10
SPORTS
KANSAN.COM
7
basketball gameday
+
(4-2) KANSAS JAYHAWKS
vs.
SCOTT CHASEN @SChasenKU
It's not time to panic just yet, but the Jayhawks have been struggling as of late. And much of that seems to be due to the lack of energy the team is exhibiting on the court. The Jayhawks are the favorite to beat Texas, and should be expected to win, but with another lifeless performance, the game may be a little too close for comfort.
AT A GLANCE
TEXAS LONGHORNS (4-2)
After missing the last game with a knee injury, Greene should be crucial for the Jayhawks, who have not shot the ball well at all in their last two games. Greene can also use this game to establish himself as the first wing off the bench, as sophomore wing Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk has started to find more and more time on the floor.
QUESTION MARK
PLAYER TO WATCH
Which Kansas team shows up?
Brannen Greene junior, guard
Earlier this year the Jayhawks were blowing opponents away. The team was dominant and, quite frankly, looked like the No. 1 team in the nation. However, since the Oklahoma game, Kansas hasn't looked the part of the nation's best team. Kansas coach Bill Self has cited energy as a big reason as to why, but shooting has been problematic as well. And when shooting hasn't been the culprit, it's been turnover issues that have hurt the team.
27. 3 - The Jayhawks shot just 27.3 percent from three against Oklahoma State, hoisting up 22 attempts and making only six.
BY THE NUMBERS
60 - The Jayhawks have shot worse than 60 percent from the free throw line in two of their last three games.
16 — Frank Mason III has committed 16 turnovers in his last five games. He committed 16 turnovers total in his first 12 games this year.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF..
The team responds to its second loss in three games by reminding everyone who has won the Big 12 each of the last 11 years. Kansas fans should also look for the freshman to play a lot of minutes, as they continue to develop on the court. Recently, Carlton Bragg Jr. has looked solid, and, with a big lead, he could - and should - see a lot of time at the power forward spot.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Frank Mason III, junior, guard
Mason hasn't looked like himself in the last week. He's had some poor shooting performances, and just looks tired out on the court. However, he's still one of the Jayhawks' best players, and one of the top point guards in the Big 12. In the midst of the slump, Mason has scored in double figures in eight straight games, and minus the game against TCU, he's shooting over 50 percent from three in his last four.
Devonte' Graham, sophomore, guard
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
Like Mason, Graham comes into this game not playing his best basketball of the year. While he has scored double digits in back-to-back outings, he's committed as many turnovers in his last five games as he had the rest of the year, which is certainly a mark he'll want to see change.
Wayne Selden Jr., junior, guard
Wayne Selden Jr. has very quietly come back down to earth since the Oklahoma game. In the first part of the season, through the Oklahoma game, Selden had shot at least 50 percent from the field in nearly 90 percent of his games. Since that time, however, he's shot worse than 45 percent in every game and worse than 40 percent twice. He's also shooting just 6-of-21 from three in that stretch.
Perry Ellis, senior, power forward
In the Jayhawks' last game, Ellis moved ahead of Wilt Chamberlain in the Kausas all-time scoring list. However, it hasn't been all-good for Ellis. In his last two games, he's shooting just 7-of-19 from the field and 0-of-5 from three. After recording his first two double doubles of the year, he's scored at least 15 points in just one of his last three games.
TEXAS
Cheick Diallo, freshman, center
Diallo has the potential to be a very good player, and he has the potential to be the best big man on the team outside of Ellis, but right now, he's still learning through his mistakes. The mistakes on the floor — usually involving positioning on both offense and defense — are what's mainly holding him back, but they should hopefully start to fade as time goes on.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Isaiah Taylor,junior,guard
Isaiah Taylor is the focal point of this Texas team. The junior guard has started in all 77 games he has played in in a Longhorns uniform. Last year he earned All-Big 12 third team honors by leading the team in scoring with 13 points per contest. This year Taylor is making a case for first team honors, with a team leading 17.2 points per contest.
Javan Felix, senior, guard
It wasn't that long ago when Javan Felix was selected to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention by the coaches as a sophomore. But then Felix had a disappointing junior campaign, starting in just four games. As a senior, he has started in all but two games. Midway through his senior campaign, Felix is averaging 10.8 points per game.
Kendal Yancy was named the team's most improved player last season. After averaging 3.1 points per contest in 10 starts as a freshman, Yancy averaged 6.3 points per game in 18 starts (34 games) his sophomore season. He is a versatile guard who can play anywhere in the backcourt. He won't be a huge offensive threat through, as he has attempted just 28 shots on the year.
Connor Lammert, senior, forward
Connor Lammert is the only other Longhorn to have started in every contest this season. Lammert has shown to be durable as he has yet to miss a game in his four-year career. He is not a huge interior scoring threat as he averages just 6.1 points per contest. However, Lammert is second on the team in rebounding with six boards a game average.
Prince Ibeh, senior, Center
Standing 6-foot-10, Prince Ibeh is an established rim protector. Ibeh ranked eighth in program history in blocks through three seasons with 148. He has done his part this season to move up on that list, as he currently has 25 blocks on the year. He likely won't be much of a factor on the offensive end, but will make Kansas players think twice when attacking the rim on Saturday.
AT A GLANCE
Under first-year head coach Shaka Smart, the expectations for Texas weren't all too high. Very few expect the Longhorns to be in the first tier of teams competing for a conference championship. However, it is reasonable to expect Texas to be the best of the next tier of teams. The Longhorns currently post a 4-2 record in conference play with both losses coming on the road.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Demarcus Holland senior,guard
Texas' three time Most Outstanding Defensive Player will be a key factor on Saturday. Though it is likely he will be coming off the bench, Holland will be a primary defensive option for the Longhorns. In 16 games this season, Holland is averaging 17.1 minutes per game. On Saturday, he will likely be tabbed with the job of keeping a slumping Wayne Selden Jr. quiet.
QUESTION MARK
Can Taylor take over the game?
An upset over Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse seems farfetched. Currently, the Jayhawks are in a rut, coming off a disappointing road loss against Oklahoma State. Kansas will be desperate for a bounce-back victory with Iowa State and Kentucky around the corner. If Kansas' junior guard Frank Mason III continues to look sluggish, Taylor may be able to exploit him on Saturday. Even with that, the chance of upset are slim but the Longhorns could make it much closer than expected.
8 - Isaiah Taylor has led the team in scoring eight times. He has had scored 20 or more points in four games this season.
50 - Texas has held opposing teams under 50 percent shooting in three of its last four games.
BY THE NUMBERS
74. 8 - The Longhorns average 74.8 points per game but have actually scored less than 70 five times.
BIG JAY WILL CRY IF...
Taylor can take advantage of a hurt Mason and take over on Saturday. Taylor won't shoot a ton of threes as he has just 32 attempts on the year, so if he is going to go for 20-plus he will have to attack and create off the dribble. The three-ball typically helps with an upset but as West Virginia and Oklahoma State have exploited, Kansas is very susceptible to get beat off the dribble.
prediction: Kansas, 85-74
+