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THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KANSAS TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
In 17 years of the Big 12 Tournament, Kansas is the top seed for the tenth time. The Jahayhaws have reached the championship game nine times and won eight of them, including five under Bill Self. Overall, Kansas has won 80 percent of its Big 12 Tournament g-mes. Baylor knocked Kansas out of the tournament in the semifinals last season.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Jeff Withey, center
Baylor proved that taking Withey out of the game, as they did on Saturday, renders Kansas's post presence almost non-existent. Senior forward
Kevin Young thrives as a complementary post scorer, but he can't take over the post the way Withey can. Freshman forward Perry Ellis was the Jayhawks' best big man Saturday, but like Young, he can't be asked to provide Withey's nearly 14 points and nine rebounds per game, especially in postseason play.
15-1 - The Jayhawks have won 15 of their opening games in the conference tournament. Baylor handed them their only opening loss in the 2009 quarter-finals.
QUESTION MARK
Which McLemore shows up?
One of the few bright spots from the regular season finale was freshman guard Ben McLemore's aggressiveness on the offensive end, where he attempted 16 shots and scored 23 points. Statistically, it was his best road game of the season, and it rivals the 22 points he scored at Ohio State in December. McLemore's main criticism is his tendency to play passive offense on the road. From here on out, all games will be at neutral sites, but some of those could be closer to road games, especially if Kansas progresses in the NCAA Tournament.
82 - Bill Self has won 82 percent of his games in the Big 12 Tournament with an 18-4 record. It's the highest winning percentage for a coach in tournament history.
BIG JAY WILL CHEER IF...
Kansas enters its third season in style. Self considers the conference season to be Kansas' second season, and the postseason is the third season. Withey said on Monday the Jayhawks already forgot about the Baylor loss. If so, Kansas shouldn't have much trouble Thursday, as they dominated most of the final month of the regular season and looked to be playing its best basketball.
NUMBERS
32-8 - In 16 years of the Big 12 Tournament, Kansas has a 32-8 record, which is 11 more wins than Texas and Oklahoma have.
KANSAS (26-5,14-4)
McLemore
STARTERS
BEN MCLEMORE, GUARD
Although coach Bill Self said he was most impressed by freshman forward Perry Ellis Saturday against Baylor, McLemore scored five seconds into the game and never disappeared offensively, finishing with 16 shot attempts and 23 points, something he hasn't done on the road often. He is averaging 24 points per game in the past three games.
Johnson
Releford
NO.1 KANSAS VS.NO.9 TEXAS TECH 2 P.M., SPRINT CENTER, KANSAS CITY, MO.
The senior earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors on Sunday, joining McLemore and Withey as the three Jayhawks honored with All-Big 12 Selections. He attempted only six shots and scored just two points Saturday as Baylor outscored Kansas 12-0 in transition. For Kansas to reach its full potential it needs fast break production from Releford, who is one of the best in the country at scoring in the open court.
The senior's much-improved play during the final month of the season showed how differently Kansas plays when Johnson plays to his capability. During Kansas' first 10 conference games Johnson struggled at point guard and Kansas scored more than 70 points only twice. In the final eight games, the Jayhawks scored more than 70 points six times, and Johnson scored in double figures five times.
TRAVIS RELEFORD. GUARD
Wreck the Raiders Jayhawks play Texas Tech near home
Young
ELIJAH JOHNSON, GUARD
KEVIN YOUNG. FORWARD
While Jeff Withey is the decorated Kansas big man, Saturday's result showed Young's importance. He played only 15 minutes, attempted two shots, and scored zero points. His three meant freshman Perry Ellis played a bulk of Young's minutes. When Young plays well and with energy, it opens the floor up for Withey and lets the Jayhawks assert their will down low.
JEFF WITHEY. CENTER
Withe struggled as well against the Bears, looking frustrated all game long on the offensive end. He had eight points and attempted just three shots. But he did get four blocks and is now 17 blocks away from breaking his own Big 12 single season block record of 140. He was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year last weekend.
Withey
TEXAS TECH (11-19,3-15) STARTERS
Hannahs
DUSTY HANNAHS, GUARD
Kansas has not brought out the best in Hannahs. In two game versus the Jayhawks this season the freshman has scored just 10 points and dished out one assist. His game is still developing, but he's not likely to take over a game for the Red Raiders anytime soon.
Grav
JOSH GRAY. GUARD
Gray is another freshman still making the transition to college ball, but he's definitely a rising star for the Red Raiders. He averaged 9.6 points and 3.2 assists per game this season making Gray second in scoring among tech starters
★★☆☆☆
Williams Jr.
AMAL WILLIAMS JR., GUARD
Senior night in Lawrence was a game to forget for most of the Red Raiders, but it might just be easier for Jamal Williams to get his mind erased. The junior was noticeable for all the wrong reasons scoring just four points, committing three turnovers and collecting two personal fouls while getting eaten by Kansas' perimeter defense.
In both contests with Kansas, Tobert was able to score easier than any other Tech starter. In two games, he combined for 24 points and eight rebounds. Not stellar numbers by college basketball standards, but for a rebuilding Tech program, he's created a solid foundation to recruit around.
JORDAN TOLBERT, FORWARD
Tolbert
Kravic is an interesting option for Texas Tech, but doesn't match well with Kansas in the post. He scored double digits in against TUU, Texas and Iowa State, and even scored nine points in his first meeting with Kansas this season. But in Lawrence he shot 0-6 and grabbed just four rebounds.
DEJAN KRAVIC. FORWARD
Kravic
PREDICTION:
Kansas 84, Texas Tech 57
Ryan McCarthy and Geoffrey Calvert
TTU
TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
After playing West Virginia down to the wire in both games this season (77-61, 66-64) only to come up empty, the Red Raiders finally got passed the Mountaineers in Kansas City during round one of the Big 12 tournament. Yet Kansas had its way with Texas Tech this season and will need to stop an early surge by the Jayhawks to stay in the game.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Crockett
Jaye Crockett, Forward
Crockett may come off the bench, but he leads Tech in scoring with nearly 12 points per game and averages nearly seven rebounds. He's the Red
Raiders' proverbial "X" factor and plays about 25 minutes per game. If Tech pulls off the upset, Crockett will be a large reason why.
QUESTION MARK
Will Tech be able to defend the alley-oop?
The last time Texas Tech played Kansas, Lawrence became Lob City. The Jayhawks' were playing high above the rim, and all but one Kansas starter had two dunks. Can the Red Raiders make the adjustments to not allow the easy bucket?
BABY JAY WILL WEEP IF..
Kansas finds itself in a dogfight. The Jayhawks should beat the Red Raiders handily (again), but if it comes in the same fashion as Kansas' 60-46 victory in Lubbock it won't be a fun Friday. Saving energy could be the key to a Big 12 tournament championship.
NUMBERS
42. 1 Texas Tech field goal percentage
27. 8 Texas Tech 3-point percentage (last in the Big 12)
8. 14 Texas Tech steals per game (leads the Big 12)
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