KU Basketball: Where To Watch Jayhawks Vs UC Irvine

The KU basketball team returns from holiday break for a home matchup versus UC Irvine.

The number two Kansas Jayahawks (10-1) take on the UC Irvine Anteaters tonight in the last nonconference game of the regular season for KU Basketball. The Anteaters (10-4) have victories over Utah State, Boston College and Central Florida.

Only three teams average more points per game this season than the Kansas Jayhawks. KU is averaging 88 points, they shoot 51.7 percent as a team and an impressive 46 percent from behind the arc.

It’s a good test for Kansas, as UC Irvine runs out maybe the tallest team KU has faced this season. Junior center Mamadou Ndiaye is listed at 7′ 6″, 300 pounds and averages 3 blocks per game. Junior center Ioannis Dimakopoulos is listed at 7′ 2″, and Irvine has two other big men listed at 6′ 10″.

Big 12 conference competition begins Jan. 2 against Baylor, and the Kansas Jayhawks’ pursuit of 12 conference titles in a row will be the same challenging road it always is. The Jayhawks have won at least a share of the Big 12 every season from 2005 until today. According to Benton Smith of KUSports.com:

"As conference games get started this week, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 11 Iowa State, No. 19 West Virginia and No. 23 Baylor all hope to do their part in ending KU’s run of Big 12 crowns at 11 in a row.Cyclones senior forward Georges Niang didn’t want to give the Jayhawks “any bulletin board material” when asked if he grew tired of KU’s annual conference dominance."

Kansas basketball is returning from a week-long holiday break so the legs should be fresh. The KU students are still on Winter Break, however, so it’s interesting to see how energized the crowd is when Lawrence is not at full capacity.

KU Basketball Television Viewing Essentials

More from KC Kingdom

Who: UC Irvine Anteaters (10-4)

Where: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kansas

When: Tuesday, December 29, 8 p.m. CT

How: ESPNU; Jayhawk Radio Network

KU Basketball Live Stream: WatchESPN

You can watch the Jayhawks on television or you can follow the KU Basketball live stream on WatchESPN if you receive ESPNU from a video provider. Otherwise, the Jayhawks will be on Jayhawk Radio Network or likely playing at your favorite local spot.

Three Players to Watch for the UC Irvine Anteaters

Luke Nelson – 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 95.8 percent free throw shooting
Alex Young – 8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists
Mamadou Ndiaye – 12.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.9 blocks

Three Players to Watch for the Kansas Jayhawks

Frank Mason III – 13.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists
Wayne Selden Jr. – 15.5 points per game, 3.2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 56.3 three point shooting
Perry Ellis – 15.2 points per game, 5.9 rebounds, 53.1 percent field goal shooting

Selden currently ranks 16th in the country shooting 55.4 percent from three-point range. He’s shooting 57.4 percent from two, and better than 70 percent form the free throw line.

Highly anticipated freshman Cheick Diallo is averaging 11.2 minutes per game this season, but he’s still providing the Jayhawks 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and better than one block per contest. As his minutes go up, look for his production to increase as well.

As a team, KU basketball averages 19 assists to 12 turnovers per game. That starts with Mason, who’s assist to turnover ratio is better than 4:1, and Devonte’ Graham, who averages 0.8 turnovers in 29.9 minutes per game.

The Jayhawks bench has been a strength of this team from the opening game. Bill Self uses a multi-pronged attack that is tough for any defense to stop. Tonight, it’s KU’s depth versus UC Irvine’s size in the Jayhawks’ nonconference finale.

Next: Ranking the KU Coaches All-Time

Enjoy the Kansas Jayhawks vs UC Irvine live stream action as the red-hot home team gets a final tune-up before Big 12 conference play begins after the new year.

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