Kansas to Host Kansas State Saturday in Men's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2006
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Kansas takes the Big 12’s longest winning streak (eighth nationally) – seven games – and a 10-4 (1-0 Big 12) record into today’s game against Kansas State. The streak is the second longest under head coach Bill Self while at KU. The Jayhawks won their 15th straight conference opener at Colorado 75-63 on Wednesday. Kansas State is 9-4 on the season and 0-2 in Big 12 play. The Wildcats fell to Nebraska 57-42 in Manhattan Wednesday.
About Kansas
Kansas brings a 10-4 overall record, 1-0 Big 12 mark and a +16.9 scoring average into today’s game. The Jayhawks lead the nation in field goal percentage defense at 34.8 percent and are outrebounding foes 41.8 to 34.2. In Big 12 play you have to step up your game and KU did that at Colorado Wednesday holding the Buffaloes 22 points under their season average. The Jayhawks also lead the conference in blocked shots at 6.64 per game. KU is led by guard Brandon Rush who leads the Big 12 freshman class with a 13.1 scoring average. Sophomore center Sasha Kaun paces KU in rebounds with 6.3 per game, which is 11th in the Big 12. He is scoring 10.2 points per game. Sophomore C.J. Giles is third in the league in blocked shots at 2.07 per game and 12th in the rebounds at 6.3. He is scoring 8.2 points per outing. Freshman Mario Chalmers leads the team in assists at 3.29 per contest – 11th in the Big 12 – and steals at 2.21 – fourth in the conference. Sophomore guard Russell Robinson also ranks among the league leaders in assists (13th at 3.14) and steals (11th at 1.79). Freshman Julian Wright is sixth in the Big 12 in blocked shots at 1.5 per contest.
About Kansas State
Kansas State is looking to snap a two-game losing streak, it’s longest of the season. The Wildcats are 9-4 on the season and 0-2 in Big 12 play. Junior forward Cartier Martin leads K-State in scoring at 19.6 points per game, which is third in the Big 12. Martin’s team-leading 7.5 rebound average is fifth in the conference and he is the Big 12’s leading free throw shooter at 84.3 percent. Sophomore guard Clent Stewart paces the Wildcats in assists with 40 in 13 games, while senior Dramane Diarra leads the team in blocked shots with 24. Kansas State is 0-3 on the road this season with all road three losses by a combined eight points.
The Series
Kansas has won the last 31 meetings with Kansas State dating back to the 1990 season. The Jayhawks hold a 170-88 all-time series advantage over the Wildcats, including a 77-34 mark in games played in Lawrence and a 36-17 record in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas State’s last win in the series was 68-64 in Lawrence on Jan. 17, 1994. Last season, Kansas defeated Kansas State three times — 74-65 in Manhattan, 72-65 in Lawrence on Senior Night and 80-67 in the quarterfinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship at Kemper Arena in Kansas City. The Jayhawks won the first-ever meeting with K-State, 54-39, on Jan. 25, 1907, in Lawrence.
Up Next
Kansas concludes its three games in six days when it travels to Border Showdown rival Missouri on ESPN’s Big Monday. Tip from the Mizzou Arena is set for 6 p.m. KU returns home to take on Nebraska on Jan. 21 in Allen Fieldhouse. The KU-NU tilt will be televised on ESPN with a 3 p.m. tip. The game will also mark the official opening of the Booth Family Hall of Athletics.
