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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KANSAS VS. SOUTH EAST MISSOURI STATE
7 p.m., Lawrence
KU TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
The Jayhawks enter the 2012-13 seasons after an underwhelming exhibition game where they scrapped out a 62-50 victory against Washburn. Southeast Missouri State could turn into a trap game if Kansas looks ahead to its upcoming Champions Classic tussle with Michigan State, but after their poor outing in the final exhibition game, expect Coach Self to have his Jayhawks in a line.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Freshman forward Perry Ellis
Ellis plays an important role in the Jayhawks offense as the only natural scorer in the Kansas frontcourt. If he is easily finding a way to put the ball in the basket, the Jayhawks offense will run as a well-oiled machine. Ellis didn't start a game in the preseason because Self wants him to become a more aggressive player, but when he's not starting he'll be the first guy off the bench.
Will Jeff Withey find his groove?
QUESTION MARK
The seven-foot tall center looked rusty against Emporia State and Washburn. He admitted that he struggled playing against smaller lineups, and unfortunately for him, he'll once again find himself matched up smaller forwards, as the tallest player on the Redhawks' roster stands 6-foot-9.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE
"We didn't execute and our senior leadership was non-existent. We played like little babies tonight. They beat us to loose balls, and we didn't rebound it."
— Bill Self on his team's play against Washburn
KANSAS
0-0, (0-0 BIG 12)
STARTERS
Johnson
Elijah Johnson, Senior Guard
Johnson is still adjusting to his role as the facilitator of the offense after working as the two guard next to Tyshawn Taylor last season. Eventually, he'll make the adjustment, but Johnson is more of a combo guard and so the question with the athletically-gifted Johnson becomes when it will happen.
McLemore
Travis Releford, Senior Guard
Releford pulled a Houdini against Washburn and disappeared despite playing 27 minutes. More will be expected of him now that the games count, and expect him to return to the aggressive Releford he showed he could be last season.
Ben McLemore, Freshman Guard
Releford
In the exhibition season, McLemore has emerged as one of the best offensive weapons on the team, but after scoring early and often in the first half, he failed to provide the same spark in the second.
Wesley
Justin Wesley, Junior Forward
Wesley got his chance, filling in for an injured Kevin Young against Washburn. Wesley's focus will be on the defensive side of the ball, as the man who took a turn acting as Wilt Chamberlain in "jaeyawkers" will be focused more on grabbing rebounds than trying to emulate Chamberlain by scoring 100.
Jeff Withey, Senior Center
Withey
For the first three halves of preseason play, Withey looked like he regressed to his form from the 2010-11 season rather than the tough- nosed defender he played as last season. He finally showed some glimpses of the 2011-12 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in the second half of the game. Expect the Jayhawks to try and get him going early so they can put the game out of reach.
Ethan Padway
SEMO
STARTERS
0-0
The Jayhawks defense comes out flying, forcing turnovers that lead to easy buckets and allow the Rock Chalk Chant to reverberate through Allen Fieldhouse early in the second half.
Maryland Smith, Senior Guard
Smith will likely be given the task of guarding Kansas guard Elijah Johnson. Southeast Missouri coach Dickey Nutt said after the last exhibition game that Martand Smith is quick and athletic on defense. Smith also has the ability to score, averaging more than 12 points per game for the last two seasons. Smith is the only player on the Rehawks roster who has spent all four years of his college career at Southeast Missouri State.
Nick Niemczyk, Senior Guard
Last season Niemczyk shot more than 90 percent from the free throw line, the only problem being he averaged just under one trip to the foul line per game. Niemczyk will need to find a way to get fouled and make that free throw percentage count. Two years ago Niemczyk averaged two foul shots per game and 13.4 points per game, last season he shot 0.8 foul shots per game and scored 9.2 points per game.
Lucas Nutt, Junior Guard
Lucas Nutt is the son of Southeast Missouri State coach Dickey Nutt, Logan Nutt, the older brother of Lucas graduated from Southeast Missouri last season after playing for their father. Lucas uncle is Ole Miss football coach Houston Nutt.
Tyler Stone, Junior Forward
A product of Memphis, Tenn. Stone is 6-foot-8 and shoots 53 percent from the field. In the Redhawks narrow 5 point win over Truman State. Stone posted 17 points and 12 rebounds. Stone led the team in both categories last season.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF...
Colin Ferguson, Freshman Forward
Colin Ferguson, Freshman Forward At 6-foot-9 Ferguson is the tallest player on the Southeast Missouri roster and likely to get the start in his first official college game. Ferguson has been described as raw, but promising
Max Goodwin
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE TIPOFF
State finished 15-16 last season, which was the best record for the Redhawks since 2004-05. The Redhawks also had a winning record in the Ohio Valley Conference for the first time since the same year. Coach Dickey Nutt is 32-61 at Southeast, and in each of his three years the program has improved. The Redhawks are coming off a final exhibition game that they won 80-75 against Division II Truman State.
AT A GLANCE
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tyler Stone led Southeast Missouri State in points per game, with 14.7 and 7.3 re-bounds per game last season. Stone is a former Missouri Tiger. He transferred after one year in Columbia, Mo, and now Stone enters his junior year at Southeast Missouri State as the Redhawks' most productive player.
Junior forward Tyler Stone
Prediction:
QUESTION MARK
"Every time we made a run and pushed it to 11-12 points, we could not sustain that," Southeast Missouri coach Dickey Nutt said after the 80-75 win over Truman State. "They'd cut it to five and cut it to two, and the next thing you know we're in for a dog-fight."
Kansas 84, Southeast Missouri State 52
Can Southeast Missouri State find quality shots against the Kansas defense?
The Redhawks were efficient last season, shooting .475 percent from the field. If the Redhawks have a chance to upset the No. 7 ranked Jayhawks in Allen Fieldhouse Friday it will be by making shots and avoiding turnovers. Tyler Stone is Southeast Missouri's most efficient player but he will have to get past Jeff Withey at the rim.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE
BABY JAY WILL CRY IF.
Southeast Missouri plays efficiently, making shots and avoiding turnovers, and Kansas has the same offensive problems it had against Washburn.
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