The 4th ranked Kansas Jayhawks (#AmericasTeam 15-1, 3-0) take their show on the road on Saturday afternoon against the Texas Longhorns (8-8, 0-3). Kansas is looking to make the Longhorns their 15th win in a row, and the Longhorns just want to win 1 in a row. Texas lost to Chaminade in the Maui Invitation earlier this season.
Texas averages 64.1 points per game and allows 61.4 points per game this season. The Longhorns do rank 2nd nationally in field goal percentage defense (34.3%), while Kansas leads the nation at 34.2%. Guard Sheldon McClellan leads the Longhorns with 14.3 points per game, and he is second on the team in made three point attempts. Guard Julien Lewis, who leads Texas in made three’s, averages 11.8 ppg and is second ont he team in steals. Guard Javan Felix dishes out 6.3 assists per game to go along with his 9.4 points per game. He also leads the Longhorns in steals this season. Forward Jonathan Holmes averages 8.0 ppg and leads Texas on the glass with 7.8 rpg, which is 6th best in the Big 12. Forward Ioannis Papapetrou chips in 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Center Cameron Ridley protects the rim with 31 blocks this season to go along with his 5.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Kansas leads the series against Texas 20-7, including six of the last seven meetings. In Austin, the series is tied 5-5. Since the Big 12 was formed, Kansas is 16-6 against Texas. 12-5 in regular season play and 4-1 in Big 12 Tournament play.
Kansas averages 76.8 points per game and allows only 59.3 per game. The Jayhawks are led by freshman phenom Ben McLemore’s 16.4 points per game. McLemore leads all Big 12 freshman in scoring and ranks 2nd in the Big 12 overall. McLemore is KU’s biggest three point threat and is second on the team in steals. McLemore is coming off of an ankle sprain that he suffered last Monday night against Baylor. However, as Elijah Johnson stated, Ben is “Superman.” Rumor is that Ben just simply slipped a crystal inside of a chamber that he was standing in. After a brief light show – his ankle was as good as new. He is also a threat to rebound and go outside of his area – which often leads to easy points for Kansas in transition. Center Jeff Withey averages 13.1 points per game and leads the Jayhawks with 8.2 rpg and 4.7 bpg, which ranks 2nd nationally. Guard Travis Releford, who averages 13.0 ppg, is shooting 71% from the field over his last 13 games, including 80% or better in 8 of his last 13 games. Guard Elijah Johnson averages 9.9 ppg and leads the team in assists per game. Johnson is also 2nd on the team in made three point attempts.
Tip time is 1:00 pm on CBS.
Up next – Kansas State on Tuesday at 7:00 pm.
Texas fans don’t take losing well – the best part is talking like the Texas crowd is wild and crazy.
