one man's take [not mine]
one man's take [not mine]
Monday, February 26th, 9:00 p.m. (et).
The Sports Network
By Pat Taggart, Associate College Basketball Editor
FACTS & STATS: Site: Lloyd Noble Center (12,000) -- Norman, Oklahoma. Television: ESPN. Home Record: Kansas 15-2, Oklahoma 12-3. Away Record: Kansas 7-2, Oklahoma 1-7. Neutral Record: Kansas 3-0, Oklahoma 2-2. Conference Record: Kansas 12-2, Oklahoma 6-8. Series Record: Kansas leads, 130-64.
GAME NOTES: The Kansas Jayhawks have won 12 conference games for the seventh consecutive season, and they will attempt to improve their already stellar record as they take on the Oklahoma Sooners in Big 12 play tonight from the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman. Kansas currently owns a six-game win streak and has scored at least 89 points four times during the current run. The most recent victory for the Jayhawks occurred on Saturday by a score of 89-52 over Iowa State. Oklahoma is struggling as a 68-58 loss to Texas on Saturday represented the fourth consecutive setback for the Sooners. They are a solid 12-3 at home this season, but the last two contests in Norman have resulted in defeat. Kansas owns a commanding 130-64 lead in the all-time series with Oklahoma, and the Jayhawks have won two of the last three meetings.
Kansas is averaging an impressive 79.0 ppg this season on 49.5 percent shooting from the floor, and the club is limiting its opponents to 59.7 ppg on 37.2 percent efficiency from the field. Brandon Rush is the leading scorer for the Jayhawks, as he is netting 13.8 ppg. Mario Chalmers and Julian Wright are contributing 11.6 ppg apiece, and Wright also leads the squad with 8.0 rpg. Darrell Arthur is posting 10.9 ppg, and Sherron Collins rounds out the double- digit scorers with 10.0 ppg. In the romp over Iowa State on Saturday, six KU players reached double figures in scoring. Chalmers paced the group with 18 points, as his Jayhawks shot 52.2 percent from the floor, including a 6-of-10 effort from behind the arc. Clearly, the 47-15 rebounding advantage that Kansas earned proved to be the difference.
Center Longar Longar has been a strong performer for Oklahoma this season, as he is netting 11.2 ppg overall despite a less impressive average in conference games (8.8 ppg). Nate Carter, who is scoring 11.0 ppg through 27 outings, is racking up 16.4 ppg against Big 12 competition and has to be considered the top offensive performer for the Sooners at this point. Michael Neal rounds out a trio of double-digit scorers with 10.2 ppg. Oklahoma is limiting Big 12 opponents to just 62.9 ppg on 42.8 percent shooting from the field, so it is hard to blame the team's defensive play for the 6-8 league record. Austin Johnson scored 14 points for the Sooners in Saturday's loss to Texas, and Carter added 13 points. Oklahoma connected on only 33.9 percent of its field goal attempts and suffered a 23-8 deficit in points from the foul line.
Oklahoma will put forth a strong effort at home, but Kansas is the better of the two teams and should prevail.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Kansas 77, Oklahoma 68
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Sports Network is by no means the be all end all when it comes to NCCA Hoops..But they at least lend some input ...for what it may be worth..
Total at 129...seems to me OKL. has to score around 65 to even keep it close..Better play out of this game is the OVER 129..
input welcome..glta
