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Volume 128 Issue 75
kansan.com
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
COMMENTARY
Kansas needs to take more three-point shots
Before Saturday's loss to Oklahoma State, the Jayhawks
were in the midst of a five-game winning streak. And while the defeat may have been hard to watch for many, fans shouldn't worry about the overall success of the Jayhawks. The team's statistics compared to other Big 12 squads, especially in three-point shooting, indicate that there's nothing to fret about.
Kansas is second in the Big 12 in both scoring and field goal percentage, averaging 73.3 points per game in conference while shooting at 45 percent from the field. Only Iowa State is better in those categories. And as far as three-point percentage goes, the Jayhawks lead the conference by a wide margin, shooting an eye-popping 41 percent.
With such successful three-point shooting, it's worth wondering if Kansas is shooting enough threes. Every team in the conference has played at least ten games and the Jayhawks right now have taken just the seventh most three-point attempts, and still have made the most in the Big 12 with 73 successful three-point shots.
At this point his number of attempts and makes aren't an anomaly, they're a trend. His three-point percentage staying above .600 is unlikely, but even if it hovers around .500, his 2.9 three point attempts per game in Big 12 play are clearly not enough.
At 8-2 in the Big 12 and holding a one game lead over Iowa State for first place, it's not as if the Jayhawks need to make major adjustments to be successful.
But if he asks Selden to shoot more behind the arc instead of mid range, and lets Greene launch anywhere from three, then that brief grin he unveils after a solid win should be there a lot more often.
Then there's Brannen Greene.
If this guy is within five feet of the arc and given some separation, he should shoot. That's because Greene is 18-for-29 (61 percent) during the conference season from three-point range, and currently leads the Big 12.
Edited by Miranda Davis
With that much success certain players on this Kansas team should be trying more three point attempts.
While Wayne Selden Jr. has struggled at times this season, as evident by his 39.6 percent shooting on two-point attempts in conference play. Behind the arc, though, Selden is 21-for-44 in Big 12 games, and his total percentage takes a meteoric rise to 47 percent. Then there's Brannen
Kansas foward Perry Ellis tries to block Oklahoma State guard Phil Forte early in the first half of the Feb. 7 game in Stillwater, Okla. After losing to the Cowboys, the Jayhawks will look to turn their game around tonight against Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas.
Jayhawks head to Texas after OSU loss
FRANK WFIRICH/KANSAN
BEN FELDERSTEIN
@Ben_Felderstein
After a second half collapse and eventual 67-62 road loss at Oklahoma State, the Kansas Jayhawks will travel to Lubbock, Texas to take on Texas Tech. Kansas will enter the contest with a slim one-game lead in the Big 12 over Iowa State.
The Jayhawks come into play with a 19-4 record with an 8-2 conference record, compared to the Red Raider's 12-12 record, posting a 2-9 Big 12 mark. Texas Tech has also lost three of its past four games.
Kansas' second half collapse against the Cowboys was largely due in part to Oklahoma State's full court pressure. The Jayhawks were unable to set up easy offense and in turn score easy baskets.
Texas Tech is coming off of a 37-point loss to Iowa State in Armes where the team shot a combined 31 percent from the field. Williams struggled from the field, scoring only four points on 2-9 shooting from the floor.
Sophomore Frank Mason III is coming off of one of his worst games in a while, scoring ten points on 3-9 shooting from the field. Mason entered the half with nine points and 3-3 shooting from behind the three-point line. Mason will look to rebound and extend his double digit-scoring streak to 21 games.
Freshmen Kelly Oubre Jr. and Cliff Alexander have had minimal impact as of late, combining for only nine points at Oklahoma State. The two heralded freshman also combined for only 30 minutes.
Devaughnth Williams leads Texas Tech in scoring at 10.5 points per game adding 3.3 rebounds per game. Zach Smith leads the Red Raiders in both blocks (34) and rebounds per game (5.1).
The Red Raiders are last in the conference in scoring offense, averaging only 62 points per
game in the season. They do, however, sit one spot above Jayhawks in Big 12 scoring defense. Texas Tech will likely finish out the season amongst the bottom two in the Big 12.
Kansas has not dropped a game to the Red Raiders since the 2008-09 season where it suffered a 19-point loss in Lubbock Texas Tech is 12-3 on its home court this season while posting an 0-7 road record.
The Jayhawks will look to win big Tuesday night and build momentum for the rest of their Big 12 schedule. If Kansas wins, they will sweep its season series with Tech for the sixth straight season.
Following Tuesday's game, Kansas will host Baylor at home Saturday to wrap up their season series with the Bears.
Edited by Miranda Davis
FRANK WEIRICH/KANSAN
Kansas foward Landen Lucas tries to stop a field goal by Oklahoma State's Leyton Hammonds. The Kansas Jayhawks traveled to Stillwater, Okla., on Feb. 7 to play against Oklahoma State University. The Jayhawks lost 67-62 against the Cowboys.
Kansas look for fifth conference win against W. Va.
@dmantheman2011
After struggling against Oklahoma State in the second half of Saturday's game, Kansas looks to rebound with a tough-road task at West Virginia (14-9, 4-7) tonight.
Kansas (13-11, 4-7)
has already played the
Mountaineers back on Jan.
DYLAN SHERWOOD
Half of the Jayhawks' wins in conference play have come on the road. Their wins on the road were at Texas Tech and Iowa State.
The Mountaineers have two players who average double-
24, where they came from 10 points down in the first half to win 65-59. In that game senior forward Chelsea Gardner had 20 points and 20 rebounds in the game.
Bonnie Henrickson said. "Whether you're on the road or at home this league is a challenge night in and night out."
Both teams lost their games this Saturday, with the Jayhawks losing to Oklahoma State, 65-57, and Iowa State defeating West Virginia in Ames, Iowa, 61-43.
Going into tonight's matchup, both teams are in the middle of a five-way tie for fifth place in the Big 12 Conference Standings with 4-7 conference records. Texas, Oklahoma State and Kansas State are the other teams in that tie.
"We had a great game with them here, they played better since the game here," Coach
KATLYN BALLARD/KANSAN
Senior guard Natalie Knight pushes past Oklahoma State defenders during the Feb. 7 game at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks lost 57-65. Kansas will play West Virginia tonight in Morgantown, W.Va., at 6 p.m.
figures per game. Junior guard Bria Holmes averages 19.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Senior forward Averee Fields averages 13.7 points and seven rebounds per game. Holmes ranks second in the Big 12 in scoring, while Fields is fifth in the Big 12 in scoring.
Since playing Kansas, West Virginia has gone 2-2 with wins over Oklahoma and TCU both in Morgantown. West Virginia is 11-2 at home this year, with their losses at home coming to Baylor and Texas Tech.
Holmes scored 16 points, while Fields had 10 in the first meeting with Kansas.
Since playing West Virginia, Kansas has also gone 2-2 since the first meeting with wins over Texas Tech and Iowa State.
Gardner is in the middle of the two Mountainers ranked third in Big 12 scoring averaging 16.3 points per game.
"We just got to tweak up some things have more energy and go after loose balls, rebound and box out more," senior guard Asia Boyd said.
Kansas will look for their fifth conference win of the season and third conference win on the road. Tip off from Morgantown, W. Va., is at 6 p.m. tonight.
Edited by Miranda Davis
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