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FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KANSAS TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
Kansas is on a 10 game winning streak and has yet to lose in the Big 12, coming into Ames at 7-0 in the league with at least a two-game lead on everyone else. On the road in conference play, the Jayahwks are 3-0 with an average margin of victory of 16.3 points. Defense has been the key for Kansas in the Big 12. They currently lead the conference in scoring defense, giving up just 60.4 points per game. They also lead the Big 12 in scoring margin, field goal percentage defense, rebounding and blocked shots. In the previous meeting with Iowa State, Kansas trailed at halftime by three and found themselves down double digits in the second half before breaking away late in the game to win 82-73. The Jayahwks haven't lost to Iowa State since Feb. of 2005.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Jeff Withey, center
A number of players have said that Withey is a key component for the Kansas defense. His shot blocking abilities often intimidate opponents who seem to think twice when driving to the lane.
Withey
Taylor said Withey's presence allows the guards to play much more aggressively on the perimeter with the knowledge that Withey is behind them for support. He had eight blocks against Iowa State earlier this month and is averaging 4.4 blocks per game in Big 12 play.
Will Tyshawn Taylor continue his hot streak?
The senior point guard was inconsistent for most of the first half of the season, but his first game against Iowa State was the first of many impressive performances and the victories have followed. He had 28 points against the Cyclones the first time around and is averaging 22.3 points per game in the three games since. He's also leading the team in three-point shooting percentage, but said that's nothing more than an added luxury. He said he's best when attacking the rim, and in the last four games he's done that with relative ease.
QUESTION MARK
HEAR YE HEAR YE
"He has developed as much as anybody for us. He's become quite a presence in there."
— Coach Bill Self on Jeff Withey
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF...
Withe denies Royce White and the Jayhawks find a smooth shooting rhythm on the road.
KANSAS (17-3,7-0) STARTERS
Taylor
TYSHAWN TAYLOR, GUARD
As noted, Taylor has played as well as anyone in the conference the last four games. He's committed just two turnovers the last two games while adding 39 points and is shooting an impressive 45.7 percent from behind the three-point line. If the high level is kept up, a First Team All-Big 12 and possible All-American selection aren't out of the question.
NO. 5 KANSAS VS. IOWA STATE 1 P.M., HILTON COLISEUM, AMES, IOWA
Facing the new 'Hilton Magic' It's not the same old Cyclones.
Releford
Known more for his defense, Releford is also capable of having a big night offensively. Against Oklahoma on Jan. 7, he exploded for 28 points while missing just four shots. That's more of an outlier, and Releford's game will be judged on defense and hustle more so than his offensive numbers.
CHRISTOPHERSON
(14-6, 4-3)
STARTERS
TRAVIS RELEFORD, FORWARD
ELIJAH JOHNSON, GUARD
The senior guard is averaging 10.7 points per game this season and played 35 minutes in the first meeting with Kansas. He was four-for-seven from the field against the Jayhawks with 10 points. He had double figures in points the first five Big 12 games but has struggled of late, finishing with just nine points in his last two contests.
Johnson can score easily at times but has his fair share of quiet games. He's had under five points on three occasions in the Big 12 schedule and he is shooting just 28.8 percent from the three-point. Self said he's a better shooter than the numbers show and Taylor said Johnson needs to attack the basket more and let the three-pointers come later.
SCOTT CHRISTOPHERSON, GUARD
WITHEY
IOWA STATE
JEFF WITHEY, CENTER
Witheley leads the Big 12 in blocked shots with 31, nearly doubling anyone else on the list. His game has developed tremendously from last year and he has a newfound offensive game to pair with his defensive prowess.
CHRIS ALLEN, GUARD
BABB
CHRIS BABB, GUARD
Babb was held scoreless in 34 minutes of action in the first meeting with Kansas. He was 0-for-8 from the floor, six of which came from beyond the 3-point line. He's averaging 9.3 points per game this season and has reached double digit points in three Big 12 games. Those were in his first three games, however, and he's averaging just 4.5 points his last three games.
THOMAS ROBINSON. FORWARD
The former Michigan State guard has had a successful debut season in Ames, averaging 12.1 points while playing less than 30 minutes per game. Much like Christopherphon, Allen struggled in his last time out in the 62-55 loss to the Texas Longhorns. He had just three points on 1-for-9 shooting.
ROBINSON
Robinson is one of the leading candidates for the National Player of the Year Award and for good reason. He's averaging a double-double with 17.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, but struggled against Iowa State in the first meeting. He had just 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting.
MELVIN EJIM. FORWARD
One of the few non-transfers on the Iowa State roster, Ejim is similar to most of his teammates in that he scores around 10-12 points most games but is more than capable of having a letdown game offensively. In the first meeting with Kansas, Ejim had 12 points and six rebounds but shot just 30 percent from the floor.
★★★☆☆
EJIM
★★★★
ROYCE WHITE, FORWARD
White had a monstrous game against Kansas earlier this month. He had 18 points and 17 rebounds and was nearly unstoppable for most of the game. He's a first team All-Big 12 candidate and is one of the toughest match ups in the country with his size and ability to handle the ball on the perimeter.
— Kory Carpenter and Max Rothman
WHITE
Prediction:
PLAYER TO WATCH
Royce White, forward
Kansas and Iowa State meet for the second time this season on Saturday afternoon, with the Jayhawks winning the first matchup, 82-73 on Jan. 14 in Allen Fieldhouse. The first meeting was controlled by Iowa State for much of the game, as they led by double digits in the second half before a Jayhawk comeback sealed the deal. The Cyclones are 4-3 in the Big 12 and 14-6 overall, but have dropped three out of their last five. Three of Iowa State's six losses this season have come against ranked opponents and only two losses have come at home. Bill Self called the Cyclones an NCAA tournament team, and they're one of only five Big 12 teams with a winning record in conference play. Coach Fred Hoiberg brought in a bevy of transfers that are finally getting a chance to play after sitting out last season, and the future looks bright for Cyclones fans.
White
IOWA STATE TIPOFF
AT A GLANCI
White is one of the most versatile players in the Big 12. Listed at 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, he is more of a point forward, as he often brings the ball up the
Kansas 68, Iowa State 63
court to start the offense. He's nearly averaging a double-double with 13.4 points and 9.6 rebounds a game. In the first meeting with Kansas, White had 18 points and 17 rebounds and Kansas never really figured out how to stop him. His size and ball handling ability make him a tough matchup for any opponent.
HEAR YE HEAR YE
"You want your losses to hurt, then put it behind you and start focusing on the next one."
QUESTION MARK Will 'Hilton Magic' reappear?
— Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg on bouncing back after a loss.
Hilton Coliseum has seen some remarkable upsets for the Cyclones over the years. Former Kansas forward and Player of the Year Danny Manning never won a game in the coliseum, and the Cyclones have had numerous undefeated home seasons there. However, Bill Self hasn't lost to Iowa State since the 2004-2005 season and he hasn't dropped a game in the coliseum since the 2003-2004 season. As Self noted at his weekly press conference Thursday afternoon, the Coliseum will be as loud as ever as the No. 5 Jayhawks come to town.
BABY JAY WILL WEEP IF..
White leads his team to another rebounding parade and the "Hilton Magic" is too much to overcome.