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GAME DAY 11
Missouri 14-4 (2-1)
Zaire Taylor and his backcourt mate, J.T. Tiller, bring two things in abundance - senior leadership and ferocious defense. Taylor is the player who sunk the Jayhawks in Columbia last year, hitting a last second floater to give the Tigers a 62-60 victory.
Taylor
Zaire Taylor, guard
J.T. Tiller, guard
Tiller was named co-defensive player of the year in the Big 12 last year, and he's right back on the short list for this season.
Tiller
English has blossomed in his sophomore year, and may be one of just two guys - along with Kansas' Marcus Morris - to be on the short list for the Big 12's most improved player.
Kim English,guard
English
Mike Anderson misses his nephew DeMarre Carroll, one of the best players in the Big 12 last year, and a terror at the power forward spot. Safford is a solid all around player and he can, and will, step out and shoot the three when it's necessary.
Justin Safford, forward
Safford
Ramsey is the only Tiger to have started all 18 games this year, which is ironic, because if there's a weak spot in this starting five, it's probably him. Ramsey gets a team-high 26 minutes per game, but scores just six points per ga
Keith Ramsey, forward
Ramsey
Sixth man- Marcus Denmon, guard
The Tigers will be fine next year when Taylor and Tiller graduate, because they've got Denmon waiting in the wings. Denmon may not have all of their defensive intensity, but he's a better scorer, averaging 11.6 points per game while coming off the bench.
Denmon
— Tim Dwyer
will cheer if ...
decide to run more trick plays. Kansas has of trick plays so far with mostly positive redo the plays give opponents another piece but they are simply fun to watch unfold.
y will weep if ...
e struggles with its rhythm. While the hard well during the non-conference season, and a habit of what players described as on the board? Basically, Kansas didn't play could have. That can't happen in the Big 12.
Prediction:
Kansas 87, Missouri 68
TIGERS STARTING LINEUP
No. Name Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt.
3 Miguel Paul So. G 6-1 172
4 J.T. Tiller Sr. G 6-3 200
10 Michael Dixon, Jr. Fr. G 6-1 175
11 Zaire Taylor Sr. G 6-4 189
12 Marcus Denmon So. G 6-3 185
15 Keith Ramsey Sr. F 6-9 217
21 Laurence Bowers So. F 6-8 205
23 Justin Safford Jr. F 6-8 230
24 Kim English So. G 6-6 200
25 Jarrett Sutton Jr. G 6-3 190
32 Steve Moore So. C 6-9 264
33 Tyler Stone Fr. F 6-7 225
35 John Underwood Fr. F 6-9 208
Hometown
Winter Haven, Fla.
Marietta, Ga.
Kansas City, Mo.
Staten Island, N.Y.
Kansas City, Mo.
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Memphis, Tenn.
Bloomington, Ill.
Baltimore
Kansas City, Mo.
Kansas City, Mo.
Memphis, Tenn.
Phoenix
AT A GLANCE
It looks like Missouri's guards match up favorably with Kansas' guards, which would be great news if Sherron Collins was the only weapon the Jayhawks have. Unfortunately for Missouri, it also needs to find an answer for Marcus Morris, who is averaging more than 20 points per game in conference play. Justin Safford, Keith Ramsey and Laurence Bowers will all see considerable time in the paint for the Tigers, who will be looking to wear out the Jayhawks with their famous "Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball" style of play.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sophomore guard Kim English English is learning to ply his defensive trade from a couple of masters in Taylor and Tiller. He's third on the
English
team with 32 steals,but brings more of an offensive game than either senior, leading the team with 15 points per contest.
QUESTION MARK
Can the Tigers perform away from Mizzou Arena?
Missouri is 14-4 on the season, and it's no coincidence that all four of those losses have come away from the friendly confines of Mizzou Arena. If they can get over their road woes, the Tigers will be perhaps the toughest test the Jayhawks have faced this season. If they can't, the Jayhawks will run them out of the gym.
HEAR YE, HEAR YE
"I never knew how serious this rivalry is. It's amazing. I've never been a part of anything like this."
NSAN
Zaire Taylor, after Missouri topped Kansas 62-60 last year
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE JANUARY 25,2010
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