8B
GAMEDAY / MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2011 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
KU
TIPOFF
AT A GLANCI
To say Kansas shot the ball well against Nebraska Saturday is an understatement. The Jayhawks had an effective field goal percentage of 70 percent, easily their best of the season. Effective field goal percentage counts three pointers made as 150 percent as valuable as a two-point field goal, because three pointers are, of course, worth half-again as many points. By the more common measures, Kansas was no less impressive. The Jayhawks hit 55.6 percent of their shots and a season-high 13 threes on 54.2 percent shooting from outside. If the Jayhawks can average the same points per possession (1.25, eighth best on the season), and adjust to Missouri's much quicker pace, they'd score 93 points Monday night.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Morningstar
Brady Morningstar
senior gaurd,
Where did this come from? Morningstar actually had an offensive rating double that of Marcus Morris' Saturday, and Morris was no slouch. Morningstar played a season-high 37 minutes and could barely miss, hitting 5-of-7 seven shots, all of them from behind the arc. He was effective from the free throw line as well, hitting 4-of-5 from there. Tack on his six assists and zero turnovers, and Morningstar played a near-perfect game on the offensive side of the ball. Even if Selby is available to play, Morningstar may get the nod over him if he is not at 100 percent. There's no doubt Morningstar has earned more minutes with his recent play — the question is whose minutes he has earned.
How will Kansas handle Missouri's balance?
QUESTION MARK
That question needs some explaining. After all, Bill Self has said several times that he's got seven or eight guys that play at the level of starters. But Kansas is like most teams in that there are a handful of players who can be reasonably expected to take the shot at the end of each possession. On Kansas, it's the three posts — the twins and Thomas Robinson and Josh Selby who use the most possessions. They all use at least 24 percent of the possessions that they are a part of. Missouri is much more balanced in that they have zero players using 24 percent of their possessions, but eight players using anywhere from 19 to 24 percent. What that boils down to is that Kansas cannot afford to key on one player, because there are seven more waiting to fill their shoes.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE
"They're like little gnats that won't leave the kitchen when you leave the dishes in there."
Taylor
Marcus Morris on Missouri
KANSAS
22-1,(7-1)
STARTERS
Tyshawn Taylor, guard
Reed
Selby
Taylor isn't scoring like he used to lately — in his last two, he's averaging just three points per game — but he's still one of the best assist men in the conference. Even though his numbers have dipped a little bit, it's been in conjunction with better play from the guards around him and smarter play on his part. He's turned the ball over just six times in the last five games while amassing 20 assists.
A match made in rival heaver KANSAS VS. MISSOURI 8 p.m., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, Lawrence
It appears that Reed found his stroke against Nebraska, hitting 50 percent of his threes en route to 14 points. Reed's also a solid rebounder, especially considering that he is undersized for his position. Of Kansas' six guards (including Travis Releford) Reid is by far the best rebounder, with 70 on the season compared to second-place Tyshawn Taylor's 44. Josh Selby is averaging a similar clip, but missed the first nine games.
Josh Selby. guard
Morris
Selby is officially doubtful, but as often as he's been described as a tough kid, it's hard to believe he'd miss his first shot at Missouri and guard Kim English, who he called a "big brother" to him. But as anyone with a big brother knows, there's nothing sweeter than taking him down. Selby said he and English haven't talked about the game: "And I'm not sure we will."
BORDER SHOWDOWN
Marcus Morris, forward
Morris, true to his season-long form, didn't need a lot of shots to be effective against the Cornhuskers on Saturday. In conference play, he's taken 10 or more shots in only half the games, but he's still scored in double figures in all eight. Saturday he was 5-of-7 from the field with both misses coming from outside the three-point line. He finished with 16 points, in part because he got to the free throw line more times than in any game since the conference opener.
Morris
Markieff Morris, forward
Morris, true to his season-long form, didn't need a lot of shots to be effective against the Cornhuskers on Saturday. In conference play, he's taken 10 or more shots in only half the games, but he's still scored in double figures in all eight. Saturday he was 5-of-7 from the field with both misses coming from outside the threepoint line. He finished with 16 points, in part because he got to the free throw line more times than in any game since the conference opener.
Tim Dwyer
MISSOURI
18-5,(4-4)
STARTERS
Matt Pressey, 6-foot-2 junior guard
Matt Pressley, 6-foot-2 junior guard
Tairu is averaging nine points a game. He is shooting 33.3 percent from behind the arc. He is one of two starters that has a positive assist/turnover ratio. He is averaging one assist per game and 0.68 turnovers per game. He has 55 rebounds on the season, 19 of them coming on the offensive end.
Pressey
Kim English, 6-foot-6 junior guard
Roberson is the main ball handler for the Red Raiders. He leads the team with 82 assists, 4.1 per game. He is second with 12.9 points per game. His average of 1.4 steals per game leads the team, although Brad Reese has more total steals. Roberson is the player Texas Tech wants at the line if the game is close at the end. He is shooting 79 percent, a team best for players with 25 attempts.
English
Marcus Denmon, 6-foot-3 junior guard
marcus Denmon, 6-foot-3 junior guard Lewandowski is fourth on the team with 9.3 points per game. His 5.1 rebounds per game put him as second on the team behind Singletary. He is also second on the team with 19 blocks. Lewandowski is averaging one assist per game. Lewandowski has not attempted a three pointer this season, and it is highly unlikely that he will attempt one tonight. The Red Raiders can't afford to lose Lewandowski because of foul trouble. He has fouled out three times this season; tonight might be four if the Morris twins and Robinson take it to him.
Ricardo Ratliffe, 6-foot-8 junior forward
Denmon
Mardo Rattilife, 6-foot-8 junior forward Ratlifife has been a monster on the glass for the Tigers. He leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game. He is huge on the defensive end, blocking 35 shots on the season. He, however, has fouled out three times this season. He will need to be careful guarding the Morris twins and Thomas Robinson who are bigger and more athletic. If he isn't careful he will become best friends with the bench. He is second on the team scoring 11.7 points per game.
Laurence Bowers, 6-foot-8 junior forward
Bowers is one of five players averaging double digits per game. He is fourth with 10.7 points per game. He is second in rebounding and leads the team with 49 blocks. Like Ratliffe, Bowers commits a lot of fouls. He has 67 on the season with two foul outs. If he isn't careful, he may be joining Ratliffe. The Tigers may have to call on junior center Steve Moore who has 21 blocks, but is only averaging 11.9 minutes per game. Bowers and Ratliffe each average more than 24 minutes.
Ratliffe
Mike Lavieri
Bowers
— Tyshawn Taylor
Photo by Howard Ting/KANSAN
MU
TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
Missouri avenged its 89-76 loss to Colorado in Boulder earlier this season, by defeating the Buffaloes on Saturday 89-73 in Columbia. The Tigers are currently tied for fourth place in the Big 12 with Texas A&M and Oklahoma with a 4-4 record. Missouri is winning their games at home, which it should, but it is winless on the road. Missouri likes to play a fast, up-tempo game that fits well into what Kansas likes to do. Coach Mike Anderson's style of defense is to pressure its opponents and try to force turnovers. Kansas has had success against Missouri, especially at Allen Fieldhouse, when Missouri tries the full-court press.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Senior forward Justin Safford A season ago Safford was starting for the Tigers. He is one of two seniors on the team, but is the only one that sees playing time. This season, he has only started
Safford
in 11 of the 23 games for Missouri. He is averaging 6.8 points per game on 40.7 percent shooting. He is averaging 4.4 rebounds per game. Safford only played six minutes against Colorado and was ineffective. Missouri may call upon Safford for senior leadership, because this will be his final time playing at Allen Fieldhouse. Last season in Missouri's matchup with Kansas in Lawrence, Safford led the Tigers in scoring with 19 points in 32 minutes.
QUESTION MARK
Can Missouri get it done on the road?
Missouri has one quality win on the road: at Oregon; that game was also the only true road test for the Tigers before conference play. Missouri lost to Georgetown at the Sprint Center in overtime 111-102 and defeated then ranked No. 22 Illinois at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis 75-64. Missouri is 0-4 on the road in conference play with losses in Boulder, Colo., College Station, Texas, Austin, Texas, and Stillwater, Oklahoma. The loss to Texas A&M in College Station was a 91-89 loss in overtime. The Aggies are 1-2 in their last three games at home. The Longhorns are perfect in Austin during conference play and Colorado is 3-1 at home, with its only loss being to Kansas. Missouri might be a better team, but Bill Self calls Allen Fieldhouse a "legitimate sixthman." Missouri falls to 0-5 on the road and 4-5 in conference, giving them a steep uphill climb to the Big 12 title, with a lot of things needing to go wrong at the top of the conference.
HEARYE, HEARYE
"Unfortunately," English said. "We can do it, we just have to do it consistently."
-- Junior guard Kim English on Missouri playing away from Columbia after its 89-73 victory against Colorado.
BIG 12 SCHEDULE
Game
Time (CT)
Month, Feb. 9 Time (C)
Texas A&M at Colorado 7:00 p.m.
Texas A&M at Nebraska 1:00 p.m.
Nebraska at Baylor 7:00 p.m.
Texas at Oklahoma 8:00 p.m.
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE WILL ROCK IF...
Missouri steps on the court. There is, of course, no love lost between the Jayhawks and Tigers, and the environment is always one of the best of the season at Allen. For it to stay rocking, though, the Morrii and Thomas Robinson will need to continue to play at a high level. Missouri has one of the most athletic frontcourts in the country.
THE TIGERS WILL ROAR IF...
Marcus Denmon gets in a groove. Denmon is the most efficient player in the Big 12 that uses at least 20 percent of his possessions, just in front of Marcus Morris. He's also got enough balance around him (see the Question Mark section to the left) that if he goes off, there will be enough role scoring to pose the Jayhawks a serious threat.
SCHEDULE
Prediction:
Kansas 84, Missouri 66
Date Opponent TV Channel Time
Feb. 12 Iowa State Big 12 Network 3 p.m.
Feb. 14 Kansas State ESPN 8 p.m.
Feb. 19 Colorado ESPN 1 p.m.