QB / GAME DAY / TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
KU
TIPOFF
AT A GLANCE
Hoops junkies will remember the Islanders for nearly pulling a 15-over 2 upset over the Alando Tucker-led Wisconsin Badgers in 2007. They didn't, though, and then-coach Ronnie Arrow bent for South Alabama. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi hasn't returned to the tournament since, and they're a middle-of-the-pack team in the Southland Conference this year. The Jayhawks will have to avoid looking forward to the weekend in Vegas, where they'll face MAC favorite Ohio and a dangerous Arizona team led by powerful forward Derrick Williams. If they stay focused on the present, the Jayhawks will roll by 30-plus again.
The Islanders have decent size, but none of them will have the combination of NBA-ready body and freakish athleticism that Robinson boasts. Most Big 12 posts don't either, so that shouldn't be much of a surprise. He should continue his astronomical rise from last season, and it wouldn't be a huge shock to see him averaging double digit rebounds following the game — he's averaging nine per game right now.
Thomas Robinson
Will the guards start competing for playing time?
QUESTION MARK
PLAYER TO WATCH
KANSAS VS. TEXAS A&M CORPUS-CHRISTI 7 p.m., ALLEN FIELDHOUSE, Lawrence
Somebody's minutes are going to get cut when Josh Selby becomes eligible on Dec. 18th against USC. Seniors Tyrel Reed, Mario Little and Brady Morningstar said it's not an issue; that they're all more excited for Selby to play then they are worried about their minutes potentially decreasing. It's a great problem for coach Bill Self to have — plenty of options to fall back on if anyone struggles or gets in foul trouble — but it's hard to believe it's not in the back of the guards' minds.
"No, I haven't really brought it up. Nobody knows what it feels like, you know what I'm saying. They don't want to know what it feels like."
HEARYE, HEARYE
— Brady Mormingar on being the only player on the team that has lost in the fieldhouse.
Taylor
Reed
KANSAS
3-0 (0-0)
STARTERS
Tyshawn Taylor, guard
Throughout the course of the last two games, Taylor has posted a stellar 11-to-2 assist ratio. He had been playing smart and controlling the tempo as the Jayhawks' primary ballhandler, and when he went down with early four trouble Friday, it was easy to see how much it affected the offense. It'd be good for Kansas if he found his scoring touch again. After scoring 17 in the opener, Taylor has only had 17 points in the two games since.
Morningstar
Tyrel Reed, guard
The Jayhawks collectively found their three-point stroke in Friday's win, hitting 60 percent on 15 attempts from outside. Reed didn't join the party, though, missing his only attempt from three-point land. That miss dropped the senior sharpshooter to a 28.6 percent mark from three, by far a career worst. If he continues to struggle, he may be starting on the bench soon — possibly starting Dec. 18 with Josh Selby's return.
Morris
Morris
Brady Morningstar, guard
Morningstar picked up his first start of the season Friday for no apparent reason. Like a lot of Bill Self's ideas, it worked out about as well as possible. Morningstar played well above the level he's been at all season, finishing with seven points, 10 assists, four steals and two rebounds Travis Releford has a higher ceiling here, but sometimes it's nice to have a steady veteran hand.
★★★☆☆
For the first half Friday night, Marcus' abilities could be questioned. Then Marcus reminded us all that he's the best player on the team, scoring 10 points in the first five minutes after the break and carrying the Jayhawks on a devastating 31-8 run to open the second half. He needs to be stronger on the defensive glass — for the second time this season he finished with zero defensive rebounds — but that's nitpicky for a guy who's been All-American good so far.
Marcus Morris, forward
Markieff Morris, forward
Johnson
While his brother has been slacking on the glass, Markieff has been dominating the rebounding stats. He leads the Jayhawks with 12 boards per game and is second on the team with 13 points per game. If he continues to play at this high pace, he'll begin to steal away some of his brother's spotlight (and some of the load on his shoulders).
TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI 1-3(0-0) STARTERS
Johnson was solid Friday night in his first game back from a season-opening suspension. He'll primarily serve as the backup to Tyshawn Taylor at the point, and Taylor's foul trouble thrust Johnson into a larger role against the Mean Green. He responded with 11 points and zero turnovers, but dished out only one assist.
SIXTH MAN
Elijah Johnson, guard
Jones has been a more consistent player this season for the Islanders. He is averaging 12.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He is 14-17 from the free-throw line. He had 18 points on 6-13 shooting, while going 5-11 from behind the three-point line in 36 minutes against Oklahoma St. on Nov. 17. Jones had 11 points against Ohio on Nov. 21.
Terence Jones, guard
Jones
Junkins is in his first season with the Islanders after transferring from Arizona to be closer to home. In his official debut, Judkins scored a team-high 16 points to lead the Islanders in their only victory of the season, defeating Northeastern State 81-74. He is averaging 7.5 points and 2 rebounds per game. Judkins had three points in 21 minutes against Ohio.
Judkins
Justin Reynolds, forward
Reynolds is eighth on Texas A&M-CC's points list with 935. Reynolds is also fourth in rebounds, 576; fifth in blocks, 66; fifth in minutes played, 2360; and fifth in double-doubles,10. He is averaging 6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 26.3 minutes. Reynolds had 10 points and six rebounds against Ohio.
★☆☆☆
Horace Bond, forward
Bond may share the name with Horace Grant, who won three NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls from 1991-1993, but Bond does not provide the same spark as Grant. Bond is averaging 6 points and 4 rebounds in 26 minutes. Bond played 24 minutes against Ohio and scored five points.
Reynolds
Demond Watt, forward
Watt has been the Islanders' best player this season. He is averaging 17 points and 10.8 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game. Watt scored a career and game-high 26 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in the loss to Ohio. Like Reynolds, Watt ranks high in multiple stat categories. He is ninth in points, 874; third in rebounds, 619; second in blocks, 103; sixth in minutes played, 2317; and third in double-doubles, 13.
Bond
SIXTH MAN
Nelson is averaging 4.5 points and one rebound per game in 13.8 minutes a game off the bench. Nelson cut weight this offseason and is listed at 260 pounds. An interesting part of Nelson's game is his ability to shoot from the outside. He is 4-4 from the outside and is 7-15 overall from the field on the season.
Jawan Nelson, center
Watt
Nelson
TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI TIPOFF AT A GLANCE
Watt leads the team in scoring and rebounding. He is 23-38 from the field (.605) without attempting a three-point shot. He is a low-post player that will be difficult to guard. Kansas's defenders will want to get Watt as far away from the basket as possible to make it uncomfortable for him. Once he has the ball in the post, he can make a strong move to the basket or if he is double-teamed, he will be able to find his open teammates, who are shooting over 45 percent from the field on the season. He has a young, inexperienced backcourt getting him the ball, but it does not seem to be a problem so far this season.
QUESTION MARK
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi started play in the IBN Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 21. The Islanders lost to Ohio, Kansas' first opponent in Las Vegas, 83-70. This season is the 12th for Texas A&M-CC. The program was an independent for the first seven seasons and it managed to have six winning seasons. The islanders are three years removed from their only NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007, when they lost to Wisconsin 76-63 in the first round. Texas A&M-CC is taller than Kansas' previous opponents, with four players taller than 6-foot-8. The Islanders will provide a challenge to the Jayhawks with their length on the interior.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Can the Islanders win their first game against the Big 12 this season?
Texas A&M-CC is 0-2 against the Big 12 this season, and 3-17 overall, with losses to Texas A&M, 86-65, and Oklahoma St. 68-58. Staying with Oklahoma St. on Nov. 17 is impressive for the Islanders; however, Kansas is a more dynamic team than Oklahoma St. The Jayhawks are a much deeper and more athletic team and should easily run away with this game. The Islanders are averaging 68.5 points per game while Kansas is averaging 95 points per game. The five leading scorers for Texas A&M-CC are from its starting lineup. The Jayhawks are only giving up 59.7 points per game. Texas A&M-CC will not defeat Kansas tonight.
Desmond Watt
HEARYE, HEARYE
"They're athletic, similar to North Texas. They played Oklahoma State pretty tough. They have a good scorer on the interior and a really good scorer on the perimeter. They're a solid team."
— Kansas coach Bill Self on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
BIG 12 SCHEDULE
Tim Dwyer
-Mike Lavieri
Wed. Nov. 24
Oklahoma State vs. TBA
Game
Missouri vs. TBA
Time (CT)
TBA
Kennesaw State at Iowa State
Thur. Nov. 25
Texas A&M vs. Boston College
TV Channel ESPN2
CBSCS
TBA
7:00 p.m.
11:00 a.m.
ESPN2
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE WILL ROCK IF...
BIG JAY WILL NEED TO GIVE BABY JAY A SHOULDER TO CRY ON IF...
The Jayhawks get No. 63. And the Jayhawks will get No. 63 if the Fieldhouse rocks. The team is always quick to give credit to the fans, and for good reason — Allen Fieldhouse is recognized as one of the best home-court advantages in the country. The Jayhawks probably won't need a wild arena to drop the Islanders ... but it never hurts.
Kansas looks forward to the weekend too much. It'd be easy to do, because there's plenty to look forward to. There's a game against the MAC favorite Ohio, which stunned Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last year. And there's the first game against high-major competition against Arizona Saturday.
SCHEDULE
Prediction:
Kansas 96, Texas A&M C-C 61
Date Opponent TV Channel Time
Nov. 26 Ohio Jayhawk TV 7 p.m.
Nov. 27 Arizona ESPN 2 9:30 p.m.
Dec. 2 UCLA ESPN 2 8 p.m.
Dec. 7 Memphis ESPN 6 p.m.
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