14
SPORTS
KANSAN.COM
basketball gameday
NCAA
tournament
edition
KANSAS JAYHAWKS (1 SEED) VS. MARYLAND TERRAPINS (4 SEED)
EVAN RIGGS
@EvanRiggsUDK
> SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
AT A GLANCE
AT A GLANCE
The Jayhawks have won 16 games in a row and are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013. Advancing further won't be easy, as Maryland is one of the most talented teams in the country. Graham and Mason have been tested all season against elite guards, and they will need to pass one more test against Melo Trimble if the Jayhawks are going to advance to the Elite Eight.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Carlton Bragg Jr. freshman, forward
Maryland has a lot of size and length, which makes them difficult to score on around the basket. However, they are also very vulnerable to giving up offensive rebounds. Bragg is the perfect combination to go against Maryland, as he's proven all year he's a very capable shooter, and he also has an offensive rebound rate of 13.1 percent, which is second on the team behind Lucas.
QUESTION MARK
Question mark: Can KU defend the pick and roll?
If KU has shown one weakness this year, it's been defense against quality guards in the pick and roll. Melo Trimble and Diamond Stone are capable of being a very good pick and roll duo. If the Jayhawks can limit Trimble's play making, they should be just fine.
BY THE NUMBERS
5 - Bill Self is 5-2 in the Sweet 16 at Kansas.
16 - The Jayhawks are 16-0 when Selden scores at least 13 points.
2012 A win Thursday would give the Jayhawks their first Elite Eight birth since 2012.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF...
The Jayhawks continue to play with the same intensity as they did in the second round. Even though Maryland is a very talented team, there's no doubt that the Jayhawks are one of the best, if not the best team, in the tournament. If they continue to play with more energy and intensity than their opponents, they will be very difficult to beat.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Frank Mason III,junior,guard
Mason has struggled with his shot in the NCAA Tournament, shooting just 3-of-15 in the Jayhawks' first two tournament games. He also had four turnovers against UConn, which is his most in the last three weeks. Even when he isn't putting up his usual numbers, Mason is still crucial in creating pace and perimeter defense.
Devonte' Graham, sophomore, guard
After not scoring in the first round, Graham had 13 points in the Jayhawks' second round win. He also hit a clutch shot down the stretch to ice the game for Kansas, which is what he's been doing for the last five weeks. He continues to play with a very loud confidence and swagger, showing why he's the Jayhawks' emotional and vocal leader.
It seems Selden has left his struggles in the NCAA Tournament behind him. Before this year, he scored just 10 total points in four tournament games. This year, he averaged 18 points per game on 52 percent shooting and had one of the best dunks of the tournament against UConn.
Wayne Selden Jr., junior, guard
Perry Ellis, senior, forward
Jayhawk fans everywhere held their breath when Ellis left the game early on Saturday in noticeable discomfort after bumping his knee. But he only sat out a couple of minutes, and once he re-entered, he was as good as ever. He scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds on 75 percent shooting. That type of outing has become a normal game for Ellis.
Landen Lucas, junior, forward
The transformation of Landen Lucas continued in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He did a little bit of everything for Kansas last game with six points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal. There's no question that his improvement over the last five weeks has taken the Jayhawks to another level.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Melo Trimble, sophomore, guard
There is a reason that Melo Trimble is viewed as one of the better guards in the nation. Trimble has a knack for scoring as he has scored in double figures in the last 10 games and 16 of the last 17 contests. Whether it is Devonte' Graham or Frank Mason III, the Jayhawks' backcourt will have their hands full defensively with him.
Rasheed Sulaimon, senior, guard
Rasheed Sulaimon is the lone Maryland player who has played Kansas in his career. The former Duke Blue Devil scored 13 points in the loss in the Champions Classic in 2014. This year he is averaging 11.1 points per game with the Terrapins. He may fly under the radar in terms of numbers, but he is considered the leader of this team.
Jake Layman, senior, guard
If it's not Sulaiman then Jake Layman is the team's biggest three-point threat. He is shooting 41 percent from long range this season. The senior guard averages 11.7 points per contest but has the ability to take over a game. In the first round the Terrapins relied on his 27-point performance to move onto the Round of 32.
Robert Carter,junior,forward
It has not been the best start to the NCAA tournament for Robert Carter. The junior forward is averaging 12.4 points and seven rebounds per contest but posted consecutive seven-point performances last weekend. Prior to the big dance, Carter has scored at least 13 points in five of his last six games.
Diamond Stone is one of the more highly-touted freshmen in the game and for good reason. The 6-foot-11 rookie is averaging 12.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He did not have the best postseason debut but in the round of 32 looked much better scoring 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
Diamond Stone, freshman, forward
Beat writer predictions:
Maryland is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003. Though the Terrapins haven't quite lived up to preseason hype for much of the season, their roster is loaded with elite talent and very capable of making a deep run in the tournament. Standing in their way is the No.1 team in the nation and winners of their last 16 games.
Scott Chasen | @SChasenKU: Kansas, 70-76
Shane Jackson | @jacksonshaneg: Kansas, 75-70
Evan Riggs | @EvanRiggsUDK: Kansas, 80-73
PLAYER TO WATCH
Maryland doesn't have much of a bench with no player outside its starting five averaging more than 19 minutes per game. Nickens is more than likely the first guy off the bench come Thursday and has the ability to provide an offensive spark, if needed. Eight times this season he has scored double digits, including 14 points in the opening round victory over South Dakota State.
Jake Nickens sophomore, guard
Can Stone outplay the veteran Lucas?
Arguably the most important matchup of the game will be between freshman center Diamond Stone and junior Landen Lucas. As long as both can stay on the floor, this individual matchup may be the most fun to watch. Stone may have very little tournament experience but if he can impact the game like he did against Hawaii, Maryland may be able upset Kansas.
16 - This is Maryland's first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2003. The Terrapins lost to the Michigan State Spartans in the Sweet 16 that year.
5-Maryland has five players averaging double figures in scoring. Melo Trimble leads all scorers with 14.8 points per contest.
QUESTIONMARK
23 - Melo Trimble has been to the line 23 times in two games in the NCAA Tournament. He is 22-of-23 at the line in the big dance.
BY THE NUMBERS
BIG JAY WILL CRY IF.
Melo Trimble or Diamond Stone are able to take over the game. Devonte' Graham has shown the ability to lock down an elite guard in Buddy Hield but he has never seen Trimble. Landen Lucas is certainly big enough to handle Stone, but if he deals with any foul trouble the Jayhawks may be in trouble. If either one of these two players are the best player in the game, Kansas could be in trouble.
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