12B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GAMEDAY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2006
Seniors say farewell, hope for success
KU Tip-off
ATAGLANCL
Kansas needs to understand that Colorado will come into the game desperately needing a victory to improve its NCAA tournament hopes. The Jayhawks will look to rebound from their largest loss of the season, a 25-point defeat, to the Longhorns in Austin, Texas. Kansas struggled to score against Texas and will need to regain offensive firepower if it is going to defeat Colorado.
LAST TIME OUT
Kansas was crushed, 80-55 by Texas in its biggest game of the season on Feb. 25. Freshman guard and leading scorer Brandon Rush scored only three points on 1-8 shooting. Freshman forward Julian Wright was the lone bright spot for Kansas with his 18 points against the Texas.The Longhorns shot better than 35 percent in the game. They now have a one-game lead over Kansas in the Big 12 Conference standings.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Brandon Rush.The Kansas City, Mo., native has struggled in the past four games, averaging just under 10 points per game in that span. Rush did not play well in the first half the last time these two teams met in Boulder on Jan. 11, but played better in the second half to finish with 17 points. Rush needs to be more aggressive when he has the ball, and create points by driving to the basket. The Jayhawks need Rush to perform well down the stretch if they are going to make a run in the NCAA tournament.
5 QUICK FACTS
9.75 — The scoring average for Rush in the past four games.
19 — The scoring average for Wright in the past two games.
55.1 — The field goal percentage allowed by Kansas against Texas on Feb. 25.
36. 8 — The field goal percentage average allowed by Kansas this season — still first in the nation.
18. 1 - The assists per game for Kansas, which leads the Big 12.
LOOKING AHEAD
Kansas needs to win its final two games to have a chance of catching Texas for a regular season Big 12 title. The two victories would likely lock up at least a No. 2 seed in the Big 12 Tournament in Dallas. Kansas needs to build momentum leading into the Big 12 Tournament on March 9.
KEY TO VICTORY
Forget about the Texas game. Kansas players were embarrassed by their play against Texas. They need to move on with the season. Colorado will certainly give Kansas its best game in Allen Fieldhouse, while it hopes to get into the NCAA Tournament. If Kansas forgets about Texas and regains the solid play that produced the 10-game conference winning streak, it should pull out the victory.
Kansas vs. Colorado, Jayhawk TV 7 p.m., Tonight, Allen Fieldhouse
Kansas
OFFENSE
The Kansas offense struggled against Texas scoring just 55 points. Kansas has been unable to take care of the basketball, averaging nearly 16 turnovers per game. Julian Wright has led the offense for the past two games, averaging 19 points per game.The Kansas post players have been increasing their production while the Kansas guards Brandon Rush, Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson have struggled with scoring.
DEFENSE
The Kansas defense played its worst game of the season against Texas, allowing the Longhorns to shoot 55.1 percent. Despite that, Kansas still leads the nation in field goal defense at 36.8 percent per game. Kansas must get back to its strong defensive play, forcing steals and leading to easy baskets.
DEFENSE
Colorado
COACHES
Kansas coach Bill Self has coached his young team to become one of the surprise teams in the country this season. Self led Kansas on a ten game win streak before falling to Texas Saturday. Self is likely the front runner for Big 12 Conference coach of the year, if he can get his Jayhawks back on track following the big loss. Self needs to get his team focused on the next two games and forget about the loss to Texas.
Defensively, Colorado is in the middle of the pack in most categories. The team did do a good job defending the three-point shots last game against Kansas, forcing it to shoot just 2-13. One thing the Buffaloes excel in on the defensive end is blocked shots. Colorado leads the conference in blocks per game with 5.8. Three players on the roster, Copeland, Andy Osborn and Julius Ashby all have over 20 blocks on the season. In the last game against Kansas, Colorado had 11 blocked shots. Copeland, Osborn and Ashby had two blocks apiece.
OFFENSE
In Colorado's last game against Kansas, its leading scorer, Richard Roby, recorded 15 points on 6-18 shooting. Roby is Colorado's most explosive offensive player averaging 17.8 points per game.The Buffaloes other main scoring threat is senior Chris Copeland. Copeland had 22 points last time Kansas and Colorado met. He was on from three-point distance, going 4-6 on the night. On the season, he is averaging 12.3 points per game and is shooting 38 percent from three-point range.
COACHING
Head coach Ricardo Patton is in his tenth season as head coach of Colorado. Colorado has an impressive record, 18-7, but have a poorly planned schedule and a bad RPI, which could prevent it from qualifying for the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Patton has taken a little heat for not scheduling a tougher non-conference schedule that would have enabled his team to have a higher RPI. He has a senior laden team this year, and if he hopes to make any real damage in the NCAA tournament, this will be his best shot for a couple more years. Especially with the possibility of Roby bolting for the NBA.
CU Tip-off
ALAGIANCI
Colorado comes into this game in a must-win scenario. Colorado is lacking a victory against a big-time program on the road. The Buffaloes currently sit at 18-7, and on ESPN.com are projected as a 12-seed for the NCAA Tournament. But it's no secret that a loss against Kansas would hurt its tournament status and knock it to the outside looking in. Colorado is 8-6 in Big 12 Conference play, with its biggest victory at home against Oklahoma.
LAST TIME OUT
Colorado protected its home court Saturday and defeated a struggling Missouri team 78-60. Colorado dominated inside and scored 44 of its points inside the paint. Colorado struggled with its main option, the three-point shot, going 3-22 on the night. The Buffalooes found themselves in an early hole, trailing 28-13, but were able to come back putting together a 21-4 run at the end of the first half and a 17-3 run in the second half.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sophomore guard Richard Roby, The San Bernardino, Calif., native is one of the top players in the league. It has been numored he could jump to the NBA after this season. He had an average game last time Kansas and Colorado hooked up. He will need to have an excellent game in order for Colorado to upset Kansas this time around. Freshman guard Brandon Rush or sophomore guard Russell Robinson will probably guard Roby, who is a candidate for first team All Big 12.
5 QUICK TACTS
2-5 — Colorado's road conference record. The Buffalooes are not a road team and could struggle with the loud Allen Fieldhouse crowd.
39.5 — The three-point percentage of Roby this season. He ranks in the top five in the conference in three-point shots.
2.28 — The assist-to-turnover ratio for junior guard Marcus Hall
the best in the conference. 10 The number of seniors on the Colorado roster. Colorado is an experienced team that can handle a rowdy road environment like Kansas.
15. 64 - The average amount of offensive rebounds per game for Colorado, which leads the conference.
LOOKING AHEAD
A victory on the road would most likely solidify Colorado's NCAA Tournament chances. It would also bring its conference record to 9-6 and give the team a good chance at earning the No. 4 seed in the Big 12 Tournament and gaining a first-round bye. Colorado will end its season at home against Iowa State.
KEY TO VICTORY
Get Roby involved. A lot of things need to go right in order for Colorado to pull the upset, but the most important is Roby. He can not have an average night. He is going to have to be special in order for his team to have a shot. He is capable of having a 30-point outburst and that is vital for his team to have a chance.
Around the Big 12
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▼ LEG
When: Wednesday
Where: College Station, Texas
This has become the best game of the week in
the conference. If Texas A&M wins this game,
it will give it a huge boost in making the NCAA
tournament. Some fans in Texas were more
concerned about this game than the Kansas
game. Texas A&M played Texas close the first
game before losing by 13. Texas A&M's Joseph
Jones will be the key in the game. He had
31 points the last time the two teams played.
Texas at Texas A&M
Kansas State at Nebraska When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Lincoln, Neh
Kansas State has had a rough week. It lost to Texas and Oklahoma by one point each. Both teams need a victory to ensure qualification for the NIT. Kansas State and Nebraska had NCAA tournament hopes before the season started, but those are long gone.
Texas Tech at Baylor
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Waco. Texas
This is a game that will be a good one to watch next year. Unfortunately, they have to play it this year too. Both teams are loaded with young talent that will be factors in the Big 12 Conference, next season. Baylor is coming off a rare victory, beating Iowa State 91-73 at home. Texas Tech is coming off a 11-point loss to Oklahoma State.