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KANSAN.COM
SPORTS
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BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
KANSAS JAYHAWKS VS. NORTHERN COLO. BEARS
SCOTT CHASEN
@SChasenKU
AT A GLANCE
Against an inferior opponent, this game is still not a 100 percent sure-thing for the Jayhawks. Kansas coach Bill Self noted after the last exhibition game that the first game of the year is often the most dangerous, and considering that the Jayhawks still haven't had one player step up and dominate the competition, there's no reason to think it'll be a cakewalk.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk sophomore, wing
Mykhailiuk had a strong showing in the second exhibition game, where he knocked down five three-pointers. Now it remains to be seen if he can build on that momentum. With junior wing Brannen Greene potentially sideline, or at the very least banged up with a hip injury, Mykhaliuk is poised to take most of the backup minutes at the small forward spot.
QUESTION MARK
Can the point guards stay out of foul trouble?
After each of the first two exhibition games, Self made a comment in regards to his point guards staying out of foul trouble. He said that while Selden can play that position, he'd rather reserve that for an "emergency," preferring to have either junior Frank Mason III or sophomore Devonte' Graham on the court at all times, if not both. Through exhibition play, the duo averaged a combined four fouls per game, which should be good enough in regular season play.
BY THE NUMBERS
24
The number of combined assists and rebounds Devonte' Graham posted through the two exhibition games.
O
The number of freshman in the starting five for Kansas' season opener for the second year in a row.
87.2
The number of points KU has averaged over its last five regular season openers.
Kansas treats this as a dress rehearsal for the game against Michigan State. If the Jayhawks come into Alen Fieldhouse fired up, this should be a somewhat easy win, though certainly not a cakewalk. However, if the team comes out and plays lackadaisically, like it did last year in the exhibition, the team may not be ready for it's second game — and first real test — once again.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF
PROJECTED STARTERS
Frank Mason III, junior, guard
After struggling to shoot from distance in the team's exhibition opener, Mason rebounded with a solid performance against Fort Hays State. Last year, Mason was one of the most consistent players in the nation, and he'll be looking to keep that up in the 2015-16 campaign.
Devonte' Graham, sophomore, guard
Devonte' Graham was a jack of all trades in the exhibition games, posting 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game, along with 9 points. Playing alongside Frank Mason III, Graham will look to lead the team and push the tempo as the Jayhawks look to get up and down the court.
Wayne Selden Jr., junior, guard
Against Fort Hays State, Wayne Selden Jr. scored on the first possession of the game, posting up on a smaller defender. Throughout the contest he scored from the post, in transition, in an isolation situation, and in a catch and shoot situation. If he can continue to showcase his versatility, good things could be in store for Kansas.
Perry Ellis, senior, power forward
Perry Ellis didn't exactly blow anyone away with his exhibition performances, but he was still more than solid. The senior from Wichita has the opportunity to start out his senior campaign on the right foot, and one would expect Self to hammer home the message of getting him the ball early and often.
Landen Lucas, junior, center
While Landen Lucas was hindered by injury in the team's exhibition games, his progression on offense was on display against Fort Hays State. Lucas has been working on catching the ball in the post and scoring, which should allow him to rack up some extra floor time.
PROJECTED STARTERS
Jordan Wilson, junior, guard
Wilson is one of the few returning contributors from last year's team, so the Bears will need him to provide stability at the point guard position. He's a very good shooter (40 percent from last three season) but at just 5'7," he may struggle to get anything in the lane against a big Jayhawk front line.
Cameron Michael, junior, guard
Michael is the only returning player who averaged in double figures last season, but with their young roster. He will be the Bears go-to option on the offensive end. At 6'5," he will be a tough matchup in the backcourt.
Miles Seward, freshman, guard
Although he's just a freshman, Seward is as talented as anybody on the Bears' roster. In high school, Seward starred for the Athlete Institute, which is where current Kentucky guard Jamal Murray played. Seward is known for his shooting, and can be very dangerous if he gets hot.
Tanner Morgan, junior, forward
The junior college transfer will likely be asked to fill a starting role right away for the Bears. At Casper College, Morgan averaged eight points and seven rebounds per game last season.
Jeremy Verhagen, sophomore, forward
Verhagen is the biggest question mark for the Bears this season. He is their top returning big man, but he only averaged three points and two rebounds in 14 minutes per game. The Bears are going to rely very heavily on Verhagen's growth this season.
EVAN RIGGS @EvanRiggsUDK
AT A GLANCE
For a young and unproven team, there isn't a much tougher place to open the season than Allen Fieldhouse. The Bears, who went just 15-15 last year, lost five of their top seven scorers from last season. The season opener will be a big test to how far along this young team is.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Miles Seward freshman, guard
Wilson and Michael will probably get most of the attention from the Jayhawk defense, but if Seward is able to find his shot, he will make the Bears backcourt very difficult to guard. He averaged 17 points per game in high school, but owns the school record for both points in a game with 48, and three pointers with eight at Athletes Institute in Orangeville, Ontario.
QUESTION MARK
Question mark: Can the Bears front-court hold up?
Northern Colorado has enough talent in its starting backcourt to hang with Kansas, but with no experienced guys in the frontcourt back from last year, it will be a tall task. In order for the Bears to be competitive, they need their frontcourt to tread water in this matchup.
BY THE NUMBERS
The percent of scoring the Bears lost from last year's team
26
The last time they played a ranked opponent in 2012, Northern Colorado lost to Wichita State by 26 points, 80-54.
The Bears ranked third out of 351 qualified teams in three point shooting percentage at 39.4 percent.
BABY JAY WILL CRY IF
Northern Colorado is within single digits in the last eight minutes of the game. They are a very young team that Kansas should be able to overwhelm at home in the first game of the season. With the talent the Bears have in the backcourt, they could be dangerous late in the game if they are within striking distance.
Edited by Rebecca Dowd
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