🏀 GAME PREVIEW: vs. Colorado

GAME INFORMATION:

#2/3 Kansas vs. #20/21 Colorado

Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. (CT)

Where: Allen Fieldhouse

Listen: Jayhawk Radio Network

Watch: ESPN2

• Mark Neely (play-by-play)
• Fran Fraschilla (analyst)

DOK DOWNING RECORDS

Senior Udoka Azubuike leads the nation in field goal percentage at 79.7 percent through seven games (as of Dec. 4). The center is vying to earn the honor for the second time in his career. In 2017-18, Azubuike ended first in NCAA Division I in field goal percentage at 77.0 percent and he was the only player shooting 70 percent or better with a minimum of five shots made per game.

In 2017-18, Azubuike crushed the Big 12 single-season record of 69.3 percent, set by Ricardo Ratliffe of Missouri in 2011-12, and the KU season mark of 64.6 percent set by Mark Randall in 1988-89. In fact, Azubuike’s 77.0 percent ranks second all-time behind Devontae Cacok of UNC-Wilmington, who set the NCAA record in 2016-17 at 80.0 percent.

History has shown that it isn’t easy to lead the nation in a statistic. Azubuike’s feat in 2017-18 marked only the third time a Jayhawk led the country in a season stat, with the other two by KU All-Americans. KU legend Clyde Lovellette led the NCAA in scoring average in 1951-52 (28.6 ppg). Thomas Robinson led the country in double-doubles with 27 during the 2011-12 season.

ABOUT COLORADO

Located in Boulder, Colorado with an enrollment of 33,246, Colorado is 7-0 on the season after its 76-64 win against Loyola-Marymount on Dec. 4. The Buffs are ranked No. 20 by Associated Press and No. 21 in the USA TODAY Coaches’ polls. CU is coached by former Kansas forward Tad Boyle who is 196-123 in his 10th season at Colorado and 252-189 in his 14th season overall.

Colorado averages 69.0 points per game and ranks in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense at 56.3 with a plus-12.7 scoring margin. The Buffs pull down 39.0 rebounds per contest and have a plus-7.4 rebound margin. CU makes 6.7 3-pointers and 16.6 free throws per game. The Buffs also average 12.0 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.6 blocked shots per game.

Junior forward Tyler Bey leads Colorado in scoring at 14.0 points per game and rebounds at 12.0 which rank fourth in the Pac-12 Conference. Bey also leads the team with 15 blocked shots and 15 steals and has 17 assists in 2019-20. Junior guard McKinely Wright IV has a team-high 26 assists this season and he is scoring 12.4 points per game. Wright is on most national player of the year watch lists.

KANSAS VS. TOP-25 TEAMS

Kansas is 0-1 against top-25 teams ranked in the Associated Press this season, losing the opener to then-No. 1 Duke, 68-66. KU went 8-4 against top-25 teams in 2018-19. Under Bill Self, KU is 98-50 against AP-ranked opponents. In his first 16 seasons, Self’s Jayhawks have collected four wins or more over top-25 ranked foes in 13 of those seasons, which includes a 43-21 record from 2014-present.

KU’s record against top-10 ranked opponents is even more impressive. KU is 18-6 against foes ranked inside the top-10 of the AP poll since 2013-14, including 2-1 in 2018-19 and 4-1 in 2017-18. Since Bill Self’s first season, the Jayhawks are 13-3 against AP top-10 teams inside Allen Fieldhouse, which includes KU’s current streak of nine-straight home victories against top-10 foes.

OTHER NOTABLES

• Kansas leads the Big 12 in scoring margin (+18.3) and field goal percentage (51.9).
• After their win over Dayton on Nov. 27, the Jayhawks are 29-4 in overtime games under Bill Self and have won their last six OT contests. The six-straight rank fourth nationally. KU’s 24 overtime wins are the most by any NCAA Division I school since the 2003-04 season.
• Five of six Kansas victories have been my 12 points or more with two margins being by 30-plus points.
• After recording 28 turnovers against Duke (11/5), Kansas has averaged 11.5 turnovers in the next six games.
• The Jayhawks’ 112 points against Monmouth (11/15) were their most since KU tallied 114 against Texas Southern on Nov. 21, 2017, and tied for the fourth most in the Bill Self era.
• Three different Jayhawks – Devon Dotson, Isaiah Moss and Udoka Azubuike – have posted 20 or more points in a game this season.
• Senior center Udoka Azubuike is 24-for-29 (82.8 percent) from the field in his last three games, averaging 18.3 ppg in that span.
• Junior guard Marcus Garrett is 16-for-27 (59.3 percent) from the field in his last four games.
• Freshman guard/forward Tristan Enaruna has led Kansas in blocked shots in three games this season.

vs. Colorado: KU leads 123-40
Current Streak: Loss 1
Longest KU Win Streak: 27 (1992-02)
Longest KU Losing Streak: 4 (2x, 1948-50, 1958-60)
Last 10 Games: 9-1
In Lawrence: KU leads 62-7 (53-5 in AFH)
In Boulder: KU leads 40-27
Neutral Sites: KU leads 21-6
Under Bill Self: KU leads 18-1
First Meeting: Jan. 2, 1931 (W, 34-25)
Last Meeting: Dec. 7, 2013 (L, 72-75)
Largest Margin of Victory: 49 (111-62, Jan. 7, 1998)
Largest Margin of Defeat: 17 (60-77, March 8, 1948)

Kansas continues its homestand when it plays host to Milwaukee on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. (Central). The game will be televised on Big 12 NOW on ESPN+.

Kansas is 1-0 all-time against Milwaukee with the lone meeting a 73-62 win on Dec. 22, 2004, in Allen Fieldhouse.