**********OU-Kansas Game Thread**********

[OUHoops]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209361568

QUICK PREVIEW
Oklahoma (12-2, 1-0) plays its first Big 12 home game when it hosts No. 18/20 Kansas (9-4, 0-0) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT inside Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners, who rank fourth nationally with their 87.3 points per game and have won eight of their last nine contests, are coming off an 88-85 win at Texas on Saturday. The Jayhawks, who have won or shared nine straight Big 12 regular season titles, started 5-0 but are 4-4 since. They lost 61-57 at home Sunday to San Diego State.

ON THE AIR
Wednesday’s contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM “The Franchise” in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Sirius 91; XM 91) with Toby Rowland and Mike Houck calling the action. The game will be televised by ESPN2 with Dave Flemming and Jay Bilas announcing.

PREVIEWING KANSAS
A Big 12 regular season champion/co-champ each of the last nine years, Kansas enters its league opener Wednesday with a 9-4 overall record. The Jayhawks began the year with a 5-0 record and rose to No. 2 in the AP poll after a 94-83 win against Duke, but have gone 4-4 since. They’re coming off a 61-57 loss to San Diego State on Sunday, just their ninth at home under 11th-year head coach Bill Self. KU ranks seventh in the Big 12 in scoring offense (77.7 ppg), seventh in scoring defense (68.2), third in field goal percentage (.492), eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (.328), seventh in free throw percentage (.680) and third in rebounding margin (+6.3 per game).

Four of Kansas’ top five scorers are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. Freshman guard Andrew Wiggins leads the way with his 15.8 points a contest (ranks 10th in Big 12) while also averaging 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists. The preseason all-conference pick is shooting .452 from the field and .311 from 3-point range (14-for-45). Sophomore Perry Ellis is averaging 13.2 points on .570 shooting, as well as 6.5 boards a game. Freshman center Joel Embiid contributes 10.8 points (shooting .662) and a team-high 7.3 rebounds. Embiid, from Cameroon, is averaging 15.3 points and 9.0 boards over the last four outings.

Self is in his 11th year as Kansas’ head coach and owns a 309-63 record there. He is in his 21st year overall (516-168).

THE SERIES
Kansas is the only Big 12 program with a winning record against Oklahoma. The Jayhawks own a 139-65 series lead and have won 10 of the last 11 meetings after OU had won four of six. The teams split last season (box scores and summaries on page 22 of these notes), with No. 3 KU winning 67-54 in Lawrence and the Sooners returning the favor with a 72-66 win over the No. 5 Jayhawks in Norman. OU’s victory snapped a 10-game series losing streak.

 

[ChongoChingi]

Any idea how much we will see of Hornbeak tonight? Has he been a full participant in practice the last few days? Could Cousins be sat some for getting thrown out of the last game?

 

[Soonerman]

Hoping there's more crimson than blue in the LNC for once. Could never stand seeing that!

 

[SilliSooner]

I see on Draft Express Kansas has four players (3 Frosh Wiggins, Semper, Embiid plus Ellis) expected to go first round in the upcoming draft. Didn't they get the memo that Cal is coaching for the other Blue team beginning with a K?

 

[Soonerlover12]

Wish it was on tv

 

[Laxtothemax12]

Wish it was on tv

ESPN2 homie

 

[Soonerlover12]

You just made my night. Internet said espn3

 

[Laxtothemax12]

You just made my night. Internet said espn3

Yeah Bilas is calling the game, should be a good crew.

 

[Soonerman82]

Hoping there's more crimson than blue in the LNC for once. Could never stand seeing that!

This

 

[Laxtothemax12]

terrible start

 

[opsooner]

Crowd sounds 50-50. Down by 5; could be worse.

 

[Soonerlover12]

Good sho by hield

 

[stormspencer]

settling for jumpers too early.

 

[opsooner]

KU playing good D. Have us taking some bad shots.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

3-10 shooting, not the best start. Gotta pick up the pace boys

 

[Laxtothemax12]

Seems like EVERY fricken team makes threes against us...come on

 

[slappy in OP]

KU is not missing. Not a good sign

 

[opsooner]

We're hanging in there. Hoping they miss some of those wide open 3s in the 2nd half

 

[stormspencer]

Seems like EVERY fricken team makes threes against us...come on

Because we allow them to shoot too many open 3s. It's been said ad nauseum on this board....we are bad defensively around the perimeter. We need to hope KU doesn't continue to make 3s...ugh.

 

[opsooner]

Book it!