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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015
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PAGE 7B
KANSAS TIPOFF
SCOTT CHASEN
@SchasenKU
BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
AT A GLANCE
In the West Virginia game, Frank Mason III played 42 minutes, and he hit the 100- minute mark for the season, giving him at least 100 more minutes played than any other Jayhawk. With the Big 12 title already secured, Self may opt to rest his sophomore point guard for extended stretches, meaning that Graham should have a golden opportunity to show how good he can be. Graham did have a solid outing last time against the Sooners, racking up six points and four assists in 15 minutes.
Without Perry Ellis, the Jayhawks appear to be at a disadvantage against a very good Oklahoma team. Kansas already ranks in the bottom half in the Big 12 in both rebounds and offensive rebounds, so it'll be up to Jamari Traylor, Landen Lucas and Hunter Mickelson to scrap on the glass, going up against the talented frontcourt of Oklahoma, which is led by former Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year, Ryan Spangler.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Devonte' Graham, freshman guard
KANSAS VS. OKLAHOMA MARCH 7,3 P.M., LLOYD NOBLE CENTER
Will Kelly Oubre Jr.
step up?
QUESTION MARK
Oubre has averaged just seven points per game in his past five road contests, and he'll need to play much better than that if the Jayhawks are going to pull off the win on the road. With Ellis out of the way, Oubre may also see his fair share of time at the power forward spot, meaning that he'll need to step up on the boards as well. If Oubre can play like he did against the Mountaineers, the Jayhawks should be in good shape in Norman.
BY THE NUMBERS
33. 6 Frank Mason averages 33.6 minutes per game,which has been done by only one other KU player since 2009.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF
Brannen Greene has missed all of his past 11 three-point attempts in the past three games.
The Jayhawks actually make a three-point shot. Following a performance in which the Jayhawks shot an atrocious 1-of-15 from three-point range against the West Virginia Mountaineers, the team will certainly be looking for improvement. Oubre made two of the three-point attempts during the last game versus the Sooners. The Jayhawks went on to win that game 85-78, despite 26 points from Buddy Hield.
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No.9 KANSAS (24-6,13-4)
PROJECTED STARTERS
Frank Mason III, sophomore. guard
Frank Mason III, sophomore, guard Mason has been the most valuable player for the Jayhawks for most of the season, and he was especially crucial down the stretch against the Mountaineers. The sophomore scored 12 points in the final minute of regulation and overtime combined, and he would finish the game with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Wayne Selden Jr., sophomore, guard
After scoring 14 or more points in five consecutive games, the sophomore from Roxbury, Mass., has fallen into a slump. He has scored a combined 27 points in his past five outings, while shooting just 27.6 percent from the field. Selden also scored just five points in the Jayhawks' first meeting with the Sooners this year, so he'll be looking to
Kelly Oubre Jr., freshman, guard
Unlike Selden, Oubre has gotten better and better as the season has gone on. The freshman has averaged more points in each month as the season has progressed. Oubre is fourth on the Jayhawks in points per game with 8.9. However, Oubre hasn't been as good on the road, averaging just 5.9 points in games played away from Allen Fieldhouse.
Jamari Traylor, junior, forward
After scoring a grand total of one point in his previous two games, Traylor exploded with 14 points and nine rebounds in the Jayhawks' comeback victory against the Mountaineers. No play was bigger than his and one highlight dunk in overtime, which put the Jayhawks ahead 67-65 with three minutes to play. Traylor's impact was fairly minimal in the last game between the Sooners and Jayhawks, meaning he'll be looking for redemption Saturday as well.
Landen Lucas, sophomore, forward With Ellis likely sidelined until the Big 12 tournament. Lucas is expected to get the start next to Traylor, just one game after Lucas set a career-high total for minutes played in a game. The sophomore will be playing against the Oklahoma Sooners for the first time in his career, as he did not enter the game in any of the teams' past
Landen Lucas, sophomore, forward
No.15 OKLAHOMA (20-9,11-6)
PROJECTED STARTERS
Isaiah Cousins, junior, guard
Coming off a solid 12-point performance against Iowa State, Cousins is a 43 percent field-goal shooter, which ranks in the top 10 within the Big 12. The junior is second in the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage as well. He hit three of his eight three-pointers to score 18 points in the last meeting with Kansas. If Kansas can't contain the best three-point shooter in the Big 12, the team will have a long day in Norman.
Jordan Woodard, sophomore, guard
Oklahoma plays a two point guard set, which means either Cousins or Woodard will take the ball up the court and run the offense. The two players are interchangeable, but Woodard is more of a standard point guard compared to Cousins. Woodard's 1.7 assist-to-turnover ratio and four assists per game ranks in the top 10 within the Big 12, and against Kansas. Woodard posted a four-assist, one-turnover game.
Buddy Hield, junior, guard
A candidate for the Big 12 player of the year, Buddy Hield leads the Big 12 in scoring (17.3) and three-point field goals made (79). Hield is the best player in the Big 12. His 6-foot-4, 210-pound body allows him to shoot over shorter defenders. If Hield repeats his 26-point performance, Kansas will not come out of Norman victorious.
Ryan Spangler, junior, forward
The Oklahoma front court is going against a completely different Kansas front court. Without Alexander and Ellis, Spangler will have a field day against Lucas and Traylor. Kansas struggles to keep defenders off the offensive glass, and Spangler averages over two offensive rebounds per game. If Kansas repeats its performance against West Virginia, giving up more than 20 offensive rebounds, Oklahoma can win with a lot of second-chance points
Tashawn Thomas, senior, forward
After transferring from Houston, Thomas has become the fifth best field-goal shooter in the Big 12, shooting 51 percent from the floor. At 6 feet 8 inches and 240 pounds, Thomas provides the Sooners with a rim protector, blocking more than one shot per game. He's an excellent rebounder, grabbing more than six per game. Thomas could score more than his 11-point average as he faces a weakened Kansas
Prediction Kansas 68,0U73
OU TIPOFF
BLAIR SHEADE
@RealBlairSheaad
AT A GLANCE
PLAYER TO WATCH
After giving up a 21-point lead against Iowa State, No. 15 Oklahoma was eliminated from winning the Big 12 title outright. Once Kanas defeated West Virginia, the Sooners fell two games back in the Big 12 race and completely out of contention to share the title. Earlier this season, Oklahoma was down 19 points at halftime, and closed the gap within two points with five minutes left, but couldn't against the Sooners.
Frank Booker, sophomore, guard
Booker averages only five points per game, but his minutes and production have increased in recent games. Known as a three-point shooter, against Iowa State, Booker failed to hit any of his five three-point attempts. The sophomore has the capability of providing a spark off the bench and can help either Cousins or Woodard if either get into foul trouble.
QUESTION MARK
Can Oklahoma take advantage of a weakened Kansas frontcourt?
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Without Alexander and Ellis, the Kansas frontcourt will struggle against the veteran Oklahoma frontcourt. Both Thomas and Spangler are in the top three for field goal percentage, meaning Kansas forwards Lucas, Traylor and Hunter Mickelson will have a tough task guarding them. With Alexander and Ellis, the Kansas frontcourt has struggled rebounding, and this Oklahoma team is a top three rebounding team in the Big 12.
Oklahoma is the worst defensive rebounding team in the Big 12, allowing 37 rebounds per game.
11,050
BY THE NUMBERS
The Lloyd Noble Center averages 11,050 fans per game.
557
Okahoma is second in the Big 12, getting to the free-throw line 557 times this season.
BABY JAY WILL CRY IF
Buddy Hield scores more than 20 points. During the first meeting between Oklahoma and Kansas, Hield stole the show. He hit four of his 13 three-pointers and scored a game-high 26 points. Hield scored eight of his 26 points at the free-throw line. He will get there more often with Lucas and Traylor guarding the paint because both Kansas frontcourt players tend to foul players attacking the paint. Neither Taylor nor Lucus is a great nim protector.
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