8B
GAME DAY
COUNTDOWN TO TIP-OFF
THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008
KU TIP-OFF
ATAGLANCE
It's rivalry time. KU fans will certainly be excited for this game, given that Missouri received the best of the Jayhawks in football. This game should also be an interesting matchup, regardless of the rivalry. The Tigers have been inconsistent all season. They defeated Texas last week, then got shoved around by Iowa State on Wednesday. Which team is to show up? Odds are it will be the one that played against Texas because the Tigers want this one.
Collins scored just five points in 22 minutes against Nebraska and turned the ball over three times.
Sherron Collins, sophomore guard
WHO TO WATCH
He did slightly better against the Sooners on Monday, scoring nine and getting three assists, but he hasn't been able to take over games like he did before his injury this year.
QUESTION MARK
Last season against Missouri in Allen Fieldhouse, Collins had his coming out party. He scored most of Kansas' points down the stretch and did a good job defending fellow Chicagoo and Missouri's best player Steffon Hannah. We'll see if he can return to challenge the Tigers this season.
Will Kansas dominate its rival? The Jayhawks have been playing at a significantly higher level than most of their competition all season. Missouri may get up for this game like it's the Final Four, but it might not matter. Kansas is just too good this year and will continue to roll through Big 12 opponents.
HEARYE. HEARYE
"I think it probably is close. I think we're pretty good and I know Memphis is good. They played good and had their full complement of players, and tonight we were just better than Memphis maybe played that night against them. I appreciate Jeff saying that, but I wouldn't read much into that."
-Kansas coach Bill Self's reaction to OU coach Jeff Capel's declaration that Kansas is better than Memphis
"Usually good players. Tough. They have a good team, and I really enjoy going to Columbia. We're not going to vacation there this summer, but I really enjoy the atmosphere."
RIVALRY DRIVES TEAMS Desire to win may cure MU's inconsistency
-Self on playing at Missouri.
Kansas 17-0
THE PROJECTED STARTING FIVE
Russell Robinson, 6-foot-1 senior guard
After hitting his stride offensively in December, Robinson's assist and point numbers have decreased and his turnovers have increased slightly. But as Self often says, Robinson can't be measured by stats, especially offensive ones. If the team wins, Robinson did his job.
Mario Chalmers, 6-foot-1 junior guard
The minor groin injury that kept Chalmers out against Loyola College hasn't affected his game in the two following games. Chalmers has continued to be one of the best defenders in the country this season.
His value is inflated right now because he is shooting the ball well. Self's comments about Rush's poor offensive aggressiveness after the Loyola College game didn't make him aggressive over night. It only seems that way because he has made nine of his last 14 three-pointer attempts.
Brandon Rush, 6-foot-6 junior guard
Jackson deserves major credit for the victory against Oklahoma. He scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds against a tough front line. He's played well against top post players all season.
Darnell Jackson, 6-foot-8 senior forward
Darrell Arthur, 6-foot-9 sophomore forward
After blowing up against Boston College, Arthur has played consistently, averaging about 14 points and seven rebounds. He could still be doing more.
THE PROJECTED STARTING FIVE
THE SIXTH MAN
Sherron Collins, 5-foot-11 sophomore guard Kansas fans should hope Collins' foot injury is still bothering Collins because he hasn't played particularly well in the first two conference games. He doesn't have the same burst of speed he played with last season.
Sherron Collins, 5-foot-11 sophomore quara
Stefhon Hannah, 6-foot-1 senior guard
Hannah's points per game average is down to 14.1 from 15.4 points per game, but his assists are up from 4.6 to 5.4. Hannah, a Chicago native, has to control the tempo and endure Russell Robinson's ball pressure in order for Missouri to have a chance.
Mark Dent
Jason Horton, 6-foot-2 senior guard
The Jayhawks match the Tigers' intensity level. Sometimes against Missouri, the Jayhawks appear to struggle because the Tigers live for this game. They're ready for it every season. Kansas is clearly the much better team but needs to be up for the game from the beginning if it wants to win comfortably. Of course, that shouldn't be a problem. The Jayhawks haven't overlooked an opponent all season, and Bill Self has done a great job against Missouri in his career at Kansas and Illinois.
MIZZOU ARENA WILL BE MOVIE-THEATER SILENT IF...
Horton went to Columbia, Mo., four years ago with big expectations, but in his senior season, he's playing less, only 20.3 minutes per game, and scoring less, 3.6 points per game, than he ever has.
Matt Lawrence, 6-foot-7 junior guard
Lawrence is not quite shooting this year like he did last season. He's射击 36.3 percent from the three-point range, compared to 44.3 percent a year ago. He could be a defensive liability if he's matched up with Brandon Rush.
DeMarre Carroll, 6-foot-8 junior forward
Delaware Carroll, the 60-year-old forward
A high school teammate of former Alabama
standout Ronald Steele, Carroll has quickly become
Missouri's go-to-player in his first season at Missouri. "I think Carroll makes them better," Self said.
Carroll, a Birmingham, Ala., native, who can play both inside and outside, has made Missouri more dangerous.
Leo Lyons, 6-foot-9 junior forward
Bill Self had high praise for Lyons, a Kansas City, Kan., native. "Leo Lyons is one of the most improved players in this conference," Self said, comparing Lyons improvement to Kansas forward Darnell Jackson's
THE SIXTH MAN
Keon Lawrence, 6-foot-2 sophomore guard
Lawrence has been in and out of the starting lineup. Lawrence scored in double-figures eight of the Tigers first nine games, but has struggled since.
PHOG ALLEN WILL ROLL OVER IN HIS GRAVE IF...
Rustin Dodd
Kansas allows Missouri's crowd to get into it. The attendance at Tiger games has been pitiful this year, but Mizzou Arena will be loud and full on Saturday. The Jayhawks can't let Matt Lawrence and Stefhan Hannah catch fire from the outside because the crowd will go insane. If Missouri gets hot and starts to go on a run, Kansas needs to respond immediately. The biggest danger for the Jayhawks in a game at Missouri is letting the Tigers get an early lead that will allow the crowd to get excited and keep its team in the game.
MU
TIP-OFF
AT A GLANCE
Will the real Missouri team please stand up? This Missouri season has had more twists than an episode of Lost. The Tigers have teased their fans at times, beating Purdue, 73-63, and No. 13 Texas, 97-84. But at times, the Tigers have reverted to form. They looked listless in their 72-67 loss to Iowa State on Wednesday. Junior forward DeMarre Carroll, a transfer from Vanderbilt and coach Mike Anderson's nephew, is leading Missouri with 14.9 points per game. Senior guard Stef冯 Hannah is pitching in 14.1 points and 5.4 assists per game. The Tigers won't be sunk with a loss against Kansas, their next three games are against Big 12 teams Texas Tech, Colorado and Nebraska, but a victory would give them a push to claim a spot in the conference's top six by season's end.
WHO TO WATCH
Keon Lawrence, sophomore guard
more guard
Junior forward DeMarre Carroll and senior guard Stefhon Hannah grab most of the headlines, but keep a close watch
Lawrence
on Lawrence, Lawrence, a sophomore guard from Newark, N.J., has averaged 11.6 points per game in Missouri's last three wins, and only 4.0 points per game in Missouri's last three losses, including two points on one of 10 shooting against Iowa State on Wednesday. If Kansas' guards can contain Lawrence, the scoring load will be placed firmly on Carroll and Hannah, and Missouri could struggle to keep pace with Kansas.
QUESTION MARK
CORNER MICROSCREEN
beat Bill Selff Bill Self is 10-2 against Missouri since the 2000-01 season including a 3-0 record while coaching at Illinois. Self was 8-2 against former Missouri coach Quin Snyder and he now sports a spotless 3-0 record against current Tiger coach Mike Anderson. Self's Kansas squad beat Anderson's UAB team in the 2004 NCAA tournament. Whether it be David Padgett hitting a game-winning fadeaway in Columbia, Mo., in 2003-04, or Julian Wright erupting for 33 points at Missouri last season, Bill Self finds a way to get it done against the Jayhawks' main nemesis. Can Anderson respond?
HEARYE, HEARYE
"Against Texas we saw what happens when everybody plays well at the same time."
-Bill Soft
JAYHAWK STATS
| Player | MPG | FG-FGA | 3FG-3FGA | RPG | PPG |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 00 Darrell Arthur | 23.7 | 95-176 | 2-10 | 5.8 | 13.4 |
| 32 Darnell Jackson | 23.7 | 85-127 | 2-4 | 7.0 | 12.3 |
| 15 Mario Chalmers | 28.9 | 68-123 | 30-64 | 2.8 | 12.2 |
| 25 Brandon Rush | 25.6 | 63-145 | 27-64 | 4.5 | 11.7 |
| 04 Sherron Collins | 22.4 | 40-88 | 16-46 | 2.3 | 9.5 |
| 24 Sasha Kaun | 17.9 | 49-70 | 0-0 | 4.0 | 7.9 |
| 03 Russell Robinson | 27.4 | 33-82 | 18-56 | 2.4 | 6.9 |
| 05 Rodrick Stewart | 15.9 | 30-58 | 3-12 | 2.6 | 4.5 |
| 02 Conner Teahan | 3.8 | 15-22 | 11-17 | 0.6 | 3.6 |
| 05 Cole Aldrich | 9.2 | 22-43 | 0-0 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| 14 Tyrel Reed | 8.8 | 15-30 | 9-21 | 0.5 | 3.0 |
| 10 Jeremy Case | 6.5 | 12-31 | 6-18 | 0.4 | 2.0 |
| 11 Brennan Bechard | 1.8 | 3-7 | 2-5 | 0.3 | 1.1 |
| 54 Matt Kleinmann | 2.5 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
| 12 Chase Buford | 1.8 | 1-9 | 0-6 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| 40 Brad Witherpoon | 1.7 | 0-3 | 0-2 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
PREDICTION
81-69 KU
The Tigers will be able to hang on during the first half because they'll be pumped up for the game, but their intensity will wear off in the second half. Darmell Jackson and Darrell Arthur should have big games against Missouri's small front line.
TIGER STATS
Witherspoon Meter
Will senior walk-on Bard Witerspoon get the opportunity to play Saturday? This meter tells all.
Player MPG FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA RPG PPG
DeMarre Carroll 24.9 98-165 2-10 7.2 14.9
Stefon Hannah 27.5 81-180 39-95 2.7 14.1
Leo Lyons 19.9 79-127 0-7 4.5 11.6
Keon Lawrence 27.4 61-158 16-57 4.1 9.9
Matt Lawrence 23.9 56-143 41-113 2.9 9.8
J.T. Tiller 16.4 38-86 5-20 1.8 6.0
Marshall Brown 13.5 34-79 10-23 2.3 5.2
Darryl Butterfield 15.5 29-64 6-17 2.5 4.6
Jason Horton 20.3 16-37 4-18 1.6 3.6
Vaidotas Volkus 6.1 7-18 0-0 2.0 1.5
Nick Berardinl 1.6 3-5 3-5 0.1 1.3
Justin Safford 7.0 4-12 1-4. 2.4 1.0
Michael Anderson 3.7 0-4 0-3 0.0 0.0