(5) Kansas (27-3) at Texas A&M (22-8)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Reed Arena (12,500) -- College Station, Texas. Television: Local. Home Record: Kansas 20-0, Texas A&M 16-3. Away Record: Kansas 7-3, Texas A&M 4-5. Neutral Record: Kansas 0-0, Texas A&M 2-0. Conference Record: Kansas 12-3, Texas A&M 8-7. Series Record: Kansas leads, 11-1.
GAME NOTES: The stakes are high for the fifth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks as they get set to take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the regular-season finale for both teams. Kansas is currently tied with Texas atop the Big 12 Conference standings, and a win this afternoon would clinch at least a share of the league's regular-season crown regardless of what the Longhorns do. The Jayhawks have won their last three outings to move to 27-3 overall, and a 109-51 romp over Texas Tech on Monday enabled them to move to 20-0 at home. As for Texas A&M, it has won two of its last three games, but its 8-7 conference mark is still disappointing. The Aggies, who are 22-8 overall, are coming off a 71-57 decision over Baylor on Wednesday. Kansas owns a commanding 11-1 lead in the all-time series with Texas A&M.
Kansas may be the deepest and most talented team in all of college basketball. The Jayhawks get the job done at both ends of the floor, as they are scoring 82.5 ppg on 50.6 percent shooting from the field while limiting the opposition to 61.4 ppg on 38.1 percent shooting. Kansas is also outrebounding foes by 8.2 rpg and has forced nearly 500 turnovers through 30 games. The top offensive performer for the squad is Darrell Arthur, who is netting 13.3 ppg to go along with 6.0 rpg and 43 blocks. Brandon Rush (12.4 ppg), Darnell Jackson (12.2 ppg) and Mario Chalmers (12.0 ppg, 135 assists, 68 steals) round out a foursome of double-digit scorers. In the romp over Texas Tech on Monday, Six players scored at least 10 points for the Jayhawks, who connected on 59.7 percent of their field goal attempts, including a 14-of-24 showing from three- point range. A staggering 54-24 rebounding advantage also contributed to the blowout.
Josh Carter and Donald Sloan scored 17 points apiece to lead Texas A&M to the road victory over Baylor on Wednesday. Beau Muhlbach had 12 points off the bench, and Joseph Jones contributed 11 points. The Aggies earned a 44-35 rebounding advantage in the clash and limited the Bears to 33.3 percent shooting from the floor. Carter is scoring 12.7 ppg to lead Texas A&M, but he hasn't been nearly as dominant as he can be. The swingman has a ton of talent and can score both from the perimeter and on drives to the hoop. As for Jones, his average of 10.7 ppg is also a bit disappointing. Sloan has played well in recent weeks, and DeAndre Jordan is one of the better shot blockers in the nation.
Kansas gets the nod here, even on the road, as it will clinch at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title. Expect the Jayhawks to jump on top early and never look back.
:00hour KANSAS by 14!
FACTS & STATS: Site: Reed Arena (12,500) -- College Station, Texas. Television: Local. Home Record: Kansas 20-0, Texas A&M 16-3. Away Record: Kansas 7-3, Texas A&M 4-5. Neutral Record: Kansas 0-0, Texas A&M 2-0. Conference Record: Kansas 12-3, Texas A&M 8-7. Series Record: Kansas leads, 11-1.
GAME NOTES: The stakes are high for the fifth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks as they get set to take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the regular-season finale for both teams. Kansas is currently tied with Texas atop the Big 12 Conference standings, and a win this afternoon would clinch at least a share of the league's regular-season crown regardless of what the Longhorns do. The Jayhawks have won their last three outings to move to 27-3 overall, and a 109-51 romp over Texas Tech on Monday enabled them to move to 20-0 at home. As for Texas A&M, it has won two of its last three games, but its 8-7 conference mark is still disappointing. The Aggies, who are 22-8 overall, are coming off a 71-57 decision over Baylor on Wednesday. Kansas owns a commanding 11-1 lead in the all-time series with Texas A&M.
Kansas may be the deepest and most talented team in all of college basketball. The Jayhawks get the job done at both ends of the floor, as they are scoring 82.5 ppg on 50.6 percent shooting from the field while limiting the opposition to 61.4 ppg on 38.1 percent shooting. Kansas is also outrebounding foes by 8.2 rpg and has forced nearly 500 turnovers through 30 games. The top offensive performer for the squad is Darrell Arthur, who is netting 13.3 ppg to go along with 6.0 rpg and 43 blocks. Brandon Rush (12.4 ppg), Darnell Jackson (12.2 ppg) and Mario Chalmers (12.0 ppg, 135 assists, 68 steals) round out a foursome of double-digit scorers. In the romp over Texas Tech on Monday, Six players scored at least 10 points for the Jayhawks, who connected on 59.7 percent of their field goal attempts, including a 14-of-24 showing from three- point range. A staggering 54-24 rebounding advantage also contributed to the blowout.
Josh Carter and Donald Sloan scored 17 points apiece to lead Texas A&M to the road victory over Baylor on Wednesday. Beau Muhlbach had 12 points off the bench, and Joseph Jones contributed 11 points. The Aggies earned a 44-35 rebounding advantage in the clash and limited the Bears to 33.3 percent shooting from the floor. Carter is scoring 12.7 ppg to lead Texas A&M, but he hasn't been nearly as dominant as he can be. The swingman has a ton of talent and can score both from the perimeter and on drives to the hoop. As for Jones, his average of 10.7 ppg is also a bit disappointing. Sloan has played well in recent weeks, and DeAndre Jordan is one of the better shot blockers in the nation.
Kansas gets the nod here, even on the road, as it will clinch at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title. Expect the Jayhawks to jump on top early and never look back.
:00hour KANSAS by 14!
