KU to Face Saint Joseph's in Jimmy V Classic

Dec. 5, 2005

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Kansas makes its second all-time appearance in the Jimmy V Classic as it faces Saint Joseph’s in Madison Square Gardenon Tuesday, Dec. 6. The game will tip at 6 p.m. (Central) and will air on ESPN. KU’s other appearance in the Jimmy V Classic resulted in a 75-66 overtime loss to Temple in the 1995 event in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jimmy V Classic raises funds and awareness for cancer research. KU is 3-3 on the season after its 86-57 win against Western Illinois last Saturday. Saint Joseph’s is 3-1 on the season and will be playing its first game in the month of December. The Hawks won at Drexel 69-59 on Nov. 29 in their last outing.

About Kansas
Kansas has won two of its last three games and brings a 3-3 record into the Jimmy V Classic. In their three wins, the Jayhawks are outscoring foes by an average of 33.7 points per game. KU’s three losses have been by a combined 15 points. Kansas leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense at 34.7 percent. KU features nine players who are averaging 13.8 minutes or better per game. Sophomore center Sasha Kaun leads the team in scoring (14.5 ppg), rebounding (8.5 rpg) and field goal percentage at 56.9 percent. Freshman guard Brandon Rush is next in scoring at 13.7 points and his 5.3 rebounds are third best on the team. Sophomore center C.J. Giles is averaging 9.7 points per game and his 7.5 rebound average is second behind Kaun. Senior guard Jeff Hawkins leads the team in assists with a 4.5 average and freshman guard Mario Chalmers leads KU in steals with 15 in six outings. Giles (15) and freshman Julian Wright (11) pace Kansas in blocked shots.

About Saint Joseph’s
Saint Joseph’s is 3-1 on the season and the Jimmy V Classic will the Hawks’ fourth straight game away from home. SJU is averaging 76.2 points per game and giving up 61.8 points. The Hawks crash the boards as they hold a +10.9 rebound margin and their opponents average just 25.3 boards per game. Senior forward Chet Statchitas leads SJU with an 18 point scoring average. Two other Hawks average double figures with sophomore guard Abdula Jalloh at 14.8 ppg and senior guard Dwayne Lee at 12.3 ppg. Freshman center Ahmad Nivins and Jalloh lead the team in rebounding with a 5.5 rpg. Saint Joseph’s also gets it done at the line as the Hawks are making 84.8 percent of their free throws through the first four games.

The Kansas-Saint Joseph’s Series
Kansas is 5-1 against Saint Joseph’s as the series dates back to 1942. The last meeting saw a Kansas win 91-51 on Nov. 23, 2004. The last game prior to last season was played in 1970. The first three meetings – all played in Philadelphia – were won by Kansas. Saint Joseph’s won the fourth meeting 67-65 in Manhattan, Kan., in 1958. KU is 30-9 against teams from the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Up Next
The Jayhawks will play California in the American Century Investments Shootout in Kemper Arena on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. on ESPN before returning to Allen Fieldhouse Monday, Dec. 19 against Pepperdine for a 6:30 p.m. tip on ESPN2. KU closes out the year playing host to Northern Colorado Dec. 22 and New Orleans Dec. 29.