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KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, JAN. 28, 2016
Home sweet home: Kansas hosts Kentucky in battle of college basketball's top programs
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
There's no place like home.
Kansas (16-4, 5-3) found that out the hard way after dropping its third consecutive road game in an 85-72 loss to Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. With the loss, the Jayhawks fell to fourth in the Big 12 standings, and their chances at a 12th straight conference title took somewhat of a hit.
But come Saturday, all the buzz about Oklahoma sitting in the driver's seat for this year's conference race grows silent. At least for a day. All 10 teams will have a buffer this weekend from the Big 12 gauntlet, as the Big 12/SEC Challenge takes all the headlines.
For the Jayhawks, that buffer does not mean a tune-up to fix some of their recent struggles. Instead, the reigning Big 12 champions get arguably the toughest matchup of the Challenge. Kansas will host Kentucky (16-4, 6-2) in the battle of two historic basketball programs in the "mecca of college basketball" — Allen Fieldhouse.
Although the Jayhawks are slumping as of late, a
home meeting against a blue blood program may be exactly what this team needs to get back on track. It's no secret that Kansas plays better at home; the team's 34-game winning streak would more than justify that assertion.
But there's more to it.
The Jayhawks have lost their last three road games, all by double digits. That's the first time that has happened for Kansas since the 1905-06 team that was directed by James Naismith, the only coach in Kansas history to post a losing record, although that's perhaps forgivable considering he literally invented the sport itself.
Road woes have plagued Kansas since the core of the team — senior forward Perry Ellis and junior guards Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden Jr. — have been on campus.
From 2007 to 2013, Kansas was 45-13 on the road in Big 12 play but from 2014-present, Kansas is just 10-12.
Another aspect of Saturday's game that the core has specifically experienced is that it comes as a much-anticipated rematch from last
year's demoralizing loss. In just the second game of the season, the Wildcats slaughtered the Jayhawks by 32 in the Champions Classic.
Though most of the players on that Kentucky team have since gone to the NBA, the game still has a lingering effect on the Kansas players. Most players admitted before this year's Champions Classic that they did not want a repeat of last year.
However, both teams look drastically different from their last matchup. Last year, Kentucky stormed through the regular season unscathed to a No.1 overall ranking in the NCAA Tournament. This year the Wildcats have already suffered four losses, including two in conference play. They are averaging 77.4 points per game, which ranks them 94th in the nation.
Kentucky has just two players averaging double digits, led by freshman guard Jamal Murray, who is scoring 17.8 points per contest. Sophomore guard Tyler Ulis is averaging 15.3 points and six assists per game, and will be a focal
point for Kansas defensively.
Offensively, Kansas is much more balanced, with four players averaging double digits through the first 20 games of the season. Ellis is the go-to player for the team, averaging 16.7 points per game. He has scored 49 points combined in his last two games.
But after that, the Jayhawks have several different players that put the ball through the hoop. Selden is averaging 14.6 points per game and shooting 47 percent from three-point range. As a team, the Jayhawks are shooting 43 percent from the long range, good for fifth in the nation.
In fact, part of the reason Kansas collapsed in the second half of the Iowa State game was due to the inability to hit the threeball. The Jayhawks were 0-of-6 from beyond the arc in the second half after hitting 5-of-11 in the first half. It's not a coincidence that, despite the loss, they led by seven going into the break.
The Jayhawks have a tendency to shoot much better from downtown when shooting in familiar territory, which allows
them to look more like the team that once was ranked No. 1 in all of college basketball. That came after the Jayhawks defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in Allen Fieldhouse in a triple overtime classic.
And come Saturday, Kansas fans may be in store for yet another epic college basketball game. And Allen Fieldhouse, as usual, will be rocking.
CAROLINE FISS/Kansar
Senior forward Perry Ellis shoots against Harvard.
CAROLINE FISS/Kansan
Looking at the Big 12 Player of the Year candidates
MIKE MAICKE It's late January and conference play is well underway. The Big 12 has seen countless upsets and fantastic individual performances from players on a wide variety of teams. However, in a conference with unprecedented parity and top talent, a few players have risen above the rest.
Here is your update on potential Big 12 Player of the Year candidates
Photos courtesy of the Associated Press
Buddy Hield
Guard | Oklahoma
Buddy Hield has certainly become a household name. The senior guard has been on an absolute tear in Big 12 play this season, highlighted by a 46-point outing in a triple overtime loss to the Kansas Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse.
With Hield, the stats are outstanding. He is averaging a conference leading 25.7 points per game, adding a more than respectable 5.8 rebounds per game, especially considering he plays the two spot for Oklahoma.
Hield is the undisputed leader of the Oklahoma Sooners and carries himself as professionally as anyone in the country. His constant "we got this" demeanor, even in late game situations, seems to be contagious and reassuring to the rest of his team. He appears to never get rattled, and will run back on defense rather than complain to officials about a call.
But what really stands out about Buddy Hield are the intangibles.
Hield is a professional in every sense of the word. Not only is he the best player in the Big 12 conference, but you'd also be hard pressed to find a better one in the entire country.
Perry Ellis Forward | Kansas
Perry Ellis has been the quiet leader of the Jayhawks team for the last three years. His 16.3 points per game does not necessarily blow anyone away, but what is very impressive is Ellis' efficiency. The senior forward is shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 46.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Ellis is also a very underrated defender for the Jayhawks. He is quick enough to close out on stretch fours, yet still strong enough to hold his own in the post against some of the biggest forwards in the league. But the best part about Ellis' defense is that he guards and contests without fouling.
Ellis plays nearly 30 minutes per game and is averaging only 1.6 personal fouls per contest. That is so impressive considering that Ellis typically defends close to the basket and collegiate referees allow very little contact from defenders in the paint.
Jawun Evans
Guard | Oklahoma State
Jawun Evans is the best player in the Big 12 that you've never heard of. Evans is only a freshman on a very bad Oklahoma State team, however, his play so far in conference deserves recognition.
Evans is averaging 5.7 assists in conference play at this point, which might sound unimpressive, but let me ask you: Do you understand just how difficult it is to get an assist on this Oklahoma State team? The Cowboys are ninth in the Big 12 in scoring averaging 71.1 points per game. Aside from Evans, there is only one other player on Oklahoma State averaging double digit scoring at 11.5 points per game.
Evans scored 42 points with 7 rebounds and 6 assists against in state rival Oklahoma and then went off for 22 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists in a victory against Kansas.
What really stands out about Evans is his ability to rise to the occasion. So far in Big 12 play the freshman guard has had his best performances against the highest competition.
He will most likely not be named Big 12 player of the year this year, but the future is very bright and promising for Jawun Evans.
Georges Niang Forward | Iowa State
Senior Georges Niang has made a significant impact for the Cyclones since his freshman year. He's one of the best scorers in the nation, and he has been one of the best — at least in league play — for quite some time.
Niang has averaged double-digit points per game all four years and is currently boasting a career best 6.4 rebounds per game. But this year, he's at another level.
In the 2015-16 season, Niang is currently putting up an impressive 19.3 points per contest and a career high 84 percent free throw percentage.
The stats are consistent and impressive, but what's not to be overlooked is that he is having his best year even after a coaching change at Iowa State.
Niang has been an NBA prospect for the last two years, and, with a new coach and a new system coming in, it would have been easy for the senior to mentally check out and coast to the draft.
That's not what Niang has done, and he's keeping Iowa State near the top of a very competitive conference.
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