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basketball gameday
Saturday, Feb.11, 1 p.m., ESPN
SKYLAR ROLSTAD @SkyRolSports
AT A GLANCE
A loss to Iowa State last week was a dent in an impressive season for Kansas so far. The team, however, only dropped one spot, to No. 3 in the nation. Sophomore forward Carlton Bragg Jr.'s return will fuel an already-powerful Kansas team going into another difficult run in Big 12 play.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Josh Jackson, freshman, guard
Jackson has been on a tear in recent games, especially when he dropped 23 points on Kentucky in the season's biggest game. Jackson will be in a position to dominate against a lesser Texas Tech team. He averages 16 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
QUESTION MARK
Will Kansas finally record a blowout Big 12 win?
It's been a trying season for Kansas. The Jayhawks finally broke against the Iowa State Cyclones at Allen Fieldhouse last weekend. Texas Tech is a talented team, but sits eighth in the Big 12. Kansas has the chance to gain some confidence with a win by a large margin.
BY THE NUMBERS
8.4
8. 4 — Landen Lucas averages 8.4 rebounds per game for the Jayhawks.
51. 9 Frank Mason III is shooting 51.9 percent from three.
71. 8 Kansas, on average, holds opponents to 71.8 points per game.
STARTING FIVE
Frank Mason III, senior, guard
Mason's star continues to rise on a national stage. Last week, he exploded for 32 points against Iowa State and notched 21 more against Kansas State. Mason is one of the best players in the nation, and has a chance to put up similar numbers against a middle-of-the-pack Texas Tech team.
Devonte' Graham, junior, guard
Graham hasn't scored over 15 points since a loss to West Virginia on Jan. 24, but his impact on the Kansas team hasn't been small. Graham contributed seven rebounds and six assists in Kansas' win over K-State Monday. Graham is a reliable ball-handler in the Kansas backcourt.
Josh Jackson, freshman, guard
Jackson impressed the nation yet again Monday night with 18 points, three rebounds and two assists. Jackson rivals Duke's Harry Giles and Washington's Markelle Fultz, among others, as the best freshman in college basketball. Jackson scored 17 points and hauled in 10 rebounds in Kansas' previous win over Texas Tech.
Svi Mykhaliiuk, junior, guard
Mykhailiuk followed up 17 points in the loss to Iowa State with only eight points on the road at K-State. Mykhailiuk averages 10.8 points for the Jayhawks and also provides 3.3 rebounds per game. Last time out against Texas Tech, Mykhailiuk scored only five points.
Rotating with freshman forward Mitch Lightfoot at the five spot has benefited Lucas in recent games. Lucas hauled in seven rebounds against K-State and managed 12 against Iowa State, Last time out against Texas Tech, Lucas claimed only six rebounds.
Landen Lucas, senior, center
TEXAS TECH (16-8)
STARTING FIVE
Evans is the Red Raiders' leading scorer (14.4 points per game, No. 9 in the Big 12) and is 0.1 assists per game away from being their leading passer as well. He shoots the ball extremely well, hitting 44 percent from three and 48.6 percent overall. He is the team's leader in the backcourt, and facilitator of the offense.
Keenan Evans,junior,guard
Niem Stevenson, junior, guard
Stevenson didn't start last time against Kansas, as he's recently gotten the nod over senior Devon Thomas. He averages a pedestrian 7.2 points per game, but in playing just an average of 18.9 minutes per game, that's understandable. He shoots the ball well in his limited playing time/role in the offense, hitting 45.5 percent of his shots.
Justin Gray, junior, forward
Gray played 27 minutes last time against the Jayhawks, but only finished with two points and one rebound. He's been the team's second-best rebound this season, averaging 5.3 per game. Texas Tech will need a stronger showing from Gray this time out, especially as Kansas' frontcourt continues to strengthen.
Anthony Livingston, senior, forward
Fans may remember Livingston as the Red Raiders player who unsuccessfully attempted the flop of the century against Kansas' Lucas last game. His performance against Kansas was a bit of a flop as well, as the team's third-leading scorer posted just six points on 25 percent shooting. He'll need to bounce back this time around in his shot for redemption against the Jayhawks and Lucas.
Zach Smith, junior, forward
Smith has cemented himself as the Red Raiders' biggest post threat. He averages 13 points per game in addition to 7.8 rebounds per game, a team high. Facing a Kansas team that features one of the Big 12's best bigs in Lucas and a resurgent Carlton Bragg Jr., Smith will need to come to play if he wants to win.
▶ JORDAN WOLF
@JordanWolfKU
AT A GLANCE
The Red Raiders enter the game eighth in the Big 12, after dropping five of their last seven conference contests. They are coming off a one-point heartbreaker to TCU last week, in which a questionable foul earned the Horned Frogs the chance to hit the game-winning free throw in the final seconds. This may lead them to come out playing mad against the Jayhawks, and also realize that, with their opponents worrying about West Virginia two days later, this has prime potential to be a trap upset.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Keenan Evans, junior, guard
Evans is Texas Tech's most dependable scorer and playmaker. Kansas' most recent loss to Iowa State was fueled by strong backcourt play by the Cyclones, so expect Evans to attack the same way Iowa State's Monte Morris did (25 points, seven assists). It won't be easy for him to do so, as he'll likely line up against Mason for Kansas.
QUESTION MARK
How will Texas Tech handle Landen Lucas?
The Red Raiders start three forwards: Gray, Livingston and Smith. None are taller than 6-foot-8, and none weigh more than 220 pounds. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks will start Landen Lucas, who is 6-foot-10, 250 pounds. Lucas had a mediocre performance in the first meeting between these teams, with eight points and six rebounds. Since then, however, he's made a substantial jump in performance, as he's earned less restraint from coach Bill Self. The Red Raiders may need to turn to their bench if Lucas can't be contained initially.
BY THE NUMBERS
11 Texas Tech played 11 players in its last game against Kansas (a 85-68 loss).
33. 1 The Red Raiders are the worst-rebounding team in the Big 12 at 33.1 per game.
65. 2 - Texas Tech allows just 65.2 points per game, second in the Big 12.
Beat Writer Prediction
Skylar Rolstad: Kansas 90, Texas Tech 81 // Jordan Wolf: Kansas 74, Texas Tech 63 // Brian Mini: Kansas 79, Texas Tech 65