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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28. 2015
PAGE 9
KANSAS TIPOFF
BLAIR SHEADE
@RealBlairSheady
AT A GLANCE
KANSAS VS. TCU JAN. 28, 8 P.M., FORT WORTH, TEXAS
The Jayhawks have the toughest schedule in the nation, ranking No. 1 in rating percentage index (RPI). After losing at Iowa State, Kansas has won its last two games against ranked opponents. The Jayhawks average 72 points per game, and have scored more than 80 in three of the last five. Kansas also owns a plus-7 scoring margin.
BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
TCU
Can Kansas stay strong against TCU?
After two wins against ranked opponents, it can be hard for Kansas to stay focused, especially against the Horned Frogs, who have only defeated the Jayhawks once since joining the Big 12. Mason said the team has to come out with the same energy as they did against Texas to win in Fort Worth.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Cliff Alexander, forward sophomore
The recent Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honoree averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds in his past two games. Alexander is the first big man off the bench, and averages 8 points and six rebounds. The freshman shoots 65 percent from the field in Big 12 play.
QUESTION MARK
BY THE NUMBERS
26 Wayne Seiden Jr. leads Kansas with 26 three-pointers.
Kansas can hold Kyan Anderson under 13 points. Anderson averages 13 points per game but has scored over 15 points in three of the past four games, including a 22-point outing against West Virginia.
320
Kansas shot 320 three-pointers so far this season.
Devonte' Graham has only one turnover since returning from injury Jan. 10.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF
No.9 KANSAS (16-3,5-1 Big 12)
PROJECTED STARTERS
Selden has been inconsistent the whole season, averaging eight points per game. A scout called him one of the best post passers in the nation and his 59 assists, which are second on the team, hold that statement true. Selden has improved his three-point shooting this season, and has made multiple threes in two of his last three
Wayne Selden Jr., sophomore, guard
(14-5, 1-5 Big 12)
The most valuable player on the Kansas roster this season has been Frank Mason III. Mason has scored in double digits in 16 consecutive games, which leads Kansas. He's second on the team averaging 12 points per game, and scored 12 with four assists and no turnovers
Frank Mason III, sophomore, guard
The freshman has started the last 10 games and is averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds in those games. Since Big 12 play, Oubre is averaging 11 points, six rebounds and two steals per game. Oubre has scored in double-digits in four of his last five contests. He's known for his defensive aggressiveness, and his 21 steals are second on the team.
Kelly Oubre Jr., freshman, guard
Perry Ellis, junior, forward
Ellis is the leading scorer (12,8) and rebounder (6,6) on the Jayhawks, including 14 points and five rebounds against Texas on Saturday. The junior is shooting 43 percent from the field, which ranks 15th in the Big 12. Ellis has scored in double-digits in three straight and six of the last eight games.
Jamari Traylor, junior, forward
Bill Self said Traaylor has been playing with a strained hip flexor, but he's going to start his ninth game since returning from an early December suspension. Self applauded Traaylor for his hustle plays against Texas. Traaylor is only averaging five points and four rebounds, but he brings energy and spark to Kansas on both sides of the court.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Kyan Anderson, guard, sophomore
When TCU needs a play, the ball finds its way into Kyan Anderson's hands, who is seventh in the league in scoring with 13.7 per game. He's fifth in the league in assists (3.89) and eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio just behind KU's Frank Mason, and is the best free-throw shooter in Big 12 (8.2 percent) missing just nine of 83.
Trey Zeigler, guard, senior
Zeigler averages 8.7 points per game and 3.9 rebounds. He's shot a fair 46.1 percent from the field, but the number may be inflated because he rarely shoots the three—just five attempts all season. His 1.21 assist-to-turnover ratio gives you reason to think that Kansas can exploit this
Kenrich Williams, forward, sophomore
Kenrich Williams, forward, sophomore A transfer from New Mexico Junior College, Williams ranks fifth in the Big 12 in field-goal percentage. His calling card is his intensity, which may get him to the foul line, but when he does get there, he shoots a woeful 55.6 percent.
Chris Washburn, forward, sophomore
At 6-washburn, forward, sophiore
At 6-fourth, 8-240 pounds, Chris Washburn has the body to impose his will. Averaging just 6.8 points per game and 5.7 rebounds, he's still not figured it out completely.
But Saturday's 10-point, nine-rebound performance may have helped out his confidence heading into Wednesday. Washburn is sixth in the conference in blocked shots per game (1.53) and may be matched up on Kansas' Perry Ellis throwout the night.
The 6-foot-10 center averages 24.3 minutes per game, six minutes down from last year, and just 6.7 points and 6.2 rebounds. Getting the ball to go through the ring has been the biggest issue for Shepherd this season, who shoots just 44 percent from the field, averaging just 4.8 points over the last two games.
Karviar Shepherd, center, sophomore
TCU
TIPOFF
DAN HARMSEN
@udk_dan
AT A GLANCE
PLAYER TO WATCH
The Horned Frogs couldn't possibly have asked for a better start to 2014. 14-0 through the non-conference schedule, TCU was ranked in the top-25 for the first time since 1998-1999. But as the calendar turned to 2015, that's when the gauntlet Big 12 season began to take its toll. The Frogs have kept things respectable in its five losses, dropping three games by less than 10 points (two in overtime).
Amric Fields, forward senior
Coming off the bench at 6-foot-9,
220 pounds, Fields gives TCU's
frontcourt more length, which is key
in this conference and in any. He has
used that reach for 3.1 rebounds and
7.1 points in just 16.2 minutes per
game.
QUESTION MARK
Sandwiched between Texas and second-place Kansas State — rival and championship contender — the Jayhawks find themselves in prime upset territory Wednesday in Fort Worth, Texas. Bill Self will be the first to tell you that in the conference this year, if you play poorly against anyone, you're going to get beat (that's echoed by every other coach in the league).
Can Kansas avoid the letdown?
61.4
Even with the league's best foul-shooter on roster, Kyan Anderson TCU holds the worst free-throw percentage in the league by almost 5 percent.
BY THE NUMBERS
57. 3 TCU allows the fewest points per game in the Big 12.
131 TCU's ranking in the latest rating percentage index (RPI). Kansas ranks first.
The strength of schedule doesn't make an obvious difference. TCU coach Trent Johnson said Kansas has played just about everybody with the exception of the Spurs and Cavaliers. TCU's schedule had a few more sprinkles and a layer or two of icing, facing zero non-conference opponents ranked in the top-25.
BABY JAY WILL CRY IF
Prediction: Kansas 77 TCU 68
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