KU Basketball: Jayhawks to Renew Rivalry with K-State Wildcats
By Joel Wagler
The KU basketball team will host the surging K-State Wildcats Tuesday in Allen Fieldhouse.
The Kansas Jayhawks and the Kansas State Wildcats have identical 12-1 records, as the Wildcats are off to one of their best starts in school history.
K-State’s lone loss of the season came against the Maryland Terripans. The Wildcats lost that matchup by a single point on November 26. In their conference opener this past weekend, KSU beat Texas, 65-62.
The Jayhawks had their hands full Friday with TCU. The Horned Frogs competed hard with the Jayhawks all night in a game that lacked much defense. KU eventually held off TCU, winning 86-80 on the road.
KU BASKETBALL LIVE STREAM AND TV VITALS
- Who: Kansas State Wildcats (12-1)
- Where: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kansas
- Tipoff Time: Tuesday, January 1, 8:00 PM (Central time)
- TV Channel: ESPN2
- KU Basketball Live Stream: WatchESPN
You can catch this KU basketball live stream on WatchESPN if you have an ESPN subscription as the Jayhawks host their Sunflower Showdown rivals – the Kansas State Wildcats.
Related Story: Where to Live Stream Your Favorite Team
KANSAS JAYHAWKS TEAM LEADERS
- Points – Frank Mason III – 19.8
- Rebounds – Landen Lucas – 6.6
- Assists – Mason – 5.9
- Steals – Devonte’ Graham – 1.6
- Three-Point Percentage – Mason – 48.2 percent
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS TEAM LEADERS
- Points – Barry Brown – 12.1
- Rebounds – D.J. Johnson – 6.8
- Assists – Kamau Stokes – 4.4
- Steals – Brown – 2.3
- Three-Point Percentage – Dean Wade – 41.9 percent
The Jayhawks received a tremendous performance last game by Landen Lucas. The senior has struggled most of the year, but he recorded a strong double-double with 15 points and 17 rebounds against TCU.
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Carlton Bragg, Jr. also played well, tallying five points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes.
The biggest issue the Jayhawks are going to battle the rest of the season is depth. Only seven players saw action in the Big 12 opener. Part of that was because the game was close throughout.
It is also because Mitch Lightfoot is still developing, Dwight Coleby appears to be still battling injury, and Udoka Azubuike is out for the year.
Josh Jackson was plagued by foul trouble and recorded just 12 minutes on the court. Five Jayhawks played 30 minutes or more.
Kansas State has eight players averaging double digits minutes and only two with 30 minutes or more. They might try to wear down the Jayhawks and see what happens.
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The KU basketball team has played a harder schedule than the K-State Wildcats have, but the Jayhawks’ lack of depth is going to cost them at least a game or two in the conference. The Wildcats should not be taken lightly. Their record indicates they have the talent to compete in the Big 12.
This edition of the Sunflower Showdown maybe a closer matchup than many may have thought before the season. The Wildcats certainly will be thinking upset against the Jayhawks!