No. 9/9 Kansas Heads to Iowa State for ESPN Big Monday

Feb. 24, 2013

Game Information
Senior Kevin Young was 3-for-4 from the floor against TCU Saturday.
#9/9 Kansas vs. Iowa State
Date Feb. 25, 2013
Time 8 p.m.
Location Ames, Iowa
Arena Hilton Coliseum
Radio Jayhawk Radio Network
Live Stats Iowa State Live Stats
Stats at a Glance KU ISU
Record 23-4 19-8
Points Per Game 73.3 79.5
Scoring Margin +13.4 +10.9
FG Percentage 46.8 45.8
3-Point FG Percentage 35.0 37.0
FT Percentage 72.2 72.0
Total Rebounds/GM 39.4 39.6
Rebounding Margin +6.4 +5.7
Assists/GM 14.6 16.3
Turnovers/GM 13.4 13.4
Steals/GM 7,3 6.9
Blocks/GM 6.8 3.1
Statistical Leaders
Kansas Iowa State
PPG McLemore (16.2) Clyburn (14.9)
RPG Withey (8.5) Ejim (9.4)
APG Johnson (4.4) Lucious (5.8)
SPG McLemore (1.2) McGee (1.3)
BPG Withey (4.0) Gibson (0.8)

Kansas notes for Iowa State Get Acrobat Reader

ESPN BIG MONDAY

No. 9/9 Kansas looks to keep pace in the Big 12 race when it travels to Iowa State, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. for ESPN Big Monday. The Jayhawks (23-4) have won four straight and are tied with Kansas State atop the conference standings with an 11-3 league record. Iowa State is 19-8 on the season and 9-5 in conference play. The Cyclones have won three-straight games heading into Monday.

ABOUT KANSAS

Kansas, ranked No. 9 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ polls released Feb. 18, is 23-4 (11-3 Big 12) after its 74-48 win against TCU on Feb. 23. The Jayhawks are 15-1 at home, 6-2 in road games and 2-1 on neutral courts in 2012-13. In his 10th season at KU, Bill Self holds a 292-57 record for an 83.7 winning percentage. Overall, Self is one win shy of his 500th career victory with a 499-162 record in his 20th season as a head coach. KU averages 73.3 points per game and is giving up 59.9 for a Big 12-leading +13.4 scoring margin. KU also leads the league in rebound margin at +6.4, field goal percentage at 46.8, field goal percentage defense at 35.5, which leads the nation, and blocked shots at 6.8. KU is tied with Kansas State for the Big 12 lead in scoring defense at 59.9.

Kansas starts four seniors, including three fifth-year seniors, and one freshman. Named to the Sporting News Mid-Season All-American team Jan. 15, redshirt freshman G Ben McLemore leads the team in scoring at 16.2 points per game, which leads all Big 12 freshmen in scoring and ranks second overall in the conference. The Jan. 14 Big 12 Player of the Week and two-time conference Rookie of the Week, McLemore leads the league in free throw percentage (87.6) and is third in the Big 12 in three-point field goal percentage (42.6). McLemore, who is listed on the USBWA Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year Award Midseason list, has a team-high 52 three-pointers made and 33 steals. All-America candidate senior C Jeff Withey, who on Feb. 18 was named the Big 12 Player of the Week for the second time in 2012-13, leads Kansas in rebounding (8.5 rpg) and has 10 double-doubles this season, including three in his last four games. Withey leads the league in blocked shots at 4.0 per game, which ranks third nationally. Withey is Kansas’ and the Big 12’s all-time blocked shots leader with 272. A USBWA Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year Midseason and Wooden Award Mid-Season Top 25 honoree along with McLemore, Withey is scoring 13.6 points per outing. Senior G Travis Releford leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 60.9 percent and is 16-for-22 (72.7 percent) from the field in his last three games. The Nov. 26 Big 12 Player of the Week, Releford is scoring 12.2 points per contest. Senior G Elijah Johnson has a team-high 118 assists and is second on the team with 36 three-pointers made to complement his 9.1 scoring average. Senior F Kevin Young rounds out the KU starters; he is scoring 7.6 points per contest and is second on the team with 7.0 rebounds per outing. Young has 985 career points between Loyola-Marymount and Kansas. Other KU regulars include freshman F Perry Ellis (4.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg), sophomore G Naadir Tharpe (5.3 ppg, 2.8 apg) and redshirt freshman F Jamari Traylor (2.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg).

ABOUT IOWA STATE

Located in Ames, Iowa, with an enrollment of 31,040, Iowa State is 19-8 on the season, including a 9-5 Big 12 record. Iowa State legend Fred Hoiberg, who in 2012 was the co-Big 12 Coach of the Year along with Kansas’ Bill Self, is in his first head coaching position and has a 58-35 record in his third season at Iowa State. The Cyclones have won three-straight games heading into Monday’s battle and have the nation’s third-longest active home-court winning streak at 22 games, which includes a 15-0 mark in Hilton Coliseum in 2012-13. Of ISU’s five league losses, four have been by five points or less or in overtime.

Iowa State leads the Big 12 in scoring at 79.5 points per game and has a +10.9 scoring margin. The Cyclones also lead the conference in rebounding at 39.6 boards per game, three-point field goals made at 9.6, three-point field goal percentage at 37.0 and assists at 16.3. ISU also averages 6.9 steals per contest and shoots 45.8 percent from the field.

Iowa State has a balanced team with six Cyclones scoring nine or more points per game. Additionally, five of those six also have 23 or more steals in 2012-13. Redshirt senior G Will Clyburn leads the team in scoring at 14.9 points per game and is second on the team with 7.3 rebounds per game and 61 assists. Senior G Tyrus McGee, who comes off the bench, leads the Big 12 in three-point field goals made with 2.7 per game and is second in the league in three-point field goal percentage at 45.1. McGee scores 13.1 points per contest and leads the team with 36 steals. Freshman F Georges Niang is a starter who is third on the team with an 11.4 scoring average. He is also third on the squad with 4.7 rebounds per contest. Junior F Melvin Ejim leads the Big 12 with 9.7 rebounds per outing to complement his 11.1 scoring average. Redshirt senior G Korie Lucious leads ISU in assists with 5.8 apg, which is second in the Big 12. He is scoring 9.7 points per game. Redshirt senior G Chris Babb (9.7 ppg) joins the aforementioned, except for McGee, in the starting lineup. Sophomore C Percy Gibson (5.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg) leads ISU with 20 blocked shots this season and redshirt senior F Anthony Booker (3.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and junior G Bubu Palo (3.3 ppg) round out the ISU regulars.

THE SERIES

Kansas leads the all-time series with Iowa State 172-59, dating back to 1908 and has won 14 of the last 15 meetings with ISU’s win coming last season in Hilton Coliseum (72-64, Jan. 28). KU holds an 66-37 advantage in games played in Ames but in Hilton Coliseum that series is only 22-19. Since the inception of the Big 12, Kansas is 27-8 against Iowa State with a 25-8 record in regular-season play and a 2-0 mark in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. Kansas head coach Bill Self is 17-3 all-time versus Iowa State, including 16-3 while at KU, while ISU’s Fred Hoiberg is 1-4 all-time against KU.

In the 2013 Big 12 opener for both teams (Jan. 9), Kansas overcame a six-point second-half deficit to defeat Iowa State 89-87 in overtime in Allen Fieldhouse. KU redshirt freshman G Ben McLemore scored 33 points, including the game-tying three-pointer at the end of regulation, to lead the Jayhawks. KU had five players score in double figures with McLemore, Jeff Withey (15), Elijah Johnson (12), Travis Releford (12) and Kevin Young (10). Young and Withey had 12 rebounds apiece to record double-doubles for the game. Iowa State was led by Melvin Ejim with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

KANSAS-TCU LEFTOVERS

–Kansas is celebrating 115 years of men’s basketball in 2012-13 and held a reunion of former coaches, players and staff for the TCU game. Included in the festivities was the 25th anniversary of the 1988 NCAA Championship and the Jayhawks wore retro uniforms in defeating TCU.

–Kansas has 23 wins for the 24th consecutive season and 29th time in the last 30 years.

–KU has 11 conference wins for the 19th straight season and 51st time overall.

–Kansas scored their 13th point just 5:37 into the game. On Feb. 6 in Ft. Worth, KU finished the first half with 13 points.

–The nine points that TCU scored in the first half were the lowest versus Kansas since Cornell scored nine in the second half on Jan. 2, 1996.

–TCU’s first-half scoring output was the lowest for a Big 12 game in 15 years. It’s the lowest KU has ever allowed in a Big 12 game.

–TCU’s four first-half field goals were the fewest by any KU opponent since Florida Gulf Coast made three field goals in the first half of the game on November 18, 2008. The four TCU field goals in the half are the lowest KU has ever allowed in a Big 12 game.

–TCU’s 17.4 percent shooting in the first half is the third lowest by a KU opponent in Big 12 play this season and the lowest since Oklahoma shot 16.1 percent in the first half on February 20, 1999.

–Kansas’ 94.7 free throw percentage (18-of-19) was its highest percentage of the year.

–Kansas’ 23 points off of turnovers were the most for the Jayhawks in a Big 12 game this season.

–Senior G Elijah Johnson’s two steals gives him 104 for his career which moves him into a tie with Drew Gooden for 28th on KU’s all-time list.

–Senior C Jeff Withey’s seven field goals tied his season high set four previous times in 2012-13.

–Withey scored in double figures for the 40th time in his career.

–Senior F Kevin Young’s eight rebounds led the team. It is the 50th time Young has tallied more than seven rebounds in a game in his career.

–Young ended with six points and is 15 shy of his career 1,000th point (658 at Loyola-Marymount, 327 at Kansas).

KANSAS TEAM NOTABLES

–Kansas leads the NCAA Division I in field goal percentage defense at 35.5 percent and is third nationally in blocked shots at 6.8 per game. Both stats lead the Big 12 and KU also leads the conference in scoring margin (+13.4), field goal percentage (46.8), rebounding (39.6) and rebound margin (+6.4). The Jayhawks also rank in the top four of the Big 12 in scoring (third, 73.3), free throw percentage (third, 72.2), rebound defense (second, 33.0), assists (fourth, 14.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth, 1.1).

–Kansas has held a double-digit lead in all but six contests this season. KU has held the lead in all but one game in 2012-13.

–Out of its 27 games, KU has held 17 of its opponents to 60 points or less, including eight of the last 12 conference foes: 46 at Texas Tech, 44 vs. Baylor, 59 at Texas, 55 at Kansas State, 54 vs. Oklahoma, 56 at West Virginia, 47 vs. Texas and 48 vs. TCU.

–KU has outrebounded 22 of 27 opponents this season, including 18 of its last 21 foes. After its 36-22 rebound advantage against TCU (2/23), KU has had seven games with 10-plus rebounds over its opponent. Kansas’ 50 rebounds at Oklahoma State (2/20) were a season high.

–Kansas has out shot all but four opponents in 2012-13. Additionally, KU has shot 50 percent or better in nine games this season. KU’s 54.1 percent at West Virginia (1/28) was its league best during 2012-13.

–With its 10 steals against TCU (2/23), Kansas has recorded double-figure steals in eight games this season, including two of the last three contests. KU averages 7.3 steals per game.

–Kansas has held a 40-plus point lead in four different games this season.

–Kansas has had four players score in double figures in 10 times this season, including five against Iowa State (1/9).

SELF ONE WIN FROM 500TH CAREER VICTORY

With a 499-162 record in his 20th season, Kansas head coach Bill Self is on the verge of joining some elite company as he approaches his 500th all-time win. When he reaches the milestone, Self will be only the fourth coach to accomplish the feat in his 20th season and his winning percentage will also rank high on getting there the fastest. Please check the PDF for a graph of NCAA Division I coaches fastest to 500 wins.

KANSAS SHOOTING

Kansas has out shot all but four opponents in 2012-13 and has shot 50 percent or better from the field in nine games. KU leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 46.8 percent. Individually, senior G Travis Releford leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 60.9 and has shot 70 percent or better in 13 games, including six league contests after his 4-for-5 effort against TCU (2/23). Redshirt freshman G Ben McLemore’s 9-for-13 (69.2 percent) shooting effort against Kansas State (2/11) was his sixth 60 percent performance of the season. He has shot 50 percent or better from three-point range in seven conference games. Senior C Jeff Withey has shot 50 percent or better in 21 of 27 games this season, including 11 games of 62.5 percent or better. After his 3-for-4 effort against TCU (2/23), senior F Kevin Young has 10 games of shooting 60.0 percent or better, including five in conference play. Senior G Elijah Johnson is 12-for-24 (50.0 percent) in his last three games. Johnson is shooting 37.9 percent for the season.

KANSAS ON ESPN BIG MONDAY

Kansas will appear on ESPN’s Big Monday four times in 2013 with the Iowa State game being the fourth occasion. Since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996-97, Kansas is 48-16 all-time on ESPN’s Big Monday (27-1 at home, 21-15 on the road), including 29-8 under head coach Bill Self. Additionally, KU has won 20-straight Big Monday games in Allen Fieldhouse, which includes a 16-0 mark under Self.

IN THE POLLS

Kansas is ranked No. 9 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ polls released Feb. 18. Kansas’ No. 1 ranking in the Jan. 28, 2013, coaches’ poll was its first since Feb. 14, 2011, and KU has been the nation’s top team 38 times, including 20 weeks in the Bill Self era. Also in the coaches’ polls, Kansas has been ranked in each of the last 78 week, including 64 times in the Top 10. In the Associated Press poll and dating back to the final three polls of the 2008-09 season, this marks the 73rd-straight poll in which the Jayhawks have been ranked in the AP poll, including 62 times in the Top 10.

KANSAS VS. RANKED TEAMS UNDER Bill Self

Oklahoma State was the 72nd Associated Press-ranked opponent Kansas faced in the nine-plus seasons under head coach Bill Self and the fifth in 2012-13. Kansas is 4-1 against ranked foes this season. Under Self, KU is 47-25 (65.3 percent) against ranked competition. That percentage has an upward trend as the last six seasons the Jayhawks are 37-15 (71.2 percent) versus ranked foes.

WITHEYBLOCKPARTY.COM

Here are some block party notables for Kansas All-American candidate Jeff Withey:

–Withey leads the Big 12 and is third nationally with 4.0 blocked shots per game. KU’s record for single-season blocked shot average is 3.6 set by Withey in 2012.

–The 2012 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Withey set the KU and Big 12 single-game record with 12 blocked shots versus San Jose State (11/26).

–A three-time Big 12 Player of the Week, including twice in 2012-13, Withey’s 107 blocks in 2012-13 are more than six Big 12 teams this season and rank third on the KU single-season list.

–Earlier this season, Withey broke the Kansas and Big 12 Conference career blocked shots record, currently at 272. He passed Greg Ostertag who had 258 blocks at Kansas from 1992-95 and Chris Mihm of Texas’ 264 from 1998-2000.

–For his career, Withey has had 10 games with seven or more blocked shots, including three in 2012-13.

–Withey broke the NCAA Tournament record for blocked shots with 31 in the 2012 event.

–Withey broke the Kansas and Big 12 single-season blocked shots record with 140 last year (3.6 per game). He is only the second Jayhawk to pass 100 blocked shots for a single season with his 140 last year and 104 this year. The other was Cole Aldrich with 125 in 2009-10.

AIRMCLEMORE.COM

Kansas guard Ben McLemore leads the Big 12 freshman class with a 16.2 scoring average, which is second overall in the conference. A two-time Big 12 Rookie of the Week and one-time Player of the Week honoree, McLemore leads the Big 12 in free throw percentage at 87.6 and also ranks among the league leaders in field goal percentage (eighth, 49.7), rebounding (20th, 5.4), steals (tie for 13th, 1.2), three-point field goal percentage (third, 42.6), three-pointers made (seventh, 1.9) and blocked shots (14th, 0.8). KU’s leading scorer, McLemore has seven games with 20 points or more this season, including a 30-point effort against Kansas State (2/11) and 33-point performance against Iowa State (1/9) in the Big 12 opener. He is the only freshman in KU history to have two 30-point games in conference play.

Kansas freshman record-wise, McLemore’s:

…16.2 ppg would surpass the KU freshman record of 14.6 ppg held by by Danny Manning in 1985.

…5.4 rebound average would rank eighth on the KU freshman list.

…52 three-pointers made in 2012-13 are for fourth on the KU freshman list.

…42.6 three-point field goal percentage is fifth on the KU freshman list.

…87.6 free throw percentage is first on the Kansas freshmen list.

McLemore’s 33 points against Iowa State (1/9):

–Were the most by a Jayhawk since Marcus Morris tallied 33 points against Iowa State on Jan. 12, 2011.

–Are the most points scored in a game this season in the Big 12 Conference for all players.

–Were the most by a Kansas freshman since Danny Manning scored 35 points against Oklahoma State on March 2, 1985.

–Consisted of him connecting on 6-of-6 three-point field goal attempts, marking the best three-point field goal percentage since Rex Walters went 6-for-6 from beyond the arc against Ball State in 2003.

KANSAS AND THE BIG 12 WEEKLY HONORS

In becoming the Big 12’s all-time blocked shots leader and recording back-to-back double-doubles, Kansas senior C Jeff Withey was named the co-Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week (2/18). It was the second time he was named player of the week this season and the third time in his career.

Kansas redshirt freshman G Ben McLemore was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Rookie of the Week (1/21) after averaging 16.5 points in KU wins against Baylor and at Texas. It was the second time McLemore has won the accolade this season. Last week, McLemore was named the conference’s player of the Week.

Historically, McLemore is the first KU player since Josh Selby in 2010-11 to be named Big 12 Rookie of the Week twice in one season. Additionally, he became only the second Jayhawk in the 17-year history of the Big 12 to have earned Big 12 Player and Rookie of the Week in the same season. Mario Chalmers also accomplished the feat during the 2005-06 season.

McLemore was the third different Jayhawk to be named Big 12 Player of the Week this season. He joins KU seniors Travis Releford (11/26) and Withey (12/3 and 2/18) as honorees. This is the second-straight season Kansas has had three different players earn the weekly honor. Last year, KU had four different players named Big 12 Player of the Week – Releford, Withey, Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor – which was a Big 12 first for one season.

MCLEMORE AND WITHEY NAMED TO MIDSEASON TEAMS

Kansas’ Ben McLemore and Jeff Withey were named to the USBWA Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Midseason Watch List on Jan. 31. On Jan. 10, the duo was selected to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 announced by The Los Angeles Athletic Club. The Oscar Robertson award consisted of 12 players and Kansas and Indiana were the only schools with multiple players listed with two each. For the Wooden Award, Kansas is one of three schools to have two players among the 25, along with Duke and Missouri. The 2013 Wooden Award Gala will take place April 11-13, 2013, at The Los Angeles Athletic Club. The Gala will honor the Men’s and Women’s Wooden Award winners, All Americans and the Legends of Coaching Award winner, Kansas head coach Bill Self.

MCLEMORE SPORTING NEWS MID-SEASON ALL-AMERICAN

Kansas redshirt freshman G Ben McLemore was named to the Sporting News Mid-Season All-America First Team it was announced Jan. 15. McLemore is joined on the first team by Oklahoma State freshman Marcus Smart, Michigan sophomore Trey Burke, Creighton junior Doug McDermott and Duke senior Mason Plumlee.

Noting Kansas Basketball

–Kansas has 2,093 all-time victories, second most in NCAA Division I.

–Kansas’ 18-game winning streak earlier this season, from Nov. 15, 2012 to Jan. 28, 2013, was the 12th time in the Bill Self era the Jayhawks have won 10 or more games in a row.

–Kansas has won at least 12 conference games for 12 straight years, which is the longest active streak in the nation.

–Kansas has won 10 or more league games for the last 19 seasons and 51 times overall, including 2013.

–Kansas won its 1,000th all-time conference game with the 83-50 win against Texas Tech on Feb. 18, 2012.

–Kansas has held 204 of its last 211 opponents to under 50 percent shooting.

–KU has held opponents to fewer than 100 points in 400 consecutive games. The last team to score 100 on Kansas was Texas on Feb. 11, 2002, a KU 110-103 overtime victory.

–Kansas has sold out its last 195 games in Allen Fieldhouse, dating back to the second game of the 2001-02 season.

–From 2007 through 2012 Kansas averaged 32.8 victories per year with five 30-win seasons. The 197 wins are the most in a six-year span in NCAA Division I history.

–Kansas’ eight-straight Big 12 titles, from 2005-12, are the longest active consecutive string of conference titles in NCAA Division I. In that run, the Big 12 final RPI has ranked third or higher six times (first in 2010, second in 2008 and third in 2005-09-11-12) and no lower than seventh (fifth in 2006 and seventh in 2007) among the 30-plus leagues.

–Each KU senior class since 1986-87 has won at least 100 games, including the 2012-13 class which entered the season 100-13.

–Every four-year player under Bill Self at KU has been part of at least one Final Four team. Former Jayhawk Conner Teahan was a part of two in 2008 and 2012. He used a redshirt during his KU career.

–Including 2013, Kansas has won 23 or more games in each of the last 24 seasons dating back to 1988-89 and has 22 victories 29 times in the last 30 years starting in 1983-84.

–Bill Self has won 23 or more games each of his last 15 seasons as a head coach, including 2013.

–Kansas is the only team in the Big 12 to have a .500 winning percentage or better series record against every conference foe.

–KU has led its league in home attendance each of the last 26 seasons dating back to 1986-87 and 31 times in the last 35 years.

–Kansas’ 2002 team is the only squad in Big 12 history to go undefeated in conference play at 16-0.

–Kansas is first in the conference in wins with a 228-44 record in Big 12 regular-season games. Texas is next at 180-92. Including the league postseason championship, Kansas is tops at 260-52, while Texas is second at 201-108.

–Kansas is the only Big 12 school to have won a regular-season championship with two different coaches (Roy Williams and Bill Self).

–Under Bill Self, Kansas is 75-5 (93.8 percent) in Big 12 home games: 8-0 in 2004, 7-1 in 2005, 7-1 in 2006, 7-1 in 2007, 8-0 in 2008, 8-0 in 2009, 8-0 in 2010, 7-1 in 2011, 9-0 in 2012 and 6-1 in 2013.

–In December 2010, KU alum David Booth bought the original rules of basketball by the inventor of the game and KU’s first coach James Naismith. Booth plans to bring the rules to Lawrence and Allen Fieldhouse.

–Kansas went 264 games without consecutive losses from the 2005-06 season until the losses vs. Oklahoma State (2/2/13) and at TCU (2/6/13).

–KU’s 33-game home-court winning streak, which ended Feb. 2, 2013, ties for the fourth longest in school history.

–Kansas’ school-record 69-game home court winning streak, from 2007-11, led the nation for more than two seasons and ranks 11th all-time in the NCAA records book.

UP NEXT

Kansas will host West Virginia on Saturday, March 2, at 1 p.m. on CBS. ESPN Radio will also call the game. KU will then host Texas Tech, Monday, March 4, at 6 p.m. on ESPNU for Senior Night, honoring Elijah Johnson, Travis Releford, Jeff Withey and Kevin Young. Kansas will close out the regular season at Baylor on Saturday, March 9, at 5 p.m. on ESPN.