>>>>>>The #1 vs #1 Gameday Thread<<<<<<

[OUHoops]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=210613188

MONDAY'S GAME BASICS
No. 3 Oklahoma hits the road for its first Big 12 road test of the season at No. 2 Kansas on ‘Big Monday’ at 8 p.m. CT inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. OU, which is 12-0 and tied for its best start in 28 years, is in its fifth season under head coach Lon Kruger. The Jayhawks are 12-1 this season (1-0 Big 12) and under the direction of Bill Self, now in his 13th campaign at KU.

Should KU and OU rank No. 1 and 2 when Monday’s AP Poll is released, it would mark the first time since 1990 that AP No. 1 played AP No. 2 with both teams hailing from the Big Eight/Big 12 (No. 1 OU 95, No. 2 KU 77 in Big Eight Tourney semifinals).

ON THE AIR
Monday’s contest will air on the Sooner Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM “The Franchise” in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa) with Toby Rowland and Scott Thompson announcing. The ‘Big Monday’ matchup will be televised by ESPN with Brent Musberger, Dick Vitale and Holly Rowe calling the action.

SCOUTING KANSAS
The Jayhawks rank third in nation in scoring at 88.3 points per game. Kansas is second in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at 46.0 percent. KU is also third nationally in scoring margin at +23.3 and fifth in field goal percentage at 51.6 percent.

KU pulls down an average of 37.6 rebounds per game, which helps give the Jayhawks a +5.9 rebounding margin. The Jayhawks also average 18.6 assists, which stands 13th nationally, 8.5 steals and 4.4 blocked shots per contest.

Junior G Wayne Selden Jr. is coming off a 24-point performance against Baylor (1/2) where he was 5-for-6 from 3-point range. Selden leads KU with a 15.5 scoring average which is fifth in the Big 12. He leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage at 55.4 percent and is second in the conference with 2.8 3-pointers made per game.

Senior F Perry Ellis scored 17 points and had six rebounds against Baylor (1/2) and is averaging 15.2 points per game, which is sixth in the Big 12. Ellis leads KU and is 10th in the league with a 6.2 rebound average.

Junior G Frank Mason III has 28 assists and six turnovers in his last five games. He scores 13.1 points per contest and averages 4.0 rebounds per outing. Mason’s 23 steals are second most on the team behind sophomore G Devonte’ Graham’s 25. Mason is tied for seventh in the Big 12 in steals per game at 1.8 and his 4.0 assist-to-turnover ratio is 12th in NCAA Division I. Graham is fifth in the conference at 1.9 steals per game. He averages 10.5 points per contest and is second in the Big 12, sixth nationally, in assist-to-turnover ratio at 5.0.

Senior F Hunter Mickelson (3.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, team-high 19 blocked shots) rounds out the KU starters. He is coming off a seven-point, six-rebound and three-blocked shot performance against Baylor (1/2).

Junior G Brannen Greene is a 3-point specialist who scores 8.9 points per game. He is 13-for-21 (61.9 percent) from beyond the arc this season.

GAMEDAY STORYLINES
SCENE SETTER: No. 3 Oklahoma hits the road for its first Big 12 road test of the season at No. 2 Kansas on ‘Big Monday’ at 8 p.m. CT inside Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. OU, which is 12-0 and tied for its best start in 28 years, is in its fifth season under head coach Lon Kruger. The Jayhawks are 12-1 this season and under the direction of Bill Self, now in his 13th campaign at KU. Should KU and OU rank No. 1 and 2 when Monday’s AP Poll is released, it would mark the first time since 1990 that AP No. 1 played AP No. 2 with both teams hailing from the Big Eight/Big 12 (No. 1 OU 95, No. 2 KU 77 in Big Eight Tourney semifinals).

SERVING TREYS: OU, one of just three remaining undefeated D-I teams, currently ranks third in the country in 3-point field goal percentage (.453) by hitting 121-267 of its shots from downtown this season. Oklahoma’s all-time record for 3-point field goal percentage in a campaign is .414 (1986-87). Five Sooners are averaging at least .425 from beyond the arc, led by Jordan Woodard, who is shooting a blistering .531 (26-49, avg. 2.2 3FGM). OU’s average of 10.1 3-point makes per game ranks first in the Big 12 and 17th nationally.

ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Sooners enter Monday’s game ranked in the top 10 in both scoring offense with 87.0 points per game (sixth) and scoring margin (+19.5, seventh) by holding opponents to just 67.5 points per contest. OU is led in scoring by 2015 Big 12 Player of the Year Buddy Hield, who is averaging 24.7 points (fourth nationally, first among players from Power 5 conferences).

THE BUCK(ETS) STOP HERE: OU is once again proving it is an elite team on defense, as 2015-16 opponents have struggled to score on the Sooners. OU ranks No. 9 in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.370), including 20th nationally in 3-point field goal defense (.290). On the season, OU foes are just 84-290 from downtown (compared to Oklahoma’s 121-268, .453 3FG% effort).

STEADFAST SOONERS: Oklahoma isn’t short on experience or leadership this season. The quartet of Isaiah Cousins, Buddy Hield, Ryan Spangler and Jordan Woodard have each started every game (80 total) for OU the past three seasons, tallying 320 combined starts. With the addition of Khadeem Lattin (12 starts), Oklahoma boasts a starting five with 332 combined career starts.

 

[OUHoops]

Re: >>>>>>>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<<<<<<<

Some early tweets:

@ESPNStatsInfo: If Oklahoma-Kansas is a 1 vs 2 matchup, would be 40th 1 vs 2 since poll began in 1949.

No. 1 team is 20-19 all-time

9 ET, ESPN on Monday

@JasonKingBR: People at the bar in Lawrence cheering for OU. Everyone wants to see No. 1 vs No. 2 on Monday.

@GuerinEmig: Buddy Hield on OU-KU: "We're going up there to handle our business... We know the crowd is gonna be after us." #Sooners

@john_shinn: Hield on Monday: It's gonna be fun. We know everyone is gonna be watching.

@rustindodd: Self on Oklahoma's Buddy Hield: "I never thought he would average 25, or we would have tried a lot harder to recruit him."

@DickieV: OKLAHOMA @ KANSAS / MONDAY on ESPN 1vs 2 @HoopsWeiss @jksports @leefitting I am in #HOOPSHEAVEN

 

[Hotrod33]

Re: >>>>>>>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<<<<<<<

This is a huge game that we haven't had in a long time. I can't wait to see this game.

 

[inoref]

Re: >>>>>>>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<<<<<<<

Kansas at their house..OU better bring their best game to date.

 

[OUHoops]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

Note: This could also be changed to the #1 vs #1 poll on Monday if the Coaches Poll holds form (behind Michigan State).

 

[BigTime]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

Huuuuuugeeee

 

[OUHoops]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

...

@RohdeOK: Forget No. 1 vs. No. 2 ... Monday night's game in Lawrence could be No. 1 (AP) vs. No. 1 (USA Today). @FranchiseOK @OU_MBBall @KUHoops

 

[zeptrey]

I hate playing at the Phog. Got to end that crappy streak we've got going up there.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[OULad]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

When's our last win there?

 

[Max Power]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

When's our last win there?

I think 91

Edit it was 93

 

[DenverSooner]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

OU is going to win because all of you that are normally negative are going to believe and help create an nstopoable force of energy that leads IU to a.victory.

 

[slappy in OP]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

Can't wait! Boomer Sooner.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

I think 91

Edit it was 93

Geeeez i was 5

 

[jackson_supersooner]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

Note: This could also be changed to the #1 vs #1 poll on Monday if the Coaches Poll holds form (behind Michigan State).

Would be the 1st 1 vs 1 since 07 (Wisconscin-Ohio State)

 

[Laxtothemax12]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

After they came back down by 20 last year to even have a late lead, I believe! Let's go. Monday night cant get here Sooner

 

[WaymanFan]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

When's our last win there?

2006...but that was taken from us...so 1993.

In every other game we've played there since '93, KU was simply the better team. I'm not one who pins losses on refs, but I'll make an exception for 2006. Kansas beating us in 2006 is like saying Oregon beat us in football that same year.

If we get even semi-competent officiating, I think OU wins Monday night. Boomer!

 

[tomkar98]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

............. BOOMER!!!!
............. Beat KU!!!!!

 

[ocugolfsooner]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

Anyone going to Lawrence? Would the best (cheapest) way to acquire tickets be getting them outside the arena?

 

[MercedeSooner]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

We will end this nonsense @ Phog. I believe.

 

[OUHoops]

Re: >!>!>!>!>!>The #1 vs #2 Game Thread<!<!<!<!<!<

Anyone going to Lawrence? Would the best (cheapest) way to acquire tickets be getting them outside the arena?

You can get GA tickets right now in the $80 range via StubHub. Not bad for a 1-2 matchup at the Fieldhouse. Place is awesome.

http://www.stubhub.com/ku-basketball-tickets-kansas-vs-oklahoma-1-4-2016/event/9371822/