8B
GAME DAY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
MONDAY FEBRUARY 19,2007
Aside from in-state bragging rights and a conference championship, the Jayhawks have turned their focus to March and the big prize. If Kansas goes undefeated the rest of the season and gets some help from top teams, the Jayhawks could find themselves on top of a bracket on Selection Sunday.
STAR WATCH
Sophomore guard Mario Chalmers broke out of a recent shooting slump Saturday, and
Chalmers
his play makes an already deep guard rotation deeper. At one point during the Nebraska game, he took the court alongside freshman guard Sherron Collins and junior guard Russell Robinson.
QUESTION MARK
WILL THE JAYHAWKS PLAY PRESSURE DEFENSE?
Usually they mix in the press sporadically throughout the game, but perhaps they will go with wall-to-wall pressure to try to perplex the Wildcats.
3 REASONS KUWINS
ONE — The Jayhawks might just be the hottest team in America right now. They're blowing out teams and playing with the type of chemistry that makes opponents afraid in March.
TWO — One day of rest. The Jayhawks are used to it, having played several Big Monday and tournament games. It may be harder for the Wildcats to adjust, especially with Huggins' demanding practices.
**THREE** — Brad Witherspoon and Matt Kleinmann. The duo combined for four points Saturday, and though their minutes will probably be kept small tonight, it's good to know they're there.
HOMESWEETHOME
Kansas looks to extend its winning streak in Manhattan
KANSAS VS. KANSAS STATE 8 Tonight, Bramlage Coliseum, ESPN
Kansas 22-4,9-2 Big 12
OFFENSE
Kansas State 19-8, 8-4 Big 12
The Jlayhawk offense has proved versatile at all positions so far this season. The guards, led by freshman Sherron Collins, are able to knock down zone-busting three-pointers as well as force turnovers and ball-handling errors. The forwards, including sophomore Julian Wright, have dominated opponents for rebounds and blocks. Between those two is sophomore guard Brandon Rush, who is again emerging as one of the country's best players.
The only concern is foul trouble for the Jayhawk big men. Self said that junior center Sasha Kaun and freshman forward Darrell Arthur made "some of the fooliest fouls." They'll be needed so the Jayhawks can keep fresh bodies in at all times.
DEFENSE
Kansas' defense received a compliment from famed North Carolina coach Dean Smith, who said it was even better in person than on television. Defense has always been this team's forte, and look for that to continue tonight. Both teams are playing on one day of rest, and if the Wildcats aren't in top shape, the Jayhawks will play aggressive and press for turnovers, which can turn into fast-break points on the other end.
MOMENTUM
OFFENSE
Nobody's doubting that the Jay hawks are on a roll recently, but the Wildcats are also coming off a victory, and they'll have the home-court advantage. If Kansas is going to quiet the Bramlage Coliseum crowd, it's going to require an early lead and a blowout game by halftime. Otherwise, the Wildcat fans have been waiting for this game for too long to go silent early. Look for a strong start by Kansas, but don't be surprised if K-State keeps it from getting out of hand.
The fact that guard Jermaine Maybank was Kansas State's leading scorer the first time these two teams played says enough about the Wildcats' recent offensive struggles. Maybank, who averages 3.9 points per game, dropped 26 against the Jayhawks. He had to step up because leading scorer Cartier Martin, guard Lance Harris and guard David Hoskins all had sub-par games. For K-State to not lose by 27 points this game, Martin is going to have to step up. He never got in the flow of the game against the Jayhawks, but he has played well since. Since then, he's scored 25, 22 and 17 points in his team's last three games — all above his average of 16.
DEFENSE
The Wildcats have the reputation of being a good defensive team, but they don't show it on the court. Kansas State has no trouble shutting down dysfunctional also-rans such as Colorado and Iowa State, but it can't stop any team that is a serious offensive threat. Missouri and Kansas both had strong offensive performances with K-State. Even Nebraska did. That's right, the Huskers' Aleks Maric scored 41 points against the Wildcats last week. His whole team didn't even score that much against Kansas last Saturday. Expect Kansas State to play better defensively than it did against Kansas the first time, but don't expect the Wildcats to allow less than 75 points.
MOMENTUM
This game has been circled on every K-State student, player and faculty member's calendar since Oct. 13. On that day, Kansas State coach Bob Huggins more or less told the fans present at Midnight Madness the streak would end. Oh yeah, the streak. Not a single player on either team was alive the last time the Wildcats beat the Jayhawks in Manhattan. The players on Kansas State won't admit it, but they want to win this game more than anything in the world. It's embarrassing to lose 24 games in a row at home to your rival, and they want it to end. Tonight, K-State will make it closer than last time, but the streak shall continue. The NCAA Tournament
KSU TIP-OFF
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
Any K-State fan will tell you that a victory against Texas counts as a major victory, but they are lying. The Longhorns aren't a guaranteed NCAA Tournament team. If the Wildcats want to really soup up their tourney resume, they need this one tonight.
STAR WATCH
Forward Jason Bennett. Nobody in purple (actually black to
might of blue expects Bennett to come out and pull an Aleks Maric, but he will be the center of attention. In Lawrence, the
Bennett
crowd got under his skin, and he complained every time the referee blew his whistle. Maybe this time he'll convert all his energy into something positive.
QUESTION MARK
IS KANSAS STATE BIG ENOUGH?
Freshmen forwards Luis Colon and Bennett aren't good enough or experienced enough to hang with Kansas' dominating front line, and guards Cartier Martin and David Haskins aren't tall enough. The Wildcats have to hope foul prone junior center Sasha Kaun and freshman forward Darrell Arthur will make foolish mistakes and take themselves out of the game.
3 REASONS KSUWINS
ONE — Bramlage Coliseum.
Bramlage will be bang'in tonight. This will be the loudest the building has been in its history. Bill Self said he thinks it will be the toughest road environment his team has faced this season.
TWO — Revenge. Kansas State is not just going to be ticked off because of the 97-70 loss to Kansas two weeks ago. It is also still stinging from the Nebraska loss last week. Both of those defeats hurt and if K.State harnesses its anger the right way, it could have a big game.
THREE — Poetic Justice. This streak has to end at some point. So many things have gone right for Kansas the past few years. This could be the year the scales finally tip the other way.
JAYHAWK STATS
Player Avg. Min. FG-FGA 3FG-3FGA Avg.Reb. Avg.Pts.
Brandon Rush 32.2 136-139 53-126 5.9 14.2
Mario Chalmers 28.6 107-228 38-103 3.0 11.2
Darrell Arthur 20.0 120-222 0-4 4.8 11.0
Julian Wright 27.1 130-242 3-11 8.0 11.9
Sherron Collins 21.1 94-185 37-85 3.2 9.6
Russell Robinson 28.5 57-133 17-55 3.3 6.7
Sasha Kaun 17.3 65-121 0-0 3.8 6.2
Darnell Jackson 15.2 54-93 0-0 5.2 5.8
Brady Morningstar 5.9 10-21 3-7 0.9 2.3
Jeremy Case 5.9 10-26 7-22 0.7 1.9
Rodrick Stewart 5.8 6-20 5-10 0.8 0.9
Matt Kleinmann 4.7 4-7 0-0 1.0 0.8
Brennan Bechard 1.9 1-2 1-2 0.3 0.3
Brad Witherspoon 1.6 1-6 0-2 0.3 0.3
KEY MATCH-UP
Julian Wright 6'8"225 vs.
Cartier Martin 6'7"220
Martin
Martin is going to be hungry after only making two field goals against the Jayhawks the first time they played. If he has a good game, anything could happen. Wright is playing some of his best basketball of the season. He usually plays best if he gets out to a quick start. Look for him to try and score on several of the Jayhawks' first possessions. When Wright establishes himself as a dominant scorer, Kansas rarely loses.
WILDCAT STATS
| Player | Avg. Min. | FG-FGA | 3FG-3FGA | Avg. Reb. | Avg. Pts. |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Cartier Martin | 26.2 | 147-318 | 50-131 | 4.4 | 16.0 |
| David Hoskins | 26.5 | 120-267 | 11-53 | 5.9 | 14.5 |
| Bill Walker | 23.2 | 26-65 | 0-9 | 4.5 | 11.3 |
| Lance Harris | 26.2 | 104-227 | 46-121 | 3.4 | 10.6 |
| Akeem Wright | 25.4 | 64-170 | 9-32 | 6.1 | 6.5 |
| Clent Stewart | 24.0 | 53-142 | 26-76 | 2.6 | 5.8 |
| Blake Young | 20.6 | 47-136 | 15-52 | 2.0 | 5.6 |
| Jermaine Maybank | 14.1 | 28-62 | 4-14 | 2.3 | 3.9 |
| Luis Colon | 10.6 | 20-34 | 0-0 | 2.0 | 2.3 |
| Jason Bennett | 13.1 | 18-38 | 0-0 | 2.9 | 2.2 |
| Serge Afeli | 5.3 | 16-34 | 0-0 | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| Delivez Yearby | 3.3 | 3-8 | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0.9 |
| Darren Kent | 7.1 | 7-24 | 1-9 | 1.2 | 0.8 |
| Brady Johnson | 1.0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Chris Merriewether | 2.4 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| James Franklin | 1.3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ryan Patzwald | 1.9 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
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