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PAGE 10
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KANSAS TIPOFF
BLAIR SHEADE
sports@kansan.com
BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
Jayhawks look to continue their Big 12 winning streak against the revenge-seeking Cyclones KANSAS VS. IOWA STATE JAN. 29, 8 P.M., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
AT A GLANCE
Last season, Kansas hosted Iowa State in a thriller. The Jayhawk's needed a last-second 3-pointer from Ben McLemore to send the game into overtime, where Kansas beat the Cyclones 97-89. This season, the Jayhawks went into Ames and played an aggressive game that was led by Naadir Tharpe. Iowa State will be mad and looking to end its long losing streak against the Jayhawks.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Andrew Wiggins Wiggin's uses his athleticism to out-match opponents, and his athleticism allows him to rebound the ball proficiently. Especially, Wiggins rebounds well against smaller team, such as Iowa State. On Jan. 13, Wiggins had a career-high 19 rebounds and watch for Wiggins to have a rebounding performance comparable to the game in Ames this season.
Andrew Wiggins
QUESTION MARKS
Will Embiid be able to guard Georges Niang?
中
Last meeting between these two teams, Iowa State's center Georges Niang shot a season-low 0-9 from three point range and Embiid guarded him most of the night. Against Baylor, Embiid struggled to eliminate Baylor's center Isaiah Austin's 3-point shot. Embiid will have to guard Niang tightly if the Jayhawks want a chance to win.
BY THE NUMBERS
Kansas shuts down Iowa State's three point ability and forces them inside. Joel Embiid will have a field day against the under-sized Iowa State front court if Kansas forces them to take the ball to the rim.
Andrew Wiggins scoring average which leads the Jayhawks
15. 8
— Edited by Jamie Koziol
3 Kansas' field goal percentage is ranked 3rd in the NCAA
BABY JAY WILL CHEER IF
KU has won the last eight meetings with ISU in AFH beginning in 2006
No.6 KANSAS (15-4, 5-0 Big 12)
STARTERS
Naadir Tharpe, Guard
Since playing against Iowa State on Jan. 13, where Tharpe had a season-high 23 points, Tharpe has only missed two field goals. Tharpe went 7-8 against Oklahoma State, 2-3 against Baylor and didn't take a shot against TCU. Tharpe played 20 minutes against TCU and recorded four assists. Tharpe will try to continue his success against Iowa State.
Wayne Selden, Guard
Selden started Big 12 conference play with consecutive 20-point performances. Since Kansas State on Jan. 11, where he scored 20 points, Selden has averaged 8.7 points per game. His physicality has shown in recent conference games because he has gotten to the free throw line often. Selden has not missed a free throw (12-12) since Kansas State.
Andrew Wiggins, Guard
Wiggins is averaging a team-high 15.8 points per game and he's coming off career-high 27 points performance against TCU. After a rough start in non-conference games, Wiggins shows reasons to believe in his hype. His game starts with his driving ability, which leads to his high volume of free throws. He's taken 22 free throw attempts in the past two games. Wiggin's scoring stems from his inside game.
Perry Ellis, Forward
Ellis is the most inconsistent starter for the Jayhawks. Ellis, who is supposed to lead by example and show physical play under the basket, hasn't played up to his potential. He flashes greatness, but has trouble finding high quality shots down-low. Iowa State held Ellis to eight points and six rebounds during the first meeting.
No.16 ISU (15-3, 3-3 Big 12)
Embiid has been a beast since the start of conference play. When it looks as if he can't get better, he pulls a new post move or throws down a monster, eye-popping dunk. Embiid's the face of the Jayhawks defense, and has been labeled as an enforcer in the paint. He has recorded at least one block in each conference game and he's averaging 3.33 blocks per Big 12 game.
Joel Embiid, Center
STARTERS
Melvin Ejim, Forward
The Big 12's leading scorer has reached double digits in every game he's played in this season. He had one of his worst performances against Kansas in Ames and shot 33 percent, tying a season low. The versatile senior forward can shoot from long-range or score around the basket. He creates matchup problems with his combination of speed and strength.
The undersized forward relies heavily on his jump shot, especially from 3-point range. Against Kansas, he went 4-20 and missed all nine of his 3-point attempts while also struggling to score around the basket. He's excelled in his last two games averaging 18 points and hitting eight total 3-pointers. He averages 15.4 points and 3.67 assists per game, which both rank in the top ten in the conference.
Georges Niang, Forward
Dustin Hogue, Foward
A terrific rebounder for his size of 6-6, the junior ranks second in the conference in rebounding averaging 9.3 a game. His scoring has tapered off in conference play as he has averaged just nine points a game-three below his season average. He scored 13 points against Kansas in Ames but only made three field goals.
★★★☆☆
DeAndre Kane, Forward
Hampered by a sore ankle against Kansas a couple weeks ago, Kane should be at full strength today. One of the best all-around players in the country, Kane took the nation by storm after recording 30 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and five steals against Baylor on ESPN's Big Monday. Considered a candidate for the National Player of the Year, Kane does most of his scoring attacking the basket and earning free points at the line.
Naz Long, Guard
The only starter for the Cyclones who doesn't average in double figures in scoring, Long does most of his damage from outside. Out of his 30 shot attempts in conference play, 26 have been 3-pointers. He leads the Cyclones with a 42 3-point percentage but only shoots 60 percent from the free-throw line. The sophomore averages 21 minutes a game.
ISU TIPOFF
★★☆☆☆
Prediction: Kansas 76, ISU 64
BRIAN HILLIX
sports@kansan.com
AT A GLANCE
No. 16 Iowa State is the only team in the conference with three players averaging at
home winning 81-75.
three players averaging at least 15 points a game as Ejim, Kane and Niang combine to average 49 of the Cyclones' conference-leading 85 points per contest. After winning its first 14 games of the season, Iowa State lost three in a row against the first, second and third-place teams in the Big 12. The Cyclones got back on track against Kansas State at
PLAYER TO WATCH
Georges Niang
He had his worst game of the season against Kansas on Jan. 13 as he shot 20 percent from the field, well below his 47 percent average that ranks sixth-best in the conference. With Emibid or Black guarding him most of the night, he will have plenty of open looks away from the basket. He will need to convert those for the Cyclones to have a chance at an upset.
Can the Cyclones find success away from Hilton Coliseum?
QUESTION MARKS
Iowa State is 2-2 in true road games this season with both losses coming to Big 12 teams. The Cyclones will need quality road wins in the Big 12 to keep their conference title hopes alive.
BY THE NUMBERS
31. 4 Field goal percentage against Kansas on Jan. 13, a season-low
17 Kansas outrebounded Iowa State by 17 on Jan. 13
BABY JAY WILL CRY IF
lowa State shoots—and makes—a barrage of 3-pointers. In Kansas' two overtime wins over lowa State last season, the Cyclones averaged 15.5 3-pointers. If they make a lot, especially early, Kansas may be playing from behind.
Edited by Stella Liang
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