290th Dillons Sunflower Showdown on tap for Tuesday

Freshman guard Ochai Agbaji 

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawks (17-5, 6-3) will make the 88-mile journey west to take on Kansas State (16-5, 6-2) for 2018-19’s first leg of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown on Tuesday, Feb. 5 in Manhattan, Kansas. Tip-off from Bramlage Coliseum is set for 8 p.m. (CT) on ESPN, with Jon Sciambi (play-by-play), Stan Van Gundy (analyst) and Chauncey Billups (analyst) calling the action.

WATCH JAYHAWK GAMEDAY LIVE FROM MANHATTAN
Jayhawk Gameday Live, a 30-minute pregame show and a 60-minute postgame show, will be live before KU’s match-up with K-State starting at 7:30 p.m. (CT). Full postgame reaction and analysis will follow immediately after the game’s conclusion. The show will be available across the country on the ESPN app, as well as regionally on KMCI, Spectrum Sports, Midco Sports Network and Cox Cable. For more information on how to access Jayhawk Gameday Live as well as content from the Jayhawk Network, visit KUAthletics.com/JTV.

TIP-OFF

• No. 11/12 Kansas (17-5, 6-3) hits the road for the Dillons Sunflower Showdown at Kansas State, Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m. (Central) on ESPN. Kansas is coming off a 73-69 win against No. 16/15 Texas Tech Feb. 2. Kansas State has won six-straight Big 12 games after its 75-57 victory at Oklahoma State on Feb. 2.
• The KU at K-State game will be part of ESPN’s annual college basketball/NBA crossover with announcers. Tuesday’s game will feature Jon Sciambi, Stan Van Gundy and Chauncey Billups.
• Kansas State and Baylor currently hold a half-game lead in the Big 12 race with 6-2 league records. Kansas and Iowa State are tied for second at 6-3.
• KU leads the overall series with Kansas State, 196-93, including a 26-4 record in Bramlage Coliseum. KU has won the last eight matchups and since Feb. 12, 1994, Kansas has won 57 of the last 62 meetings with K-State.
• Kansas is 37-5 in conference games decided by 10 points or less since 2016, including 5-2 this season.
• With its win against Texas Tech (2/2), Kansas is 89-12 following a loss in the Bill Self era, including 4-1 this season. Since 2013-14, the Jayhawks are 39-4 following a loss.
• Redshirt-junior F Dedric Lawson has posted four double-doubles in his last five games. Seven of his 15 double-doubles have been in Big 12 play. He is tied for second nationally with 15 double-doubles.
• With his 25 points against Texas Tech (2/2), Dedric Lawson took over the Big 12 scoring lead at 19.5. Lawson also is tops in the conference in rebounds with 10.9 per game and he is the only player in the conference averaging a double-double.
• Following his career-high 24 points at Texas (1/29), freshman G Ochai Agbaji recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Texas Tech (2/2). His 24 points at UT marked the third-most points by a Jayhawk in his first collegiate start during the Bill Self era.

 
ABOUT KANSAS
No. 11/12 Kansas is 17-5 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 play after its 79-63 win against Texas Tech on Feb. 2. In all games, Kansas ranks in the top three in the Big 12 in scoring offense (second at 76.8), field goal percentage (second at 47.2), field goal percentage defense (third at 40.2), 3-point field goal percentage (third at 36.2) and steals (third at 7.2). KU has a +6.8 scoring margin and a +1.1 rebound margin. KU also averages 7.2 3-pointers made, 13.0 assists and 3.6 blocked shots per game.
 
After his 25 points and 10 rebounds against Texas Tech (2/2), redshirt-junior F Dedric Lawson has four double-doubles in his last five games. A Wooden Award Midseason nominee, he has seven double-doubles in his last 10 games and a Big 12-leading 15 for the season, which is tied for second nationally. Dedric Lawson, a Sporting News Midseason All-America First Team selection, has scored 20 or more points in 12 games this season, including three of the last four contests. He leads the Big 12 in scoring at 19.5 ppg and in rebounding at 10.9 rpg. He is the only player in the league averaging a double-double. A three-time Big 12 Player of the Week (11/12, 11/26, 12/26) and four-time league newcomer of the week (12/3, 12/17, 1/14, 1/28), Lawson leads KU with 26 blocked shots and his 1.2 blocks per game are fifth in the conference.
 

 
Against Texas Tech (2/2), senior G Lagerald Vick was 3-for-4 from 3-point range in scoring 13 points. Vick is second the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made at 3.0 and second in 3-point field goal percentage at 46.1. He is averaging 14.5 points per game which is ninth in the Big 12. He scored his 1,000th-career point at Baylor (1/2). Vick’s 47.7 field goal percentage is 13th in the conference.
 
Freshman G Devon Dotson scored a career-high 20 points versus Texas Tech (2/2), which included a 3-for-5 effort from 3-point range. Dotson has 20 assists in his is last four games, including a career-high eight assists and no turnovers against Iowa State (1/21). Dotson ranks seventh in the Big 12 in assists at 3.4, eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.5 and tied for seventh in steals at 1.5. Dotson averages 11.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He has led KU in assists three of the last four games and five of the last seven contests. Freshman G Quentin Grimes is second on the team with 28 3-pointers made this season and has made six treys in his last three games. Grimes averages 8.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest and has 40 assists for the season.
 
Sophomore G Marcus Garrett missed the Texas Tech (2/2) game due to a sprained ankle. He has 14 steals in his last five games played and ranks second in the Big 12 with 1.8 steals per contest. He has 10 games with multiple steals in 2018-19. Garrett has started his last eight games played and 13 for the season. He averages 7.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game and has 47 assists.
 
Freshman G Ochai Agbaji pulled his redshirt prior to the TCU game (1/9) and is coming off his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Texas Tech (2/2). The Tech performance came after his first-career start at Texas (1/29), where he posted career highs in points with 24 on 8-of-10 shooting. In just eight games, Agbaji is averaging 22.5 minutes, 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and is shooting 54.3 percent from the floor.
 
Other KU regulars include redshirt-sophomore G Charlie Moore (3.0 ppg, 12 3-pointers), redshirt-sophomore G K.J. Lawson (2.5 ppg), freshman F David McCormack (1.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and junior F Mitch Lightfoot (1.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg). Moore had a season-high six assists against Texas Tech (2/2). Lightfoot leads KU with five charges taken this season.
 
ABOUT KANSAS STATE
Located in Manhattan, Kansas, with an enrollment of 22,221, Kansas State is 16-5 overall and 6-2 in Big 12 play after its 75-57 win at Oklahoma State (2/2). The Wildcats have won six straight conference games. K-State is coached by Bruce Weber who is 141-85 in his seventh season at KSU and 454-240 in his 21st season overall.
 
Kansas State leads the Big 12 in steals at 7.5 per game, defensive rebound percentage at 77.8 and is tied for the league lead in rebound defense at 31.6 with Baylor. The Wildcats also rank in the top three in the conference in scoring defense (second at 58.7), 3-point field goal percentage defense (third at 31.6), turnover margin (second at +3.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (third at 1.1). KSU has a 65.1 scoring average with a +6.4 scoring margin. The Wildcats also have a +3.3 rebound margin and average 6.6 3-point field goals, 13.7 assists and 2.1 blocked shots per game.
 
Senior G Barry Brown Jr. leads Kansas State in scoring at 15.3 points per game which is sixth in the Big 12. Brown leads the conference in steals at 2.0 and minutes played at 34.0 per contest. A preseason all-conference selection, Brown’s 53 assists are second most on the team and he has made 27 3-pointers. Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Dean Wade is next in scoring at 14.3 points and he leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per contest in 15 games played. The senior forward has 41 assists and has made 14 3-pointers this season. Senior G Kamau Stokes is sixth in the Big 12 in assists at 3.5 dimes per game. He averages 9.9 points per game and has made a team-high 36 3-pointers in 2018-19. Junior F Xavier Sneed scores 9.6 points per game and he is second on the team with a 5.6 rebound average. He is also second among the Wildcats with 28 3-pointers made. Junior F Makol Mawien (6.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) rounds out the K-State starters. Mawien leads the team with 12 blocked shots.
 
Other Kansas State regulars include sophomore G Cartier Diarra (5.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 18 steals, seven starts), sophomore G Mike McGuirl (3.3 ppg, 17 steals, two starts) and sophomore F Levi Stockard III (1.6 ppg).
 
THE SERIES
Kansas leads the overall series with Kansas State, 196-93, and has won the last eight matchups. Since Feb. 12, 1994, Kansas has won 57 of the last 62 meetings with K-State. This series started in 1907 and Kansas is 78-47 against Kansas State in games played in Manhattan, including a 26-4 record in Bramlage Coliseum. Beginning in 1984, Kansas is 32-3 versus K-State in Manhattan, yet the Wildcats have won two of the past five meetings in the Little Apple dating back to 2014.
 
Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference, KU is 49-5 against KSU (39-5 in regular-season battles and 10-0 in the Big 12 Championship). Kansas head coach Bill Self is 32-5 all-time against K-State, including 31-5 while at KU. Bruce Weber is 2-14 against Kansas, all while at KSU. Expect a close game as three of the last five battles have been decided by three points or less and seven of the last 11 matchups have been single-digit outcomes.
 
A KANSAS WIN WOULD…
Make Kansas 18-5 and 7-3 in Big 12 play for the second-straight season and 7-3 or better for the 16th time in head coach Bill Self’s 16 seasons at KU … Make Kansas 2-5 in true road games this season and 6-5 in games not played in Allen Fieldhouse in 2018-19 … Give Kansas its ninth-straight win against Kansas State … Make the Kansas-Kansas State series 197-93 in favor of the Jayhawks and give Kansas 58 wins in the last 63 meetings … Make the KU-KSU series 79-47 in favor of KU in games played in Manhattan, including 27-4 in Bramlage Coliseum … Make Self 465-101 while at Kansas, 672-206 overall and 33-5 all-time versus Kansas State (32-5 while at KU) … Make Kansas 2,266-854 all-time.
 
A KANSAS LOSS WOULD…
Make Kansas 17-6 and 6-4 in conference play for the first time since the 1993-94 season when KU was also 6-4 in Big Eight play … Make Kansas 1-6 in true road games this season and 5-6 in games not played in Allen Fieldhouse … End a Kansas eight-game winning streak against Kansas State … Make the KU-KSU series 196-94 in favor of the Jayhawks, including a 78-48 record in meetings in Manhattan and 26-5 in Bramlage Coliseum … Make Bill Self 464-102 while at Kansas, 671-207 overall and 32-6 all-time versus Kansas State (31-6 while at KU) … Make Kansas 2,265-855 all-time.
 
LAST TIME OUT
A season-high 13 3-pointers and an impressive defensive effort helped the No. 11/12 Kansas Jayhawks top No. 16/15 Texas Tech, 79-63, Feb. 2 at Allen Fieldhouse.
 
KU connected on nine 3-pointers in the opening frame, with three each coming off the hands of Vick and Lawson. KU stormed out to an early 10-2 lead, fueled by back-to-back triples from Vick and freshman Ochai Agbaji, just over four minutes into the game.
 
Another 3-pointer, this time from freshman Quentin Grimes at the 2:36 mark, ignited a strong KU finish to the half. The Jayhawks outscored the Red Raiders 10-2 to help them head into the locker room with a 46-26 lead, TTU’s largest halftime deficit of the season.
Dedric Lawson and Dotson scored 17 of the Jayhawks’ final 20 points, all within the final 10 minutes of the game. Dotson’s 3-pointer with 3:51 to play in the game got the Jayhawks’ lead to 79-55, where they coasted to the 79-63 final score.
 
Dedric Lawson led the Jayhawks in scoring for the 10th time this season, scoring 25 points and pulling down 10 rebounds to tally his 15th double-double of 2018-19. Dotson surpassed the 20-point plateau for the first time in his young KU career, with 16 of those points coming in the second half. Vick scored in double-figures for the eighth-straight game via his 13-point effort, while Agabji added the first double-double of his career, posting 10 points along with 10 rebounds.
 
TEXAS TECH LEFTOVERS & NOTABLES

• The win was Kansas’ 16th-straight win in Allen Fieldhouse, including 12-0 this season.
• The game marked the ninth time this season KU has had four players in double figures.
• Kansas improved to 89-12 following a loss in the Bill Self era, including 4-1 this season.
• KU’s 13 3-pointers were a season high. The 13 triples were the most in a conference game since they drained 14 against Iowa State on Jan. 9, 2018.
• The Jayhawks’ 46 first-half points were their most in a half in conference play this season.
• In last season’s meeting on James Naismith Court, Texas Tech led wire-to-wire. Saturday, the Jayhawks returned the favor with zero ties and zero lead changes. It marked the second time Kansas had not been tied or trailed in a game (South Dakota, Dec. 18). Last time Kansas did not trail a league opponent was Oklahoma last season at home on Feb. 19, 2018.
• Kansas’ nine first half threes were the most in a half this season. It was the most the Jayhawks have hit in a half since the Big 12 Championship final last season against West Virginia with nine in the second half (March 10, 2018).
• Kansas’ 46 first-half points were the most allowed in a half by the Red Raiders this season.
• Dedric Lawson’s 25 points and 10 rebounds marked his 15th double-double of the season (leads the Big 12).
• Freshman G Ochai Agbaji recorded his first double-double in a Kansas uniform (10 points, 10 rebounds).

 
CHECKING IN AT THE MIDWAY POINT OF BIG 12 PLAY
With the first half of the Big 12 race in the rearview mirror, Kansas finds itself in a tie for second place in the league standings, a half-game behind Kansas State and Baylor.
 
During the Jayhawks’ streak of 14-consecutive league titles, KU has not been leading the conference standings at the halfway point of the Big 12 season in four of those years. Each of those occurrences, Kansas went on to claim the league championship, with three of those titles won outright.
 

 
LAWSON CLAIMS SEVENTH BIG 12 WEEKLY HONOR
On Monday, Jan. 28, Kansas redshirt-junior F Dedric Lawson was named the co-Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for his back-to-back double-doubles against nationally-ranked opponents. It marked the seventh time this season Lawson has earned a conference weekly honor as he has been named Big 12 Player of the Week three times (11/12, 11/26, 12/26) and newcomer four times (12/3, 12/17, 1/14, 1/28).
 
With just over a month left in the regular season, Lawson’s four Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors are tied for the seventh most in conference history and are the most by a Jayhawk since Josh Jackson earned the honor seven times in 2016-17. Lawson’s three weekly player accolades are tied for 11th on the Big 12 list and are the most by a Jayhawk since national player-of-the-year Frank Mason III also had three in 2016-17.
 
With senior G Lagerald Vick’s two Big 12 Player of the Week honors, Kansas has five for the season, which is more than any other league team. Freshman guards Quentin Grimes and Devon Dotson have both earned league newcomer of the week giving Kansas six of the accolade this season, which is also a league high.
 
BEST AT BOUNCING BACK
Despite two-straight setbacks in their last two games, KU still remains one of the best programs in the nation at rebounding after a loss over the last 16 seasons. The Jayhawks have a winning percentage of over 88 percent in games after a loss under Bill Self, which is the best in the nation since 2003-04. Kansas is 89-12 following a loss in the Self era, which includes a 4-1 mark this season. Since 2013-14, the Jayhawks are 39-4 following a loss. Under Self, KU has lost two or more consecutive games on just eight occasions and only five times since 2006-07.
 

 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
After his 25 points and 10 rebounds against Texas Tech (2/2), redshirt-junior F Dedric Lawson leads the Big 12 with 15 double-doubles this season, including three of his last four contests and seven in his last 10 outings. Lawson entered the 2018-19 season with 36 double-doubles in his two seasons at Memphis. He had 17 as a freshman in 2015-16 and 19 as a sophomore in 2016-17.
 
Lawson’s 51 career double-doubles are fourth on the NCAA Division I active list. Lawson is the only non-senior on the NCAA Division I top-10 list.
 
Lawson is also already making his impact on the Kansas single-season double-double chart. His 15 DDs are just one shy from entering the school’s top-10 list of single-season double-doubles. Thomas Robinson holds the record with 27 DDs in the 2011-12 season.
 

 
KANSAS VS. TOP-25 TEAMS
With its win versus No. 16 Texas Tech (2/2), Kansas is 7-2 against top-25 teams in 2018-19. Under Bill Self, KU is now 97-47 against AP-ranked opponents. In his first 16 seasons at KU, Self’s Jayhawks have collected four wins or more over top-25 ranked foes in 13 of those seasons, which includes a 42-18 record from 2014-present.
 
KU’s record against top-10 ranked opponents is even more impressive. KU is 18-5 against foes ranked inside the top-10 of the AP poll since 2013-14, including 2-1 this season and 4-1 in 2017-18. Last season, KU’s top-10 wins included Kentucky, West Virginia, Texas Tech and Duke. 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.
 

 
UP NEXT
Kansas will face off against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Lawrence on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m. (CT) on ESPN2.
 
KU will look to avenge last season’s regular-season sweep at the hands of the Cowboys, the first by a league opponent during the Bill Self era. The Jayhawks lead the all-time series with OSU 114-59, which includes a 62-12 edge in Lawrence and a 47-10 advantage in Allen Fieldhouse. 

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