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SPORTS
KANSAN.COM
basketball gameday
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KANSAS JAYHAWKS 17-4 (5-3) vs. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS 13-8 (2-6)
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
AT A GLANCE
Kansas is coming off one of its biggest wins of the season with a 90-84 overtime victory over Kentucky in the battle of blue bloods. Before Saturday night, the Jayhawks had dropped three of their last five games and were struggling in every facet of the game. But a win against Kentucky on Saturday, paired with a home meeting against an in-state rival, may be exactly what this team needs to get back on track
PLAYER TO WATCH
Carlton Bragg, Jr. freshman, forward
Fans have to wonder what else freshman forward Carlton Bragg Jr. has to do to earn more playing time. On Saturday he logged 11 minutes of action and was 3-of-5 from the floor, scoring six points. He was a big part of the Jayhawks staying in the game in the first half against the Wildeats with Ellis on the bench in foul trouble. Only time will tell if his play on Saturday has earned him more playing time.
QUESTION MARK
Is Selden this team's leader?
During an interview on College GameDay, senior forward Perry Ellis admitted that Wayne Selden Jr. is the player on this team that would get in their face when things were not going well. On Saturday night, Selden was in the face of his teammates during times of struggles multiple times. In addition, he stepped up when the team needed him the most. It appears Selden may be the face leading the charge in the Jayhawks' quest for their 12-consecutive conference title.
BY THE NUMBERS
19 - Perry Ellis is averaging 19 points per game during conference play, including 49 points in his last two Big 12 games.
57 - Wayne Selden Jr. became the 57th Kansas player to score at least 1,000 points in his collegiate career.
84 - The Jayhawks are averaging 84 points per game and have scored at least 80 points in 10 of their 21 games this season.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF.
If the Jayhawks can come out strong against an inferior Wildcats team in a highly-touted rivalry matchup. Kansas has dropped its last two games on the road against Kansas State, causing a court storming both times. Kansas fans want nothing more than to bury their in-state rival, especially in the confines of Allen Fieldhouse.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Frank Mason III, junior, guard
Frank Mason III has been the definition of consistency for the Jayhawks this season. He has scored in double-digits in all but one game this year. Even when he appears to struggle, he finds a way to get his points. On Saturday he scored 13 points on 3-of-11 shooting including 2-of-4 from long range. Kansas fans are hoping for a more efficient Mason come Wednesday night against Kansas State.
Devonte' Graham, sophomore, guard
Devonte' Graham is fourth on the team in scoring, with 10.5 points per game. Against Kentucky he scored 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-5 from downtown. The sophomore guard has started in all but one game and continues to improve every single game. He has scored in double figures in four of his last five games, and hopes to continue that trend this week against the Wildcats.
Wayne Selden Jr., junior, guard
Wayne Selden Jr. is coming off arguably his best game of his Kansas career. The junior guard scored a career-high 33 points on 12-of-20 shooting, leading Kansas past Kentucky 90-84. Jayhawk fans are hoping that Saturday's performance is a sign of things to come and he has finally broken out his slump.
Perry Ellis, senior, power forward
The senior forward was ineffective against Kentucky on Saturday. After scoring 49 combined points in his previous two games, he scored just 10 points against the Wildcats. He dealt with foul trouble for much of the first half, but Kentucky did a good job limiting him for the course of the game. It took him nearly 28 minutes to even attempt a second shot. Kansas will need its go-to senior in its in-state matchup.
Landen Lucas, junior, forward
Landen Lucas has started in the last three games for the Jayhawks at the starting center position. However, he saw his minutes dip in his most recent game. In the 45-minute contest against Kentucky, Lucas logged 13 minutes of action. He recorded at least 21 minutes in in his previous two starts, so it is possible that Kansas coach Bill Self elects to start someone other than Lucas on Wednesday.
KANSAS STATE
PROJECTED STARTERS
Carlbe Ervin II, junior, guard
The Wildcats' normal starter, Kamau Stokes, a very talented freshman, left their last game with a non-contact knee injury and will have an MRI on Monday. It seems likely Stokes will miss Wednesday's game, and Ervin is likely to get the start in his place. Ervin hasn't put up impressive numbers, but he's been a solid backup point guard all year. But Allen Fieldhouse is a tough place to be inserted into the starting lineup.
Without his normal starting backcourt mate, there will be a lot of pressure on Edwards to perform at a high level. Even with Stokes playing, Edwards' production has been crucial for the Wildcats this season. They are just 1-4 when he scores in single-digits. He's been a very important part of the Wildcats 13-8 record, averaging 11.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and three assists per game.
Justin Edwards, senior, guard
Wesley Iwundu, junior, forward
Iwundu has been the Wildcats' best player so far this season, averaging 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and three assists per game. But he's shooting just 12.5 percent from beyond the are this year, which is almost 20 percent worse than last year. Iwundu has failed to score in double figures in his four games against the Jayhawks, and that will have to change if the Wildcats hope to pull off the upset.
+1
EVAN RIGGS @EvanRiggsUDK
Dean Wade, freshman, forward
Wade, who was a three-star prospect coming out of Saint John, Kansas, has been a pleasant surprise for the Wildcats this year. He's averaging 10.1 points per game, but he's failed to score in double figures in four out of five games. He will have a big challenge on defense Wednesday when he's matched up with Ellis.
Stephen Hurt, senior, forward
At 6'11" Hurt is not the defensive enforcer his size would indicate, as he's only averaging 0.3 blocks per game. He's not asked to be a scorer, but the Wildcats are an impressive 6-1 when he scores in double figures this season. Nothing Hunt does stands out on the stat sheet, but he's a solid all-around play that's capable of having a big night at any time.
★★★☆☆
AT A GLANCE
At 13-8, the Wildcats have been a pleasant surprise this season. Three of their top five scorers are just freshmen, so there's reason for optimism in Manhattan. The Wildcats haven't won in Lawrence in 10 years, and this doesn't appear to be the year that streak is going to end.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Barry Brown freshman, guard
If Stokes doesn't play, Brown will be the only Kansas State player on the court that shoots better than 30 percent from beyond the arc this season at 34 percent. He's scored 15 or more points seven times but also has been held to four or fewer points 10 times this season. For the Wildcats to have any hope of pulling off the upset, Brown must provide some scoring punch from beyond the arc.
QUESTION MARK
There's no quicker way to get blown out in Allen Fieldhouse than to turn the ball over. The Wildcats have the second most turnovers in the Big 12 since the beginning of conference play. Ervin is averaging less than one turnover per game, but only played 13.4 minutes per game. The Wildcats will need him to maintain his ball security while playing a much bigger role Wednesday.
Can the Wildcats limit turnovers?
28. 6 - The Wildcats' three point percentage, which ranks 344th out of 351 Division I teams.
0 - The amount of games the Wildcats have won when they give up at least 80 points.
BY THE NUMBERS
102 - The Wildcats rank second in the Big 12 with 102 offensive rebounds since starting conference play.
BIG JAY WILL CRY IF...
The Wildcats pound the Jayhawks on the offensive glass. They are one of the worst shooting teams in the nation, but if they are successful on the offensive glass, they may be able to hang around and put scoreboard on the Jayhawks. If the Jayhawks don't allow offensive rebounds, the Wildcats will have a tough time keeping it close.
Beat Writer Predictions
Scott Chasen | @SChasenKU — Kansas, 80-65
Shane Jackson | @jacksonshane3 — Kansas, 85-66
Evan Riggs | @EvanRiggsUDK — Kansas, 82-67
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