10B GAME DAY
THE UNIVERSITY OF JAHY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2009
KU
TIPOFF
ATA GLANCE
Missouri forward DeMarre Carroll told reporters Saturday that this game means more to him than the national championship. Yes, that's how gigantic tonight's Big Monday match up is. Missouri might have its best team in the last decade. By winning its first eight conference games, Kansas is off to its best start in the Big 12 in four years. And the two arch-rivals collide tonight at Mizzou Arena. The young Jayhawks have never experienced an environment like they will tonight. Are they ready for the challenge?
PLAYERTOWATCH
Sophomore center Cole Aldrich Kansas coach Bill Self practically begs his team to get the ball to Aldrich on every possession when
they're on the road. Tonight, it will be especially important. Aldrich is at least two inches taller than every player in the Tigers rotation. If he gets into
a rhythm, he could dominate. Aldrich is also coming off a marque performance against Oklahoma State where he scored 12 points with 18 rebounds. He'll need a couple blocked shots, too, against Missouri's vaunted frontcourt.
Will the Jayhawks be able to control their emotions?
QUESTION MARK
The Morris twins have taken part in a couple of skirmishes this year. Sherron Collins regularly jaws with opponents. The opportunities for situations like those to happen will be endless tonight. The Mizou Arena crowd won't only be hostile. It will be relentless. The Tigers will feed off of it and won't think twice about getting physical with the Jayhawks. Collins has to ignore it for the most part — and make sure his teammates do the same.
HEARYE, HEARYE
"I love DeMarre Carroll. I just think he's so active and gives them something. He doesn't have to score to play great. He gives them kind of a personality, an identity. They're doing a great job."
Kansas coach Bill Self
"They don't care for us much and the feeling is very mutual."
—Kansas coach Bill Self
BORDER SHOWDOWN
Jayhawks take on rival Tigers with almost mirroring records
KANSAS VS. MISSOURI 8 p.m., MIZZOU ARENA, Columbia, Mo., ESPN
KANSAS
(19-4) STARTERS
Collins
Sherron Collins, 5-foot-11 junior guard
Sherron Collins, 5-foot-11 junior guard What's more important to tonight's game: Collins' playing ability or Collins' leadership ability? Both are equal.
Tyshawn Taylor, 6-foot-3 freshman guard
Taylor
Taylor had one of his most consistent games against Oklahoma State with 12 points, four assists and two steals. The Jayhawks need an encore.
Brady Morningstar, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard
Morningstar
Bill Self calls Morningstar the Jayhawks "anchor"
In other words, they need him on the floor.
Expect him to play at least 35 minutes tonight.
Marcus Morris, 6-foot-8 freshman forward
Marcus played his best game of the year the last time Kansas went on the road — scoring 13 points with six rebounds against Baylor.
Cole Aldrich, 6-foot-11 sophomore e center
Put simply. He's the key to the game. If Aldrich can score more than 20 points with about 12 rebounds, Kansas' chances at victory improve exponentially.
Tiller
Morris
Taylor
MISSOURI (20-4) STARTERS
Aldrich
Tiller would follow Missouri coach Mike Anderson anywhere he may roam. Tiller committed to UAB out of high school, and then followed Anderson when he moved from Birmingham to Columbia.
J.T. Tiller, 6-foot-3 junior guard
Zare Taylor, 6-1004+ junior guard
Taylor is good at everything but great at
nothing. He plays more than 25 minutes
per game and pours just a little into almost
every statistical category.
Zaire Taylor, 6-foot-4 junior guard
SIXTH MAN
Kim English, 6-foot-6 freshman guard English was immersed in an ugly shooting slump until he snapped it at Iowa State on Saturday. Against the Cyclones, English drilled four-of-five behind the three-point line and finished with 16 points.
English
Last year's Big 12 Newcomer of the Year would be a front-runner for Player of the Year if Oklahoma's Blake Griffin wasn't around. Carroll is very versatile and he's a threat to score 30 points every night.
Kim English, 6-foot-6 freshman guard
Mario Little, 6-foot-5 Junior guard Even if he doesn't start. Little will probably get starters' minutes. The way he can hit
DeMarre Carroll, 6-foot-8 senior forward
Carroll
the way he can hit shots from anywhere on the floor could drive the Tigers crazy.
Leo Lyons. 6-foot-9 senior forward
Lyons is the perfect sidekick to Carroll. He possesses similar offensive talent and picks up the scoring load anytime Carroll struggles.
★★★★
SIXTH MAN
Case Keefer
Sherron Collins
Marcus Denmon, 6-foot-3
Denman is a great guy off the bench late in games. He's Missouri's top free-throw shooter at 82 percent.
Denmon
Taylor Bern
MU
TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
Though its slipped up a couple of times on the road, Missouri is one of the most dangerous teams in the Big 12. Since getting blown out in Manhattan the Tigers have won three in a row. That includes two decisive victories over Baylor and Iowa State, as well as a 69-65 win at then No. 16 Texas, Coach Mike Anderson's club is undefeated at Mizzou Arena. In fact, the Tigers average margin of victory at home this season is 28.5.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior forward DeMarre Carroll Kansas coach Bill Self said he's a "big fan" of Carroll. Self may appreciate the senior game, but that means he also has every
reason to fear him Carroll is averaging 18.1 points in conference play, the third most in the league. In the same time he's hitting 58 percent of his
Carroll
shots and grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game. That makes him the second-most efficient Big 12 player, right behind Oklahoma's Blake Griffin.
Can Kansas keep Missouri under 80 points?
QUESTION MARK
TheTigers average a league-best 8.42 points per game and they've scored more than 90 points in seven of their 14 home games. A lot of those points come on easy baskets because Missouri also leads the Big 12 in turnover margin (+6.58).
It's not easy to slow down the Tigers but that's the only way to beat them. What's the best way to accomplish that? Constantly switch up defenses. Kansas can't let DeMarre Carroll get comfortable offensively.
HEARYE, HEARYE
"Oh my God! People thought they saw something when Baylor was there. This means more than the national championship to us." — Missouri forward Leony Lions to the Kansas
Missouri forward Leo Lyons to the Kansas City Star on the Border Showdown
"The team is still growing and leaning. As they grow and learn, they get confident. You win, you get confidence." --Missouri coach Mike Anderson to the Kansas
Missouri coach Mike Anderson to the Kansas City Star
BIG 12 SCHEDULE
Time (CT) Channel
Game Time (CT) Channel.
Tuesday
Iowa State vs. Kansas State 7 p.m. FSN
Wednesday
Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma 8 p.m. Big 12 Net.
Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State 8 p.m. ESPNU
Nebraska vs. Colorado 8:30 p.m. FSN
Missouri vs. Texas 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
MIZZOU ARENA WILL BE SILENT IF ...
PHOG ALLEN WILL ROLL OVER IN HIS GRAVE IF ...
Sherron Collins shines. Collins has put together a fantastic year. One of the best in the nation, actually, as proven by the Wooden Award's decision to list him as one of the top 30 candidates for the award given to the nation's most valuable player. But he hasn't played in a game like this yet this season. If Collins thrives, Kansas should escape with a victory.
Missouri gives Kansas 40 minutes of hell. That's the name of the full-court pressure defense Missouri coach Mike Anderson runs. Kansas has dealt with it well in the past, as Anderson has never beaten it since taking over as Missouri's coach. The Jayhawks can't commit mindless turnovers and expect to stay undefeated in the Big 12 at Mizzou Arena.
Prediction KANSAS 76, MISSOURI 74
Date Opponent TV Time
Feb. 9 at Missouri ESPN 8 p.m.
Feb. 14 at Kansas State ABC 2:30 p.m.
Feb. 18 IOWA STATE Big 12 Network 7 p.m.
Feb. 21 NEBRASKA Big 12 Network 3 p.m.
Feb. 23 at Oklahoma ESPN 8 p.m.
Mar. 1 MISSOURI CBS 1 p.m.
Mar. 4 at Texas Tech ESPN2 8:30 p.m.
(
4
1