8B
GAME DAY
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
KU
TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
Traditionally, this is a blowout. Nebraska at Allen Fieldhouse has been as helpless as a slab of prime rib on a Las Vegas buffet lately. The Cornhuskers have only beaten the Jayhawks once in Lawrence since the Big 12 Conference was established 12 years ago. Kansas has won by an average of 43 points the last three years against Nebraska at home. Of course, this Cornhusker team is scrappier than usual and the Jayhawks haven't beaten anyone by 43 points. But the history is hard to ignore. A Cornhusker bludgeoning might be in store.
Freshman forward Marcus Morris
PLAYER TO WATCH
Nebraska is the smallest team in the Big 12, which means it will double team 6-foot-11 sophomore center Cole Aldrich nearly every time he touches the ball. Problem with that strategy is it leaves Morris available to produce offensively. And Morris is playing the best he's played all season. He's averaging more than 11 points and six rebounds in the last two games.
his most noticeable improvement, however, has come on the defensive end. Morris is no longer a liability when he tries to guard. Not even close, as evidenced by his effort in holding Iowa State's Craig Brackins to 7-for-21 shooting.
Will Cole Aldrich ditch the mask?
QUESTION MARK
Kansas coach Bill Self certainly hopes so. Self thinks the mask is limiting Aldrich's peripheral vision — specifically when a defender comes from the side to double down on him or a rebound takes an awkward bounce off the glass. Self has also said Aldrich's broken nose was healed well enough that he no longer has to wear the protective mask. But at the same time, Self will not force Aldrich to play without the mask. Aldrich said he liked the mask and it didn't bother him. That's bad news for Self. The mask era might go on a little longer.
HEARYE. HEARYE
"The they are a team that is always going to play hard and it is going to be how we handle their post traps. Tonight we didn't handle it well at all as Cole had five turnovers. We are going to practice more on this and get better at it."
—Kansas coach Bill Self on Nebraska after the Iowa State victory
"They gave us everything we wanted in Lincoln and we were fortunate to win. Monday's game against Oklahoma isn't a big game unless we take care of business on Saturday."
Kansas coach Bill Self
HAWKSAIMTO WIDEN GAP
After a mere 68-62 victory last time, Kansas needs to improve its play.
KANSAS VS. NEBRASKA 3 p.m., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, Lawrence, ESPN
Collins
KANSAS (21-5, 10-1) STARTERS
Sherron Collins, 5-foot-11 junior guard
Collins' career high in points is 26, which he's reached twice this season. If he shoots like he did in the last three minutes of the Iowa State game — when he made three point shots — that mark could be in danger Saturday.
Taylor
Tyshawn Taylor, 6-foot-3 freshman guard
Taylor is infected with two problems: turnovers and fouls. When one looks to be cured, the other flares up. Although he's limited his turnovers lately, Taylor had nine fouls in the last two games.
Morningstar
Brady Morningstar, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard
Morningstar had made six straight three-pointers in the last two games before missing his final two attempts against Iowa State. A new streak would be desirable for the Jayhawks.
Morris
Marcus Morris, 6-foot-8 freshman forward
Marcus has emerged the last two games as the third wheel to Collins and Aldrich. Defensive intensity. Smart shots. Physical play. Marcus has done all of that.
Cole Aldrich, 6-foot-11 sophomore center
Aldrich
The Phantom of the Phog' might not be the best nickname, but Aldrigh has been one of the best players in the Bai 12
lately. He's averaging nearly 16 points and 13 rebounds over the last four games.
NEBRASKA (16-8,6-5)
STARTERS
SIXTH MAN
Reed is playing more minutes than ever because of his shooting ability. But he went 1-for-5 from the field against Iowa State. That's unlikely to continue against Nebraska.
Tyrel Reed, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard
Cookie Miller, 5-foot-7 sophomore guard
By his own admission. Nebraska coach Doc Sader has no
By his own admission, Nebraska coach Doc Sadler has no
idea what his starting lineup will look like on Saturday. On Wednesday, Miller came off the bench for the first time in 2009 with mixed results. Sadler said he doesn't know what he'll do with the diminutive guard against Kansas.
Steve Harley, 5-foot-11 senior guard
Miller
In the last three games, Nebraska's former scoring leader averaged just three points per game. Pair that with a poor defensive game and Harley hasn't been much of a factor for the Cornhuskers lately.
Sek Henry, 6-foot-2 junior guard
Henry is bipolar on the court. He may score 11 points, as he did against Missouri on Feb. 14, or score zero, as he did against Colorado on Wednesday. You just never know.
Harley
Ade Dagunduro, 6-foot-5 senior guard
Dagunduro was warming up before he played Kansas, but that 24-point performance has really secured his place as Nebraska's go-to weapon. Since that game he's averaging 14.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Case Keefer
Henry
Ryan Anderson, 6-foot-4 junior guard
Chris Balham, Nebraska's regular starter at forward, is out with chronic knee pain. That's opened the door for Anderson in the starting rotation. "Ryan's got a lot of qualities," Sadler said, "but his greatest quality is his spirit.
Dagunduro
Anderson
Reed
SIXTH MAN
Velander. 6-foot-2 senior guard
Paul Velander, 6-foot-2 senior guard Velander started for the second time in his career on Wednesday. He
ay keep the spot on Saturday, but after hitting 1-of-3 three-pointers it looks like he'll move back to the bench.
Velander
★★★★
Sherron Collins
Taylor Bern
NU TIPOFF AT A GLANCE
Since dropping a 68-62 decision to Kansas on Jan. 28, Nebraska 14-1. That's a little misleading considering three of the victories were against Texas Tech and a pair over Colorado. But Nebraska did nottha marque victory with a 58-53 triumph over then-No. 16 Texas on Feb. 7. Two concerns for the Cornhuskers entering this game are that it's on the road, where they are far-less proficient than in the Devaney Center. Also, Nebraska barely beat Colorado 46-41 on Wednesday. If they're flat again, the Cornhuskers won't have much chance on Saturday.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior guard Ade Dagunduro
Nebraska needed every bit of Dagunduro's performance to sneak past Colorado Wednesday night. The Inglewood, Calif., native poured in 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks. In Big 12 play
hes averaging 1.43 points, the same as Cole Aldrich, and five rebounds per game. He's also hitting 53 percent of his shots, a startling statistic considering
Dagunduro
hes not a traditional post player. Dagunduro will come in confident because he knows Kansas' defense doesn't have an answer for him. In their first meeting, Dagunduro scored 24 points in 29 minutes.
QUESTION MARK
Can Nebraska's featy defense nullify Cole Aldrich again?
The Cornhuskers handled the sophomore center better than any other defense this season. The short cornstalks pestered Aldrich every time he received an entry pass and actually held him to zero points and zero rebounds in the first half. It's unlikely that they'll be able to double that feat, but coach Doc Sadler obviously has a pretty good idea how to erase Aldrich. Now that the big man has elevated his game to another level, it's even more important for the Cornhuskers to keep him from out-sizing them.
HEARYE, HEARYE
"I'm happy with the point production, but at the same time I was a little soft out there getting my shot blocked a little more than usual."
— Nebraska guard Ade Dagunduura after Wednesday's 46-41 victory over Colorado
"You don't get more than one shot at it. We missed some open threes.Paul Velander is a guy that we count on, he had some open looks and we didn't hit them."
Nebraska coach Doc Sadler after the Corn-huskers hit 4-of-15 threes on Wednesday
BIG 12 SCHEDULE
Game Time (CT) Channel
Missouri at Colorado 11:30 a.m. Big 12 Network
Oklahoma State vs. Baylor 12:30 PM Big 12 Network
lowa State vs. Kansas State 5:00 PM FSNKC/CTN
Texas Tech vs. Texas A&M 5:00 PM TTTN
Texas vs. Oklahoma 8:00 PM ESPN
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE WILL ROCK IF...
Junior guard Mario Little and freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor end their slumps headed into the Big Monday game at Oklahoma. Taylor and Little, expected to be Kansas' next scorers behind Collins and Aldrich, have combined for only nine points in the last two games. Little went 0-for-5 from the field against Iowa State. The Jayhawks have performed OK without Little and Taylor at their best, but will need them against the Sooners.
PHOG ALLEN WILL ROLL OVER IN HIS GRAVE IF...
Kansas allows Nebraska guard Cookie Miller to annoy it again. A small scuffle broke out when the teams played in Lincoln, Neb. after Miller continued to fight with Mario Little for a loose ball. According to Sherron Collins, Miller's talk on the court was what really irked the Jayhawks. If Miller's mouth continues to run in Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas needs to ignore it. It's not worth potential fouls or conflicts.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Prediction: KANSAS 75, NEBRASKA 49
Date Opponent TV Time
Feb. 23 at Oklahoma ESPN 8 p.m.
March 1 MISSOURI CBS 1 p.m.
March 4 at Texas Tech ESPN2 8:30 p.m.
March 7 TEXAS CBS 3 p.m.