Kansas Men's Hoops Plays at Iowa State Saturday at 11 a.m. on ESPN
Jan. 27, 2006
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Kansas (12-6, 3-2) takes a two-game winning streak into Ames, Iowa, to face Iowa State (13-6, 3-3). The Jayhawks are 9-2 in their last 11 games, including 2-1 in road games, after their 83-73 win at Texas A&M Wednesday. Iowa State has won two of its last three games with the lone loss to Texas A&M 86-81 in overtime. The Cyclones are coming off an 82-58 win at Missouri Wednesday.
About Kansas
Kansas leads the nation in field goal percentage defense at 35.7 percent. The Jayhawks also lead the Big 12 in assists at 18.39 per game. Kansas is outscoring opponents by 15.6 points per game, including 11.4 in Big 12 contests. Guard Brandon Rush continues to lead the Big 12 freshmen with a 13.8 scoring average. In Big 12 play he is scoring 16.4 points. Freshman Mario Chalmers ranks second in the Big 12 in steals at 2.5 per contest and seventh in assists at 3.89 to pace KU. He is scoring 8.9 points per game overall and 14.6 in Big 12 contests. Sophomore guard Russell Robinson is also stepping up in league play with an average of 13.8 points per game. He is scoring 8.6 in all games. Sophomore center Sasha Kaun leads KU in rebounds with a 5.8 average – 13th in the Big 12. Rush at 6.2 rpg and sophomore forward Darnell Jackson at six rpg – pace KU in conference play.
About Iowa State
Iowa State is currently 7-4 at home this season and 3-1 away from Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones (13-6, 3-3) average 77.8 points and are giving up 72.2 per contest. They lead the Big 12 in steals with 10.16 per game as they have forced an average of 19.8 turnovers per contest. Junior guard Curtis Stinson leads the way for ISU averaging 19.1 points per game which is tied for third in the Big 12. Stinson leads the league in steals at 2.63 per game. Junior guard Will Blalock is scoring 14.6 points per game and leads the conference in assists at 6.53 per contest. He is fourth in the steals per game at 2.11. Sophomore forward Rahshon Clark leads the team in rebounds at 5.3 to go along with his 13.5 points per game.
The Series
Kansas leads the all-time series with Iowa State 158-58, yet the two teams have split their last two season series meetings. In fact, each of the last four meetings have been decided by seven points or less with two of those going into overtime – both in Lawrence. Last season the visiting teams each won games with KU a 71-66 winner at Ames and ISU a 63-61 overtime decision in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas is 60-36 against Iowa State in games played in Ames, yet ISU is 18-16 against the Jayhawks in Hilton Coliseum. Since 2002, Kansas has won three of its last four trips to Hilton Coliseum. KU holds an 11-7 edge in Big 12 league play. This series dates back to 1908.
Up Next
The Jayhawks return home for a Big Monday game against Texas Tech. The game will air on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. (Central) from Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas and Oklahoma tied for the 2005 Big 12 regular-season championship. The two teams will face each other Sunday, Feb. 5 at noon on CBS at Allen Fieldhouse.
