Texas A&M qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
34 — Number of turnovers for Law in 15 games this season.
16 — Number of points scored by sophomore forward Joseph Jones against Kansas last season
KEY TO VICTORY
Get Law involved. Law has the ability to score 40 points and single-handedly beat Kansas like Missouri's Thomas Gardner did last week. Kansas sophomore guard Russell Robinson, freshman guard Mario Chalmers and senior guard Jeff Hawkins will have to play solid perimeter defense to force Law into making bad decisions and passing more than he shoots.
Outside shooting crucial for KU to win
KU Tip-off
LAST TIME OUT
KEY TO VICTORY
Three-point shooting is a discipline with a distinct home crowd advantage. The Jayhawk guards will have to tune out the Wildcat faithful and make some shots to take the pressure off Kemp inside. If Kansas can hit shots from outside, Kansas State will have to take its attention away from Kemp to guard the proimeter players.
Kansas stopped a threegame skid by beating up the Oklahoma State Cowgirls 66-46. The defense was stingy and the game was put away with a 36-7 run. Forty-six points were the fewest allowed by the Kansas defense all season.
POUICKTACTS
PLAYER TO WATCH
2,792 - Average attendance at Allen Fieldhouse this season.
Freshman forward Marija Zinic. With sophomore forward Jamie Boyd injured, Zinic will be the first player off the bench and will have to fill in with productive minutes.
39 — Kansas' three-point point percentage. best in the conference.
2 - Times this season Crystal Kemp has been named Big 12 Player of the Week.
Kansas vs. K-State 7 p.m., Wednesday, Bramlage Coliseum
Kansas
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
As Crystal Kemp goes, so do the Jayhawks. The senior forward leads the team in scoring and her teammates look for her every trip downcourt despite the doubleteam attention she consistently draws. The offense also threatens opponents from behind the arc, where senior guards Erica Hallman and Kaylee Brown have been the reason Kansas leads the Big 12 in three-point shooting.
Defense has not been the Jayhawks' strength this season, and the result has been a lack of fast-break opportunities for an otherwise productive offensive team. The huge performance against Oklahoma State looked good, but it will take a similar performance against a conference contender like Kansas State before Kansas can move forward.
COACHES
Coaches are like officials; they go completely unnoticed until they mess something up, and Bonnie Henrickson hasn't. When the team started struggling against the zone against the Cowgirls, Henrickson devoted an entire week of practice to beating the zone. Even with a two-day turnaround, the Jayhawks will be ready to play.
DEFENSE
K-State
OFFENSE
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The Wildcats offense, like the Jayhawks, centers on strong post play. Junior forward Clair Coggins leads the Wildcats with 13.1 points per game. Coggins scored a career-high 26 points, including six three-pointers in the Wildcats one-point overtime loss on Sunday at Texas. Kansas State starts two freshmen, Marlies Gipson and JoAnn Hamlin, in the post alongside Coggins. As a team, Kansas State ranks 10th in the Big 12 Conference in scoring offense, averaging 59.3 points per game.
Defensive pressure in the post is the key to stopping Kansas senior forward Crystal Kemp. Expect the Wildcats to play zone defense, which has given the Jayhawks trouble at times this season. Kansas State is holding its opponents to 38 percent shooting from the field, good for sixth in the conference. The Wildcats also block nearly six shots per game.
COACHES
During the past four season, Deb Patterson has quietly become one of nation's best coaches. Since the 2002 season, Kansas State is 104-27, including four straight trips to the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats are on track for their fifth consecutive season of at least 20 victories and a postseason bid.
— Michels Phillips — Ryan Schneider
KSU Tip-off
3 QUICK FACTS
Junior forward Claire Coggins is one of the best players Kansas has seen all season. At 5-foot-11, Coggins can score in the paint and beyond the arc. Look for Coggins to see open looks all night long, against a Kansas defense that has struggled in conference play.
Kansas State fell by one in overtime at Texas. The Wildcats had a chance to end the game in regulation, but freshman Shalee Lehning missed two free-throws with 75 seconds left with the game tied.
25. 5 - The Wildcat's average margin of victory in their eight straight victories against the Jayhawks.
PLAYER TO WATCH
71. 2 — Kansas State's team free throw percentage, third-best in the conference.
5,328 - Average attendance at Bramlage Coliseum this season.
KEY TO VICTORY
Kansas State has dominated the series since 2002, especially at home at Bramlage Coliseum. If Kansas State can rattle freshman point guard Ivana Catic early and get the crowd involved, look for another purple pounding. Look for the Wildcats to play zone and force the Jayhawks' streaky shooting guards to beat them with jump shots.
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