January 30, 2015

No. 9/11 Kansas to Host Kansas State in Sunflower Showdown Saturday in Men’s Hoops

G21: –/RV Kansas State at #9/11 Kansas
Date/Time	Jan. 31, 2015/1 p.m. (Central)
Location	Lawrence, Kan.
Arena	Allen Fieldhouse
Series	Kansas leads 187-92
Television	ESPN Dave Flemming (Play-by-Play) Fran Fraschilla (Analyst)
Radio	Jayhawk Radio Network Bob Davis (Play-by-Play) Greg Gurley (Analyst) Bob Newton (Engineer)
Live Stats	KUAthletics.com
Notes	Kansas Kansas State Big 12 Conference

Stats at a Glance	KU	KSU
Record	17-3, 6-1	12-9, 5-3
Rankings	#9/11	–/rv
Points/GM	72.0	65.4
Points Allowed/GM	64.6	62.8
FG%	.436	.457
Rebounds/GM	39.2	31.5
Assists/GM	14.0	13.9
Blocks/GM	5.2	2.3
Steals/GM	6.5	6.3

Kansas Returns Home for Sunflower Showdown
After a two-game road trip to the Lone Star state, No. 9/11 Kansas (17-3, 6-1) returns home to host Kansas State (12-9, 5-3) in the Sunflower Showdown sponsored by Dillons, Saturday, Jan. 31, at 1 p.m. (Central) on ESPN. The Jayhawks have won three straight after their 64-61 win at TCU on Jan. 28. Kansas State is looking to rebound from a 65-59 loss to No. 17/17 West Virginia on Jan. 27.

Historically, in Kansas’ 14 Big 12 Conference regular-season championship titles, the Jayhawks have been 6-1 or better to start conference play 13 times. In 2006, Kansas was 5-2 through its first seven Big 12 games yet bounced back to win the regular-season title.

About Kansas
No. 9/11 Kansas (17-3, 6-1) enters the weekend with a one-game lead over West Virginia and Iowa State in the Big 12 standings. The Mountaineers and Cyclones are both at 5-2 in conference play. Kansas scores 72.0 points per game and has a +7.5 scoring margin. The Jayhawks have outrebounded five of their last six opponents, average 39.2 boards per game and have a +6.0 rebound margin. KU leads the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 39.3 percent and averages 14.0 assists, 6.5 steals and 5.2 blocked shots per game.

Sophomore G Frank Mason III scored a team-best 16 points at TCU (1/28) and took over KU’s leading scorer honors, currently at 12.9 points per game, which is eighth in the Big 12. Mason has 17-straight games scoring in double figures and is fourth in the league in assists at 4.1, with a team-best 81, and eighth in free throw percentage at 78.3. Junior F Perry Ellis leads Kansas in rebounding with 6.6 boards per game. He is second on the team in scoring at 12.6 points per contest, which is 10th in the league, and has made a team-high 67 free throws. Sophomore G Wayne Selden, Jr., leads Kansas with 27 three-pointers made and is 3-for-6 from beyond the arc in his last two games. Selden scores 8.7 points per contest and is second on the team with 63 assists. Rounding out the KU starters are freshman G Kelly Oubre, Jr., and junior F Jamari Traylor. Oubre has started 12 games this season, including the last 11 straight, and is averaging 9.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals in Big 12 play. He averages 8.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game overall in 2014-15. Oubre’s 21 steals are second on the team to Mason’s 25 and he has made 19 three-pointers this season. Traylor scores 4.8 points per contest and pulls down 3.8 rebounds. His 26 blocked shots for the season are second on the team.

Named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (1/26), freshman F Cliff Alexander has averaged 11.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in his last three games. Included was his second double-double of the season with 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds against Oklahoma (1/19). Alexander leads Kansas in blocked shots with 27 and in field-goal percentage at 57.1 percent. He is 26-for-40 (65.0 percent) from the field in Big 12 play. Alexander scores 8.6 points per game and his 5.9 rebound average is second on the team. Freshman G Devonte’ Graham returned to the lineup against Texas Tech (1/10) after missing a month (six games) with a sprained toe. In his six games back, Graham has averaged 6.0 points and 3.3 assists. In that span, he has dished out an impressive 20 assists with three turnovers. Graham is scoring 5.9 points per game for the season. Sophomore G Brannen Greene has averaged 11 points in his last three games with seven three-pointers in that span. He has made 24 three-pointers this season which is just three behind Selden’s team-high 27. Greene has two starts and is scoring 5.8 points per game. Freshman G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk has made one three pointer in each of his last three games played. He scores 4.0 points per game and has made 15 three-pointers this season. Mykhailiuk has started six games in his initial campaign as a Jayhawk. Sophomore F Landen Lucas tied his career high with seven rebounds at TCU (1/28) and his eight points against the Horned Frogs were his second-most this season. Lucas has started eight games this season and averages 2.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Junior F Hunter Mickelson (2.0 ppg) played seven minutes at TCU (1/28) and scored four points on 2-for-3 shooting with two blocked shots.

About Kansas State
Located in Manhattan, Kansas, with an enrollment of 24,766, Kansas State (12-9, 5-3) has stepped up its play in Big 12 action. The Wildcats, who went 7-6 during the non-conference portion of the season, have won five of their last seven contests. KSU is coached by Bruce Weber who is 59-30 in his third season at K-State and 372-185 in his 17th season overall. Kansas State averages 65.4 points per game and has a +2.6 scoring margin. K-State averages 31.5 rebounds per game and have a +2.7 rebound margin. The Wildcats keep opponents off the boards as they lead the Big 12 in rebounding defense at 28.8. KSU also averages 13.9 assists, 6.3 steals and 2.3 blocked shots per game.

Sophomore G Marcus Foster leads Kansas State in scoring at 13.8 points per game which is seventh in the Big 12. He leads K-State with 46 assists and 51 three-point field goals made. He ranks fourth in the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 40.5 percent and fourth in three-pointers made at 2.4. Senior F Nino Williams leads KSU in rebounds at 4.9 per game. He averages 11.7 points per game and is third in the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 53.4 percent. Williams’ 80.3 free throw percentage is sixth in the league. Senior F Thomas Gipson leads KSU with 14 blocked shots. He is just behind Williams in rebounding at 4.7 boards per contest and he scores 11.0 points per game. Sophomore F Wesley Iwundu (5.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and sophomore G Jevon Thomas (5.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg) round out the K-State starters. Thomas is eighth in the Big 12 in assists at 3.6 per game and is tied for second on the team with 25 steals.

Redshirt junior G Justin Edwards has 10 starts this season and leads Kansas State with 26 steals. He is fourth on the team in scoring at 6.4 points per game. Other KSU regulars include junior F Stephen Hurt (4.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg), sophomore G Nigel Johnson (4.3 ppg, 12 three-pointers, 25 steals) and freshman F Malek Harris (2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg).

The Kansas-Kansas State Series
Kansas has won 48 of the last 52 meetings with Kansas State dating back to the 1994 season. KU has won six of the last seven games, 13 of the last 15 matchups and holds a 187-92 all-time series advantage over KSU, which dates back to 1907. KU is 85-35 against KSU in games played in Lawrence, including a 44-18 record inside Allen Fieldhouse. KU has won the last eight games in Allen Fieldhouse beginning in 2007. Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference, KU is 40-4 against KSU (32-4 in regular-season battles and 8-0 in the Big 12 Championship). Kansas head coach Bill Self is 23-4 all-time against K-State, including 22-4 while at KU. Bruce Weber is 1-5 against Kansas, including 1-4 while at K-State.

What’s Trending

The NCAA is listing statistics and Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) on a regular basis. Through games as of Jan. 28, Kansas is No. 1 nationally in the RPI.
In the last three games, KU’s bench has outscored the opponent’s bench 97-19 (31-7 vs. Oklahoma, 31-8 at Texas and 35-4 at TCU).
Including five of the last six games, Kansas has outrebounded 15 of 20 opponents this season, compiling a 14-1 record in those contests. Seven of those games have been by double figures, including two in Big 12 play.
Kansas leads the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 39.3 percent. The Jayhawks also rank in the upper half of the conference in scoring offense (fourth at 72.0), free throw percentage (fourth at 71.2), rebounding (fourth at 39.2), rebound margin (fourth at +6.0), blocked shots (fifth at 5.2), steals (fifth at 6.5), assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth at 1.1) and three-point field goals made (fifth at 6.5).
Kansas made 10 three-pointers against Oklahoma (1/19) and has made 10 or more threes four times this season.
Kansas is 13-0 when leading at the half in 2014-15, including five Big 12 contests.
KU has averaged 15.9 assists in its last nine games. The Jayhawks average 14.0 assists per game overall in 2014-15.
After his 16 points at TCU (1/28), sophomore G Frank Mason III has scored 16 or more points five times in 2014-15, including three against Big 12 foes. He has scored in double figures in each of KU’s last 17 contests, which is tops on the KU team and tied for the sixth-longest double-figure scoring streak under head coach Bill Self.
Sophomore G Brannen Greene is 10-for-17 (58.8 percent) from the field, including 7-for-9 (77.8 percent) from three-point range, in his last three games in averaging 11.0 points. For the season, Greene is scoring 5.8 points per contest. Greene has five games of 10 or more points this season with three of those against Big 12 teams.
Freshman G Kelly Oubre, Jr., has started the last 11 games, 12 games total, for Kansas this season. A two-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, Oubre has scored in double figures six times this season, including four in Big 12 play.
The Jayhawks are 5-0 when Oubre connects on two or more three-pointers this season.
Junior F Perry Ellis has shot 50 percent or better in three of his last four and four of his last six games. He recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds at Iowa State (1/17) and just missed a double-double with 16 points and eight boards versus Oklahoma (1/19). He has scored in double figures in three of his last four games.
The reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, freshman F Cliff Alexander is 26-for-40 (65.0 percent) from the field in Big 12 play with 10 blocked shots. He posted his second-career double-double, tallying 13 points and 13 rebounds in 23 minutes of action, against OU (1/19) and just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds at Texas (1/24).
Since returning from an injury suffered against Georgetown on Dec. 10, 2014, freshman G Devonte’ Graham has 20 assists and three turnovers over the last six games. Graham has multiple steals in two of his last four games, including two at Texas (1/24).
Sophomore G Wayne Selden Jr., has made multiple threes in two of his last four games, including a 2-for-3 effort at Texas (1/24) in scoring eight points. His 12 points at Iowa State (1/17) were his most in Big 12 play this season.
Six Big 12 teams are ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 (Jan. 26) which is more than any other conference. Nine of the 10 Big 12 teams have been ranked at one point during the 2014-15 season.
At 104-22 (82.5 percent), the Big 12 is the only league nationally to have an 80 percent or better winning percentage against non-conference foes.

In the Polls
In the Jan. 26 national polls, Kansas men’s basketball is ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press and No. 11 in the USA Today Coaches’ polls. The Jayhawks have been ranked in each of the last 116 Associated Press polls dating back to the 2008-09 season, including in the top five 50 times. In the coaches’ poll, the Jayhawks have been ranked in each of the past 122 polls and in the top five on 54 occasions.

Versus Ranked Teams
With its 75-62 win against No. 17 Texas on Jan. 24, Kansas is 60-31 against Associated Press-ranked teams, including 6-2 in 2014-15, under head coach Bill Self. In each of the last five seasons, the Jayhawks have a winning record versus ranked foes, including a 7-3 mark in 2013-14. Since the 2009-10 season, KU is 38-14 against AP ranked teams.

Historic Allen Fieldhouse Celebrating 60 Years
Kansas is currently playing its 60th season in historic Allen Fieldhouse, which has been deemed the greatest place to watch a college basketball game. The Jayhawks have sold out of 221-straight games in the Fieldhouse and are 722-109 (86.9 percent) all-time in the facility. At 184-9 (95.3 percent) in 12 seasons, Bill Self has won more Big 12 titles (10) than lost home games (9) in Allen Fieldhouse.

Dedicated on March 1, 1955, in a 77-67 win against rival Kansas State, here are some notables regarding Allen Fieldhouse:

Allen Fieldhouse has sold out each of its last 221 games back to the 2001-02 season.
Kansas won its 700th regular-season game in Allen Fieldhouse with an 80-63 victory against ULM on Nov. 18, 2013. KU is 722-109 all-time in the venue.
Five of the eight KU head coaches have coached in Allen Fieldhouse. Ted Owens has the most victories with 206, followed by Roy Williams (201), Bill Self (184), Larry Brown (71), Dick Harp (51) and Phog Allen (9).
Starting with Wilt Chamberlain in 1957, 12 of KU’s NCAA-leading 28 Consensus All-American First Team selections played in Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas has led its league in home attendance each of the last 27 seasons dating back to 1986-87 and 32 times in the last 36 years.
KU is second all-time winningest program in NCAA Division I history with 2,143 wins and the Jayhawks won victories 1,000, 1,100, 1,200, 1,300, 1,400 and 1,900 in Allen Fieldhouse. The 1,900th all-time win also won the 2007 Big 12 regular-season title outright.
Kansas has won 31-straight home season finales in Allen Fieldhouse, including 30 consecutive Senior Nights. In 2006-07, Kansas did not have a senior on its roster.
From 2006-13 Kansas won 68-straight games against non-conference competition in Allen Fieldhouse.
Self is 184-9 in games played at Allen Fieldhouse for a 95.3 winning percentage, which includes four of Kansas’ 17 undefeated home seasons.
Self’s Big 12 conference titles (10) are more than his home losses while at Kansas (9).
Kansas’ school-record 69-game home-court winning streak from Feb. 7, 2007 to Jan. 22, 2011, led the nation for more than two seasons and ranks 11th all-time in the NCAA records book.
KU’s current 18-game winning streak inside Allen Fieldhouse ranks 14th on the school’s all-time home-court winning streak list and is the fourth longest in the Self era.
Kansas is 126-3 in Allen Fieldhouse in its last 129 games.

Up Next
Kansas will continue its stretch of three games in six days when the Jayhawks host No. 15/16 Iowa State on Feb. 2 Iowa State at 8 p.m., for ESPN Big Monday. KU will then travel to Oklahoma State on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1 p.m., on either ESPN or ESPN2.

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