8B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GAMEDAY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2006
Stinson only hurdle to Hawk victory
KU Tip-off
ATAGLANCE
The Jayhawks now stand alone in second place in the Big 12 Conference at 7-2 in conference play. Kansas is just one game behind first-place Texas. Kansas is one of the hot-test teams in the country, winning 13 of its past 15 games. Kansas will also want to establish an early lead. The Jayhawks are 13-3 on the season when leading at halftime.
LAST TIME OUT
Kansas was able to get a comfortable 21-point victory despite a six-point output from leading scorer Brandon Rush. Freshman guard Mario Chalmers led the way offensively with 16 secondhalf points. He finished with 20 points in a game that saw all 13 Kansas players see the floor.
Rush. The freshman guard scored just six points Wednesday night. He scored under double figures for the first time in nine games. It is key that Rush responds well and provides another solid effort that Kansas fans have grown accustomed to this season.
5 QUICK FACTS
1 — The number of turnovers for senior guard Jeff Hawkins in the past seven games.
17 — Field goal attempts for Chalmers Wednesday night, a career high.
37. 2. — Percentage opposing teams are shooting against Kansas.
6 — Straight victories for Kansas, helping bring its conference record to 7-2.
4 Three pointers by Mario Chalmers against Nebraska, a career high.
LOOKING AHEAD
Kansas will need to keep winning if it hopes to keep up with Texas for the conference title. The Jayhawks will face the Longhorns two weeks from Saturday in a game that could decide the conference. A victory against Iowa State would likely bring Kansas into the Top 25 for the first time this season.
KEY TO VICTORY
- Stop Iowa State guards Curtis Stinson and Will Blalock.
Kansas did this well in the last match-up. Stinson and Blalock will likely make adjustments from the last game and Chalmers and sophomore guard Russell Robinson will need to be ready for them defensively. Robinson is coming off a game in which he had four steals against Nebraska.
Kansas vs. Iowa State, Channels 13 and 15 3 p.m., Saturday, Allen Fieldhouse
Kansas Offense
Kansas got nearly all of its production from its starting guards in the last game against Iowa State on Jan. 28. Freshmen Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush, and sophomore Russell Robinson combined for 59 points during the 10-point victory. Kansas will need to continue its strong play from its guards against Iowa State on Saturday. Rush will also need to return to form. The Kansas City, Mo., native scored only six points against Nebraska Wednesday night. He is averaging 16.7 points per game and just under seven rebounds per game in Big 12 Conference play.
Rating: 3.5
Defense
The Kansas guards held Iowa State star guards Curtis Stinson and Will Blalock to just 13-of-36 shooting in the last meeting. Stinson and Blalock did not have many open looks. Without this duo, the Cyclones have limited options for offensive production. Expect the Jayhawks to pressure the ball early in an attempt to force turnovers. Chalmers has a team-high 30 steals in nine conference games, for an average of 3.3 per game. Kansas continues to hold its opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field.
Rating:3.5
Iowa State
Offense
In the last Iowa State-Kansas game, Iowa State's start guards struggled and the team shot just 37 percent from the field. Junior guard Curtis Stinson is coming off a week where he was announced Big 12 Player of the Week after registering a triple-double against Colorado at home last Saturday, Against Kansas, Stinson shot 8-of-21 from the field and had 24 points. The Cyclones other starting guard, junior Will Blalock, also struggled going 5-of-14 and scored 12 points. Sophomore forward Rahshon Clark has been producing offensively and had 20 points and six rebounds two weeks ago against Kansas. Iowa State is second in the conference scoring an average of 77.6 points per game.
Ranking: 3
Defense
In its last game against Kansas, Iowa State struggled all game to contain Kansas freshmen Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush. Chalmers, who was guarded most of the game by Blalock, scored 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Rush, who was guarded by Clark, had 20 points and 10 rebounds. Stinson and Blalock are second and third, respectively, in the conference in steals. Stinson has 56 steals and Blalock has 48. Against Kansas, Stinson and Blalock had four steals and so did big man Jiril Hubalek. Overall, Iowa State is last in the conference, allowing 75.9 points per game. Opponents are shooting 49 percent against the Cyclones — second to last in the league.
Ranking: 2.5
Coaching
After leading his team to the NCAA tournament last season, Wayne Morgan is trying to find a way to get the Cyclones back to the tournament this season. Morgan and the Cyclones lost a big game Wednesday night against Kansas State, which could set back their hopes for a NCAA bid. The loss dropped the team to
4-5 in the State majorlike it and
inference. Look for lowe to press Kansas the ity of the game, did the first time, try and create turnovers. Ranking: 2.5
Coaching
Bill Self was able to find a way to stop Stinson and Blalock, two of the best offensive players in the conference, the last time his team faced Iowa State.The scheme last game was applying defensive pressure on the duo with KU guards. Self will also need to get his offense going after two straight subpar performances. Kansas shot 41.9 percent from the field against Nebraska Wednesday night and shot 42.4 percent against Oklahoma last week. Self and the Jayhawks will enter the game with six straight conference victories. Kansas has also won 13 of its last 15 games. Rating: 3
Kansas coach
Daniel Berk
Ryan Colaianni
Mario Chulmers
ISU Tip-off
AT A GLANCE
iowa State comes into Law- rence as one of the more inconsistent teams in the Big 12 Conference. Starting with the loss to Texas Tech, Iowa State has alternated wins and losses for seven straight games. The team is tied with both Kansas State and Texas Tech, two teams it has already lost to, for seventh in the conference.
LAST TIME OUT
Junior guard Curtis Simson scored 22 points, and freshman center Shawn Taggart grabbed 11 rebounds, but it wasn't enough, as Iowa State lost to Kansas State on the road, 66-63. Junior guard Will Blalock was hardly a factor in the game, shooting 4-12 from the field and turning the ball over four times. Junior forward Jessan Gray was the only other player for Iowa State in double figures, with 11 points.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Stinson. It was just a year ago when Stinson and the Cyclones came into Allen Fieldhouse and left with an overtime victory. Stinson was brilliant in that game and Kansas guards Aaron Miles and Keith Langford had great difficulties containing the athletic guard. Against Kansas this season, although he scored 24 points, Stinson's impact was limited by Russell Robinson's solid defense.
5 QUICK FACTS
10-7 Iowa State's record on the road in the past two seasons after having a 28-game road losing streak in conference play.
5 Number of players in Big 12 history to register a triple double as Stinson did against Colorado last week.
72.7 — Iowa State's conference-leading free-throw percentage.
223 — Iowa State's conference-leading number of steals.
13. 8 The Cyclones turnovers per game, compared to their opponents' 19.7 per game.
LOOKING AHFAD
- After Kansas, Iowa State will travel back home to take on a struggling Nebraska team. A victory against Kansas would give Iowa State a ton of momentum heading into that game and would bring its conference record to .500. A loss against Kansas could start a free fall for the Cyclones, as it would mark an 0-2 week against Kansas teams.
KEY TO VICTORY
Solid guard play. Stinson and Blalock are going to have outplay Kansas guards Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson. If Stinson and Blalock can frustrate the Kansas guards and can hit their outside shots, Iowa State could just steal another victory in the Fieldhouse.
Around the Big 12
Nebraska at Texas
When: Saturday, 3 p.m.
Where: Austin, Texas
Nebraska will try to rebound from its 21-point defeat to Kansas when it travels to Austin to play the No. 6 Longhorns. Texas has won three in a row since losing to Oklahoma, including a 21-point victory at Texas Tech on ESPN's Big Monday. Texas is led by senior forward P.J. Tucker, who is averaging 16.8 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Baylor at Oklahoma
When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Where: Norman, Okla.
Baylor is coming off its best game of the season, beating Missouri at home, 90-64 on Tuesday night. Baylor guard Curtis Jerrell led the team with 28 points, hitting five of six three-point shots. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State on the road 73-65. Guard Terrell Everett led the Sooners with 23 points.
Kansas State at Missouri
When; Sunday, 12:30 p.m.
Where: Columbia, Mo.
Kansas State hopes to welcome head coach Jim Wooldridge to the bench on Sunday. Wooldridge missed Wednesday's 66-63 victory against Iowa State because of surgery to repair a bulging disc in his neck. Missouri has lost six in a row since beating Kansas at home Jan. 16.
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