THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2012
KANSAS TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
It's finally here. The last Missouri game at Allen Fieldhouse, possibly ever, brings with it unprecedented hype and national attention. Coach Bill Self said this may be the most electric environment in the fieldhouse's history. With a victory. No 4 Kansas (23-5, 13-2) can claim at least a share of an eighth consecutive Big 12 title. Senior guard Tyshawn Taylor, who said he felt responsible for the 74-71 loss at Mizou Arena on Feb. 4, is just happy to have a second chance. Whether or not this game concludes the storied Border Showdown, it will likely produce a frenzied crowd and top-notch basketball.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Jeff Withey, center
PAGE 7B
The last time the Jayhawks met with the Tigers, Withey didn't score a point. He was supposed to be the one unmatchable Kansas player.
Withey
but instead he was mostly ineffective. In the three games that followed the loss, Withey averaged 20.3 points and improved his already potent ability to block and after shots. He now has a chance to prove himself against some of the Big 12's best competition, clobber a hated rival and help his team reach yet another conference title.
Will this be the last time?
QUESTION MARK
With Missouri off to the Southeastern Conference next season and Self clearly stating that he doesn't want to continue the rivalry in the near future, this could be the final edition of the Border Showdown. Self said that he could maybe see a reunion three to five years down the road, but that's no sure thing. The conference title, bragging rights and momentum are all important factors in this game. But perhaps more important than all of those is the chance to give a rival a permanently sour taste in its mouth.
HEAR YE. HEAR YE
"These kids will be fired up to play, for a lot of reasons. They have a chance to get a ring, at least a piece of it, a chance to play Missouri, but more importantly, a chance to play a team that beat us the first time we played."
Bill Self, coach
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF...
Withey dominates by the basket and Taylor doesn't turn the ball over.
THE FINAL SHOWDOWN WHAT MAY BE THE RIVALRY'S END HAS ARRIVED NO. 3 MISSOURI VS. NO.4 KANSAS 3 P.M., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, LAWRENCE, KS
Taylor
KANSAS (23-5,13-2) STARTERS
Taylor said that he was responsible for the loss at Mizzou Arena earlier this season. While he may be right, the Jayhawks also wouldn't have been in the game if Taylor hadn't scored 21 points. Taylor is pleased to have another shot at the Tigers. Don't expect him to waste it.
Johnson
TYSHAWN TAYLOR. GUARD
ELIJAH JOHNSON. GUARD
Releford will be a key figure as Self tries to counter Missouri's four-guard lineup. Releford has the ability to defend point guards and power forwards, so Self needs him stay out of foul trouble. If Releford can shut down Denmon or English, the Jayhawks will have a better chance at getting into fast breaks.
He used to be the scapegoat, but on Wednesday night at Texas A&M, he was the hero. Johnson scored 21 points, 18 in the first half, and saved his team from what was almost an embarrassing loss. In the game at Mizzou Arena, Johnson took the final shot that would have tied the game, but he hesitated and missed badly. Will Self give him the ball again if Kansas faces a similar situation?
TRAVIS RELEFORD, GUARD
Robinson
Robinson had one of his worst games of the season on Wednesday, ending his night on a technical foul. In the first half of the Missouri game, he struggled offensively, scoring just six points. You better believe that Robinson, the national player of the year candidate, will be juiced for this one.
THOMAS ROBINSON, FORWARD
Withey has finally found his mean streak. He has averaged 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds in the past five games. The game before those five? He was held scoreless at Mizzou Arena. If Withey really wants to please his fans, he's got to get it done against the Tigers.
JEFF WITHEY, CENTER
Withey
MISSOURI (25-3,12-3) STARTERS
PHIL PRESSEY, GUARD
Pressey
Pressey is one of the best point guards in the Big 12. He averages 9.9 points and leads the Tigers with six assists per game. He's just as good, if not better, on defense, harassing opposing guards into turnovers on a consistent basis creates easy buckets.
Denmon
MARCUS DENMON, GUARD
He's a near-lock for first team All-Big 12 and has a good shot at landing on an All-American team. Denmon averages a team-high 17.8 points per game and had an outstanding offensive performance against Kansas on Feb. 4, finishing with 29 points.
Pressey
MATT PRESSEY, GUARD
Pressey plays 26 minutes per game but isn't much of an offensive threat for Missouri coach Frank Haith, averaging just 6.6 points. In the first game against Kansas, he played 22 minutes and was just one-for-five from the field with two points and one rebound.
★★☆☆☆
KIM ENGLISH, GUARD
With the unconventional starting lineup of four guards, Kim English often has to guard the other team's power forward. It creates matchup problems for both teams, and the teams that can exploit English down low (such as Kansas State) can have success against Missouri.
English
★★★☆☆
RICARDO RATLIFFE, FORWARD
Ratliffe doesn't have a polished game by any means, but he's constantly putting himself in positions to get easy baskets down low. He averages 13.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and is second in the country in field percentage at 71.7 percent.
Max Rothman
Ratliffe
Bill Self Photo by Chris Bronson
Kory Carpenter
Prediction Kansas 85, Missouri 67
MISSOURI TIPOFF
PLAYER TO WATCH
ATAGLANCE
Mizzou was hardly itself against Kansas State on Tuesday night in Columbia, Mo., losing to the Wildcats by 10. The Tigers were 4-0 since their 74-17 victory over Kansas on Feb. 4 and were tied with the layhawks atop the Big 12 standings. They're now one game out of first place and if they have any hopes of winning the conference championship in their final year in the Big 12, a victory on Saturday is nearly a must. A loss would put them two games back from first with just two games remaining. The Tigers haven't won in Allen Fieldhouse since the 1998-1999 season They are losers of 12 games straight in Lawrence.
Phil Pressey, guard
Pressey
The leader of the Tiger offence, Pressley was almost completely shut down by Tyshawn Taylor in the first meeting on Feb. 4. He finished with just two points, far from his season average of 9.9. Pressey's size was a huge disadvantage in the first matchup. He's listed at just 5-foot-10 compared to Taylor who, at at 6-foot-3, harassed Pressey the entire game and made once simple tasks difficult.
Can the Tigers handle the pressure?
QUESTION MARK
Coach Bill Self said the Allen Fieldhouse crowd on Saturday might be rowdier than any game in the history of the building. Games against Missouri are already a spectacle of ear-splitting noise, and the Tigers' last visit to Lawrence will bring it to a whole different level. Maintaining composure during the pre-game festivities and opening minutes will be key if Missouri has hopes of leaving with a victory.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE
--Frank Haith, Missouri coach
"I'm learning a lot about this rivalry in my first year, and it is great for the game to have us play. Hopefully it does work out in the near future. We'll see how it goes."
BABY JAY WILL WEEP IF...
Missouri's guards run freely and once again, Denmon hits big shots.