No. 8/8 Kansas Returns Home to Face TCU Saturday

Kansas Returns Home to Host TCU
No. 8/8 Kansas (21-5, 10-3) returns home to host TCU (16-10, 3-10) on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m., on ESPN2. The Jayhawks are coming off a 62-61 loss at No. 23/22 West Virginia on ESPN Big Monday, Feb. 16. Kansas holds a one-game edge over Iowa State (19-6, 9-4) in the 2015 Big 12 Conference regular-season race. TCU brings a two-game winning streak to Allen Fieldhouse after its 69-55 win against Kansas State Feb. 18.
 
Kansas head coach Bill Self is 346-74 in his 12th season at KU. In games following losses during his tenure, the Jayhawks are 64-9 (88.9 percent) with 40 of those victories in Allen Fieldhouse and 24 on the road or neutral courts.
 
Kansas is 13-0 at home this season which includes a 12-0 record inside historic Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks have a 21-game winning streak in Allen Fieldhouse which ranks tied for 11th on the school’s all-time home-court winning streak list and is the fourth longest in the Self era.
 
About Kansas
No. 8/8 Kansas (21-5, 10-3), 10-time defending Big 12 regular-season champion, scores 71.8 points per game and has a +7.7 scoring margin. The Jayhawks average 38.4 boards per game and have a +4.7 rebound margin. KU leads the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 40.9 percent and averages 14.3 assists, 6.4 steals and 5.0 blocked shots per game.
 
Named the co-Big 12 Player of the Week Feb. 16, junior F Perry Ellis leads Kansas with a 13.3 scoring average and 6.9 rebound average. He is the only player in the Big 12 to rank seventh or higher in scoring (seventh) and rebounding (fourth). Ellis led KU in scoring for the ninth time this season with 19 points at West Virginia (2/16). He scored his 1,000th career point against Baylor (2/14) becoming the 56th player in KU history to reach the plateau. After his 18-point performance at West Virginia (2/26), sophomore G Frank Mason III is next in scoring at 12.4 points per game, which is 10th in the Big 12. Mason has 30 assists in his last five games and is third in the league in assists at 4.3 and eighth in field goal percentage at 46.4. His 33 three-pointers made this season are third most on the team. Sophomore G Wayne Selden, Jr., has averaged 14.0 points in his last six games. Selden leads KU with 44 three-pointers made, scores 9.9 points per contest and is second on the team with 79 assists. Rounding out the KU starters are freshman G Kelly Oubre, Jr., and freshman F Cliff Alexander. Oubre has averaged 16.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in his last two games and has started 18 games this season, including the last 17 straight. He is averaging 10.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals in Big 12 play and 8.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game overall in 2014-15. Oubre’s 26 steals are second on the team to Mason’s 35 thefts and Oubre has made 29 three-pointers. Alexander started his fourth game of the season at West Virginia (2/16). He leads KU with 35 blocked shots and his 1.3 blocks per game are eighth in the Big 12. Alexander scores 7.6 points per game and his 5.5 rebound average is 18th in the league.
 
Sophomore G Brannen Greene leads the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage in conference-games only at 55.3 percent. His 1.6 three-pointers made per conference contest are 12th in the league. For the season, Greene averages 6.2 points and is second on the team with 35 three-pointers made. Freshman G Devonte’ Graham has an impressive 31 assists to nine turnovers in 12 league games played. Graham is scoring 4.5 points per game for the season and even though having missed seven games due to injury, is third on the team with 38 assists. Junior F Jamari Traylor has started 14 games this season, scores 4.5 points per contest and pulls down 3.7 rebounds. His 29 blocked shots are second on the team and his 1.2 blocks per game are 11th in the Big 12. Sophomore F Landen Lucas scored a career-high-tying nine points against Baylor (2/14) where he was 5-for-5 from the free throw line. He averages 2.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, which included six boards at West Viriginia (2/16).
 
About TCU
Located in Fort Worth, Texas, with an enrollment of 10,033, TCU (16-10, 3-10) brings a two-game winning streak to Allen Fieldhouse. TCU is coached by Trent Johnson who is 36-53 in his third season at TCU and 262-238 in his 16th season overall. TCU is 12-5 at home, 2-5 away and 2-0 on neutral courts this season. The Horned Frogs, who returned 82.4 percent of their scoring and 82.8 percent of their rebounding from last season, went 13-0 in non-conference play this season. That ranked as their best non-league record in program history. TCU averages 68.2 points and has a +8.4 scoring margin. TCU is third in the conference in scoring defense at 59.8 percent and field goal percentage defense at 38.2 percent. TCU has attempted 675 free throws for a 26.0 per game average.
 
Senior G Kyan Anderson leads TCU in scoring at 12.9 points per game, which is ninth in the Big 12. Anderson leads TCU with 39 three-pointers made, 107 assists and 39 steals. He leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage at 87.2 percent, is tied for fourth in assists (4.1) and is eighth in steals (1.5). Senior G Trey Zeigler is next in scoring at 8.6 points per game. He is second on the team with 56 assists and averages 4.0 rebounds per game. Sophomore F Kenrich Williams leads TCU in rebounds with 6.7 per game, which ranks fifth in the Big 12. Like Zeigler, he also scores 8.6 points per game and is second on the team with 23 blocked shots. Sophomore F Chris Washburn leads TCU with 37 blocked shots to complement his 6.8 scoring and 6.0 rebounding averages. His 33 steals are second-best on the team. Sophomore C Karviar Shepherd rounds out the TCU starters. He scores 6.5 points per game and is third on the team with 5.8 rebounds per contest.
 
Senior F Amric Fields leads TCU in field goal percentage at 53.4 percent. He scores 7.4 points per game. Sophomore F Brandon Parrish has started 16 of 26 games this season, scores 5.7 points per game and is second on the team with 20 three-pointers made. Other TCU regulars include freshman G Chauncey Collins (3.7 ppg, 16 three-pointers made), sophomore G Hudson Price (3.1 ppg) and junior F Devonta Abron (3.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg).
 
The Kansas-TCU Series
Though this is just the sixth conference meeting between Kansas and TCU, the men’s basketball series between the two schools dates back to 1952 when the Jayhawks defeated the Horned Frogs, 68-64, on March 21 in the NCAA Midwest Regional at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas is 8-1 against TCU with two games on neutral floors: the 1952 contest and a KU 94-78 win vs. TCU on Dec. 20, 1997, at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. KU swept a home-and-home series with TCU in 2003 and 2004 with an 85-66 win in Fort Worth on Dec. 1, 2003 and a 93-74 victory on Dec. 9, 2004 in Allen Fieldhouse. As members of the Big 12, KU leads the series 6-1, including a 3-0 record inside Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas head coach Bill Self is 12-4 all-time against TCU, including 6-1 while at Kansas. TCU head coach Trent Johnson is 2-4 against Kansas, 1-4 while at TCU. In Self’s first season at Kansas, Johnson’s Stanford team defeated KU, 64-58, on Dec. 6, 2003, in Anaheim, California, in the Wooden Classic.
 
Earlier this season, Kansas edged TCU 64-61 on Jan. 28, at TCU’s temporary home court of Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas. KU sophomore G Frank Mason III was the only Jayhawk to score in double figures with 16 points, while sophomore G Brannen Greene and sophomore F Landen Lucas each pulled down seven rebounds in the win. KU’s bench outscored TCU’s bench 35-4 for the game. TCU’s Kyan Anderson led all scorers with 17 points, while teammate Trey Zeigler had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. TCU’s Chris Washburn led all rebounders with 12 boards in the contest.
 
What’s Trending

• The NCAA is listing statistics and Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) on a regular basis. Through games as of Feb. 17, Kansas is No. 1 nationally in the RPI and No. 1 nationally in the toughest schedule.
• Kansas’ bench has outscored its opponent’s bench in nine of the last 11 games and is 244-105 for a 22.2 to 9.5 average in that span.
• Kansas leads the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 40.9 percent. The Jayhawks also rank in the upper half of the conference in scoring offense (fourth at 71.8), free throw percentage (fourth at 70.7), three-point field goal percentage defense (fourth at 32.0), assists (third at 14.3), rebounding (third at 38.4), rebound margin (third at +4.7), blocked shots (fifth at 5.0), steals (fifth at 6.4), assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth at 1.1) and three-point field goals made (second at 6.8).
• Kansas has shot 50 percent or better from three-point range in three of its last four games. In that span the Jayhawks are 33-for-69 (47.8 percent) from beyond the arc. The Jayhawks have made 10 or more threes in three of their last five contests and seven times this season with five of those in Big 12 play.
• Kansas has outrebounded 17 of 26 opponents this season, compiling a 16-1 record in those contests. Seven of those games have been by double figures, including two in Big 12 play.
• Reigning co-Big 12 Player of the Week, junior F Perry Ellis has averaged 18.5 points and is 14-for-25 (56.0 percent) from the field in his last two games. He has shot 50 percent or better in six Big 12 games this season with three contests at 63 percent or better. His six double-doubles in 2014-15 are fourth in the Big 12 and he is the only player in the conference to rank in the top seven in scoring (seventh at 13.3 ppg) and rebounding (fourth at 6.9 rpg).
• Sophomore G Frank Mason III had his string of double-figure scoring games end at 21 when he scored five points against Baylor on Valentine’s Day. He responded with an 18-point performance on 7-of-13 (53.8 percent) shooting, including 3-for-5 (60.0 percent) from three-point range at West Virginia (2/16).
• In his last five outings, Mason has 30 assists and nine turnovers.
• Mason has multiple steals in three of his last five games and nine games this season. He has 10 steals in his last six contests.
• Sophomore G Wayne Selden Jr., has scored in double figures in five of his last six games. His five straight 10-plus point games prior to West Virginia (2/16) marked his longest consecutive double-figure scoring mark as a Jayhawk. Selden’s 13 games of multiple threes are best on the KU team this season. Selden is averaging 14.0 points in his last six games and 9.9 for the season.
• Sophomore G Brannen Greene is 18-for-30 (60.0 percent) from three-point range in his last nine games and leads the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage in conference games at 55.3 percent.
• Freshman F Cliff Alexander is 38-for-59 (64.4 percent) from the field in Big 12 play with 18 blocked shots. Alexander has at least one blocked shot in 15 of his last 17 games, including a career-high-tying four at Texas Tech (2/10).
• Freshman G Devonte’ Graham has 31 assists and nine turnovers over the last 12 games. Graham has at least one steal in six of his last eight games.
• After his 2-for-2 effort from beyond the arc at West Virginia (2/16), freshman G Kelly Oubre, Jr., has made multiple three-pointers in four of his last five games and nine times this season. Six of those have been against Big 12 competition. The Jayhawks are 8-1 when Oubre connects on two or more three-pointers this season.
• Oubre, who averages 4.8 rebounds per game for the season, has averaged 6.5 rebounds in his last two games. A two-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, Oubre has scored in double figures 10 times this season, including seven in Big 12 play.
• Sophomore F Landen Lucas pulled down six rebounds at West Virginia (2/16). He tied his career high with nine points against Baylor (2/14). He also scored nine points against Rider (11/24) earlier this season. Lucas is 4-for-5 from the field in his last three games.
• Six Big 12 teams are ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 (Feb. 16) 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 Feb. 16 national polls, Kansas is No. 8 in the Associated Press and No. 8 in the USA Today Coaches’ polls. This season, the Jayhawks have been ranked in the top 10 in the AP and coaches’ poll 10 and nine weeks, respectively. The Jayhawks have been ranked in each of the last 119 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 125 polls and in the top five on 54 occasions.
 
Versus Ranked Teams
With its 62-61 loss at No. 16 West Virginia on Feb. 16, Kansas is 61-32 against Associated Press (AP) ranked teams, including 8-3 in 2014-15. In each of the last five seasons, the Jayhawks have a winning record versus AP ranked foes, including a 7-3 mark in 2013-14. Since the 2009-10 season, KU is 39-15 against AP ranked teams.
 
From Downtown
Kansas leads the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 40.9 percent. Historically, Kansas has shot 40 percent or better from three-point range five times with the single-season record being 43.3 percent in 1989-90 (41.6 in 1988-89, 40.8 in 1992-93, 41.8 in 2001-02 and 40.4 in 2009-10). In the Bill Self era, the 2014-15 Jayhawks are on pace to have their best three-point shooting season surpassing the 40.4 percent in 2009-10.
 
From the Line
Kansas enters the TCU game making 70.7 percent of its free throws in 2014-15. In the Bill Self era, the Jayhawks have made 70 percent or better from the charity stripe each of the last two seasons and five times in the previous 11 years. In 2012-13, KU set the single-season free throw percentage record at 73.7 percent.
 
Bench Mark
Kansas’ bench has outscored its opponents bench in nine of the last 11 games and 18 times this season. Through 26 games, Kansas’ bench is scoring 22.8 points per game while its opponent averages 14.5 points per contest. In the Bill Self’s 12 seasons at Kansas, the 2014-15 Jayhawks currently rank third behind the 2010-11 team’s 24.4 and the 2007-08 team’s 24.2 bench scoring averages. KU’s current +8.3 bench scoring differential is second in the Self era with the 2007-08 NCAA National Championship team first at +8.4.
 
Ellis Eclipses 1,000 Career Points
Junior F Perry Ellis scored his 1,000th career point against Baylor (2/14). He became the 56th Jayhawk to accomplish the feat and the 11th in the Bill Self era with the previous being 2012 Consensus All-American Thomas Robinson. At 1,034 all-time points, Ellis is already No. 49 on the KU all-time scoring list.
 
Ellis’ Accolades
Earlier this week, junior F Perry Ellis was named men’s basketball co-Big 12 Player of the Week on Feb. 16, along with Le’Bryan Nash of Oklahoma State. Ellis averaged 16.0 points and 7.5 rebounds as the No. 8/9 Jayhawks won at Texas Tech, 73-51, and defeated then-No. 16/16 Baylor, 74-64. The Wichita forward shot 52.2 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the free throw line. He opened the week by just missing a double-double with 14 points and nine boards at Tech. He then tied for the game-high in scoring with 18 points against the Bears. Ellis earned the honor for the second time this season and fourth time for his career.
 
On Feb. 17, Ellis was one of 16 student-athletes named to the watch list for the 2015 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The award is in its inaugural year and the list will be narrowed down to five finalists in early March with the winner being named April 10, 2015.
 
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 224-straight games in the Fieldhouse and are 725-109 (86.9 percent) all-time in the facility. At 187-9 (95.4 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 224 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 725-109 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 (187), 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 2,147 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 187-9 in games played at Allen Fieldhouse for a 95.4 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 21-game winning streak inside Allen Fieldhouse ranks tied for 11th on the school’s all-time home-court winning streak list and is the fourth longest in the Self era.
• Kansas is 129-3 in Allen Fieldhouse in its last 132 games.

KU Not Being Swept
In regular-season play, Kansas has not been beaten twice by the same Big 12 opponent in the Bill Self era. When including the Big 12 Championship, Kansas has been beaten by the same conference opponent twice in a season only once (67-82 at Texas, 2/23/04; 60-64 vs. Texas, 3/13/04) in Self’s 12 years.
 
Going Retro
On Jan. 29, Kansas Athletics and adidas released the Heritage Classic uniform the Jayhawks will wear during their matchup against the Texas Longhorns on Feb. 28. Inspired by KU’s 1988 National Championship uniform, the Heritage Classic uniform pays homage to the successful history of Kansas basketball. Featuring the best of the past and present, the new uniform is made with the same lightweight Revolution 30 technology used in the NBA and showcases throwback letters, numbering and logos inspired by the 1988 uniform.
 
Up Next
Kansas will play its final of four ESPN Big Monday appearances in 2015 when it travels to Kansas State on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. (Central). The Jayhawks return home to host Texas on Feb. 28 at 4 p.m., on ESPN. Kansas’ senior night, with Christian Garrett being the lone KU senior on the roster, will be Tuesday, March 3, against West Virginia on ESPN2 at 8 p.m.
 
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.