Columbia, MO (Sports Network) - The most anticipated game in the Big 12 has
finally arrived, as top-10 foes Kansas and Missouri collide in Columbia, with
positioning atop the conference standings at stake.
The eighth-ranked Jayhawks lead the Big 12 with an 8-1 mark. Bill Self's
squad, which is 18-4 overall, had a 10-game win streak halted at Iowa State
last weekend (72-64), but bounced back in a big way three days ago in
Lawrence, routing the Oklahoma Sooners, 84-62.
The fourth-ranked Tigers are just one game back at 7-2 in Big 12 play. Frank
Haith's first season in Columbia has gone quite well with the team sitting at
20-2 overall. Missouri comes in having won two straight and six of its last
seven games, including a hard-fought 67-66 decision at Texas on Monday.
This is the 266th meeting in this historic rivalry that dates back to 1907.
Kansas holds a 171-94 series advantage and has won each of the last five
meetings.
Kansas shot just .393 from the floor in the first half, but still led by three
points at intermission against Oklahoma this week. The Jayhawks blew the game
open after the break however, draining an eye-popping 20-of-28 shots from the
floor (.714) to run away from the Sooners. All-American candidate Thomas
Robinson was once again unstoppable down low, finishing with 20 points and 17
rebounds. He was actually trumped in the scoring column by point guard Tyshawn
Taylor, who finished with 21 points and six assists. Center Jeff Withey got
into the act with 15 points, while Travis Releford chipped in 12.
The scoring deluge is nothing new for the Jayhawks, who are averaging a steady
75.6 ppg, on a healthy .484 shooting. The team is doing all the little things
right as well, averaging an impressive 16 assists per game and outrebounding
foes by just over six boards per game. Of course, Robinson is a big reason for
that, as he has to be considered a favorite for National Player of the Year
honors, averaging 17.6 points and 12.0 rebounds per game this season. Taylor
provides the perfect complement with his ability to score from the outside
(16.7 ppg), as well as distribute (5.3 apg). Releford (9.8 ppg), Elijah
Johnson (9.1 ppg) and Withey (8.5 ppg) round out the starting five.
Missouri is one of the few teams that would welcome a shootout with Kansas.
The Tigers use a four-guard set, but are definitely comfortable in their own
skin, shooting .498 from the floor (fifth nationally) and putting up 81.2 ppg
(sixth nationally). Marcus Denmon leads the charge in the backcourt, averaging
17.2 ppg. He gets plenty of help from Kim English and his 14.1 ppg. The pair
are both at their best draining the long ball, combining for 107 of the team's
169 three-pointers to date. Ricardo Ratliffe (14.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg) is the team's
resident muscle down low. Michael Dixon (12.1 ppg) is one of the best sixth
men in the game. The emergence of sophomore point guard Phil Pressey has
provided stability as well. The 5-10 youngster is netting 9.7 ppg and is the
conference's top distributor at 6.1 assists per game.
Dixon saved the day against Texas this week, coming off the bench to hit 9-
of-10 shots from the floor, leading all scorers with 21 points in 27 minutes
of work, including the game-winning layup with 31 seconds remaining in the
one-point victory. Ratliffe and Phil Pressey netted 13 points apiece, but
Demon and English struggled, combining for just 14 points and going a
miserable 6-of-20 from the floor.
The Sports Network