First-place Jayhawks begin round two of Big 12 action Saturday

GAME 23

Date Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017
Time 1 p.m. Central
Location Lawrence, Kan.
Venue Allen Fieldhouse
Notes KU Game Notes
Notes ISU Game Notes

LIVE COVERAGE
TV ESPN
Video WatchESPN
Radio Jayhawk Radio Network
Audio SiriusXM 81
Audio Audio Stream
Stats Live Stats

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 HOW THEY COMPARE

No. 3/2 Kansas (20-2, 8-1) begins its second round of Big 12 play when it hosts Iowa State Saturday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m., on ESPN. Sitting in fourth-place, Iowa State is the third-straight upper-half league team KU will face in conference play. Kansas is coming off a 73-68 win against No. 2/3 Baylor on Feb. 1. Iowa State is looking to end a two-game losing streak after its 85-72 loss to No. 7/12 West Virginia on Jan. 31.

With its win against Baylor (2/1), Kansas won its 20th game for the 28th-consecutive season. The current run of 28 straight is the longest active streak in NCAA Division I. The KU streak started in 1989-90.

ABOUT KANSAS
Kansas is coming off back-to-back victories over top-5 ranked teams with a 79-73 win at then-No. 4/4 Kentucky and a 73-68 win versus No. 2/2 Baylor Feb. 1.  It was KU’s first consecutive wins against top-5 teams since the 2008 NCAA Final Four where Kansas defeated No. 1 North Carolina, 84-66, in the semifinals and No. 2 Memphis, 75-68 overtime, in the title game. KU averages 83.8 points per game and has a +12.9 scoring margin. Kansas leads the Big 12 and is ninth nationally with a 49.5 field goal percentage. KU leads the league with a 41.3 3-point field goal percentage, which is eighth in NCAA Division I. KU averages 39.9 rebounds per contest, which also leads the Big 12. KU has a +5.3 rebound margin and also averages 16.8 assists, 7.2 steals and 4.9 blocked shots per contest.

One of 10 watch list finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, senior G Frank Mason III is having a national player of the year season. The two-time Big 12 Player of the Week leads the conference in scoring with a 19.9 average and his 20.0 points per game in league play are also tops in the Big 12. Mason has 11 games of 20 points or more and has led Kansas in scoring in 15 games this season. Mason leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage at 51.0 percent. He is fifth in 3-pointers made at 2.2 per game. Named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for the fifth time this season on Jan. 30, freshman G Josh Jackson is coming off his second-straight and sixth double-double of the year with a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds against Baylor (2/1). He is averaging 21.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in his last two games. Jackson’s 16.0 scoring average is fifth in the Big 12 and his 6.9 rebounds per game are eighth. Jackson leads KU with 35 steals and 28 blocked shots. Junior G Devonte’ Graham had 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in the win versus Baylor (2/1).
He has made 12 3-pointers in his last four games and averages 13.5 points per outing on the season. He leads KU with 54 3-pointers and is second on the team in assists with 97 and steals with 34. Junior G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk was 3-for-5 from 3-point range against Baylor (2/1) with 11 points. It marked the eighth time this season he has made three or more treys with four against Big 12 foes. Mykhailiuk averages 10.6 points per game and is sixth in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage at 42.3 percent and sixth in 3-pointers made at 2.1 per contest. Senior C Landen Lucas leads the Big 12 in conference games in rebounding at 11.2 rpg. He has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in eight games this season, including seven Big 12 contests after his 11 boards versus Baylor (2/1). Overall, Lucas is fourth in the Big 12 in rebounds with an 8.0 average and he is scoring 7.5 points per game.

Sophomore G Lagerald Vick has started five games this season and is averaging 7.1 points per game. He averages 23.6 minutes per game and has made 19 3-pointers. Freshman F Mitch Lightfoot has come off the bench each of the last three games averaging 5.6 minutes per contest. He has three blocked shots in his last two games and averages 1.1 points and 1.2 rebounds in 17 games played this season. Junior F Dwight Coleby’s 10 minutes played at Kentucky (1/28)  and six minutes versus Baylor (2/1). His six rebounds against Baylor (2/1) were his KU career high. Coleby averages 1.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest. Sophomore F Carlton Bragg Jr. (6.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg) was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules on Jan. 26 and did not play against Baylor (2/1).

AUTISM SPEAKS
Kansas basketball coaches will wear blue Autism Speaks puzzle pins during Saturday’s game. Coach Bill Self and his staff are joining with more than 300 NCAA coaches to help increase understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder as an urgent global public health and social issue.

ABOUT IOWA STATE
Located in Ames, Iowa, with an enrollment of 36,660, Iowa State is 13-8 overall and sits in fourth place in the Big 12 race with a 5-4 league record. The Cyclones are 2-4 in true road games this season, including 2-2 in league play. Iowa State coached by Steve Prohm who is 36-20 in his second season at ISU and 140-49 in his sixth season overall. ISU averages 80.4 points per game and has a +10.6 scoring margin. The Cyclones lead the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made at 9.2 per game, assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.5. They are second in steals at 8.5 and turnover margin at +5.2. ISU forces 15.6 turnovers per game also averages 15.9 assists and 3.3 blocked shots per game.

A veteran team, Iowa State starts five seniors. Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Monte Morris leads ISU in scoring at 16.0 points per game, which is sixth in the Big 12. The senior guard leads the Big 12 with 5.6 assists per game. He has made 30 3-pointers so far this season. Morris is second on the team with 30 steals and averages 4.9 rebounds per contest. Senior G Nazareth Mitrou-Long is next in scoring at 15.0 points per game. He has made 50 3-pointers and his 2.4 threes per game are fourth in the league. Long is second on the squad with 60 assists. He also pulls down 4.8 rebounds per game. Senior G Deonte Burton leads ISU in rebounds with a 6.8 per game average, which ranks ninth in the Big 12. Burton scores 13.5 points per game and leads the team with 30 blocked shots and 36 steals. Senior G Matt Thomas is second in the Big 12 with 2.6 3-pointers made per game. He averages 12.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. Senior F Merrill Holden (3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg) rounds out the ISU starters. Senior F Darrell Bowie (6.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg) has started nine games this season. Other ISU regulars include junior G Donovan Jackson (5.8 ppg, 27 3-pointers), sophomore G Nick Weiler-Babb (5.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg)and freshman F Solomon Young (3.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg).

THE SERIES
Kansas leads the all-time series with Iowa State, 179-63, dating back to 1908. Kansas has won the last two meetings but Iowa State has won four of the last seven battles which includes two contests in the Big 12 Championship. Prior to ISU’s recent success, KU posted an 18-1 record versus the Cyclones from 2006 until 2014. KU is 92-15 versus ISU in games played in Lawrence, including 51-9 in Allen Fieldhouse. KU has won the last 11 meetings with ISU in Allen Fieldhouse starting in 2006. Since the inception of the Big 12, Kansas is 33-12 against Iowa State with a 31-10 record in regular-season play and a 3-2 mark in the Big 12 Championship. Bill Self is 23-7 all-time versus Iowa State, including 22-7 while at KU, while ISU’s Steve Prohm is 1-2 against Kansas. Seven of the last 12 meetings have been decided by nine points or less with two of those in overtime.

Earlier this season Kansas won at Iowa State, 76-72, on Jan. 16. KU senior Frank Mason III led the Jayhawks with 16 points, while senior Landen Lucas had 14, junior Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 13 and sophomore Carlton Bragg Jr., 10. Freshman Josh Jackson paced KU with eight rebounds, while junior Devonte’ Graham had eight assists. KU shot 54.8 percent form the field for the game, its highest field goal percentage away from Allen Fieldhouse in 2016-17. KU led 43-37 at halftime and outrebounded ISU 41-24 for the game. The win ended a Cyclone two-game winning streak against Kansas at Hilton Coliseum.

A KANSAS WIN WOULD …
Make Kansas 21-2 overall, giving KU 21 wins for the 28th-consecutive season … Make the KU-ISU series 180-63 all-time, including 93-15 in Lawrence (52-9 in Allen Fieldhouse) … Give KU its 12th-straight win against Iowa State in Allen Fieldhouse … Extend the nation’s longest active home court winning streak to 55 games, which includes 52 in Allen Fieldhouse … Make KU 12-0 in Allen Fieldhouse this season, 756-109 all-time in the venue, including 218-9 under Bill Self … Improve Self to 406-85 at KU, 613-190 overall and 25-7 against Iowa State … Make KU 2,207-838 all-time.

A KANSAS LOSS WOULD …
Make Kansas 20-3 overall and 8-2 in Big 12 play this season … End the nation’s active longest home court winning streak at 54 games, including 51 in Allen Fieldhouse … Be Iowa State’s first win in Lawrence since Feb. 19, 2005, ending a KU 11-game  winning streak versus ISU in the venue … Make the all-time KU-ISU series 179-64 in favor of the Jayhawks … Make Iowa State the first team to have two wins in Allen Fieldhouse in the Bill Self era … Make Kansas 11-1 in Allen Fieldhouse this season, 755-110 all-time in the venue, including 217-10 under Self … Make Self 405-86 while at KU, 612-191 overall and 24-8 versus Iowa State … Make KU 2,206-839 all-time.

WHAT’S TRENDING
• Kansas leads the Big 12 in won-loss percentage (tied for first at 90.9), field goal percentage at 49.5 percent, 3-point field goal percentage at 41.3 percent and rebounding at 39.9 per game. Additionally, KU ranks in the upper half in the Big 12 in scoring (third at 83.8), scoring margin (third at +12.9), field goal percentage defense (third at 41.3), rebound margin (second at +5.3), assists (third at 16.8), assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth at 1.3) and blocked shots (tied for third at 4.9).
• During Big 12 play, KU is shooting 70.1 percent at the charity stripe. In nonconference games KU had a 58.9 free throw percentage.
• Senior G Frank Mason III leads the Big 12 in scoring at 19.9 points per game and 3-point field goal percentage (51.0). He is fourth in assists at 5.2 per game, fifth in 3-pointers made per game (2.2), 10th in field goal percentage (50.0) and fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1).
• Mason is making 55.0 percent (22-for-40) from 3-point range in Big 12 play.
• Mason has led KU in scoring in 15 of 22 games this season, including five of the last eight contests.
• Freshman G Josh Jackson is averaging 21.7 points and 8.0 rebounds with two double-doubles in his last three games. He is 8-for-13 (61.5 percent) from 3-point range in his last three outings.
• Jackson ranks fifth in the Big 12 in scoring at 16.0 ppg, which leads the conference freshman class. His 6.9 rebounds per game are eighth in the league and he is tied for eighth with 1.6 steals per game.
• Senior C Landen Lucas is averaging nearly a double-double in Big 12 play with 9.0 ppg and 11.2 rpg averages, which is first in the league.
• Junior G Devonte’ Graham has made multiple 3-pointers in each of his last four games and eight of his last nine outings. He has two 20-point efforts this season with both against Big 12 foes.
• Graham ranks 12th in the Big 12 in scoring at 13.5, tied for seventh in assists at 4.4, 10th in steals at 1.5, third in 3-point field goals made at 2.5 and third in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.6.
• Junior G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk has made multiple 3-pointers in four of his last five games and five of his last seven. He is sixth in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made at 2.1 per game and sixth in 3-point field goal percentage at 42.3.

ON PACE
Kansas averages 83.8 points per game, the highest scoring average in the Bill Self era, which began in 2003-04. The 83.8 average is the highest since the 2001-02 Jayhawks averaged 90.9 points per game.

TRIO ON NAISMITH AWARD TOP-10 WATCH LISTS
Senior Frank Mason III, Devonte’ Graham and Josh Jackson were each recently named one of 10 watch list finalists for Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame awards. Mason is a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, while Graham is up for the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award and Jackson the Julius Erving Power Forward Award. In March, five finalists for each award will be named with the winner of the honors presented at ESPN’s College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles on Friday, April 7, 2017.

CONFERENCE SUCCESS
Including 2015-16, Kansas has won 16 of the 20 Big 12 regular-season titles (includes ties), including the last 12, which ranks second on the NCAA all-time consecutive list. Kansas’ 59 conference titles are the most in NCAA Division I. Kentucky is second with 47 and Penn third at 37. KU’s 12-straight league titles are the longest active streak in NCAA Division I and the longest streak in school history. UCLA, from 1967-79, holds the NCAA record of 13 straight, which was under two coaches. Kansas’ current run has been under head coach Bill Self.

THIS DATE IN KANSAS BASKETBALL HISTORY
Kansas is 20-11 on February 4
Feb. 4, 1908: In Dr. Forrest C. “Phog” Allen’s first season as head coach, and during the first year of play in Robinson Gymnasium, the Jayhawks tallied their first-ever win against border rival Missouri in Lawrence, 21-20. Kansas battled Missouri four times in 1908, twice in Lawrence and twice in Columbia, Missouri, winning all four meetings and sweeping the Tigers to make the all-time series 4-2 in favor of Kansas. Allen’s Jayhawks would go on to win the 1908 Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association regular-season title in its inaugural season with a 6-0 record.

UP NEXT
Kansas will play its second of four ESPN Big Monday contests at Kansas State, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m. KU will stay on the road to play at Texas Tech on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m., on either ESPN or ESPN2. Kansas will then host West Virginia on ESPN Big Monday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m.

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