***********OU-Kansas Game Thread/SOONERS WIN**********

[OUHoops]

http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020813aad.html

PREVIEWING KANSAS
After starting the season with a 19-1 record and ascending to No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll, Kansas has lost its last two games (85-80 at home to Oklahoma State and 62-55 at TCU). In the loss to TCU, the Jayhawks were held to a .295 field goal mark, their lowest in 14 seasons. KU is still tied for first place in the Big 12 (with Kansas State) with a 7-2 record.

In Big 12 play, Kansas leads the league in average scoring margin (+7.6), average rebounding margin (+5.5), field goal percentage defense (.372), blocked shots (5.8 bpg) and steals (8.5 spg).

Freshman guard Ben McLemore, who practiced last season with KU, ranks second in Big 12 play with his 17.3 points per game. A starter in all 22 contests, he has scored in double figures in all but two outings (had nine points in each of other two) and paces the conference with his .462 3-point field goal mark in league play (18-for-39).

Senior center Jeff Withey is averaging 13.0 points on the season on .559 field goal shooting while ranking fourth in the Big 12 in rebounding (8.3 rpg) and first in blocked shots (4.2 bpg). He has scored at least eight points in every game this season.

Senior guard Travis Releford, who scored a career-high 28 points on 9-for-13 shooting at Oklahoma last season, averages 12.1 points per game on the year and leads the Big 12 with his .606 field goal percentage. After scoring in double digits in 17 straight games, he was held to eight points in the loss to OSU last Saturday and to one point in the loss at TCU on Wednesday (0-for-1 shooting).

Senior point guard Elijah Johnson averages 9.2 points and a team-high 4.7 assists. He ranks second on the team with his 32 3-point makes and is shooting .327 from behind the arc.

Bill Self is in his 10th year as Kansas' head coach and owns a 288-56 record. He is in his 20th year overall.

TWO WEEKS AGO VS. THE JAYHAWKS
Oklahoma shot just .356 from the field in a 67-54 loss at No. 3/2 Kansas on Jan. 26 that was the Jayhawks' 33rd straight home win and 102nd in its last 103 at Allen Fieldhouse. KU entered the game as the nation's leader in field goal percentage defense (.348).

OU trailed 29-21 at halftime after shooting just .286 from the field in the first 20 minutes and got no closer after halftime.

No Sooner made more than four field goals (Buddy Hield, Amath M'Baye, Romero Osby, and Steven Pledger each made four). Pledger (4-for-8) was the only starter to shoot at least 50 percent from the floor.

M'Baye and Osby each scored a team-high 12 points, but did it on a combined 8-for-27 field goal shooting (.296). M'Baye was 4-for-11 and grabbed seven rebounds, while Osby was 4-for-16 and had six boards. Osby entered the day shooting .600 from the field over the previous 10 games.

Pledger made two of OU's three 3-pointers and finished with 10 points, his 10th double figures game in the last 11 outings. He tied Tim Heskett for third place on OU's all-time 3-pointers list with 215 makes.

With his first two points of the game, senior forward Andrew Fitzgerald became the 39th member of OU's 1,000-point club. He finished the game with four points and a team-high eight rebounds (his most of the season) in just 12 minutes.

After going seven straight games without getting outrebounded, the Sooners got outboarded for the second straight contest. Kansas pulled down 41 rebounds to OU's 31. It was OU's second-largest rebounding deficit of the season.

OU-KANSAS SERIES HISTORY
Kansas is the only Big 12 program with a winning record against Oklahoma. The Jayhawks own a 139-64 series advantage and are 47-40 vs. OU in Norman. The Sooners had won three of five overall meetings in the series and four of seven prior to Kansas' current 10-game victory streak. OU is 4-18 against the Jayhawks since the formation of the Big 12 Conference.

 

[Bk2X]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Yep definitely out numbered in here...

 

[opsooner]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

I was looking forward to this game right after we lost to them at KU. Now, a lot of things have changed. We have not played well the past 2 games and neither have they. I don't particularly like our offense against their defense well enough to predict the victory and the surprise factor is no longer valid.

I hope we play well today and start finding our confidence again. If we limit turnovers we have a chance.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Well we need to make some baskets. We can't revert to the lid on the basket Kelvin days like we have been. bDespite their guard and shooting troubles Ku still plays very good defense.

 

[opsooner]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Nice to see Osby finish that one.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

A Pledger sighting.

KU can't miss.

 

[opsooner]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

I like our confidence. Need to tighten up the D a bit though.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

It would be nice to put some space between us right here.

 

[OklahomaLibertarian]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Nice response to KU little offensive run.

and lol @ the fake outrage over Kansas loss at TCU.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

I like our confidence. Need to tighten up the D a bit though.

they're getting open looks.

 

[JBaker]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Yep. Need better D. Don't think we can keep shooting at this rate.

Also, the next time Kansas gets called for 3 seconds will be the first.

 

[WTSooner]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

We are living by the jumper right now. Hope it continues, and we can find a way to mix in a few easier shots. Cousins doing pretty decent so far.

 

[JBaker]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Uh oh, Neal time.

 

[opsooner]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Good start by Cousins - hope he can keep it going.

 

[OklahomaLibertarian]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Need to shoot more three's or layups, that middle shooting doesnt work all day.

 

[JBaker]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Need to shoot more three's or layups, that middle shooting doesnt work all day.

If it's there, we gotta take it.
Can't hit mid-range jumpers, you don't have any business winning.

 

[opsooner]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

One of these days Neal we learn to go up strong.

 

[JBaker]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Ugh Neal.

 

[OklahomaLibertarian]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

If it's there, we gotta take it.
Can't hit mid-range jumpers, you don't have any business winning.

They shoot mid range jumpers all day. Need to start shooting more outside to open up layups. This is why we've lost lately - other teams are killing us from the outside while we're stuck trying to hit tough contested jumpers all day. Same thing will happen here unless Kansas can't buy a bucket from deep either.

 

[JBaker]

Re: ***********OU-Kansas Pregame Notes/Game Thread***********

Did they just let Young get away with a kick?