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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015
PAGE 5B
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KANSAS TIPOFF
BLAIR SHEADE
@RealBlairSheady
AT A GLANCE
Coach Bill Self said this Kansas team isn't a talented bunch of kids, but they find a way to win. The Iowa State win inched Kansas closer to where it wants to be, but the Jayhawks need to find a way to put two halves together. Self called his team "Sybil" because of its lack of consistency and its struggled to keep leads this season. The Jayhawks have won five in a row but haven't won in Stillwater since 2013.*
Brannen Greene, sophomore, guard
Greene has been able to boost Kansas with well-timed three-pointers, as displayed when Kansas was down seven against Iowa State. He averages almost two three-pointers per game but has hit nine or more three-pointers in four games this season.
PLAYER TO WATCH
QUESTION MARK
Can Selden stay consistent?
Wayne Selden Jr. has struggled to stay consistent on the offensive end. Every game, Kansas knows it's getting a hard-nosed defender out of Selden, but doesn't know which side of Selden will show up on offense. Selden has taken 88 three-pointer attempts this season and only 51 free throw attempts, which means Selden isn't attacking the basket. Even against Iowa State, 15 of his 20 points came from three-point range.
BY THE NUMBERS
KANSAS VS. OKLAHOMA STATE FEB. 7 |1 P.M.| STILLWATER, OKLA.
BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
39 Kansas leads the Big 12 with a 39 percent three-point percentage
3
The Jayhawks rank 143 in field goal percentage, shooting 44 percent
Sophomore Devonte Graham has three turnovers since the start of Big 12 play
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF
The Jayhawks hold Oklahoma State guard Phil Forte III to fewer than four three-pointers. Fore is the Cowboys' best shooter, and Kansas can't let him find open looks. Oklahoma State gains momentum through its three-pointers, and if Kansas allows Forte to gain confidence, the Jayhawks could be in trouble. In the last three Cowboy wins, Forte hit four or more three-pointers.
No.9 KANSAS (17-3,6-1 Big 12)
PROJECTED STARTERS
Selden was the star on Monday, scoring a team high of 20 points and hitting five of his seven three-point attempts. While the sophomore still hasn't put a full game together this season, Selden scored 19 of his 20 points against Iowa State in the second half. Coach Self said Selden's big game against Iowa State should help his confidence.
Wayne Selden Jr., sophomore, guard
Frank Mason III, sophomore, guard
This sophomore is the reason Kansas has such a great conference record. Mason is Kansas' most valuable player because he barely leaves the court and doesn't turn the ball over. His 19-game double digits scoring streak is active and is top 10 in the Big 12, scoring over 12 points per game.
Kelly Oubre Jr., freshman, guard
Since recovering from the flu, Oubre has been in attack mode. Against Texas and TCU, Oubre scored a combined eight points. After TCU, the only starting freshman has averaged 12 points and seven rebounds. He's shot over 44 percent from the field and averaged one steal per game.
OKLAHOMA STATE (15-7, 5-5 Big 12)
Perry Ellis, junior, forward
Coach Self calls Ellis the go-to man and says the Kansas offense runs around the junior. He's the lead scorer and rebound on the team. Ellis, a prototypical postman, has expanded his game this season, shooting more three-pointers. Last season, Ellis only made eight three-pointers, but this season, he's already at 12. Ellis gives the Jayhawks another outside threat onponents have to worry about.
Traylor is known as the hustle player on the team, and he said he wants to be known for his hustle plays. Traylor is always flying around and chasing down loose balls, but his offensive game still struggles this season. Traylor has adapted more post moves, but takes too many jump shots and doesn't play enough to generate
Jamari Traylor, junior, forward
PROJECTED STARTERS
Jeff Newberry, junior, guard
Newberry keeps relatively quiet for a starting guard. He averages just over 18 minutes per game, 5.6 points, 1.1 assists and one turnover. Last time out against Kansas, Newberry scored four points, added one assist, two rebounds, and had
Phil Forte III, junior, guard
Forte has transformed his game from a former sharp-shooter to an all-around guard who can drive the lane. He leads the league in minutes played, steals, and is second in three-point percentage and scoring (17.3 ppg). He has scored in double-figures in all but one game this season, including 18
Anthony Hickey Jr., senior, guard
The five-foot-eleven Hickey is second to Forte on the team and in the league in steals (2.05). He averages 8.6 points per game and 3.7 assists to 1.6, good for the league's fourth best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.29). Hickey went for five points against Kansas.
Le'Bryan Nash, senior, forward
Nash is the third highest score in the Big 12 with 16.9 per game, and the eighth highest field-goal percentage (46.7 percent). Nash ranks fifth in the league in defensive rebounds (4.60) and tenth in minutes played (30.60). Nash has scored in double-figures in every game he has played this season, including 21 against Kansas in January.
Michael Cobbins, senior, forward
Michael Cobbins, senior, forward
Cobbins is the biggest presence in the Cowboy's starting lineup. The senior ranks thirteenth in the league in rebounds per game (5.9) and second in blocked shots (2.28). His season-high rebounding effort (11) came in the win over No. 20 Baylor. In the game against Kansas, Cobbins contributed six points, two rebounds, and fouled out.
OK STATE TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
Oklahoma State is vying for a win to further solidify its bid for the NCAA tournament. The Cowboys have won most of the games they should have, but out of eight ranked opponents as they've played this year, they've only defeated three. Kansas already defeated the Cowboys by 10 in Allen Fieldhouse earlier this year. Revenge should be on Oklahoma State's mind Saturday.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Tavarius Shine, freshman guard
QUESTION MARK
He's only averaged 12.9 minutes per game this season, but he gives the Cowpokes a lift from behind the three-point line. In a 64-53 win over No. 20 Baylor, Shine hit all three of his three-point attempts and finished the night with 11 points.
How does Kansas handle the Oklahoma State pressure?
it'll be a watered down version of the pressure Kansas will see against West Virginia later this season, but surely Oklahoma State will bring the heat on its home floor. The Cowboys rank second in the conference in steals (8.62), with guards Phil Forte III and Anthony Hickey leading the way with over two per game apiece.
BY THE NUMBERS
59.6
Prediction: Kansas 78 Oklahoma State 72
59. 6 The Cowboys allow the third fewest points per game in the Big 12
68.2
Oklahoma State scores the third fewest points per game in the Big 12
The Cowboys have the worst rebounding margin in the conference. Kansas has a +5.5 margin (fourth)
BABY JAY WILL CRY IF
Somebody other than Phil Forte III or Le'Bryan Nash gets loose. In the first match, Forte was loud in the first half; Nash in the second. The two lacked synchronicity, and nobody else seemed to step up. The narrative remains the same this time in Stillwater, Okla. If Kansas can keep Forte and Nash relatively contained and lock down the other three players on the court, it should be business as usual. But if a third wheel gets rolling, look out.
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