Game Preview: Kansas (rematch)
[caption id="attachment_31100" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Javan Felix. (Will Gallagher/IT)[/caption]
Hoops Preview: Kansas (rematch)
Date: Monday, February 29
Time: 8:00 Central
Television: ESPN
Location: UT
Big 12 Rematch Game: Kansas won the first meeting 76 - 67 in Lawrence. You can find the full Texas-Kansas game thread here.
The Longhorns get their chance for a third win over a top three opponent when the number one Jayhawks (who are currently riding a 9-game winning streak) come to Austin for a Big Monday showdown.
Texas Keys: Offense
Three point shooting. If you exclude the West Virginia loss (when the Mountaineers shot 47!!! free throws), in KU’s three other losses this year, their opponents combined to shoot 29-63 from deep (46%). The rest of the time, opponents have shot only 29% from beyond the arc against Kansas. Kansas’ offensive playmakers (Mason, Graham, Selden, Ellis) are so efficient and multi-faceted that they put a lot of pressure on your offense because it’s difficult to get successive stops. Since Feb. 1, when Texas has shot 39% or above from deep, they’ve won each time (5-0). When they’ve shot below 39%, they’ve lost (0-3). Actually, in those three Texas losses, they’ve shot a combined 18-68 from outside the arc (26%). Kansas is playing at a high level right now, and Texas is going to need three point makes to keep pace. If Texas can be at or above 40%, they’ll have their shot. If they can’t reach that efficiency, Kansas will be tough to knock off.
Taylor’s time. He can’t do it alone, but he’s got to take over when they need him to...and he he has to know the difference as to when is when. Isaiah’s speed and athleticism in traffic may well have no peer at the collegiate level. When he accelerates in space, there’s just not much teams can do. That will be the case again today, particularly because this Kansas team doesn’t have much in the way of dominant shot blockers. The key figure for tonight for Isaiah will be his free throw numbers. Ideally, he’ll be close to double figures as he’s most efficient, as a scorer, when he can get his shot attempts from the foul line. If Texas is to win tonight, it will almost certainly be because Taylor played a complete game as both a facilitator and as a scorer.
Texas Keys: Defense
Mason. Over Kansas’ recent nine-game win streak, Mason has been playing his best basketball of the season. In that timeframe, Mason is averaging 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals on 47/40/70 shooting. Beyond that, his turnover numbers have been down to only 1.6 per game (a solid number considering he’s averaging just under 35 minutes per contest over that span). Texas has had some success against him in the past as they’ve got multiple athletes who match up well with him, physically. The key against Mason is making him create offense in one-on-one situations and not allowing him to find open lanes on breakdowns or kickouts. He’s great in space. Not as capable in traffic. Any emotional letdowns for him could be big for Texas as well.
Don’t get burned on switches. Felix on Ellis on the paint. Cleare on Selden or Graham on the perimeter. Lammert or Prince on Mason on the perimeter. There are a bunch of switching matchups that could make or break this game for Texas. Only Iowa State and Baylor cause the same type of matchup problems for the Longhorns that Kansas does and Texas has been only okay against those teams this year. There’s just not a whole lot a defense can do when Kansas has the perimeter scorers it does to go along with a player that’s as comfortable in the paint as Ellis is. How many lob dunks/post entries does Kansas get tonight? How many fouls can KU’s guards get on Lammert/Cleare/Ibeh on switches. If Texas can stay even in those battles, they’ll be fine. If they get hurt, KU will be tough to keep pace with.
The Endgame
Not surprising to say, Kansas is really good. They have dynamic scorers in their starting rotation. They can shoot from deep. They have one of the best interior scorers in the country in Ellis. They have gotten a big lift off the bench from Mykhailiuk. They lead the league in field goal percentage defense and are second in points allowed.
There’s just not much they can’t do.
Still, Texas has better depth, a better point guard and a more dynamic interior duo when Lammert and Prince are on their games.
Will that be enough? Well…
**** it. Why not?
Prediction: Texas 72 - Kansas 67
Projected Starting Lineup
Taylor
Felix
Holland
Lammert
Ibeh
Javan Felix. (Will Gallagher/IT)[/caption]
Hoops Preview: Kansas (rematch)
Date: Monday, February 29
Time: 8:00 Central
Television: ESPN
Location: UT
Big 12 Rematch Game: Kansas won the first meeting 76 - 67 in Lawrence. You can find the full Texas-Kansas game thread here.
The Longhorns get their chance for a third win over a top three opponent when the number one Jayhawks (who are currently riding a 9-game winning streak) come to Austin for a Big Monday showdown.
Texas Keys: Offense
Three point shooting. If you exclude the West Virginia loss (when the Mountaineers shot 47!!! free throws), in KU’s three other losses this year, their opponents combined to shoot 29-63 from deep (46%). The rest of the time, opponents have shot only 29% from beyond the arc against Kansas. Kansas’ offensive playmakers (Mason, Graham, Selden, Ellis) are so efficient and multi-faceted that they put a lot of pressure on your offense because it’s difficult to get successive stops. Since Feb. 1, when Texas has shot 39% or above from deep, they’ve won each time (5-0). When they’ve shot below 39%, they’ve lost (0-3). Actually, in those three Texas losses, they’ve shot a combined 18-68 from outside the arc (26%). Kansas is playing at a high level right now, and Texas is going to need three point makes to keep pace. If Texas can be at or above 40%, they’ll have their shot. If they can’t reach that efficiency, Kansas will be tough to knock off.
Taylor’s time. He can’t do it alone, but he’s got to take over when they need him to...and he he has to know the difference as to when is when. Isaiah’s speed and athleticism in traffic may well have no peer at the collegiate level. When he accelerates in space, there’s just not much teams can do. That will be the case again today, particularly because this Kansas team doesn’t have much in the way of dominant shot blockers. The key figure for tonight for Isaiah will be his free throw numbers. Ideally, he’ll be close to double figures as he’s most efficient, as a scorer, when he can get his shot attempts from the foul line. If Texas is to win tonight, it will almost certainly be because Taylor played a complete game as both a facilitator and as a scorer.
Texas Keys: Defense
Mason. Over Kansas’ recent nine-game win streak, Mason has been playing his best basketball of the season. In that timeframe, Mason is averaging 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.7 steals on 47/40/70 shooting. Beyond that, his turnover numbers have been down to only 1.6 per game (a solid number considering he’s averaging just under 35 minutes per contest over that span). Texas has had some success against him in the past as they’ve got multiple athletes who match up well with him, physically. The key against Mason is making him create offense in one-on-one situations and not allowing him to find open lanes on breakdowns or kickouts. He’s great in space. Not as capable in traffic. Any emotional letdowns for him could be big for Texas as well.
Don’t get burned on switches. Felix on Ellis on the paint. Cleare on Selden or Graham on the perimeter. Lammert or Prince on Mason on the perimeter. There are a bunch of switching matchups that could make or break this game for Texas. Only Iowa State and Baylor cause the same type of matchup problems for the Longhorns that Kansas does and Texas has been only okay against those teams this year. There’s just not a whole lot a defense can do when Kansas has the perimeter scorers it does to go along with a player that’s as comfortable in the paint as Ellis is. How many lob dunks/post entries does Kansas get tonight? How many fouls can KU’s guards get on Lammert/Cleare/Ibeh on switches. If Texas can stay even in those battles, they’ll be fine. If they get hurt, KU will be tough to keep pace with.
The Endgame
Not surprising to say, Kansas is really good. They have dynamic scorers in their starting rotation. They can shoot from deep. They have one of the best interior scorers in the country in Ellis. They have gotten a big lift off the bench from Mykhailiuk. They lead the league in field goal percentage defense and are second in points allowed.
There’s just not much they can’t do.
Still, Texas has better depth, a better point guard and a more dynamic interior duo when Lammert and Prince are on their games.
Will that be enough? Well…
**** it. Why not?
Prediction: Texas 72 - Kansas 67
Projected Starting Lineup
Taylor
Felix
Holland
Lammert
Ibeh
