Kansas Men's Basketball to Host Baylor Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Feb. 20, 2006
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Kansas (19-6, 10-2 Big 12) brings a nine-game winning streak into Tuesday’s battle against Baylor (2-10, 2-10) at 7 p.m. on Jayhawk TV. The Jayhawks have won 16 of their last 18 games and at 10-2 in Big 12 play, are tied for the conference lead with Texas (22-4, 10-2). Baylor is looking to snap a three-game losing streak tonight.
About Kansas
Kansas is coming off a 79-46 victory against Border Showdown foe Missouri Saturday. At 19-6 overall and 10-2 in Big 12 play, the Jayhawks have won 10 or more conference games for the last 12 seasons. They are the only Big 12 team to have won 10-plus league games every season as the conference celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2005-06. In their current nine-game winning streak, the Jayhawks are making nearly 50 percent of their shots (49.7) and 73.7 percent of their free throws. Brandon Rush leads the Big 12 freshman class in scoring at 14.3 points per game. Rush also leads KU in rebounding with a 6.1 average, good for 12th in the league. He also leads the team with 35 three-point field goals made this season. Freshman Mario Chalmers is next in scoring at 10.8 points per game. He is tied for the Big 12 lead in steals with 2.64 per game and his 3.96 assists rank seventh in the league, just ahead of teammate Russell Robinson’s 3.76 per game. Robinson and fellow sophomore Sasha Kaun are next in scoring at 8.7 points per game. Kaun ranks 13th in the Big 12 in rebounding at 5.8 per game. Freshman Julian Wright is averaging 9.6 points per game in KU’s nine-game winning streak and 7.9 overall.
About Baylor
After not playing a non-conference season due to NCAA penalties, Baylor brings a 2-10 Big 12 record into tonight’s game. The Bears have lost three straight after their 64-40 home loss to Texas A&M Saturday. BU has posted conference wins against Kansas State — 72-70, in overtime on Feb. 1 — and Missouri — 90-64, on Feb. 7. Like Kansas, Baylor is a young team consisting of nine players who are freshmen and sophomores. Freshman Curtis Jerrells leads the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game. The guard also leads the team in assists with 39 and steals with 17. Sophomore guard Aaron Bruce is next in scoring with an 11.4 average. He leads the team with 32 three-point field goals made. Redshirt freshman center Mamadou Diene leads the team in rebounds with 5.6 per game and blocked shots at two per outing. Baylor is celebrating its 100th year of men’s basketball in 2005-06.
The Series
Kansas leads the overall series with Baylor, 10-1, and has won four meetings dating back to 2002. This series dates back to 1951 and the Jayhawks are 6-0 against the Bears in games played in Lawrence. Last season, KU connected on a school-record 16 three-pointers, including a 5-for-5 effort from current senior Jeff Hawkins, in an 86-66 win in Waco. Baylor’s win in the series was on Feb. 12, 2001, an 85-77 upset of then-ranked No. 5 Kansas.
Up Next
Kansas will travel to nationally-ranked Texas on Saturday, Feb. 25. The KU-UT contest will air on ESPN with an 8 p.m. tip. KU returns home for senior night to face Colorado March 1. Tip for the KU-CU game will be 7 p.m. (Central) and will air on Jayhawk TV. Kansas will conclude the regular season at Kansas State on Saturday, March 4 at 3 p.m.
