8
KANSAN.COM
SPORTS
basketball gameday
23-4 (11-3) KANSAS JAYHAWKS
vs.
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
AT A GLANCE
The Jayhawks hit a lull in the middle of January, losing three games during a five-game stretch. The lull set them back to fourth in the Big 12 at the time, with the chances of the 12th straight conference title looking bleak. Since then, Kansas has won seven in a row and now has a two-game lead in the Big 12. Once again, the Jayhawks look like the best team in the nation.
BAYLOR BEARS 20-7 (9-5)
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk is coming off one of his better performances in conference play. The sophomore wing hit 3-of-4 three-pointers to provide a spark off the bench against Kansas State. Heading into the instate matchup, Mykhailiuk had hit four of his last 21 three-pointers, but he now may be finding his groove once again.
+
PLAYER TO WATCH
Can Kansas maintain focus down the stretch?
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuksophomore, guard
QUESTION MARK
The Jayhawks are playing their best basketball at just the right time. Kansas has a two-game lead with four games left to play and two of those games at home. With that kind of lead, it could be easy for a team to get complacent and overlook an opponent, particularly a team Kansas beat by 28 in the first meeting, such as Baylor.
2 - Kansas has lost just twice in the last 13 meetings against Baylor, winning each of the last six.
2 - The Jayhawks have scored 100-plus points twice in Big 12 play, including a 102-74 win over the Bears in the last meeting.
The Jayhawks come out of the gate strong against the Bears. In the last meeting, Kansas jumped out to a 24-4 lead over Baylor and never looked back. After the game, Baylor coach Scott Drew said there was no question who the best team in nation was at the time. With that game in many players' heads, an early lead could potentially demoralize them even at home.
BY THE NUMBERS
2 - Kansas holds a two-game lead in the Big 12 with four games left to play this season.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF...
KANSAS
PROJECTED STARTERS
Frank Mason III,junior,guard
After a lull in January, it appears Frank Mason III is back to his usual self. During Kansas' seven-game win streak, Mason has scored in double figures in six contests. Additionally, Mason has scored 14 or more points in the last four games, and during that span he has 16 assists and four turnovers.
Devorite* Graham, sophomore, guard
Another key factor in the Jayhawks' seven-game winning streak is the play of Devonte' Graham. Graham scored just six points against Kansas State, snapping a six-game streak of reaching double figures that included a 27-point performance against Oklahoma. Still, all of Graham's six points against the Wildcats came in the last two minutes of the game, including the basket that Kansas coach Bill Self called the biggest of the game.
Wayne Selden Jr., junior, guard
SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
Despite his recent struggles, Wayne Selden Jr. is still second on the team in scoring with 14.1 points per contest. Since his .33-point performance against Kentucky, Selden has reached double figures twice. He's failed to make more than one three-pointer in five of the last six games but is shooting 43 percent on the year.
Perry Ellis, senior, power forward
Perry Ellis may be less than 100 percent after getting 12 stitches in the middle of the Kansas State game when he sustained a gash during play in the second half. Ellis is the team's leading scorer with 16.6 points per game. If the injury bothers Ellis at all, other players may have to pick up the scoring.
Landen Lucas, junior, forward
After shuffling the starting five spot for much of the season, Landen Lucas has taken the job and ran away with it. Lucas has started the last nine games for Kansas, and led the team in rebounding seven times. He has hauled in double-digit boards in three of the last four contests. Lucas' recent play has earned him a half-star increase in our grading scale.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Lester Medford, senior, guard
Standing only 5-foot-10., Medford is one of the shortest players in the Big 12, but he doesn't lack talent. The point guard has posted 11 games with eight or more assists and, before the game against Texas, he'd posted 15 assists to just two turnovers in his last two outings.
AlFreeman, sophomore, guard
Freeman struggled in the first meeting against the Jayhawks, posting just six points on 2-0f-10 shooting. He's been solid since that time, but seems to be one of the more inconsistent players on the team. He's had games where he's led the team in scoring and minutes, but also where he's racked up either more turnovers or more fouls than points.
Ishmail Wainright, junior, guard
Wainright isn't much of an offensive threat inside the perimeter, but he has the ability to step out and knock in a shot from long range, where he's shot 55 percent in his last nine games. The junior has racked up 11 assists in his last two games, which is just the second time he's done that in the last two years.
His last name may be Prince, but he's a king when it comes to racking up points in league play. Prince has scored in double-figures in all but two games of Big 12 play, and has hit at least 15 points in a game against seven of a possible nine opponents. This year, he's improved his ability to get to the line, and he's been shooting a better percentage there too. He was a perfect 12-of-12 on free throws in the last game against Kansas.
Taurean Prince, senior forward
Rico Gathers, senior, forward
Gathers is dealing with the flu, but he's still one of the best rebounds in the Big 12 — and probably the nation. This year, he's had games with 21, 18, 17 and 16 rebounds, and has recorded at least 13 rebounds in a game on eight different occasions. However, in eight career meetings with the Jayhawks, Gathers has just one double-double.
AT A GLANCE
Baylor comes into this game off a dominant win against Texas that was nowhere as close as the score indicated. And considering they won their last game on the road by 14 against a top 25 opponent, that really says a lot. After a stretch when they lost three out of four games, the Bears seem to have regained their mojo. However, the Bears have not beaten the Jayhawks in their last six meetings.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Johnathan Motley sophomore, forward
Motley is on fire coming into this game, shooting 75 percent from the field in his last three games. In the team's last two games, against two ranked opponents, he's scored 24 and 27 points, shooting a ridiculous 92.3 percent from the field against the Texas Longhorns.
Beat writer predictions:
Against Texas, Gathers came off the bench because of flulike symptoms. He's missed two of his last four games entirely, but should be closer to 100 percent after a few more days. The question remains how close will he be to 100 percent. Kansas is playing some of its best basketball of the season, so for Baylor to pull the upset the team will need all hands on deck.
How healthy is Rico Gathers?
Scott Chasen | @SChasenKU: Kansas, 81-79
Shane Jackson | @jacksonshaneg: Kansas, 79-68
Evan Riggs | @EvanRiggsUDK: Kansas, 74-69
25 - The Bears have 25 losses against the Jayhawks alltime. Kansas leads the series 25-4 dating back to 1951.
QUESTION MARK
25—Rico Gathers has played in 25 of a possible 27 games this year, after missing two of the last four contests with the flu.
25 — The Bears have been ranked in the top 25 in both the Coaches Poll and AP Poll for each of the last six weeks.
BY THE NUMBERS
BIG JAY WILL CRY IF...
The supporting cast stays hot for Baylor. With each team having their best big man banged up, it will be crucial for each side to get contributions from all five starters in addition to a couple guys off the bench. Seven different Baylor players shot at least 50 percent from the field in the last game. They'll need similar production against Kansas.
4.