(4) Kansas (24-2) at Oklahoma State (13-12)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Gallagher Iba Arena (13,611) -- Stillwater, Oklahoma. Television: CBS. Home Record: Kansas 18-0, Oklahoma St. 11-2. Away Record: Kansas 6-2, Oklahoma St. 1-7. Neutral Record: Kansas 0-0, Oklahoma St. 1-3. Conference Record: Kansas 9-2, Oklahoma St. 4-7. Series Record: Kansas leads, 101-51.
GAME NOTES: Tied for the top spot in the Big 12, the fourth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will attempt to finish the last two weeks of the regular season strong, starting with this afternoon's clash with the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater. Bill Self's Jayhawks knocked off the Colorado Buffaloes last weekend (69-45) to move to 9-2 in league play, good for a tie with the Texas Longhorns atop the standings. The Cowboys have not fared as well in-conference, sporting a mere 4-7 league-ledger. Half of those conference wins have come in the last 10 days, with back-to-back wins over Baylor (93-83) and most recently, an upset of nationally-ranked Texas A&M on the road (59-54). Kansas holds a huge advantage (101-51) in a series that dates back to 1926. The Jayhawks have won three straight and seven of the last nine meetings overall.
One of the most balanced teams in the entire country, Kansas leads the nation with a hefty +21.2 scoring margin. The team is shooting a sizzling .508 from the floor (second nationally), leading to 82.4 ppg (eighth nationally). The team has also excelled on the boards with a +7.1 rebounding edge and is forcing 16.7 turnovers per game. Four of the team's five starters are averaging double figures. Forwards Darrell Arthur (13.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Darnell Jackson (12.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg) lead the way in the frontcourt, while guards Mario Chalmers (12.2 ppg, team-high 124 assists), Brandon Rush (12.1 ppg) and Russell Robinson (7.2 ppg, 110 assists) complete a potent starting unit. Other contributors of note include guard Sherron Collins (9.2 ppg) and forward/center Sasha Kaun (7.5 ppg). It was once again a balanced effort at the offensive end and stingy play defensively, that led to a 24-point win over the Buffaloes last weekend. Chalmers and Jackson led the way with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Coach Self was able to empty his bench in the game, as 16 players got on the floor for Kansas.
It was defensive battle in College Station last weekend, as OSU pulled off a huge upset of the usually explosive Aggies. The Cowboys were able to frustrate Texas A&M shooters in the second half, holding A&M to a mere six field goals over the final 20 minutes. Byron Eaton was able to convert 6-of-10 shots from the floor, including three three-pointers, en route to a game-high 17 points. Obi Muonelo finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, as Oklahoma State put an end to an ugly 19-game road losing streak, including 16 straight league games on the road. The Cowboys don't have the kind of scoring across the board that Kansas possesses, as the team is netting just under 70 points per game (69.7). James Anderson is the top scorer at 14.5 ppg. Terrel Harris and Eaton add 10.6 ppg each, while Muonelo is just outside of double digits at 9.8 ppg.
The Cowboys are a very good home team (11-2), but the Jayhawks have their sights on another conference crown and will probably need little more than that motivation to post a solid road win here.
FACTS & STATS: Site: Gallagher Iba Arena (13,611) -- Stillwater, Oklahoma. Television: CBS. Home Record: Kansas 18-0, Oklahoma St. 11-2. Away Record: Kansas 6-2, Oklahoma St. 1-7. Neutral Record: Kansas 0-0, Oklahoma St. 1-3. Conference Record: Kansas 9-2, Oklahoma St. 4-7. Series Record: Kansas leads, 101-51.
GAME NOTES: Tied for the top spot in the Big 12, the fourth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will attempt to finish the last two weeks of the regular season strong, starting with this afternoon's clash with the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater. Bill Self's Jayhawks knocked off the Colorado Buffaloes last weekend (69-45) to move to 9-2 in league play, good for a tie with the Texas Longhorns atop the standings. The Cowboys have not fared as well in-conference, sporting a mere 4-7 league-ledger. Half of those conference wins have come in the last 10 days, with back-to-back wins over Baylor (93-83) and most recently, an upset of nationally-ranked Texas A&M on the road (59-54). Kansas holds a huge advantage (101-51) in a series that dates back to 1926. The Jayhawks have won three straight and seven of the last nine meetings overall.
One of the most balanced teams in the entire country, Kansas leads the nation with a hefty +21.2 scoring margin. The team is shooting a sizzling .508 from the floor (second nationally), leading to 82.4 ppg (eighth nationally). The team has also excelled on the boards with a +7.1 rebounding edge and is forcing 16.7 turnovers per game. Four of the team's five starters are averaging double figures. Forwards Darrell Arthur (13.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and Darnell Jackson (12.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg) lead the way in the frontcourt, while guards Mario Chalmers (12.2 ppg, team-high 124 assists), Brandon Rush (12.1 ppg) and Russell Robinson (7.2 ppg, 110 assists) complete a potent starting unit. Other contributors of note include guard Sherron Collins (9.2 ppg) and forward/center Sasha Kaun (7.5 ppg). It was once again a balanced effort at the offensive end and stingy play defensively, that led to a 24-point win over the Buffaloes last weekend. Chalmers and Jackson led the way with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Coach Self was able to empty his bench in the game, as 16 players got on the floor for Kansas.
It was defensive battle in College Station last weekend, as OSU pulled off a huge upset of the usually explosive Aggies. The Cowboys were able to frustrate Texas A&M shooters in the second half, holding A&M to a mere six field goals over the final 20 minutes. Byron Eaton was able to convert 6-of-10 shots from the floor, including three three-pointers, en route to a game-high 17 points. Obi Muonelo finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, as Oklahoma State put an end to an ugly 19-game road losing streak, including 16 straight league games on the road. The Cowboys don't have the kind of scoring across the board that Kansas possesses, as the team is netting just under 70 points per game (69.7). James Anderson is the top scorer at 14.5 ppg. Terrel Harris and Eaton add 10.6 ppg each, while Muonelo is just outside of double digits at 9.8 ppg.
The Cowboys are a very good home team (11-2), but the Jayhawks have their sights on another conference crown and will probably need little more than that motivation to post a solid road win here.
