THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014
PAGE 10
KANSAS TIPOFF
BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
BLAIR SHEADE
sports@kansan.com
KANSAS VS.OKLAMOMA STATE MAR.1, 8:00 P.M., GALLAGHER-IBA ARENA, STILLWATER
Kansas fights for the chance to win the Big 12 outright
Can Naadir Tharpe continue where he left on Monday?
AT A GLANCE
When Oklahoma State came to Alen Fieldhouse on Jan. 18, Kansas won a close two-point game that came down to a last-second shot. The Jayhaws already captured a share of the Big 12 title. But a win in Stillwater, Okla., could mean they win the Big 12 Conference outright. "There would be nothing better for us than to go down there and do something special in a juiced building on someone else's court," coach Self said.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Andrew Wiggins
On Jan. 18, Tharpe scored 21 points against the Cowboys, which should be promising for Saturday. But this season has shown how inconsistent Tharpe can be. He has scored in double-digits in only seven of the 28 games this season. As the upperclassman on the team, Tharpe should be having more games similar to Monday's.
Andrew Wiggins
The last time Wiggins faced the Cowboys, he was held to a season-low three points on 1-5 from the field. The five field goal attempts was a season-low as well.
Wiggins has played substantially better since the game against Oklahoma State. On Saturday, the team will rely on Wiggins to guard Marcus Smart and to provide a majority of the scoring.
QUESTION MARKS
BY THE NUMBERS
Edited by Paige Lytle
Andrew Wiggins has seven straight games of double-digit scoring
50
The Jayhawks are shooting 50 percent from the field this season
Kansas has won or taken a share of 10 straight Big 12 titles
BABY JAY WILL CHEER IF
Kansas can hold the Cowboys under 40 percent from the baycars. On Jan. 18, Oklahoma State hit 12 of 28 3-pointers. The Cowboys were led by sophomore guard Phil Forte, who made seven out of 10 3-point shots. The Jayhawks will have to guard the perimeter extra tight this time around.
No.8 KANSAS (22-6,13-2 Big 12)
STARTERS
Naadir Tharpe, guard
Fans are very happy to see how Tharpe turned his game around against Oklahoma with a 19-point game. He scored 12 points in the last six minutes after Kansas lost the lead. Tharpe showed his leadership and experience to push Kansas to victory by hitting all four free-throw attempts less than a minute left in the game. People can't expect Tharpe to continue this performance because before Monday, He only had eight points and 11 assists in the previous three games combined.
Wayne Selden, Jr., guard
Selden came off a great game against Oklahoma where he scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half. He showed off his versatility in the first half by making three out of four 3-pointers and driving to the basket. Selden was 4-4 from the foul line in the first half, but didn't take a single free throw the rest of the game. Selden needs to stay aggressive throughout the game to be consistent, because when Selden gets to the free-throw line more, his scoring shows.
Andrew Wiggins, guard
The most valuable player for the Jayhawks this season has been Wiggins. He averages the most points (16.3 ppp) the most steals (1) and he's third in rebound (5.8), Kansas has counted on Wiggins in clutch moments and he's been the go-to guy when the team needs 3-pointer. Coach Bill Self said Wiggins' most-improved aspect of his game is driving ability. Expect Wiggins to continuously carry the heavy load of the offense through the rest of the season.
Perry Ellis. forward
Since scoring 32 points against TCU on Feb. 15, Ellis hasn't found room for his offensive game. The reason why Ellis has gotten into a drought is because freshman center Joel Embid rejoined the lineup after injuries. In the three games that Ellis and Embid played side-by-side, Ellis has averaged only seven points because the paint has been clogged up. Expect to see Ellis take more outside shots.
Embid is staring to get back into the groove after missing one game due to injuries. The past three games, Embid has averaged 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. On Monday, Embid recorded his first double-double since Feb. 8 against West Virginia, which means Embid has recovered from his lingering injuries. The Jahawks' offense has improved from Embid coming back because the team has scored more than 80 points the past two games.
OKLAMOMA STATE (18-10,9-6 Big 12)
Joel Emblid, center
STARTERS
Marcus Smart, guard
Last year's Big 12 Player of the Year is coming off a three-game suspension for showing a fan in the Texas Tech game on Feb. 8. In his two games since, he has averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 assists. Smart ranks among the Big 12's leaders in scoring and assists, and he leads the conference with 2.56 steals per game. He was considered a National Player of the Year candidate at the beginning of the season.
Phil Forte III, guard
The 5-11 sophomore has found a new gear lately, coming off three straight 20-plus scoring outings. Against Kansas on Jan. 18, Forte scored 23 points and made seven of 10 3-point attempts as the Cowboys nearly erased a 19-point deficit. He ranks second in the conference in 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage.
Le'Bryan Nash, forward
Nash is an athletic forward averaging 14.4 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. Nash chooses his shots carefully as he leads the Big 12 in goal percentage shooting 52.7 percent from the field. The junior has reached the 20-point mark five times in conference action but is also known to disappear at times, including in his last game against TCU when he scored five points on four field goal attempts.
Markel Brown, forward
Brown ranks sixth in the conference with 16.8 points per game. The senior is a solid shooter who isn't afraid to shoot from long range. He scored 15 points against Kansas on Jan. 18 and hit five of his nine attempts from three. He has been inconsistent lately, totaling 18 points in his late two games after scoring 52 in his previous two.
OKLAMOMA STATE TIPOFF
Kamari Murphy, center
The sophomore's minutes increased dramatically after forward Michael Cobbins went down with a torn Achilles in late December. Murphy's highest-scoring game of the season came against the Jayhawks at Allen Field-house when he scored 12 points and made five of 10 field goal attempts.
BRIAN HILLIX
sports@kansan.com
The preseason co-favorites to win the big 12 have arguably been the nation's biggest disappointment this season. Oklahoma State started off winning 12 of their first 13 games but, the Cowboys have lost nine games including a seven-game losing streak. Oklahoma State stands at eighth place in the Big 12 and will need to finish strong to make the NCAA Tournament.
AT A GLANCE
Kansas has a considerable advantage in the paint as Oklahoma State essentially starts four guards. They may have to double-team the post players and force the Jayhawks to shoot from the outside, where they are less efficient down low.
How will the Cowboys stop Joel Emiiid and Perry Ellis?
PLAYER TO WATCH
Smart is on a mission after his suspension and will be looking to prove himself against the best team in the Big 12. The Cowboys went 0-3 while Smart didn't play, highlighting its importance to the team.
Marcus Smart
QUESTION MARKS
BY THE NUMBERS
Oklahoma State's highest ranking this season
The Cowboys had seven straight losses between Jan. 27 and Feb. 17.
OSU's rejected NCAA Tournament seed according to Joe Lunardi
BABY JAY WILL CRY IF
Oklahoma State plays desperate. The Cowboys are fighting for their NCAA Tournament life and need a signature win to lock up a bid to the Big Dance. Desperate teams are always dangerous.
Prediction: Kansas 82, Oklahoma State 74
Edited by Alec Weaver
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