THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2015
PAGE 3B
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KANSAS TIPOFF
DAN HARMSEN
@udk_dan
AT A GLANCE
KANSAS VS. OKLAHOMA JAN. 19, 8:00 P.M., LAWRENCE, KAN.
It's a quick turnaround for Kansas, who returns to Allen Fieldhouse Monday after its first conference loss of the season, 86-81 at No. 11 Iowa State. The Jayhawks look to resolve transition defense issues that cropped up Saturday in Ames, Iowa, as the Cyclones outscored Kansas 21-10 on the break.
BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
PLAYER TO WATCH
Which Cliff Alexander do we see tonight?
Since returning from a toe injury, Graham has been all that Bill Self could hope for. He's yet to turn the ball over in his three games back, and averaged 4.33 assists in just 20 minutes of play over that stretch. Graham added 10 points against the Cyclones when Mason left the game with cramps.
Devonte' Graham, guard
QUESTION MARK
Bill Self cited Alexander's motor, or lack thereof, as the reason for his limited minutes against the Cyclones. Alexander was routinely beat back in transition and it cost Kansas points, and, quite possibly, the game. Kansas is a much better team when Alexander is locked in. How will the freshman respond to the criticism?
BY THE NUMBERS
38. 9 Kansas leads the Big 12 with a 38.9 three-point field goal percentage.
21
Sophomore guard Brannen Greene has made 21-straight free throws dating back to last season.
76.5
The Jayhawks win convincingly. It would do Kansas good to flush the past 80 minutes of basketball in an ugly win over Oklahoma State and a close loss against Iowa State with a 10-point (or more) victory. To do that, they'll need to slow a potent Sooners' offense down before it gets rolling.
Freshman forward Cliff Alexander's shooting percentage in Big 12 play, 26 percentage points below his season average.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF
No.9 KANSAS (14-3, 3-1 Big 12)
PROJECTED STARTERS
Wayne Selden Jr., sophomore, guard
Over the past four games, Selden is shooting just 29 percent from three-point range. An inability to slash and score in the lane has slowed the Kansas offense, including a late charging call late in the Iowa State game. Defensively, though, Selden has been solid, averaging 1.25 steals per Big 12 game.
Frank Mason, sophomore, guard
In conference play, Mason averages 14.5 points, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 turnovers. When the Jayhawks need a play, they turn to No. 0. With Davonte Graham's return to action, expect less minutes, but even more production.
Kelly Oubre Jr., freshman, guard
Oubre is one of the few Jayhawks that has gotten to the foulline consistently this season, but when he does, he has failed to capitalize. Oubre is shooting just 56 percent from the charity stripe in league play. He is the Jayhawks' best defensive option, averaging 2.5 steals over the past four games thanks in large part to his quick hands and long arms.
Perry Ellis, junior, forward
After turning the ball over four times in the first four minutes against Oklahoma State, Ellis dropped seven points in the first four minutes against Iowa State—he would finish the night with 19 points on 50 percent shooting. As he extends his game beyond the arc (2-of-3 from three against the Cyclones), and brings more aggression down low, there are signs that he may be breaking out of a mid-season lull.
Jamari Traylor, junior, forward
Trayfor was held scoreless in Ames, Iowa, but added a few key re-bounds and an assist. He is the glue-guy that wins loose balls and makes good passes out of the post.
No.18 OKLAHOMA (12-5,3-2 Big 12)
PROJECTED STARTERS
Jordan Woodard, sophomore, guard
Jordan Woodson, sophomore, guard The first-year starter is second in the Big 12 and leads Oklahoma with 4.5 assists per game. The sophomore is the floor general and has two assists for every turnover, which is the sixth best in the conference. Woodson is the best on-ball defender on the team and leads the team with
Isaiah Cousins, junior, guard
Cousins plays the most minutes for the Sooners, and that's for a good reason because Cousins is third in the Big 12 shooting 45 percent from three. The junior is a top-15 scorer (12 ppg) and has the second best field goal percentage
Buddy Hield, junior, guard
. Hield is Oklahoma's leading scorer at 17 points per game, which is second in the Big 12. Hield had an impressive game against Oklahoma State, scoring 27 points and making all four of his 3-pointers. Hield leads the conference with three 3-pointers per game.
Tashawn Thomas, senior, forward
TAHWASHI HOMES, senior, forward
The lone senior in the starting lineup has scored over 20 points twice this season, and scored 24 points in Oklahoma's Big 12 opener against Baylor. Thomas ranks second on the team with six rebounds per game.
Ryan Spangler, junior, forward
Spangler averages nine points and eight rebounds per game and has been a dominating force in the paint. The big 6-foot-8, 231-pound forward leads the Big 12 in defensive rebounding (6 per game). Spangler is also the second best 3-point shooter on Oklahoma, shooting 35 percent
OKLAHOMA TIPOFF
BLAIR SHEADE
@RealBlairSheady
AT A GLANCE
After losing to Kansas State in overtime and West Virginia in Morgantown, the Sooners pulled off a huge 17-point win against rival Oklahoma State. No. 18 Oklahoma averages 40 rebounds and five blocks per game, which are both top 3 in the Big 12. The Sooners brought back all five starters from last season.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Buddy Hield, guard
Hield is the best player in Big 12. He's scored 20 or more points in three consecutive contests, averaging 26 points in that 3-game span. Hield's 3-point shooting ability will give the Jayhawks a reason to focus on him — Hield has made 12 3-pointers in the past three games.
QUESTION MARK
Can the Kansas frontcourt handle Ryan Spangler?
Spangler is a big body and a tremendous rebounder. The Jayhawks had trouble in the past with big-bodied frontcourts; Kentucky, Utah and UNLV are some examples, and Kansas struggled in the paint against all three of those teams. The Kansas frontcourt will have to put a body on Spangler during every box out.
BY THE NUMBERS
38
38 Oklahoma is last in the Big 12 allowing 38 rebounds per game
51
Buddy Hield leads the Big 12 with 51 made 3-pointers
28
The Sooners' 3-point defense is the best in the Big 12, holding teams to 28 percent.
BABY JAY WILL CRY IF
Oklahoma outreboundds Kansas. The Sooners are the best rebounding team, but if Oklahoma outreboundds Kansas, the Jayhawks will have trouble staying with the Sooners. Kansas' defensive rebounding ranks in the middle of the Big 12, and will have trouble with the big bodies of the Oklahoma frontcourt.
Prediction: Kansas 76 Oklahoma 72
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