No. 8/9 Kansas to Host Texas in Men’s Hoops Saturday

Kansas to Host Texas
No. 8/9 Kansas (22-6, 11-4) returns home to host Texas (17-11, 6-9), Saturday, Feb. 28, at 4 p.m. ESPN College GameDay will originate with an hour pregame show from Allen Fieldhouse prior to the KU-UT contest. Kansas is coming off a 70-63 loss at Sunflower Showdown rival Kansas State on ESPN Big Monday, Feb. 23. Texas is looking to end a three-game losing streak with all three losses to ranked foes. UT is coming off a 71-64 loss at No. 20/19 West Virginia on Feb. 24.
 
Kansas, 10-time defending Big 12 regular-season champion, holds a one-game edge over West Virginia (22-6, 10-5), Iowa State (20-7, 10-5) and Oklahoma (19-8, 10-5) in the 2015 Big 12 regular-season race. At 11-4, Kansas has guaranteed itself of not playing on the first day of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, March 11-14, at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
 
For the Texas game, Kansas will celebrate the 60th year of historic Allen Fieldhouse. In addition to video and other tributes throughout the contest, the Jayhawks will wear retro uniforms, adidas designed Heritage Classic, which honors the 1988 NCAA National Championship team. 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.
 
About Kansas
No. 8/9 Kansas (22-6, 11-4) scores 71.8 points per game and has a +7.2 scoring margin. The Jayhawks average 38.0 boards per game and have a +4.5 rebound margin. KU leads the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 40.2 percent and averages 14.1 assists, 6.5 steals and 4.8 blocked shots per game.
 
Following his second-straight 20-point performance with 24 points at Kansas State (2/23), Academic All-Big 12 junior F Perry Ellis leads Kansas with a 14.0 scoring average and 7.0 rebound average. He is the only player in the Big 12 to rank sixth or higher in scoring (sixth) and rebounding (fourth). Ellis has led KU in scoring in each of the last four games and 11 times this season. Sophomore G Frank Mason III is next in scoring at 12.1 points per game which is 11th in the Big 12. Mason has 38 assists in his last seven games and is third in the league in assists at 4.3 and 10th in field goal percentage at 45.9, which is just behind Ellis who sits in seventh (47.7 percent). Mason leads KU with 39 steals and his 33 three-pointers made this season are third most on the team. Sophomore G Wayne Selden, Jr., has made a team-high 45 three-pointers and his 1.6 made per game are ninth in the Big 12. Selden scores 9.6 points per game and is second on the team with 85 assists. Rounding out the KU starters are freshman G Kelly Oubre, Jr., and freshman F Cliff Alexander. Oubre averages 9.7 points in Big 12 play and 8.6 in all games and is coming off a 14-point performance with seven rebounds at Kansas State (2/23). He is second on the team with 29 steals, averages 4.9 rebounds and has made 30 three-pointers this season. Alexander started his sixth game of the season at Kansas State (2/23). He leads KU with 37 blocked shots and his 1.3 blocks per game are eighth in the Big 12. Alexander scores 7.1 points per game and his 5.3 rebound average is second on the team and 19th in the league.
 
Sophomore G Brannen Greene is making 50.0 percent from three-point range (22-for-44) in Big 12 games played. His 1.5 three-pointers made per conference contest are tied for 13th in the league. For the season, Greene averages 6.3 points and is second on the team with 36 three-pointers made. Freshman G Devonte’ Graham scored a career-high 20 points against TCU (2/21). He is scoring 5.2 points per game and ranks tied for 14th in the Big 12 with 2.5 assists per game in conference-only games. Graham is third on the team with 42 assists. Junior F Jamari Traylor has started 14 games this season, scores 4.5 points per contest and pulls down 3.6 rebounds. His 30 blocked shots are second on the team and his 1.1 blocks per game are 11th in the Big 12. Sophomore F Landen Lucas scored a career-high-tying nine points against Baylor (2/14). He averages 2.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, which included six boards at West Virginia (2/16).
 
About Texas
Located in Austin, Texas, with an enrollment of 52,076, Texas is 17-11 overall (11-5 home, 4-6 road and 2-0 neutral) and Kansas will be the fourth-straight ranked team the Longhorns will face as they try to end a three-game losing skid. Texas is coached by Rick Barnes who is 399-177 in his 17th season at UT and 601-311 in his 28th season overall. Texas averages 68.7 points per game and has a +8.2 scoring margin. The Longhorns lead the Big 12 in rebounding (40.3), rebound margin (+9.5), blocked shots (7.4) and field goal percentage defense (36.6). Nationally, Texas leads the NCAA in blocked shots per game, is third in rebound margin and fourth in field goal percentage defense.
 
Sophomore G Isaiah Taylor leads Texas in scoring at 13.4 points per game. Despite playing only 18 of UT’s 28 games, due to injury prior to the Big 12 season, he also leads the team with 80 assists and 16 steals. He averages 3.5 rebounds per game and is making 81.7 percent from the free throw line. Frehsman F Myles Turner is next in scoring at 11.2 points per game and he leads UT in rebounding at 6.5 boards per contest and the Big 12 with 2.6 blocked shots per outing. Turner, who comes off the bench, also leads the team with an 83.2 free throw percentage and has made 16 three-pointers this season. Senior F Jonathan Holmes is a starter who scores 10.5 points per game and is just behind Turner with 6.3 rebounds per contest. He is second on the team with 34 three-pointers made in 2014-15. Junior C Cameron Ridley has 46 blocked shots to complement his 8.2 scoring and 5.1 rebounding averages. He shoots 56.9 from the field. Junior G Demarcus Holland is second on the team with 70 assists this season. Holland scores 7.0 points per game. Sophomore G Kendal Yancy (6.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 20 three-pointers made) joins Taylor, Holmes, Ridley and Holland in the starting lineup.
 
Like Turner, junior G Javan Felix is a top reserve for Texas who leads the Longhorns with 44 three-pointers made this season. He scores 9.5 points per game and is third on the team with 52 assists. Junior F Connor Lammert has started 20 games this season and averages 5.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest. He has made 20 threes this season. Junior C Prince Ibeh (2.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg) rounds out the UT regulars.
 
The Kansas-Texas Series
Year-in and year-out, the Kansas-Texas battles are some of the best in the Big 12, and nationally, in a series that dates back to 1938. Kansas leads the all-time series 24-8, and has won seven of the last eight meetings and 10 of the last 12 matchups, starting with the 2008 Big 12 Championship title game. These two teams have met in four of the last eight Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship title games with KU claiming all four match-ups: 80-68 in Dallas in 2006, 88-84 in overtime in Oklahoma City in 2007, 84-74 in Kansas City in 2008 and 85-73 in Kansas City in 2011. The Jayhawks lead the series 12-1 in games played in Lawrence, including a 10-1 mark inside Allen Fieldhouse. Since the inception of the Big 12, Kansas holds a 20-7 record against Texas with a 16-6 mark in regular-season play and 4-1 record in the Big 12 Championship. Kansas head coach Bill Self is 14-8 all-time against Texas, including 14-6 while at KU. Texas head coach Rick Barnes is 7-18 all-time versus Kansas.
 
Earlier this season, then-No. 11/14 Kansas defeated then-No. 17/18 Texas, 75-62, on Jan. 24 in Austin. KU freshman F Cliff Alexander led four Jayhawks who scored in double figures with 15 points and narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Junior F Perry Ellis and sophomore G Brannen Greene each scored 14 points, while sophomore G Frank Mason III had 12 points. Greene was 5-for-7 from the field for the contest, including 4-for-5 from three-point range. Up 32-30 at halftime, Kansas outscored Texas 43-32 in the second period. KU had a season-low three turnovers for the game (3) and Texas was 3-for-18 (16.7 percent) from three-point range. Texas sophomore G Isaiah Taylor led all scorers with 23 points.
 
What’s Trending

• The NCAA is listing statistics and Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) on a regular basis. Through games as of Feb. 25, Kansas is No. 2 nationally in the RPI behind Kentucky and No. 1 nationally in the toughest schedule.
• Kansas’ bench has outscored its opponent’s bench in 10 of the last 13 games, including 37-19 against TCU (2/21). Kansas’s bench has outscored its opponent’s bench 295-154 for a 22.7 to 11.8 average in the last 13 games.
• Kansas leads the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage at 40.2 percent. The Jayhawks also rank in the upper half of the conference in scoring offense (fourth at 71.8), field goal percentage (second at 44.7), free throw percentage (fourth at 70.9), three-point field goal percentage defense (fourth at 31.9), assists (fourth at 14.1), rebounding (third at 38.0), rebound margin (third at +4.5), blocked shots (fifth at 4.8), steals (fifth at 6.5), assist-to-turnover ratio (fifth at 1.1) and three-point field goals made (fifth at 6.6).
• Kansas has shot 50 percent or better from three-point range in three of its last six games.
• Kansas has outrebounded 18 of 28 opponents this season, compiling a 16-2 record in those contests. Seven of those games have been by double figures, including two in Big 12 play. KU outrebounded Kansas State 37-28 on Feb. 23.
• Junior F Perry Ellis has averaged 23.5 points in his last two games with a 23-point effort against TCU (2/21) and a 24-point effort at Kansas State (2/23). In his last two games, Ellis is 19-for-26 (73.1) from the field with 16 rebounds and four steals. His 24 points at KSU tied his season high against Tennessee (11/28). Ellis has shot 50 percent or better in eight Big 12 games this season with four contests at 62.5 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 six in scoring (sixth at 14.0 ppg) and rebounding (fourth at 7.0 rpg).
• Sophomore G Frank Mason III has three steals at Kansas State (2/23) which were one shy of his career high set against UNLV (1/4). Mason has at least one steal in each of his last eight games with 14 in that span.
• Freshman G Kelly Oubre, Jr., recorded his 12th game of the season with 10 or more points by scoring 14 points at Kansas State (2/23). He also pulled down seven boards against the Wildcats to mark the ninth time this season he has pulled down seven or more rebounds. Oubre, who averages 4.9 rebounds per game for the season, has averaged 6.0 rebounds in his last four games.
• Freshman G Devonte’ Graham had a nearly perfect game against TCU (2/21) where he scored a career-high 20 points on 7-for-7 shooting, including 2-for-2 from three-point range. Graham was 4-for-6 from the free throw line with three assists against the Horned Frogs. He has three or more assists in nine games this season, with eight against Big 12 teams.
• Sophomore G Wayne Selden Jr., has scored in double figures in five of his last eight 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 12.0 points in his last eight games and 9.6 for the season.
• Sophomore G Brannen Greene is 19-for-36 (52.8 percent) from three-point range in his last 11 games and is making 50 percent from beyond the arc in Big 12 games. 
• Freshman F Cliff Alexander is 39-for-64 (60.9 percent) from the field in Big 12 play with 20 blocked shots. Alexander has at least one blocked shot in 17 of his last 19 games, including a career-high-tying four at Texas Tech (2/10).
• 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.

Kansas to Host ESPN College GameDay Feb. 28
For the second time this season and 11th time overall, the Kansas men’s basketball team will take part in ESPN’s College GameDay when the Jayhawks host Texas Saturday, Feb. 28. The GameDay show will originate from Wichita State for its normal morning portion, but then conduct an hour-long pregame show from Allen Fieldhouse beginning at 3 p.m., previewing the Texas at Kansas contest set to tip at 4 p.m., on ESPN. The 2014-15 season marks the 11th year for ESPN’s College Gameday. KU has hosted the morning show five times (2005, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2013) and has been the road team on five occasions (2006, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015), including its Jan. 17 game at Iowa State. KU is 5-5 all-time on GameDay with (4-1 home and 1-4 away).
 
In the Polls
In the Feb. 23 national polls, Kansas is No. 8 in the Associated Press and No. 9 in the USA Today Coaches’ polls. This season, the Jayhawks have been ranked in the top 10 in the AP and coaches’ poll 11 and 10 weeks, respectively. The Jayhawks have been ranked in each of the last 120 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 126 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 40.2 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 just under pace to have their best three-point shooting season behind the 40.4 percent in 2009-10.
 
From the Line
Kansas enters the Texas game making 70.9 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 10 of the last 13 games and 19 times this season. Through 28 games, Kansas’ bench is scoring 23.0 points per game while its opponent averages 15.3 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 +7.7 bench scoring differential is third in the Self era with the 2007-08 NCAA National Championship team second at +8.4 and the 2009-10 team at +8.2.
 
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 1,081 career points, Ellis is already No. 42 on the Kansas all-time scoring list.
 
Efficient Ellis
In terms of scoring efficiency on field goals only – excluding points scored from the free throw line – in a two-game stretch with 10 or more shot attempts in both games, junior F Perry Ellis’ back-to-back contests yields him with highest point production on the highest field goal percentage since 1988-89 on shots from the field. Ellis has shot 73 percent and scored 39 points on field goals alone over the last two games versus TCU (2/21) and at Kansas State (2/23).
 
1. Perry Ellis 2015 – (19-of-26, 73 percent, 47 points overall)
(39 points excluding free throws)
2/21 vs. TCU (9-of-10, 90 percent, 23 points)
2/23 at Kansas State (10-of-16, 63 percent, 24 points)
 
2. Mark Randall 1989 – (19-of-26, 73 percent, 43 points overall)
(38 points excluding free throws)
2/8 vs. Oklahoma State (11-of-12, 92 percent, 25 points)
2/11 at Missouri (8-of-14, 57 percent, 18 points)
 
3. Julian Wright 2006 – (18-of-22, 82 percent, 38 points overall)
(36 points excluding free throws)
2/21 vs. Baylor (10-of-11, 91 percent, 20 points)
2/25 at Texas (8-of-11, 73 percent, 18 points)
 
4. Perry Ellis 2014 – (17-of-23, 74 percent, 44 points overall)
(35 points excluding free throws)
3/14 vs. Iowa State (11-of-12, 92 percent, 30 points)
3/21 vs. Eastern Kentucky (6-of-11, 55 percent, 14 points)
 
5. Kenny Gregory 2000 – (14-of-23, 61 percent, 29 points overall)
(28 points excluding free throws)
3/17 vs. DePaul (11-of-12, 92 percent, 22 points)
3/19 vs. Duke (3-of-11, 27 percent, seven points)
 
More Ellis Accolades
In addition to his Academic All-Big 12 honors, junior F Perry Ellis has twice been named the Big 12 Player of the Week. The 2014 Orlando Classic Most Valuable Player is 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. 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 225 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 726-109 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 (188), 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 2,148 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 188-9 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 regular-season 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 22-game winning streak inside Allen Fieldhouse ranks 11th on the school’s all-time home-court win streak list and is the third longest in the Self era.
• Kansas is 130-3 in Allen Fieldhouse in its last 133 games.

Up Next
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. (Central). The Jayhawks will close out the regular season at No. 16/17 Oklahoma on Saturday, March 7, which will be televised on ESPN with a 3 p.m. tip.
 
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