No. 3 Kansas and No. 2 Baylor meet Wednesday with Big 12 lead on the line

GAME 22

Date Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017
Time 8 p.m. Central
Location Lawrence, Kan.
Venue Allen Fieldhouse
Notes KU Game Notes
Notes BU Game Notes

LIVE COVERAGE
TV ESPN2
Video WatchESPN
Radio Jayhawk Radio Network
Audio SiriusXM 81
Audio Audio Stream
Stats Live Stats

FOLLOW
Twitter @KUHoops | #kubball
Facebook /KansasBasketball
 HOW THEY COMPARE

No. 3/2 Kansas (19-2, 7-1) returns home to face No. 2/3 Baylor (20-1, 7-1) in a battle for the Big 12 lead Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m., on ESPN2. Both teams were successful in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 28, with Kansas winning at then-No. 4/4 Kentucky, 79-73, and Baylor winning at Ole Miss, 78-75. Kansas is vying for its 28th-consecutive 20-win season. Its current run of 27-straight is the longest active streak in NCAA Division I. The KU streak started in 1989-90.

This will be the third-straight ranked team Kansas will play and the second-straight top-5 foe. Kansas is hosting an Associated Press top-5 team for the eighth time in Bill Self’s 14 seasons at KU. Included is a 2012 matchup against Baylor, a KU 92-74 victory. The Jayhawks are 7-0 against those foes with the last being No. 2 Oklahoma last season on Jan. 4 in a triple-overtime thriller. Wednesday’s contest is the first time since the Feb. 25, 2012, Missouri game that Kansas has hosted a higher ranked team. MU came in No. 3, while Kansas was No. 4. The last time KU was ranked as high as No. 3 by the Associated Press and hosted a higher ranked opponent was March 18, 1967, when the No. 3 Jayhawks defeated No. 2 Louisville, 70-68, in the NCAA Tournament in Allen Fieldhouse.

ABOUT KANSAS
Kansas enters the week third nationally in Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) after its win at Kentucky. KU averages 84.3 points per game and has a +13.2 scoring margin. Kansas leads the Big 12 and is ninth nationally with a 49.8 field goal percentage. KU leads the league with a 41.2 3-point field goal percentage, which is ninth in NCAA Division I. KU averages 40.0 rebounds per contest, which also leads the Big 12. KU has a +5.6 rebound margin and also averages 17.0 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 20.1 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 16 of 21 games this season. Mason leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage at 51.6 percent. He is fifth in 3-pointers made at 2.3 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 fifth double-double of the year with 20 points and 10 rebounds at Kentucky. His 15.7 scoring average is sixth in the Big 12 and first among conference freshmen. Jackson is ninth in the Big 12 in rebounds at 6.7 boards per contest. Jackson leads KU with 34 steals and 26 blocked shots. Junior G Devonte’ Graham tied his career high with seven rebounds at Kentucky (1/28). Graham has made nine 3-pointers in his last three games and averages 13.6 points per outing on the season. He leads KU with 51 3-pointers and is second on the team in assists with 95 and steals with 33. Junior G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk had a career-high seven assists at West Virginia (1/24). He averages 10.6 points per game and has made multiple 3-pointers in three of his last four contests and 15 times this season. Mykhailiuk is fifth in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage at 41.5 percent. Senior C Landen Lucas leads the Big 12 in conference games in rebounding at 11.3 rpg. He has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in seven games this season, including six Big 12 contests. Lucas is scoring 7.6 points per game.

Sophomore G Lagerald Vick has started five games this season and is averaging 7.5 points per game. He has pulled down 17 rebounds in his last five games and averages 3.3 boards per contest. Freshman F Mitch Lightfoot came off the bench at West Virginia (1/24) logging eight minutes. He played four at Kentucky (1/28). He averages 1.1 points and 1.2 rebounds in 16 games played this season. Junior F Dwight Coleby’s 10 minutes played at Kentucky (1/28) were his most since 12 minutes versus Long Beach State (11/29). Coleby averages 1.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per contest. Sophomore F Carlton Bragg Jr. (6.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg) was suspended indefinitely on Jan. 26 and will not play against Baylor according to Bill Self.

Kansas vs. AP Top-5 Teams in Allen Fieldhouse (Bill Self era)

ABOUT BAYLOR
Located in Waco, Texas, with an enrollment of 16,959, Baylor climbed to No. 1 in the national polls on Jan. 9 and currently stands at No. 2 by the Associated Press and No. 3 in the USA Today Coaches polls. The Bears are coached by Scott Drew who is 270-173 in his 14th season at BU and 290-184 in his 15th season overall. Baylor is 13-0 at home and 4-1 in true road games in 2016-17. The Bears average 75.3 points per game with a +14.1 scoring margin, which ranks second in the Big 12. BU leads the league in scoring defense (61.1), field goal percentage defense (38.3), rebound margin (+8.4) and blocked shots (5.1). The Bears also average 16.2 assists and 5.6 steals per game.

Junior F Johnathan Motley is the only player in the Big 12 to rank in the top five in scoring (fifth at 16.2 ppg) and rebounding (first at 9.6 rpg). Motley is second on the team with 24 blocked shots and ranks seventh in the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 51.1 percent. Junior G Manu Lecomte is second in scoring at 12.3 points per game and he leads the team with 42 3-pointers made and 93 assists. His 21 steals are second on the team. Junior G Al Freeman is a starter who scores 10.2 points per game. He is second on the team with 31 3-pointers made. Junior F Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., leads the Big 12 with 2.8 blocked shots per game and his 7.2 rebound average is seventh in the conference. He averages 10.1 points per contest. Senior G Ishmail Wainright is a starter who leads BU in steals with 37 and averages 5.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Other BU regulars include junior F Terry Maston (7.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg), sophomore G Jake Lindsey (4.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and junior F Nuni Omot (5.9 ppg).
THE SERIES
The Kansas-Baylor series dates back to 1951 with the Jayhawks leading 27-4. Kansas has won eight straight in the series and holds a 13-2 advantage in the last 15 meetings. Baylor’s two wins in that stretch came March 9, 2013, in Waco and March 9, 2012, at the Big 12 Championship semifinals at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas is 14-0 against Baylor in games played in Lawrence, including 13-0 in Allen Fieldhouse. Since the inception of the Big 12, KU is 25-4 against Baylor — 23-2 in regular-season play and 2-2 in the Big 12 Championship. These two teams have met in each of the last two Big 12 Championship semifinals with Kansas winning both: 62-52 in 2015 and 70-66 in 2016. Kansas head coach Bill Self is 19-4 all-time against Baylor, including a 19-3 mark while at Kansas, while Baylor’s Scott Drew is 3-19 versus Kansas.

A KANSAS WIN WOULD …
Make Kansas 20-2 overall, giving KU 20 wins for the 28th consecutive season … Give KU its ninth-straight win against Baylor … Make the KU-BU series 28-4 all-time, including 14-0 in Allen Fieldhouse … Extend the nation’s longest active home court winning streak to 54 games, which includes 51 in Allen Fieldhouse … Make KU 11-0 in Allen Fieldhouse this season, 755-109 all-time in the venue, including 217-9 under Bill Self … Improve Self to 405-85 at KU, 612-190 overall and 20-4 against Baylor … Make KU 2,206-838 all-time.

A KANSAS LOSS WOULD …
Make Kansas 19-3 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 play this season … Give Kansas consecutive conference losses for the first time since it lost three-straight during the 2012-13 season (Feb. 2 vs. Oklahoma State, Feb. 6 at TCU and Feb. 9 at Oklahoma) … End the nation’s active longest home court winning streak at 53 games, including 50 in Allen Fieldhouse … Be Baylor’s first win in Lawrence in 15 tries … End a KU eight-game winning streak against Baylor and make the all-time series 27-5 in favor of the Jayhawks … Make Kansas 10-1 in Allen Fieldhouse this season, 754-110 all-time in the venue, including 216-10 under Bill Self … Make Self 404-86 while at KU, 611-191 overall and 19-5 versus Baylor … Make KU 2,205-839 all-time.

WHAT’S TRENDING
• Kansas leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage at 49.8 percent, 3-point field goal percentage at 41.2 percent and rebounding at 40.0 per game. Additionally, KU ranks in the upper half in the Big 12 in W-L Percentage (second at 90.5), scoring (third at 84.3), scoring margin (third at +13.2), field goal percentage defense (fourth at 41.3), rebound margin (second at +5.6), assists (second at 17.0), assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth at 1.3) and blocked shots (tied for third at 4.9).
• During Big 12 play, KU is shooting 69.5 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, 3-point field goal percentage (51.6). He is fourth in assists at 5.1 per game, fifth in 3-pointers made per game (2.1), seventh in field goal percentage (51.1) and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1).
• Mason is making 56.8 percent (21-for-37) from 3-point range in Big 12 play.
• Mason has led KU in scoring in 15 of 21 games this season, including 10 of the last 14 contests.
• Senior C Landen Lucas is averaging nearly a double-double in Big 12 play with 9.5 ppg and 11.3 rpg averages, which is first in the league.
• Lucas is 7-for-8 from the field in his last two games, including a 6-for-6 day at Kentucky (1/28).
• Freshman G Josh Jackson ranks eighth in the Big 12 in scoring at 15.7 ppg, which leads the conference freshman class. His 6.7 rebounds per game are ninth in the league and he is tied for seventh with 1.6 steals per game.
• Junior G Devonte’ Graham has two 20-point games this season with both against Big 12 foes. Graham ranks 13th in the Big 12 in scoring at 13.6, sixth in assists at 4.5, 10th in steals at 1.6, fourth in 3-point field goals made at 2.4 and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.6.
• Graham has made multiple 3-pointers in each of his last three games and seven of his last eight, averaging 2.9 made per game in that span.
• Junior G Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk has made multiple 3-pointers in three of his last four games and four of his last six. He is sixth in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made at 2.1 per game and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage at 41.5.

IN THE POLLS
Kansas dropped from No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll on Jan. 16 and 23 to No. 2 on Jan. 30. The Jayhawks also fell one spot to No. 3 in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 after back-to-back weeks at No. 2.

The Jayhawks have been ranked in each of the last 155 AP polls dating back to the 2008-09 season, which is the longest active streak in NCAA Division I. Arizona is second at 90. KU has been ranked in each of the last 159 coaches’ polls.

STREAKING
Here are some active Kansas streaks, all of which lead the nation.
• 12 Big 12 Conference regular-season titles
• 27 NCAA Tournament appearances
• 27 seasons with 20+ wins
• 53 wins at home, including 50 in Allen Fieldhouse
• 153 weeks ranked in AP Top 25
• Won at least 12 league games for 16-straight years.

FRANK MASON III: BOB COUSY AWARD TOP-10 FINALIST
Senior Frank Mason III was named one of 10 watch list finalists for the 2017 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award presented by College of the Holy Cross, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced Jan. 30.

In March, five finalists will be name with the winner of the 2017 Bob Cousy Award presented at ESPN’s College Basketball Awards in Los Angeles on Friday, April 7, 2017.

JACKSON MAKES KU HISTORY IN BEING NAMED BIG 12 NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
On Jan. 30, freshman G Josh Jackson was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for the fifth time in 2016-17. Historically, Jackson’s five Big 12 Newcomer of the Week recognitions surpass Tyshawn Taylor in 2010-11 for the most by a Jayhawk. On Dec. 27, 2016, Jackson was named the Big 12 Player of the Week and he joined former KU players Ben McLemore (2012-13) and Mario Chalmers (2005-06) in earning both league player and newcomer honors in the same season.

KANSAS VS. RANKED TEAMS
Kansas is 2-2 against ranked foes in 2016-17 with both victories against top-5 teams. In 2015-16, KU posted a season-high 12 wins against Associated Press Top 25 teams. The mark surpassed the previous season, 2014-15, of 10. In the Bill Self era, Kansas is 76-38 against ranked opponents and has only had one non-.500 record, that being his first in 2003-04. Each of the past two seasons, Kansas has played a season-high 16 games vs. ranked foes.

THIS DATE IN KANSAS BASKETBALL HISTORY
Kansas is 17-8 all-time on February 1
Feb. 1, 1971: Kansas hosted Kansas State with a perfect 3-0 Big Eight record when the Jayhawks delivered a 79-74 victory in Allen Fieldhouse. KU was led by Dave Robisch who had 25 points while making nine of his 11 free throws. Robisch was backed by Bud Stallworth who ended the game with a 20-point performance. The Jayhawks went on to finish the season with a record of 27-3 while going a perfect 14-0 in Big Eight play. Kansas would advance to the 1971 Final Four in Houston.

UP NEXT
Kansas will host Iowa State on Saturday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m., on ESPN. KU will then 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.

KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.