6B
GAME DAY
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2008
KU
TIPOFF
Right now, Kansas is rolling. The Jayhawks look far ahead of where most expected them to be after six games with a roster full of newcomers and unproven commodities. They thrashed Kent State, a team that will certainly have a chance at winning its conference and making the NCAA Tournament, by 27 points.
All five starters are contributing offensively because they all average at least eight points per game. Depth might not be a strength at the moment, but that could change as freshmen Travis Reford and Quintrell Thomas progress.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Freshman forward Markieff Morris
Say what you want about Markieff, but he clearly possesses two things — rebounding ability and a temper. The officials ejected
Morris
Markieff because of a flagrant foul in the Kent State game. It wasn't the first time Markieff has become overly physical with opponents this year and it won't be the last. As long as he can keep himself under control, the Jayhaws could feed off his intensity — and boards. Despite coming off the bench and playing only 18 minutes per game, Markieff averages six rebounds.
QUESTION MARK
Is Tyshawn Taylor Kansas' lock down defender?
Kansas coach
Bill Self isn't
ready to call Taylor
that yet, but he's
close. Self has
assigned Taylor to guard
the opposing
team's best perimeter player
Taylor
— tonight it will probably be Aggie guard Jahmil Young — almost every game this season. Taylor loves the role and says he considers it a challenge. And it hasn't even been a daunting one for him. Taylor held Kent State's Al Fisher to five points on 2-for-11 shooting.
HEARYE. HEARYE
"I don't even know if we deserved to be ranked. But certainly, I think you take away some missed free throws down the stretch against Syracuse and we've performed pretty well for a young team."
Kansas coach Bill Self
HAWKS LOOK IMPRESSIVE
Ahead-of-schedule Kansas faces rebuilding New Mexico State KANSAS VS. NEW MEXICO STATE 7 p.m., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, Lawrence, Jayhawk TV
KANSAS
(5-1)
STARTERS
Collins
Sherron Collins, 5-foot-11 junior guard
Collins's season-high in points is 25, which he recorded against Florida Gulf Coast. If he keeps the momentum he played with at the end of the last game, don't be surprised if he passes 25 to-night.
Taylor
Tyshawn Taylor, 6-foot-2 freshman guard
Taylor plays terrific defense, scores 10 points per game and can be counted on for a stand-out moment or two per game. There's not much else you can ask for from a freshman.
Morningstar
Morningsstar continues to impress in his starting role. He now leads the team in steals with 11 and scored seven of his nine points against Kent State early in the game when it was still close.
Brady Morningstar, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard
Morris
★★★☆
Marcus had his best game against Kent State. He scored
Marcus Morris,
6-foot-8
freshman forward
14 points, recorded 10 rebounds and got to the free-throw lines continually. Tonight, he has a chance to snag his third double-double in four games.
Aldrich
Cole Aldrich, 6-foot-11 sophomore center Add Kent S Gene Ford to
★★★☆
Add Kent State Gene Ford to the
list of people in college basketball labeling Aldrich as "the most improved player in the nation." Before long, it seems everyone will say it.
Laroche
Aside from Aldrich, Markieff is the best rebounder on the team. He can also shoot well for a big man. But getting ejected isn't acceptable.
SIXTH MAN
Markieff Morris, 6-foot-9 freshman forward
Youna
Hernst Laroche, 6-foot-1 junior guard
NEW MEXICO ST. (2-2) STARTERS
SIXTH MAN
Hernst Laroche, 6-foot-1 Junior guard
Laroche is the typical throwback point guard. Points come second. Passes come first. Want evidence? He's taken 12 shots all season, while handing out 17 assists.
McKines
Jahmar Young, 6-foot-4 sophomore guard
- Case Keefer
It's a good thing Laroche doesn't mind sharing the ball. Young is just one player who likes to score for the Aggies. He's putting up 18 points a game and is also second on the team in assists.
Wendell McKines, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward
Yes, he's a three man, but McKines rebounds like he's a big man in the post. He had five games of double-digit rebounds as a freshman last year and is leading the team this year with nearly eight per game. McKines is also a journalism major so maybe he'll write a story about himself if he performs well.
Troy Gillenwater, 6-foot-8 freshman forward
Morris
Gillenwater
ter is the rare low-post freshman who has already filed out. He's muscular and tough. So far coach Marvin Menzies has rewarded him with more playing time than any other freshman on the roster. He's second on the team in scoring.
Hamidu Rahman, 7-foot freshman center
Rahman is undeveloped and
Bill Self
Rahman is u raw, but he's already progressing. He had his best game of the year in a loss to Long Beach State on Sunday, going for nine points. His length should make Rahman a natural rebounder, but he's averaging only 3.8 per game.
State on Sunday, going for nine points. His length should make Rahman a natural rebounder, but he's averaging only 3.8 per game.
Rahman
★★★☆☆
Robert Lumpkins, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward
SIXTH MAN
Lumpkins is undersized, but he's still the only reliable big man the Aqies have off the
bench. With young players like Gillenwater and Rahman up front, he's an important contributor off the bench.
Lumpkins
NMS
TIPOFF
ATAGLANCE
The basketball resurgence at New Mexico State is in year three, and unlike the last two years, the Aggies are off to a rough start. In year one, Reggie Theus led the team to an NCAA Tournament berth where they narrowly lost to Texas in the first round. Year two, and coach Marvin Menzies' first year, ended with a WAC regular season champion. This year, the Aggies have a new team. The five top scorers from last year are gone. The early season has been full of disappointment, with a close loss to Long Beach State and a blowout at Southern California.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sophomore guard Aaron "Gordo" Castillo
Mark Dent
You gotta give this kid. Castillo is a local boy, from Las Cruces,
Castillo
N. M., the only one from New Mexico on the Aggies' roster. This year, with the departure of several top guards from last season, Castillo has been logging nearly 20 minutes per game. And what a name. Gordo is a fine and unusual nickname. Another famous Gordo? There was a Gordo on Hilary Duff's TV show,"Lizzie McGuire."
Do the Aggies have enough experience?
QUESTION MARK
Yeah, the Jayhawks are young, but they also won the national title last year. New Mexico State is in a similar rebuilding mode without the pedigree. Jahmar Young is the only player on the roster who averaged double figures last year. So far, the inexperience has shown. The Aggies have played two road games this year and lost both. Now they're playing at Allen Fieldhouse. They'll be rattled.
HEARYE HEARYE
Well, not too many people cover the Aggies. No quotes are available. So let's put it this way: New Mexico State will likely have a tough time against the Jayhawks. Last year or two years ago, the Aggies could have been prime for springing an upset. But this is a rebuilding year. The Aggies would be fortunate to stay close for a half or possibly midway through the second half.
BIG 12 SCHEDULE
Game
Game Time (CT) Chan
Alabama State vs. Nebraska 7 p.m. N/A
Wichita State vs. Texas Tech 7 p.m. N/A
Iowa State vs. Northern Iowa 8:05 p.m. N/A
TCU vs. Colorado 9 p.m. N/A
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE WILL ROCK IF...
Sherron Collins takes over the game from the beginning. During the last two games, Collins hasn't looked like himself in the first half. He's made only one basket in each of the first 20 minutes of regulation. But his performances in the second halves against Coppin State and Kent State show he hasn't lost anything. Late in the game, he's acted as the Sherron everyone knows — stealing balls, driving the lane and making acrobatic shots.
PHOG ALLEN WILL ROLL OVER IN HIS GRAVE IE
NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE
HIS GRAVE IF...
One of the Morris twins is in the middle of another minor scuffle. It might not happen again this game, but it would be surprising if it didn't again at some point this season. Marcus and Markieff clearly aren't afraid to take action against opponents if they throw elbows or play dirty under the basket. It happened against Washington at the Sprint Center last week and escalated in Monday's Kent State game. Toughness is a positive, but so is remaining calm in those situations.
Prediction KANSAS 87,NEW MEXICO STATE 67
Date Opponent TV Time
Dec. 6 JACKSON STATE Jayhawk TV 1 p.m.
Dec. 13 MASSACHUSETTS (Sprint Center) ESPN 1 p.m.
Dec. 20 TEMPLE ESPN2 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 23 at Arizona FSN 9:30 p.m.
Dec. 30 ALBANY ESPNU 8 p.m.
Jan. 3 TENNESSEE ESPN 1 p.m.
Jan. 6 SIENA Jayhawk TV 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 at Michigan State CBS noon