8B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GAMEDAY
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2006
Big Red hope to cool down red hot 'Hawks
KU Tip-off
AFLIGENCE
Kansas, winners of five straight, is one of the hottest teams in the NCAA, but the victories have not brought the team the national recognition it has seen in past seasons. Freshman guard Brandon Rush continues to shoulder the majority of the offensive load for Kansas, so look for him to do the same tonight in Lincoln, Neb.
LAST TIME OUT
Kansas came back from a 16-point deficit with 10 minutes remaining to top Oklahoma 59-58 Sunday in Allen Fieldhouse.The victory was the Jayhawks' fifth straight and 12th in their last 14 games.
PLAYER TO WATCH
5 QUICK FACTS
Freshman forward Julian Wright. Wright exploded for key dunks and key rebounds against Oklahoma, scoring 14 points and pulling down eight rebounds. His versatility makes him one of the unique post players in the country, and he will need another solid output to have Kansas get its sixth straight victory.
2 — Number of times Brandon Rush has been named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.
5 — Consecutive victories for Kansas, vaulting the team into second place in the conference.
8 — Turnovers by Mario Chalmers against Oklahoma.
14. 8 — Rush's points per game for the season.
1 — Number of Kansas players averaging 10 or more points per game (Rush).
LOOKING AHFAD
Kansas is in the thick of the Big 12 Championship race, just one game behind first-place Texas. If Kansas can continue its winning ways, a match-up with Texas at the end of the month may decide who wins the title.
KEY TO VICTORY
Avoiding the hangover. Sunday's victory was an emotional one, and Self needs to have his players ready for a conference road game tonight. The team needs to forget about Sunday's win and focus on earning another one, which would help it continue its quest for a conference title.
Kansas vs. Nebraska, Jayhawk TV 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Devaney Center
Kansas
OFFENSE
The Kansas offense had an off day during Sunday's one-point victory against Oklahoma, scoring just 59 points and struggling to find any consistency until the last 10 minutes. Nebraska, however, is not a team that prides itself on defense the way Oklahoma does. Kansas dominated Nebraska offensively during the first meeting in January, scoring 96 points in a game that was never in doubt. Freshman guard Brandon Rush led the team in scoring, along with senior guard Jeff Hawkins, against the Huskers last time in Lawrence. Look for Rush to do the same tonight in Lincoln, Neb.
Nebraska
DEFENSE
Holding a team to just eight points in the final ten minutes of a basketball game is impressive, and that's exactly what Kansas did to Oklahoma on Sunday. The timely defense enabled the Jayhawks to get back into the game. Kansas should see more of its stifling defense, which is holding opponents to less than 40 percent shooting on a regular basis.
OFFENSE
The last time Nebraska and Kansas met on the court, Nebraska managed only 54 points, and struggled to get into an offensive flow. The 54 points were 13 below the team's season average. Nebraska center Aleks Maric scored 12 points, and freshman guard Jamel White came off the bench to add 10 points. Both Nebraska's leading scorers, Wes Wilkinson and Jason Dourisseau, had quiet games against Kansas the first time. Lately Wilkinson has improved, averaging 15 points the past three games.
DEFENSE
Nebraska's defense struggled in the earlier game against Kansas. The Cornhuskers' guards had trouble keeping up. Kansas shot 11-18 from three-point distance last game. Senior guard Jeff Hawkins and freshman guard Brandon Rush each had 17 points. Kansas shot 59.7 percent against Nebraska, which shot 29 percent. Nebraska is allowing 64.2 points per game, thirty points less than what the team gave up against Kansas in the first meeting.
COACHING
Bill Self found a way to keep his team motivated during a game that appeared to be over for the Jayhawks Sunday. Self's squad kept its poise and pulled out its most improbable victory this season. Self has had Kansas prepared for each road game it has played this season, going 3-1 in conference play away from Allen Fieldhouse.The Jayhawks will need that to continue tonight if they hope to stay in the running for a conference championship.
Ryan Colaianni
COACHING
Nebraska coach Barry Collier has already had his ups and downs this season. Nebraska is 5-3 in conference play. If it can continue its hot play, Nebraska could earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament. This feat has never been accomplished under Collier, who has a 1-10 record against Kansas. The only victory occurred two years ago at Nebraska. Collier has produced only one team that has played postseason, his 2004 squad that qualified for the NIT Tournament.
Daniel Berk
NU Tip-off
AT A GLANCE
It has been a season of ups and downs for Nebraska, especially since entering conference play. Nebraska started the conference season 2-0, with victories against Oklahoma and Kansas State, then lost three games in a row against Iowa State, Kansas and Colorado.
LAST TIME OUT
PLAYER TO WATCH
Nebraska continued its winning ways, beating Baylor at home by 15 points. Nebraska held Baylor to just 32 percent shooting overall, and 20 percent shooting in the second half. Baylor hit only five shots in the second half.
Wes Wilkinson. The senior forward was extremely quiet the first game, scoring only three points. Wilkinson has put together solid games since then, and will be ready to try to get some revenge against Kansas on his home court. Wilkinson is a deadly three-point shooter, and if Kansas gives him any room, he will not hesitate to shoot.
5 QUICK FACTS
13-2 — Nebraska's record at the Devaney Center this season.
9. 8 — Sophomore Joe McCray's scoring average before being dismissed from the team.
56 — Turnovers for Douris-seau this season, to just 32 assists.
17-62 — Nebraska's shooting chart against Kansas last time, a 27-percent average.
24 — Nebraska turnovers last game against Kansas, compared to only six assists.
LOOKING AHEAD
A victory against Kansas would be huge for Nebraska. It would create a four-team tie for second place with Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Oklahoma. A loss would bring the team back to reality before starting a very difficult stretch of its schedule. After Kansas, Nebraska will travel to Austin, Texas, and Ames, Iowa, to play in two of the tougher environments in the conference.
KEY TO VICTORY
Shooting. Nebraska is capable of hitting a lot of shots and playing tough, boring defense. If Nebraska can hit shots early and maintain confidence, that will turn into tough defense. Missed shots could lead to fast-break points for Kansas.
Around the Big 12
Colorado at Texas A&M
Where: College Station, Texas
Colorado aims to return to its winning ways. The Buffalooes were in second place in the Big 12 Conference at 5-2 before losing on the road to Iowa State Sunday. The team still managed to stay ranked No. 25 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Sophomore guard Richard Roby, who is averaging 18.1 points per game, leads Colorado. Texas A&M comes into the game after a tough loss at Texas. The Aggies played hard and made it close down the stretch, before star forward Joseph Jones fouled out with 31 points. The Aggies have been struggling lately, and a victory against the Buffalooes would raise their confidence a bit before they play the Cowboys on Saturday.
Iowa State at Kansas State
When: Tonight, 6:30
Where: Manhattan
Iowa State comes into the game after a strong performance against Colorado at home. Curtis Stinson had a triple-double and was named Big 12 Conference Player of the Week. Rahshon Clark also had a career day, scoring 24 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. The victory moved Iowa State to 14-7 on the season and 4-4 in conference play. Kansas State aims to end its struggles, having lost three in a row. The team will be without head coach Jim Wooldridge, who will undergo neck surgery and be unable to coach the Wildcats. Kansas State strives to get closer to .500 in the league as it sits at 3-5.
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Oklahoma at Oklahoma St
When: Tonight, 8
Where: Stillwater, Okla.
Bitter rivals face off as Oklahoma will try to rebound from a devastating one-point loss at Kansas. Oklahoma led most of the game before Kansas came back in the final eight minutes. Oklahoma still managed to stay in the rankings despite the loss to Kansas and will look to keep its chances of winning the Big 12 Championship alive. Oklahoma State got back to its winning ways when it won on the road at Kansas State last weekend.The Cowboys beat the Wildcats by two points and had three players score in double figures, led by Jameson Curry with 12 points.
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