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sports
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, FEB.25, 2016
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Junior guard Frank Mason III drives to the basket in the first half against K-State. Mason had 16 points and five assists in the Jayhawks' 72-63 victory over the Wildcats.
Kansas one win away from achieving 12-straight
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
The Big 12 title runs through Lawrence.
Come Saturday morning, Kansas has a chance to defend that statement when hosting Texas Tech in Allen Fieldhouse. A win over the Red Raiders guarantees the Jayhawks at least a share of the conference regular season title, with two games left to play after Saturday.
If Kansas were to win on Saturday, it would be the 12th straight year that it has won at least a share of the Big 12 regular season title. After losing three games during a five-game stretch in January, the Jayhawks have now won eight games in a row and appear to be playing their best basketball at the right time.
"I certainly hope our
fans appreciate what these kids have done over the last month," Kansas coach Bill Self said in a postgame radio interview on Jayhawk IMG Sports Network.
Kansas' eight-game win streak is the second longest of the season, behind a 13-game streak from Nov. 23 to Jan. 9. During those eight games, seven have come against Big 12 opponents. The lone non-conference win came against Kentucky in Allen Fieldhouse as a part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
Furthermore, four of the conference wins during this streak have come on the road. The last three road wins have come against No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 16 Baylor in-state rival Kansas State in a hostile environment.
There are many reasons as to why Kansas has improved drastically the last few weeks. Arguably, one of
the most underrated factors has been having junior forward Landen Lucas in the starting rotation and playing a bulk of the minutes.
Lucas has started the last 10 games for Kansas at the five spot after Self lobbied the position between a few different guys for a majority of the season. In his 10 starts, Lucas has led the team in rebounding eight times. He's been the leading rebounder in nine of the last 11 games.
In his last game against Baylor, Lucas struggled for a majority of the game but wound up making plays when it mattered the most.
"Towards the end of the game I was trying to go after every rebound," Lucas said. "I think it kind of flipped to where we were getting more offensive rebounds towards the end of the game, which really helped us come back and win the game."
Another reason Kansas has improved recently has been the re-emergence of junior guard Frank Mason III. Mason led the team in scoring down in Waco with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Mason has led the team in scoring in the last two games, and has led the team in assists in three of the last four contests. During the eight-game win streak, Mason has scored in double-digits in all but one game and has recorded four or more assists five times.
"We can make a case where Wayne (Selden) has been our best player and certainly when Perry (Ellis) has been our best player," Self said. "But there is no one more valuable than Frank."
Unfortunately for Kansas,
Texas Tech is also entering
Saturday's contest playing
its best basketball. The Red
Raiders have won their last
five games, including three wins against ranked opponents.
Texas Tech has bested Iowa State, Baylor - on the road — and Oklahoma in
I certainly hope our fans appreciate what these kids have done over the last month."
Bill Self Kansas coach
the last few weeks. The Red Raiders are doing everything they can to make sure their resume is in good enough shape to earn an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament.
Fortunately for Kansas, winning in Allen Fieldhouse is no easy task no matter how
hot a team is coming in. The Jayhawks remain undefeated at home this season with a 14-0 record. Kansas has the longest active home winning streak in college basketball at 38 consecutive wins in Lawrence.
This means if the Jayhawks take care of business as they should come Saturday morning, then for the 12th consecutive year they will be crowned Big 12 champions.
With that much at stake,
it should come as no surprise
that even for an 11 a.m. tip,
16,300 fans will be on their feet in Allen Fieldhouse.
- Edited by Michael Portman
Hannah Edelman/KANSAN
Freshmen Nina Khmelnitckaia and Janet Koch talk with their coach after a match.
Tennis (6-0) posts new high-ranking
> SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
It has been a year of firsts for Kansas Athletics.
In the fall semester, the volleyball team received its highest all-time ranking, shattering numerous individual- and team-bests throughout the year. That run culminated in a Final Four appearance for the team.
However, moving off the hardwood, the tennis team is also starting to make some waves. The University announced Tuesday the Jayhawks are ranked 23 in the newest ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Poll, shattering their previous high of 33 since the polls went to a weekly format in 2000.
"We are excited about our progress so far this season," Kansas coach Todd Chapman said in the release. "It is great for the
Right now the Jayhawks sit at 6-0 on the season. Their last win came against the Colorado Buffaloes on Feb. 7. The team has not played since that time.
Since the New Year, Kansas has won 31 of a possible 34 points from opponents — taking unfinished matches into account — and has not dropped more than a single point in any one meet.
program that we are moving in the right direction."
Kansas will be in action again this friday against Wichita State in Lawrence. The team will complete the weekend with a matchup against New Mexico.
Kansas' next road trip won't be until March 12, as the team will hit the road to take on Tulane and Houston over the weekend.
From left to right: Senior forward Perv Ellis, sophomore guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and senior guard Evan Manning.
Missu Minear/KANSAN
KU tabs 2 seniors and 1 sophomore to Academic All-Big 12 First Team
SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
The University announced Wednesday that senior forward Perry Ellis, senior guard Evan Manning and sophomore guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk have all been named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team.
This is Ellis' second consecutive year with the honor, while Manning and Mykhailiuk are both first-time honorees.
According to the release, Kansas holds the most first-team members of any Big 12
To make the first-team, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.2 GPA, while the second-team selections must maintain a GPA between 3.00 and 3.19, while playing in at least 60 percent of the team's contests.
school, both this season and all-time.
Additionally, according to the release, seniors who "have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible," which is why Manning is able to receive the distinction, having played in
just under half of the team's games this year.
Mykhaliiuk has appeared in 25 games, and is averaging right around 13 minutes and 5.4 points per contest. He scored a career-high 18 points against Chaminade
This season, Ellis is averaging a team-high 16.4 points per game, knocking down better than 52 percent of his shots. He leads the team in rebounds and is among the top three players on the team in three-point percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds per game and minutes per game.
back in November during the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.
Manning has appeared in 11 games, scoring in three of them. For his career, he's shooting just under 38.9 percent from three, with 18 of his 22 career field goal attempts coming from behind the arc.
Next up: The Jayhawks will be in action this Saturday, looking to clinch at least a share of their 12th consecutive Big 12 Championship. Tip against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Allen Fieldhouse is slated for 11 a.m.
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