Kansas-Kansas State matchups for Sunflower Showdown
POINT GUARD: KU?s Russell Robinson vs. K-State?s Clent Stewart
EDGE >> KU
Robinson can be your worst nightmare. He?s a ball hawk, forces tough passes and serves as the Jayhawks? defensive sparkplug. He won?t score a ton, but the guy?s unflappable. Stewart is a veteran (82 starts) who has been through this. That, more than anything, could be crucial to guide a young team in this challenge. He can still be sloppy at times, and that won?t cut it tonight.
SHOOTING GUARD: KU?s Mario Chalmers vs. K-State?s Blake Young
EDGE >> KU
If it?s a wire job tonight, don?t be stunned if Chalmers becomes KU?s go-to guy. He has a knack for getting to the free-throw line and creating points. He?s versatile and can give the Jayhawks what they need depending on the opponent. Young can provide lots of minutes, but he?s been streaky shooting the three-point shot. Tonight would be an ideal time to take that up a notch.
SMALL FORWARD: KU?s Brandon Rush vs. K-State?s Andre Gilbert
EDGE >> KU
On paper, it looks like a mismatch. Rush has NBA possibilities. Gilbert? Here?s his chance to prove he is no underdog. Rush may be playing more consistently now than he ever has in the Big 12. Besides being a three-point threat, he?s dishing out assists and playing aggressive D. Gilbert (22 points against Rider and 16 against Oregon) showed he?s not to be taken lightly.
SMALL FORWARD: K-State?s Bill Walker vs. KU?s Darnell Jackson
EDGE >> K-STATE
Walker is healthy, finally, and he?s playing like it. In the last 10 games, Walker averaged 18.4 points and 6.8 rebounds and made 50 percent from three-point range. But it?s his powerful and explosive inside moves that draw the loudest roars. Jackson, one of the most-improved players in the country, will have a 2-inch height advantage. His inside game isn?t too shabby, either. Jackson shoots a Big 12-best 65.8 percent.
POWER FORWARD: K-State?s Michael Beasley vs. KU?s Darrell Arthur
EDGE >> K-STATE
What else can you say about Beasley? All he is doing as a freshman is leading the Big 12 in scoring (25.3) and rebounds (12.7). His seven 30-plus-point games tied the school record shared by Bob Boozer and Norris Coleman. The only drawback is he?s been a slow starter, as he was at Colorado (three points in the first half, 26 in the second). Arthur isn?t a scorer on Beasley?s level. But if he can block shots (32) and if he increases his rebound numbers in this one, it could be huge.
BENCH
EDGE >> K-STATE
It doesn?t hurt to have an option in reserve who has been fabulous of late. In K-State?s five-game winning streak, guard Jacob Pullen has 20 assists to four turnovers. The Wildcats go deeper into their bench with guys such as Darren Kent (11 points last game), sharpshooter Fred Brown and promising freshman Dominique Sutton. KU?s bench features guard Sherron Collins, who can be a difference-maker, and big men Sasha Kaun and Cole Aldrich, who can take their turns trying to slow Beasley.
COACHING: KU?s Bill Self vs. K-State?s Frank Martin
EDGE >> KU
No question that Self has prepared for bigger games than Martin. Self ? whose 81.2 winning percentage at KU is unmatched by anyone there who guided the program for more than one game ? has never lost in Manhattan as coach of the Jayhawks. His ability to keep KU focused and grounded as it chases an undefeated season deserves an attaboy. Martin, in his rookie season, enters his first test of this magnitude. So far, he?s passed every Big 12 test. This one, however, is unlike the others. People will be watching to see how he responds.
INTANGIBLES
EDGE >> KU
There may be a sense on K-State?s side that if Beasley only stays one year, the window of opportunity to snap this 24-game losing streak in Manhattan is now or never. If that weren?t enough pressure, Beasley might have intensified it because of his prediction that K-State could beat KU anywhere. The Jayhawks, believe it or not, could be the more-relaxed team in this one (especially if they make more free throws; they?re 11th in the Big 12 at 65.5 percent). It?s just another in a long line of big games they have experienced over the years. For K-State, well, the word big might be the understatement of the year.
:00hour GO JAYHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!:00hour
POINT GUARD: KU?s Russell Robinson vs. K-State?s Clent Stewart
EDGE >> KU
Robinson can be your worst nightmare. He?s a ball hawk, forces tough passes and serves as the Jayhawks? defensive sparkplug. He won?t score a ton, but the guy?s unflappable. Stewart is a veteran (82 starts) who has been through this. That, more than anything, could be crucial to guide a young team in this challenge. He can still be sloppy at times, and that won?t cut it tonight.
SHOOTING GUARD: KU?s Mario Chalmers vs. K-State?s Blake Young
EDGE >> KU
If it?s a wire job tonight, don?t be stunned if Chalmers becomes KU?s go-to guy. He has a knack for getting to the free-throw line and creating points. He?s versatile and can give the Jayhawks what they need depending on the opponent. Young can provide lots of minutes, but he?s been streaky shooting the three-point shot. Tonight would be an ideal time to take that up a notch.
SMALL FORWARD: KU?s Brandon Rush vs. K-State?s Andre Gilbert
EDGE >> KU
On paper, it looks like a mismatch. Rush has NBA possibilities. Gilbert? Here?s his chance to prove he is no underdog. Rush may be playing more consistently now than he ever has in the Big 12. Besides being a three-point threat, he?s dishing out assists and playing aggressive D. Gilbert (22 points against Rider and 16 against Oregon) showed he?s not to be taken lightly.
SMALL FORWARD: K-State?s Bill Walker vs. KU?s Darnell Jackson
EDGE >> K-STATE
Walker is healthy, finally, and he?s playing like it. In the last 10 games, Walker averaged 18.4 points and 6.8 rebounds and made 50 percent from three-point range. But it?s his powerful and explosive inside moves that draw the loudest roars. Jackson, one of the most-improved players in the country, will have a 2-inch height advantage. His inside game isn?t too shabby, either. Jackson shoots a Big 12-best 65.8 percent.
POWER FORWARD: K-State?s Michael Beasley vs. KU?s Darrell Arthur
EDGE >> K-STATE
What else can you say about Beasley? All he is doing as a freshman is leading the Big 12 in scoring (25.3) and rebounds (12.7). His seven 30-plus-point games tied the school record shared by Bob Boozer and Norris Coleman. The only drawback is he?s been a slow starter, as he was at Colorado (three points in the first half, 26 in the second). Arthur isn?t a scorer on Beasley?s level. But if he can block shots (32) and if he increases his rebound numbers in this one, it could be huge.
BENCH
EDGE >> K-STATE
It doesn?t hurt to have an option in reserve who has been fabulous of late. In K-State?s five-game winning streak, guard Jacob Pullen has 20 assists to four turnovers. The Wildcats go deeper into their bench with guys such as Darren Kent (11 points last game), sharpshooter Fred Brown and promising freshman Dominique Sutton. KU?s bench features guard Sherron Collins, who can be a difference-maker, and big men Sasha Kaun and Cole Aldrich, who can take their turns trying to slow Beasley.
COACHING: KU?s Bill Self vs. K-State?s Frank Martin
EDGE >> KU
No question that Self has prepared for bigger games than Martin. Self ? whose 81.2 winning percentage at KU is unmatched by anyone there who guided the program for more than one game ? has never lost in Manhattan as coach of the Jayhawks. His ability to keep KU focused and grounded as it chases an undefeated season deserves an attaboy. Martin, in his rookie season, enters his first test of this magnitude. So far, he?s passed every Big 12 test. This one, however, is unlike the others. People will be watching to see how he responds.
INTANGIBLES
EDGE >> KU
There may be a sense on K-State?s side that if Beasley only stays one year, the window of opportunity to snap this 24-game losing streak in Manhattan is now or never. If that weren?t enough pressure, Beasley might have intensified it because of his prediction that K-State could beat KU anywhere. The Jayhawks, believe it or not, could be the more-relaxed team in this one (especially if they make more free throws; they?re 11th in the Big 12 at 65.5 percent). It?s just another in a long line of big games they have experienced over the years. For K-State, well, the word big might be the understatement of the year.
:00hour GO JAYHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!:00hour
I know...I layed the points against MU for a nickle and got screwed out of the push on the foul under the rim with 2.1 seconds!!!
