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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11. 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KANSAS TIPOFF
It's the second edition of the Sunflower Showdown. This time around, the Wildcats have the upper hand, leading the Jayhawks by one game. Still, Kansas can reclaim a share of the Big 12 lead with a victory inside the Fieldhouse on Monday. Right now, the Jayhawks are free falling after losing to a poor TCU team and an average Oklahoma squad last week. Kansas has already lost the most games in a row since the 2004-05 season, and if the team drops another game it will be the longest losing streak since Roy Williams' first year at the helm.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Naadir Tharpe, guard
Throughout the past few games.
Tharpe has shown sparks of brilliance and fearlessness.
Tharpe scored the last four points of the first half against Oklahoma and an-
Tharpe
peared ready to take over the game when called upon. Tharpe is far from a finished product, but he gives Kansas someone off the bench bringing a different energy. Continue to have an eye on Tharpe; he might be called upon for more minutes in the near future.
Will Elijah Johnson break out of his funk?
QUESTION MARK
At this point, who knows. Johnson continues to struggle on both ends of the floor. He's been one of the more perplexing players at point guard in recent Kansas history. He has the talent to play the position, but will his funk continue to fester into a long stretch of games? I guess we will find out the answer tonight.
NUMBERS
45-3 - Kansas' record against Kansas State since the 1994 season.
0-2 - Bruce Weber's record against Kansas.
800 - The amount of career points for senior guard Travis Releford.
Kansas can sweep the Sunflower Showdown again this year. Nothing is more important to this team and the athletics department than beating the in-state rival. Despite the dominance of the Jayhawks, there is very little confidence in the Kansas fan base at the moment. That could change with a win.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF
Johnson
KANSAS (19-4,7-3) STARTERS
Relieford
It was more bad moments from Elijah Johnson down the stretch, but it appears that he continues to work through his problems whether it is physical or between the ears. Johnson shot three of 11 from the field and posted a 4:3 turnover ratio for the game. The Kansas fans are frustrated with Johnson, but until another indication, Self will stick with Johnson as his guy.
ELIJAH JOHNSON, GUARD
Releford struggled on the defensive ends down the stretch, but look for him to get it back on track against Kansas State. For a fifth-year senior playing in his last regular season game against the Wildcats, he will want a solid performance on both ends of the floor. Releford continues to be one of the rocks for this team, but — like everyone else — must show some toughness.
TRAVIS RELEFORD. GUARD
McLemore
Between a rock and a wildcat Kansas looks to avoid four-game skid NO.5 KANSAS VS.NO.13 KANSAS STATE 8 P.M., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, LAWRENCE, KAN.
BEN MCLEMORE, GUARD
McLemore appears back on track after his 15-point performance in Norman. He was efficient again going 6-of-10 from the floor, but still struggled to get the amount of shots many feel necessary for him to be an effective scorer. The freshman sensation has not had a big moment in a few games. This could be another game where McLemore steps up and flashes his brilliance.
Young
KEVIN YOUNG, FORWARD
Despite only playing 18 minutes against Oklahoma, Young made an impact early in the game with a few slams. Young did struggle in the game with four fouls for most of the second half, but managed to still be a contributor. Young does not care whether he's coming off the bench or in the starting lineup. At the moment, he wants to be a senior leader.
Withey continues to show some consistency on the offensive end, but his toughness on the defensive end remains troubling for Withey. The last game against Oklahoma, Withey tied Greg Oostertag's career blocks record of 258. Like everyone else, Withey struggles to consistently to show his toughness. But last time, he played a physical matchup against Kansas State's Thomas Gipson.
JEFF WITHEY, CENTER
Withey
KANSAS STATE
(19-4,8-2)
STARTERS
WILL SPRADLING, GUARD
Spradling is still one of the best in the conference at taking care of the ball with a 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio. He averages 2.7 assists per game, but that number has dips significantly in conference play to only 1.8 assists per game. The Wildcats need him to be a ball distributor because he has averaged only 6.8 points per game since Big 12 play started.
Spradling
SHANE SOUTHWELL, GUARD
Southwell certainly remembers his last game against Kansas when he scored 19 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to help the Wildcats nearly pull off the upset. He and Angel Rodriguez have been the team's best scoring complements to Rodney McGruder in conference play, but he's only averaging 5.3 points in Kansas State's past three games.
ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, GUARD
Rodriguez dropped 20 points on 6-14 shooting Saturday against Iowa State and hit all seven of his free throw attempts. The sophomore has the Big 12's best assist-to-turnover ratio of all players with at least three assists per game with a 2.36 ratio. His 4.71 assists per game are fourth in the conference.
Rodriguez
RODNEY MCGRUDER. GUARD
The senior will almost certainly find himself on the Big 12's All-Conference First Team at the end of the season. He has led the Wildcats in scoring 11 times, and his field goal percentage, three-point percentage and points per game have all increased in conference play. He led four Wildcats in double figures Saturday against Iowa State with 22 points to help Kansas State take the lead in the conference race.
McGruder
JORDAN HENRIOUEZ FORWARD
Henrique has 10 starts on the year, including the past four games, which were all Wildcat victories. But even when he does start, he contributes very little to Kansas State. He played eight minutes in the Wildcats' last game against Iowa State, missing his only shot attempt. He scored only one point and grabbed two rebounds against Texas Tech in the previous game in 13 minutes.
Henriquez
KSU
TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
Kansas State comes in as the new first-place team in the Big 12 after defeating Iowa State 79-70 on Saturday. The Wildcats have won their past four games and 12 of their past 14. A victory would give them a two-game advantage over Kansas and Oklahoma State in the conference race. The Wildcats travel to Stillwater, Okla., to play the Cowboys in the last game of the regular season March 9.
Rodney McGruder, senior guard
PLAYER TO WATCH
McGruder
The Wildcats' top scorer at 15 points per game, McGruder's scoring average has increased to 16.6 points per game in conference play. He only scored 13 points
QUESTION MARK
when Kansas State hosted the Jayhawks in January, but 11 of those points came in the second half. He is shooting 49 percent from the field in conference play and 45 percent from three-point range.
Who will complement Rodney McGruder?
Besides McGruder, Kansas State doesn't have anyone who averages at least 10 points per game. It isn't likely the Wildcats can win at the Fieldhouse if McGruder is a one-man band. Junior guard Shane Southwell stepped up when the teams first squared off in Manhattan, leading all scorers with 19 points. His scoring average has increased in conference play to 9.5 points per game. Will playing Kansas bring out his best basketball again?
NUMBERS
Kansas 76, Kansas State 65
61 - The Wildcats have outscored their opponents by a combined 61 points in the second half this season much lower than the 179 points they've outscored their opponents by in the first half.
1 - Rodney McGruder is the only Wildcat averaging double figures, at 15 points per game.
2. 65 - Kansas State leads the Big 12 with a +2.65 turnover margin. Kansas is ninth with a -0.65 turnover margin.
BABY JAY WILL WEEP IF
Kansas plays careless basketball. Kansas State leads the conference in scoring defense by giving up only 58.3 points per game. The Wildcats' stingy defense means Kansas must take advantage of every offensive possession it has and not waste them by committing illegal screens, bad passes or losing control of the ball on the fastbreak.
★ FIRST WATCH ★
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