THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19.2013
PAGE 11
KANSAS TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
The Jayhawks had a full week to prepare for lona after defeating Duke in the third installment of the Champions Classic. Coach Bill Self said a lot of the emphasis in practice has been on defending. With lona's smaller lineup, the Kansas big will be forced to guard on the perimeter a little more than normal. With the Jayhawks moving up to No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, the target on their back is only getting bigger.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Joel Embiid
Embid saw his minutes in the Duke game nearly double from what he played in the season opener
Embiid
against Louisiana Monroe. Without Jeff Withey to patrol the paint this year, Emboid is expected to make up for his loss as he continues to develop. Look for him to get more involved on both sides of the floor.
QUESTION MARK
Will the Jayhawks be able to guard against a smaller lineup?
Coach Bill Self has called out Kansas' ability to guard after each game this season and with lona's ability to spread the ball around the Jayhawks will have to keep up on defense. When the Jayhawks have gotten beat in this situation it's usually led to a foul call. Giving the opponent a chance to score free points can catch up with the Jayhawks.
BY THE NUMBERS
64 Kansas has 64 consecutive home victories against non-conference teams
1988 Year Kansas last played Iona
17. 5 Jayhawks Assists per game
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF..
Kansas can hold lona to 65 points or less. Iona has scored more than 70 points against Cleveland State and Wofford while the Jayhawks gave up 63 points to ULM in the season opener. Kansas should take this one easily, but the Jayhawks' defense will be worth watching.
Edited by Heather Nelson
KANSAS VS. IONA COLLEGE 7 P.M., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, LAWRENCE
The Jayhawks take on the Gaels at home with hopes of continued improvements
Tharpe
KANSAS
2-0, (0-0)
STARTERS
Naadir Tharpe, Guard
There's no question having Tharpe back in the lineup provides more options for coach Bill Self. In the Champions Classic last week, we saw Tharpe and his backup, Frank Mason, on the court at the same time. Tharpe's leadership and communication skills are the key to the Kansas offense as most of his production comes without putting up too many points.
Selden
★★★☆☆
Wiggins
Ellis
Williams
It was Selden's no-look bounce pass to Perry Ellis for an easy slam midway through the second half against Duke that turned the momentum forever in favor of the Jayhawks. Selden made his presence felt in the Champions Classic, and it's clear he's still far from playing a complete game. It appears he's adjusting to the college game at a fine rate.
Wayne Selden Jr., Guard
Black
IONA COLLEGE
1-1, (0-0)
STARTERS
Perry Ellis. Forward
Perry Ellis may have been the key in defeating Duke, but it was Wiggins who wrapped up the victory. After taking an NBA-esque step-back jumper, Wiggins threw down a fast-break dunk to put the lead out of reach. We still haven't seen the best of Wiggins, but the flashes are coming more frequently.
Andrew Wiggins. Guard
When Black is on the floor two things are noticeable: his ability to assert himself down low and his knack for picking up fouls. It's the latter that's affected his playing time. There isn't too much to be concerned with, Black will likely learn to stay out of foul trouble along with the rest of the team as they adjust to the new rules.
It was supposed to be Andrew Wiggins who nullified the freshman superstar counterpart on Duke. Instead it was Ellis who virtually matched Jabari Parker point for point and rebound for rebound. Ellis seems to improve greatly from each game and hasn't matched up with anyone who can come close to stopping him in the paint.
Tarik Black, Forward
A versatile player, the six-foot-seven sophomore transfer can play every position on the floor. Williams scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Wofford on Saturday. He is a threat from deep and has attempted 15 three-point shots in two games this year; he's made seven of them.
★★★☆☆
Isaiah Williams, Guard
A.J. English, Guard
The shooting guard has struggled in the two games so far this season averaging just 5.5 points per game. Known as an effective shooter from both mid-range and beyond the arc, English hasn't been effective shooting the ball yet this season. He's gone 22 percent from the field and hit just one of his 10 three-point attempts.
Armand
★☆☆☆
Sean Armand, Guard
Armand leads the team in scoring: he averages 18.5 points a game. The senior delivered an impressive performance against Wofford with 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Armand averaged almost 17 points a game his junior season and is a career 44-percent shooter.
Tre Bowman, Guard
A Penn State transfer, Bowman has averaged nearly 10 points per game on 12 total field goal attempts. He came off the bench in the team's opener against Cleveland State and contributed 14 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Bowman
David Laury, Forward
The only forward starting against Wofford, Laury will have the responsibility to match up with Tark Black and Joel Embid throughout the night. Averaging a double-double last season, he is an all-around player has good ball-handling skills and the ability to shoot from long-range. Laurys second on the team in scoring; he averages 17 points per game.
Laury
★★★☆☆
Bill Self reacts to a play during the game against Duke in Chicago. Kansas went on to win the game and gained a No. 2 ranking on the AP poll.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Prediction:
Kansas 92, Iona 68
IONA COLLEGE TIPOFF AT A GLANCE
With back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, the lona Gaets are certainly capable of making this a competitive game. The Gaets won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last season and were picked to finish second in the conference this year. Iona plays at a quick pace like Duke and has a lot of players that can shoot from long range.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sean Armand
Armand
Armand is ranked first in the MAAC in three-point
field goals made last year and third in three-point percentage. He will need to knock down a bunch tonight for the Gaels to keep the game manageable. The senior guard has excelled in his career and has taken on a leadership role this year.
QUESTION MARK
How will Kansas attack the Iona zone defense?
The Jayhawks have a serious height advantage over the Tigers at all positions. Fort Hays State may have to rely on some bench players depending on who Kansas has on the floor. At 6-foot-7, Brunson is the tallest player in the starting lineup for the Tigers.
39 Three-point field goal percentage in win over Wofford
BY THE NUMBERS
27 Three-point field goal percentage in loss to Cleveland State
20-14 lona record last season
BABY JAY WILL WEEP IF..
Kansas gets into foul trouble again. The Jayhawks have totaled 51 fouls in their last two games while the Gaels have just 32. Against Duke, Tarik Black, Naadir Tharpe and Andrew Wiggins were all in foul trouble throughout the contest. Kansas needs to limit the number of times the Gaels visit the free throw line, where they have shot a respectable 77 percent.
Edited by Heather Nelson
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