8B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GAMEDAY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2006
Slowing Gardner key to pushing streak
KU Tip-off
AT A GLANCE
Kansas is riding a season high, eight-game winning streak and is ranked in the national polls for the first time this season at No. 22. The Jayhawks are led by freshman guards Brandon Rush and Mario Chalmers, who are both averaging more than 15 points per game in conference play and may be fighting each other for the conference newcomer of the year award.
LAST TIME OUT
- Kansas' offense was no-where to be found on Monday against Oklahoma State in the game's opening 30 minutes. The Jayhawks finally came alive in the last 10 minutes. Sophomore guard Russell Robinson's three-point shot put Kansas up for good. The Jayhawks ended up winning by 15, but the score was not indicative of how close the game was.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Robinson. The New York City native will likely spend most of the game defending Missouri's leading scorer Thomas Gardner. Gardner scored 40 points the last time these two teams met, and Robinson will shoulder the majority of the load defending him
8 — Kansas is on an eight-game winning streak.
5 QUICK FACTS
2. The number of missed free throws with less than a second remaining by senior forward Christian Moody the last time Missouri and Kansas met on Jan.16.
2. 67 — The number of steals per game for Chalmers, who leads the conference.
2 — The number of players scoring in double figures for Kansas, after having just one for most of the season.
LOOKING AHEAD
36. 2 — Opponents average shooting percentage against Kansas.
♦ The Jayhawks need to keep winning. If Kansas can win tomorrow and next week against Baylor, it would set up a game next weekend against Texas that would likely decide who would win the regular-season conference title. The Jayhawks have surprised the conference with their ability to be good early in their careers, playing with virtually all freshmen and sophomores.
KEY TO VICTORY
- Stop Gardner. Gardner is the Big 12's leading scorer and is averaging nearly 20 points per game. Robinson will spend most of the time guarding him, but Rush and senior guard Jeff Hawkins could both see time on him. Gardner is the Tigers lone legitimate scorer and if the Jayhawks can stop him, expect them to win big.
No. 22 Kansas vs. Missouri, CBS 2:45 p.m., Saturday, Allen Fieldhouse
Kansas
Offense
The Kansas offense was effective the last time Missouri and Kansas met on Jan. 16, shooting a blistering 53.4 percent from the field. The problem in the last game in Columbia, Mo., was free throws. Kansas missed 14 free throws, which proved to be the difference in the game that Kansas lost in overtime. Kansas saw freshman guard Mario Chalmers open up his game offensively against Missouri in January. Chalmers has not slowed down since this time. He is averaging 15.3 points per game in conference play. The Kansas offense struggled against Oklahoma State on Monday until the final 10 minutes of the game, when Kansas sealed the 64-49 victory.
Defense
Offense
Missouri
If it wasn't for its defense, Kansas wov likely have lost the game against Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks held the Cowboys to 37.5 percent shooting and stepped up their defensive pressure even more in the final minutes of the game. Kansas will need to be strong against Missouri's Thomas Gardner, who averages nearly 20 points per game. Gardner had 40 points the last time the teams met. Expect Kansas coach Bill Self to focus the majority of Kansas' defense on Gardner. Chalmers continues to be solid on the defensive end, leading the conference in steals at 2.67 a game.
In the last Missouri-Kansas game, it was the Thomas Gardner show. The junior guard lit up Kansas with 40 points and 7-of-14 three-point shots. Kansas had major problems defending him late in the ballgame, which led to Missouri's comeback. Since that game, Gardner's production has tailled off. In his past three games, Gardner has averaged just more than 12 points per game, down from his season total of 19.8. Gardner is the team's best offensive player, and the team normally relies on him heavily. Missouri's second leading scorer is senior guard Jimmy McKinney. McKinney is a veteran to the rivalry and has competed in nine games between the two schools.
Defense
Missouri failed to contain freshman guard Mario Chalmers in the last game. Chalmers poured in 22 points and had eight assists. Missouri was more effective in guarding freshman guard Brandon Rush, who shot just 5-of-13 from the field. Gardner handled most of the defensive duties on Rush and made him dribble to his left on several occasions. The Tigers have allowed just more than 70 points a game on defense. Senior center KevinYoung is the team's best rebounder and grabs 7.6 boards per game. Sophomore guard Jason Horton is the team's most active perimeter defender, with 36 steals on the season. He will most likely get the assignment to guard Chalmers on defense.
Coaching
Self will see a different face on the opposing sideline on Saturday after former Missouri coach Quin Snyder resigned last week. Self will expect Missouri to look a little different under interim coach Melvin Watkins. Self has Kansas' young team one game out of first place in the conference. A match-up against Texas looms for next weekend. If Kansas continues to play at its current pace, having won 15 of the last 17 games, expect Self to win conference coach of the year honors and be mentioned for national coach of the year as well.
— Ryan Colaianni
Coaching
Former Missouri coach Quin Snyder will not be roaming the sidelines for Missouri on Saturday. Instead, interim head coach Melvin Watkins will take his place. Snyder resigned from the head coach position one week ago. Watkins is no stranger to Allen Fieldhouse or the Big 12 Conference, though. He is the former coach of Texas A&M, where he was fired two seasons ago. Watkins is most known for going 0-16 in the conference with Texas A&M in his last season there. Watkins won the first Missouri game of his career, coaching the team to a 74-71 victory against Kansas State last Sunday.
Daniel Berk
MU Tip-off
AT A GLANCE
It has been a horrific season for Missouri. After a 3-1 conference start, Missouri went on a six-game losing streak before finally winning last weekend against Kansas State. During the losing streak, Missouri lost every game by double figures. The poor play and lack of effort both contributed to former coach Quin Snyder's resignation. Missouri sits at 4-7 in the conference.
LAST TIME OUT
Missouri played its first game without Snyder and came away successful last Sunday in the 74-71 victory against Kansas State. Sophomore Marshall Brown led the team with 18 points, four rebounds and four assists. Junior guard Thomas Gardner was quiet in the game with just 11 points.
PLAYER TO WATCH
◆ Gardner. Every Kansas fan is aware that Gardner lit up Kansas for 40 points last game. Kansas defenders did everything but throw the kitchen sink at him. Three different players guarded him, but nothing worked. It's real simple: Missouri goes as Gardner goes. Freshman guard Brandon Rush and sophomore guard Russell Robinson should try to force Gardner to take bad shots on Saturday.
5 QUICK FACTS
15 — The number of Academic All Big 12 first or second team players interim coach Melvin Watkins produced while at Texas A&M.
6 — The number of games in a row that Missouri lost after beating Kansas on its home floor a month ago.
8 — The number of turnovers Gardner had last game against Kansas, despite his 40 points.
51. 9 — Missouri shot 51.9 percent from the field last game against Kansas State, up from its season average of 45.9.
75 — The number of three pointers Gardner has made on the year. This number is more than anyone else on his team has even attempted.
LOOKING AHEAD
- Missouri's future is uncertain at this time. Some of the players said they were not sure about their futures at the school after Snyder's resignation. Watkins needs another victory against a main rival to gain more respect from the players.
KEY TO VICTORY
- Play within itself. When Missouri struggles, it has a lot to do with the players trying to make too many plays. The Tigers must play composed basketball in a rowdy environment. Gardner will be the guy to watch again. When Missouri struggles, no other player lets his emotions be seen aside from Gardner. If he is upset and out of control, the Tigers will get blown out.
Iowa State at No.19 Oklahoma When: noon, Saturday Where: Norman, Okla.
The Cyclones come into Lloyd Noble Center losing seven of their past 10 games. Oklahoma hasn't been winning lately, either. The Sooners lost to the Colorado Buffaloes on Wednesday, despite a 26-point outburst from junior guard Michael Neal. He was 7-of-14 from long range. The game's most intriguing match-up could be Oklahoma senior guard Terrell Everett and Iowa State junior guard Curtis Stinson.
Around the Big 12
Colorado at Kansas State When: 12:30 p.m., Saturday Where: Manhattan
Colorado has won seven of its past nine games and is on a two-game winning streak. Colorado defeated No. 19 Oklahoma on Wednesday, in large part because of sophomore guard Richard Roby's 28 points and nine rebounds. Kansas State cannot seem to come away with a victory lately. The Wildcats have lost five of their past six games, even though they've been competitive in the games. Kansas State lost on Wednesday against Texas Tech.
No. 6 Texas at Oklahoma Sta
When: 12:30 p.m., Sunday
Where: Stillwater, Okla.
No. 6 Texas at Oklahoma State
Texas still sits atop the Big 12 with a 10-1 conference record. After a loss on the road to Oklahoma on Jan. 28, Texas has responded well. The Longhorns have won five straight games. Their most recent victory came from a 90-63 blowout against Baylor in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday. Oklahoma State lost to No. 22 Kansas on Monday. Despite a 15-point performance from sophomore guard JamesOn Curry, turnovers plagued the Cowboys. Curry had seven in Monday's game and Oklahoma State had 24 overall, compared to 20 Kansas turnovers.
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