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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014
PAGE 7B
KANSAS TIPOFF
BLAIR SHEADE
sports@kansan.com
KANSAS VS. TCU FEB.15, 3 P.M., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, LAWRENCE
BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
The Jayhawks prepare to host the Horned Frogs
Coming off a terrible game against K-State, watch for Selden to have a redemption game against TCU. Selden's averaging 10 points per game, but only scored two against K-State. Watch for Selden to become more aggressive by driving the ball more and getting to the free-throw line more. TCU will try to double team Wiggins, which will leave Selden open, and he needs to hit his open shots.
AT A GLANCE
TCU hasn't won a Big 12 conference game yet in the 2013-14 season, and already encountered a 22-point loss in Fort Worth this season. History shows that TCU doesn't play well in Allen Fieldhouse. Last season, after losing in Fort Worth, the Jayhawks defeated the Horned Frogs 74-48. This season, the Jayhawks can't play soft and the game is already in the bag against TCU.
QUESTION MARKS
Will Joel Embiid play on Saturday?
Wayne Selden, Jr.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Embiid has lingering back and knee injuries and Bill Self told ESPN's Jeff Goodman that he was uncertain of Embiid's playing status. Self told Goodman that he knew Embiid was going to take some time off, but doesn't know how long he'll be out for.
BY THE NUMBERS
3
Kansas' loss to K-State gives the Jayhawks six losses this season, which is the third straight season with six losses or more
Andrew Wiggins has six straight games with double-digit shooting attempts
BABY JAY WILL CHEER IF
Edited by Alec Weaver
Kansas can shoot 50 percent or better. The Jayhawks are 14-1 when shooting 50 percent or better, and Kansas is coming off a 41 shooting percentage game against K-State. If Embid doesn't play, Kansas will have to rely on its shooting and fast break points, which might lower the team's shooting percentage. TCU is giving up 69 points per game, and Kansas is scoring 79 points per game.
Kansas is shooting 69 percent from the free-throw line this season, which is seventh in the Big 12 conference
No.8 KANSAS (18-6,9-2 Big 12)
STARTERS
Naadir Tharpe,guard
Tharpe played the best five minutes this season at the end of regulation against K-State. He found open shooters, hitch clutch shots and defended well. Up until the last five minutes, Tharpe was playing the opposite. He couldn't guard K-State's leading scorer Marcus Foster and forced turnovers. Tharpe won't face anyone like Foster on TCU, but needs to step up his defense pressure. On offense, Tharpe has to continue to distribute the ball and record double-digit assist games for Kansas because
★★★★★
Wayne Selden, Jr., guard
The turnaround for Selden will be well under watch. Selden's season-low two points didn't help the offense, and he didn't make it to the free throw line once. His game is using physical play to draw contact inside the paint. Selden is starting to become too comfortable with his perimeter game, and needs to get back to his aggressive ways. Look to Selden to have a bounce back game against TCU.
Andrew Wiggins, guard
The Jayhawks have relied on Andrew Wiggins on both sides of the ball. Wiggins guards the opponent's best scorer and takes the game-tying shot, even though he air-bailed the game tying shot against K-State on Monday. The free-throw line was a struggle for Wiggins against K-State, where he shot 8-15. He has six straight double-digit shooting attempt games, and scored 27 points on Jan. 25 against TCU.
TCU (9-13,0-10 Big 12)
Perry Ellis, forward
The breakthrough game for Ellis came in the loss against K-State. After scoring eight points in 21 minutes against West Virginia, Ellis posted a 19-point, 11-rebound game against K-State. Ellis led the team with shot attempts (13) and made free throws (9). Fans of the Jayhawks would love to see Ellis continue his offensive dominance, but he was forced to take a lot more shots than usual with Joel Embid on the bench for majority of the game. After the game, K-State head coach Bruce Beuer said that Perry Ellis is the best
player in the Big 12 conference
This might be a toss up if Embid even plays against TCU. According to Jeff Goodman, an ESPN college basketball analyst, Bill Self said that he was uncertain if Embid will play on Saturday due to his lingering back and knee injuries. The 7-footer played only 18 minutes against K-State due to his injuries and might take a game off against TCU. If Embid doesn't suit up, look for senior center Tarik Black to take his spot
Joel Embiid, center
★★★☆☆
STARTERS
Kyan Anderson, guard
The junior point guard has been TCU's most consistent player this season. He is coming off a solid performance against Texas where he tied a season-high with 27 points and dished out eight assists. A three-year starter, he is a capable shooter but is also effective at drawing fowls, which was evident against Kansas in Fort Worth when he went 8-for-8 from the foul line. Anderson's 15.7 points, 4.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game lead the Horned Frogs.
Jarvis Ray, guard
He scored in double figures in six of his first nine games of the season but has eclipsed that mark just once in his last 13 games. Ray is coming off two shaky performances as he went scoreless against Texas in 30 minutes, scored four points and committed three turnovers against Iowa State on
Karviar Shepherd, center
The freshman did an adequate job of guarding Joel Embid in Fort Worth before fouling out with nine minutes remaining. Shepherd injured his left hand in the first half against Kansas on Jan. 25 forcing him to undergo surgery and miss the Texas Tech game on Feb. 1. He seems to have recovered and has
tech game of freer. He seems to have recovered and has averaged 25.5 minutes in the team's last two games. The Dallas native leads the team in rebounding and ranks fourth in the conference averaging two blocks per game.
Amric Fields, forward
Fields leads the Horned Frogs in field goal attempts and is second in scoring and rebounding. Despite his 44.1 field-goal percentage this season, Fields has struggled in Big 12 play and has shot over 40 percent in only four of the team's 10 conference games. He has still managed to score in double figures in all but two of those games.
Brandon Parrish, forward
One of his best conference games came against Kansas in Fort Worth where the freshman scored 15 points on 6-for-11 shooting before fouling out. Parrish leads the Horned Frogs in 3-pointers made and attempted. He does a good job of protecting the ball and has the fewest turnovers among the starters
★★☆☆☆
Prediction: Kansas 91, TCU 54
TCU
TIPOFF
BRIAN HILLIX
sports@kansan.com
AT A GLANCE
Nothing has gone right for TCU against Big 12 opponents. The team has yet to win a
Nothing ha against Big 12 opponents. The team has yet to win a conference game, and it is very likely that the Horned Frogs will finish 0-18 as a difficult schedule remains. The Horned Frogs are held back on the offensive end as they rank last in the Big 12 in scoring and field goal percentage. TCU was competitive in its last game losing to second-place Texas by five points at home.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Karviar Shepherd
The 6-10 freshman only played 18 minutes against the Jayhawks in Fort Worth due to foul trouble. The Horned Frogs don't have much size or depth, so Shepherd will need to stay on the floor to clog up the paint. This would be a little easier if Embiid sits out.
QUESTION MARKS
How will TCU stop Andrew Wiggins?
Wiggins scored 27 points against the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth and got to the free-throw line often. TCU will have to find ways to make him a shooter and keep him from driving to the basket.
BY THE NUMBERS
31. 5 Rebounds per game, worst in the Big 12
65.2
Points per game, worst in the Big 12 and 308th in the country
BABY JAY WILL CRY IF
The offense struggles. Kansas shot poorly against Kansas State on Monday including 3-for-17 from 3-point range. While the offense doesn't need to be great to beat TCU, it would help the team's confidence moving forward.
Edited by Alec Weaver
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