The Kansas Jayhawks return to Allen Fieldhouse Monday night where they will host fellow pre-season conference favorite Texas A&M on ESPN’s Big Monday. Kansas is coming off their 69-66 win in Austin Saturday again Texas while A&M also enters the game with a win after beating Oklahoma on Saturday in overtime 81-75.
The Jayhawks enter the game with a record of 16-3 and are on top of the Big 12 with a record of 6-0. A&M is 11-7 overall and 2-4 in conference play after being picked, along with Kansas, to win the Big 12 conference.
Monday’s game will be the 19th time Kansas and A&M have played with the Jayhawks leading the series 17-1, including 16-1 since the Big 12 was formed.
A&M averages 62.8 points per game which ranks 281st in the country, but A&M is only averaging 58.7 points per game during conference play. Junior guard Elson Turner leads A&M in scoring at 13.7 points per game followed by Kris Middleton’s 12.4 points per game to go along with his 4.5 rebounds per game. Junior forward Ray Turner leads the Aggies in rebounding with 6.5 per game to go along with his 10.4 points per game.
The Aggies shoot 43.9% from the field overall and 38.7% during conference play. Shooting from behind the arc has also been difficult for the Aggies. Overall the Aggies are shooting 31% from three and 29.7% during conference play. The Aggies have also seen a dip in their recounding performances since conference play. Overall the Aggies rank 58th in the country by averaging 37.8 rebounds per game. During Big 12 play the Aggies rank 181st with 33.5 rebounds per game. At 12.6 assists per game overall and 9.0 assists in Big 12 play, the Aggies have also struggled to share the ball throughout the season.
Defensively the Aggies rank 19th in the country bu holding opponents to 59.2 points per game, but 138th by allowing 65.8 in Big 12 play. The Aggies also fell in FG% defense once Big 12 play began. Overall the Aggies rank 12th by only allowing opponents to shoot 38% from the field but in Big 12 play opponents are shooting 42.8% from the field.
The Jayhawks rank 38th overall in the country by averaging 76.4 points per game and have seen that number go up in Big 12 play to 77.2 points per game. Kansas has also shot better in Big 12 play as their FG% ranks 23rd in the country at 48.3% and 48.7% in Big 12 play. The Jayhawks have remained consitent from three point range as well. Overall the Jayhawks shoot 35.4% to 35.2% in conference play.
Despite getting beat on the glass by Texas on Saturday the Jayhawks still have impressive rebounding numbers this season. Their 38.9 rebounds per game rank 28th in the country and in Big 12 the Jayhawks have improved to 39.8 rebounds per game.
Kansas ranks 22nd in the country in assists per game with 16.1 assists per game overall and 16.0 assists per game in Big 12 play. Kansas has also seen their turnover numbers go down in Big 12 play from 13.7 per game to 11.7 per game.
Defensively the Jayhawks rank 36th in the country overall by only allowing opponents to score 60.4 points per game, but have seen that number rise slightly in conference play to 61.5 points per game. Kansas once again is amongst the leaders in FG% defense. The Jayhawks rank 4th in the country by holding opponents to 37% from the field and 36.4% in conference play.
Kansas leads the Big 12 in FG% defense and has finished #1 in this category in the last five seasons.
Up next the Jayhawks will travel to Ames, IA Saturday to face the Iowa State Cyclones. The Cycl
