The Kansas basketball team hosts the Iowa State Cyclones on Tuesday night.
In a strange turn of events, the Kansas basketball team is 2-0 on the road and 0-1 at home so far early in the Big 12 Conference schedule. A win in Allen Fieldhouse will get them back in the mix for their 14th straight conference title.
The Kansas Jayhawks will face an Iowa State Cyclones squad that has scuffled so far this season in league play. Iowa State has lost two straight overtime games and will be looking to avoid a 0-4 start.
The Jayhawks cannot let that happen. They need to jump on the Cyclones hard and not let them back up. This is not a game KU can afford to lose or even play poorly.
At this writing, the Jayhawks were still awaiting word on Billy Preston and Silvio De Sousa.
WATCH: Silvio De Sousa Highlights
KANSAS BASKETBALL LIVE STREAM AND TV INFO
- Who: Iowa State Cyclones (9-5, 0-3)
- Where: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kansas
- Tipoff Time: Tuesday, January 9, 8:00 p.m. CT
- TV Channel: ESPN2
- Kansas Basketball Live Stream: WatchESPN
The Kansas basketball live stream versus the TCU Horned Frogs can be seen on WatchESPN if your cable subscription includes ESPN.
Related Story: Know Where to Live Stream your Favorite Teams
KANSAS BASKETBALL NOTES
In the three games so far against Big 12 foes, Devonte’ Graham has kicked it up a notch. He is second in the conference in scoring in conference play, averaging 26 points a game. He is also fourth in assists, recording 6.7 an outing.
In three league games, Kansas is allowing 85 points a game and Iowa State gives up 87. Look for another high scoring matchup when these two defenses go head-to-head.
The Cyclones have struggled to make shots against Big 12 opponents. They have hit just 40.3 percent overall, and only 28.3 percent of their attempts from three-point range. The Jayhawks make 46.9 percent of their overall attempts and 42 percent from behind the arc.
KANSAS BASKETBALL BIG 12 RANKINGS IN CONFERENCE PLAY
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- Scoring Offense – fourth – 84.3
- Scoring Defense – sixth – 85
- Free Throw Percentage – sixth – 74.6
- Field Goal Percentage – fourth – 46.9
- Three-point Percentage – second – 42.0
- Rebounding Margin – tenth – minus 11.7
- Assists – fifth – 41
- Steals – tenth – 15
A couple of these stats really draw the eye. Uncharacteristically, Kansas is dead last in rebounding margin (and by a mile; next worst is minus 6.7) and steals. Defense and rebounding are two categories that indicate heart and hustle, and the Jayhawks are getting crushed in both areas.
Crashing the boards and stiffening on the defensive end can both lead to better offense, so for the Jayhawks to maintain their league dominance, they need to do much better.
Certainly adding some interior players like Preston and De Sousa could help in both of these areas but in case neither is cleared soon, the other players have to pick up the slack.
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On paper, the Cyclones appear to be the easiest conference matchup thus far for this Kansas basketball team. Now, they need attack with focus and not play down to their opponent.