KANSAN.COM
SPORTS
15
BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
(5-1) KANSAS JAYHAWKS VS. HARVARD CRIMSON (2-4)
SHANE JACKSON
@jacksonshane3
AT A GLANCE
Kansas has looked phenomenal through the early part of the season. The Jayhawks are 5-1 and averaging 93.5 points per game. Harvard comes in with a record of 2-4 on the year and averaging 61.8 points per contest. Kansas should have no problem handling its Ivy League nonconference opponent Saturday.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Cheick Diallo freshman,center
Diallo did not disappoint in his highly-anticipated debut. In his first collegiate action, the freshman forward scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. He also blocked three shots in 16 minutes played. His debut featured a few thunderous dunks that displayed some of his potential. If Diallo can be a factor as a freshman, Kansas is going to be an imposing challenge for any team in the country.
QUESTION MARK
How will Self manage his front court?
With Diallo now in action, the Jayhawks have six posts that will fight for minutes this season. Self hasn't been known for spreading out his minutes between his big men. In 2008, Kansas' fourth best big man Cole Aldrich averaged around eight minutes a game. Junior Landen Lucas was out Tuesday, but the fifth big man in terms of minutes in the blowout was freshman Carlton Bragg Jr.
BY THE NUMBERS
3.8
Blocks per game for Kansas thus far. Look for that number to rise as Diallo recorded three blocks in his first game.
23. 5 The.Jayhawks' scoring margin this year through six games.
Field goal percentage from beyond the arc. Kansas is averaging 9.8 made three-pointers a game.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF
Kansas can play much better in the first half than it did Tuesday. The Jayhawks struggled big with the Maui hangover. Now, with a few more days to adjust, Kansas should be able to handle an inferior team like Harvard for two halves on Saturday. If the Jayhawks can do that, they should be able to run away with this one.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Frank Mason Ill,junior,guard Mason has sort of flown under the radar with the emergence of Selden early in the season. Still,the junior guard is averaging 12.5 points per game,good for fourth on the team. He does lead the team in assists,with 5.7 dimes per contest. Selden may be emerging as the scorer,but Mason is still the most important player on the team with his ability to score and distribute.
Devonte' Graham, sophomore, guard
Graham has been a key factor for Kansas since being inserted in the starting lineup this year. The sophomore is averaging 10.2 points and 3.5 assists in 29.8 minutes a game. He continues to help Kansas play up-tempo by pushing the ball out in transition and getting easy buckets. He also has just five turnovers so far on the year.
Wayne Selden Jr., junior, guard
The emergence of Selden has made Kansas a dominant team. Since moving from two guard to the three guard, Selden has been more aggressive of finding ways to score the basketball. He's leading the team in 17.2 points per game, shooting 55 percent from the floor. He's even better beyond the arc, with a mark of 57 percent from downtown.
Perry Ellis, senior, power forward
Ellis is known for scoring a quiet 15 points a game. He's done just that through the early part of his senior campaign. Ellis is averaging 15.3 points per contest on 53 percent shooting from the floor. The senior is also doing a fair job on the glass with six rebounds a contest. The Jayhawks are going to need this level of efficiency from Ellis throughout the year.
Jamari Traylor, senior, forward
After Tuesday's win against Loyola. coach Bill Self said Traylor was the best player in the game. The senior forward scored just two points and grabbed six rebounds in 14 minutes on the floor. However, Self noted his high energy and motor fueled a big run to begin the second half. Traylor may not stuff the stat sheets, but his play on the court is beneficial for the Jayhawks.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Corey Johnson, freshman. guard
Johnson has no problem firing away from distance. He posted 17 three-point attempts in the team's second and third games and has shot at least five threes in all but one of the team's first six games. Because of his propensity to stay behind the arc, he almost never gets to the line, which seems to be a common thread for the Crimson.
Tommy McCarthy, freshman, guard
Through six games, McCarthy is averaging over 10 shots per contest, yet he's shooting worse than 27 percent from the floor. On the season, he's posting a 1:11 assist to turnover ratio and has twice as many fouls as steals and blocks combined, a mark that is certainly far from good.
Agunwa Okolie, senior, forward
In his second year of significant playing time and fourth year at the University overall-Okoie has done a bit of everything, averaging right around six points, four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal per game through six contests. He's on pace to shoot around 24 threes this year, which would be over 10 greater than the total he recordead in his first three years combined.
Evan Cummins, senior, forward
Cummins has seen his role on the Crimson increase each year and has probably made his biggest leap this season. Through six games, he's averaging around six points and seven rebounds per game, shooting over 60 percent from the floor, although he struggles mightily at the line.
Zena Edosomwan, junior, Center
Edosmwan is averaging a double-double on the season and would probably be rated even higher than three stars, but he's lacking in two key areas: rim protection and free-throw shooting. At 45.5 percent from the line through six games, the Jayhawks should absolutely foul him whenever he gets down low and force him to make shots at the line.
SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
AT A GLANCE
For a bunch of smart kids, Harvard seems to struggle with the game's easiest shot: a free throw. Half of the team's players who have recorded a free throw attempt are at or below 50 percent while half of the team seems complete averse to getting to the line. Additionally, playing without its best player in senior guard Siyani Chambers, who tore his ACL back at the end of August, the team doesn't quite have the depth or talent that it would've in what should be a fairly comfortable win for Kansas.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Corbin Miller junior, guard
Miller has only played in two seasons but is technically a junior as Harvard does not allow students to redshirt. Regardless, he's shooting close to 40 percent from three this season and even launched 12 threes in a game against UMass. He had two poor performances in two of the team's first three losses and needs to be much better if the team is going to upset Kansas.
QUESTION MARK
How can the Crimson keep up with the Jayhawks on offense?
Short answer: They can't. The team doesn't score all that much, and when they do, it's wildly inefficient scoring. In order for Harvard to win, it's going to have to make every possession count, which seems less than likely.
BY THE NUMBERS
Harvard players shooting 50 percent or worse from the line coming in to the team's contest against Northeastern.
Harvard players averaging between 26 and 28 minutes per game. The team has six players averaging at least 24 minutes per game and eight players averaging double-figures in minutes.
Harvard players averaging between 26 and 28 minutes per game. The team has six players averaging at least 24 minutes per game and eight players averaging double-figures in minutes.
BABY JAY WILL CRY IF
Harvard rises to the occasion and knocks down a bunch of free throws and three-pointers while Kansas struggles again. McCarthy needs to be especially efficient if the Crimson are going to have a shot.
Edited by Dani Malakoff
.