FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2006
GAMEDAY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 11
Game could deliver Big 12 title KU Kansas vs. Kansas State KSU Tip-off 3 p.m. Saturday, Bramlage Coliseum Tip-off
AT A GLANCE
Kansas has won 18 of its past 21 games, making it one of the hottest teams in the nation. Kansas has begun to get more offensive production from its front court players, with sophomore center CJ Giles becoming more of an offensive threat. Freshman forward Julian Wright is arguably the most exciting player wearing a Kansas uniform. His great passes and spectacular dunks make him a focal point on any Kansas highlight real.
Kansas used stellar defense to top Colorado, 75-54, Wednesday in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas forced 11 steals and held Colorado to just 31 percent shooting. Colorado missed 22 of its first 23 shots after coming into the game as the conference's highest scoring team. Kansas got four players in double figures including freshman guard Mario Chalmers, who scored a team-high 14 points.
PLAYER TO WATCH
LAST TIME OUT
CJ Giles. He is probably the most integral player to a post-season run. Even though Giles does not start, Kansas needs his production to make a serious run in the NCAA tournament. Giles is now playing like the player he was expected to be when the season began. He gets offensive production and has become a force on defense, pulling down rebounds and blocking shots. Giles needs to keep that up Saturday against Kansas State to give him confidence heading into tournament play.
5 QUICK FACTS
48 - Conference titles for
48 - Conference titles for Kansas in its history of playing basketball. A victory tomorrow would ensure a 49th.
18 - Kansas victories in its past 21 games.
4 - Players in double figures in Kansas' game against Colorado.
0 -Times Kansas has lost at Kansas State's Bramlage Coliseum.
1 - Loss when Kansas starts three freshmen.
KEY TO VICTORY
Gain control of the glass. During Kansas' past two games, it has been dominated on the glass. Against Colorado it allowed 22 offensive rebounds, leading to second chance points for Colorado. Come tournament time, The Jayhawks will not be so lucky if they allow the opposition to dictate the pace via their play on the boards. Both nearly seven feet tall, centers Sasha Kaun and Giles will need to pick up the majority of the rebounding totals and Julian Wright will need to be more aggressive to play an active role in rebounding the basketball.
Kansas
OFFENSE
The Kansas offense hit 11 three-pointers in its last outing against Colorado. It will likely need to be just as hot Saturday, with Kansas State likely throwing a zone defense at Kansas. The last time these two teams met, the zone was the end of the Jayhawks, with them struggling to find any offensive continuity when the Wildcats played zone. Freshmen guards Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers will be the two most likely players to help beat the zone. Rush is shooting better than 50 percent from beyond the arc this season. Kansas will also need to change it up by going inside to sophomore center Sasha Kaun and forward CJ Giles and then potentially kick the ball back out to their perimeter players. Giles has been more active on the boards and has been showcasing a 12-foot jumper, making him harder to guard.
Kansas State
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
Offensively, Kansas State is an average team. The Wildcats are seventh in the conference in scoring with 69 points per game. Junior guard forward Cartier Martin is the team's leading scorer. He averages 18.3 points per game and is shooting 44 percent from three-point distance. In the first game against Kansas, Martin had 14 points on 6-11 shooting from the field. Overall, the team shot 45 percent from the field. Guard Clent Stewart led the team with 15 points on 5-8 shooting in Kansas State's 59-55 victory against Kansas in January. Stewart is averaging just 4.9 points per game this season. The team's second-leading scorer is David Hoskins, who is averaging 12.8 points per game. Hoskins had just six points and five assists the last time these two teams played. The wildcard for Kansas State on offense is Lance Harris. Harris is capable of scoring 20 points on any night, but sometimes he can be shut out as well.
The Kansas defense probably had its most impressive outing against Colorado, holding the Buffaloes to just 31 percent shooting. Kansas forced Colorado to miss 22 of its first 23 shots in route to building a double-digit lead early. Kansas also stole the ball 11 times, with Chalmers getting five. He leads the Big 12 in that category. Expect Kansas to pressure Kansas State early, hoping to force turnovers and get easy points in transition. The Jayhawks are allowing the lowest shooting percentage by their opponents in the conference. Kansas must stop junior guard/forward Cartier Martin Saturday if it's going to dominate Kansas State.
COACHES
DEFENSE
Kansas State's zone defense was too much for Kansas the first time around, and it frustrated the team the whole game. Kansas State forced 16 Kansas turnovers last game, with nine of them coming from freshmen Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush. The zone forced Kansas to settle for outside shots, rather than easy buckets inside with the Kansas big men. Kansas shot just 5-20 from three-point distance the first game, due in large part to Kansas State's zone. On the year, Kansas State is fifth in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 63.4 points per game. Forward Dramane Diarra leads the team with 41 blocks and ranks fifth in the conference with 1.58 blocked shots per game.
There is no doubt that Kansas coach Bill Self will have his Jayhawks mentally focused for this game. He should need to say little about the Wildcats to get his players fired up after they beat the Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse in January. Not only is revenge on the agenda, but first place in the Big 12 Conference is at stake also. A Kansas victory would guarantee at least a share of the conference title. A victory with a Texas loss would give the title
COACHES
Jim Wooldridge is in his sixth and possibly last season as head coach of Kansas State. Wooldridge has struggled at the school after having successful turnarounds at Central Missouri
State, Louisiana Tech and Texas State. Wooldridge has been rumored to be on the hot seat, as it looks like, barring a miracle, Kansas State will miss out on the NCAA tournament again this
ha tech and texas State. Wooldridge has been the hot seat, as it looks like, barring a miracle, miss out on the NCAA tournament again this year. Wooldridge had to miss a couple of games earlier in the season because of a surgery he had to repair a disc in his neck. The trouble didn't stop there for Wooldridge. He was fined last week after Kansas State's one-point loss to Oklahoma for criticizing the officials. When Kansas State beat Kansas in January, it marked the first time a Wooldridge-coached team beat Kansas.
ATAGLANCI
It's been a tough year for Kansas State. The team came into the season thinking NCAA tournament and is now hoping it can qualify for the NIT. Kansas State suffered two losses by a total of two points last week to nationally ranked Texas and Oklahoma. Besides the pair of one-point losses, Kansas State also has two-point losses to Oklahoma State, Baylor and Iowa State. The team also has a three-point loss to Missouri, the only game the Tigers have won since former head coach Quin Snyder resigned.
LAST TIME OUT
Kansas State was finally on the winning end of a close ball game. Kansas State went on the road and defeated Nebraska 66-64. Junior guard/forward Cartier Martin scored five points in the game's final 27 seconds to secure the victory. Martin led the team with 16 points while sophomore guard/forward David Hoskins contributed 14 points. After Nebraska guard Jamel White stole the ball and hit a three-point shot to cut the lead to one point with 3.1 seconds left, Martin hit a free throw to seal the deal. White's last-second attempt was blocked by guard Akeem Wright.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Martin. He is clearly the most athletic player on the team. He didn't have a huge game against Kansas the first time out, but played well enough to help the team get a victory. It will be the K-State's final home game of the year, and Martin will be doing everything in his power to send the seniors out with a season sweep of Kansas. Look for Brandon Rush to guard Martin. Whoever wins that battle could lead his team to victory.
5 QUICK FACTS
19 — Kansas State's turnovers last time against Kansas. Despite winning, Kansas State committed three more turnovers than Kansas.
23-51 — Kansas State shot less than 50 percent last time against Kansas, but its zone defense was good enough to win.
47. 8 Martin's field goal percentage, seventh in the conference.
13-3 — Kansas State's record this season at Bramlage Coliseum this season. Kansas State hasn't beaten Kansas at home since 1983.
1-12 — Wooldridge's record
1-12 - Wooldridge's record all-time against Kansas.
KEY TO VICTORY
Zone. It's all about the zone defense. Kansas has improved against it this year with freshman Mario Chalmers leading the way with his outside shooting. If Kansas State can force Kansas to put up bad shots from the outside and limit its penetration, Kansas State could steal a victory. If Kansas can play through Kansas State's zone, it will not have enough offensive firepower to stay with Kansas.
Texas A&M at Texas Tech
When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Where: Lubbock Texas
Texas A&M comes into this game as one of the hottest teams in the conference. The team just beat No. 7Texas at home for its sixth straight victory. Junior guard Acie Law hit a three-pointer as time expired. I Texas A&M wins, it will all but guarantee the team a spot in the NCAA tournament. If the Aggies lose to the Red Raiders, they will still have a chance at qualifying for the NCAA tournament. Texas Tech boasts the leading scorer in the conference in junior guard Jarrius Jackson. TexasTech has been struggling lately and is coming off an 11-point loss to Baylor.
Around the Big 12 BY DANIEL BERK, KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRIER
Oklahoma at Texas
Oklahoma at Texas
When: Saturday, 3 p.m.
Where: Austin, Texas
This could be the game of the year in the Big 12 Conference. IfTexas loses at home to its rival and Kansas wins on the road at Kansas State, Texas will finish second behind Kansas in the Big 12 Conference. If Oklahoma wins and Kansas loses to Kansas State, there will be a three-way tie for first place. Oklahoma would most likely get the No.1 seed in the conference tournament next week if that happened.
Iowa State at Colorado
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: Boulder, Colo.
This is a must-win game for Colorado. The team looked like a no-brainer for the NCAA tournament a month ago. After being hammered by Kansas by 21 points, Colorado may be on the outside looking in. A loss to Iowa State would kill its chances at postseason play. Iowa State is looking to finish the season on a high note. The Cyclones have struggled this season and have limped to a 6-9 record in conference play. Two of the league's top scorers will face off when sophomore guard Richard Roby from Colorado and junior guard Curtis Stinson from Iowa State play against each other.
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