#9 Kansas Jayhawks at #14 Oklahoma State Cowboys
Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Gallagher-Iba Arena – Stillwater, Oklahoma
Opening Line: Oklahoma State -1 1/2
Current Line: Oklahoma State -1
Opening Total: 135 1/2
Current Total: 135 1/2
Opening Money Line: OSU -120 / Kansas +100
Current Money Line: OSU -115 / Kansas -105
Both the 21-4 Kansas Jayhawks and 19-5 Oklahoma State Cowboys are 9-3 in the Big 12. Both teams are a half game behind 10-3 Kansas St in the Big 12 standings. Kansas and Oklahoma St will play Wednesday night in Stillwater. The winner will tie for the conference lead with only 5 games left in the regular season. Kansas has won at least a share of 8 straight Big 12 titles.
Kansas leads the series 106-54 against Oklahoma St, including 34-31 in Stillwater. Oklahoma St won 85-80 earlier this month in Lawrence to snap a 4 game losing streak to the Jayhawks. That loss sent Kansas on a 3 game losing streak for the first time since 2005.
Kansas is coached by Bill Self. The losses for the Jayhawks this season came against Michigan St in Atlanta early in the season, at home against Oklahoma St, and at TCU and Oklahoma. The Jayhawks have key wins over Washington St, Saint Louis, and Oregon St all in Kansas City, along with a road wins at Ohio St, Texas Tech, Texas twice including 73-47 Saturday at home, Kansas St twice and West Virginia and home wins over Colorado, Richmond, Temple, Iowa St Baylor,Oklahoma and Kansas St. The Jayhawks are 11-13 ATS and the total is 10-11 this season.
Kansas is outscoring teams 73-60 this season. Kansas is #32 in field goal percentage at 46.9% and 35.7% from three point range. The Jayhawks are shooting 71.8% from the free throw line. Kansas averages 39.1 rebounds per game, and gives up 30.1 per game. The Jayhawks are #21 in rebounding nationally. Kansas opponents are shooting 35.6% from the field and 30.9% from 3 point range. Kansas is #1 in opponent’s field goal percentage. The Jayhawks average 15 assists, 7 steals, 7 blocks and 13 turnovers a game.
Guard Ben McLemore averages 16.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Center Jeff Withey averages 13.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game. He broke the Big 12 record for blocks in a career Saturday against Texas. Guard Travis Releford averages 12 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Guard Elijah Johnson averages 9.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. Kevin Young averages 7.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. Perry Ellis, Naadir Tharpe, Andrew White III and Jamari Taylor make up the rest of the rotation.
Oklahoma St is coached by Travis Ford. The Cowboys have losses at Virginia Tech, Kansas St, Oklahoma and Baylor and at home to Gonzaga. OSU has wins over Akron, Tennessee, and North Carolina St in a tournament in Puerto Rico along with home wins over South Florida, Missouri St, TCU, West Virginia, Iowa St, Baylor and Oklahoma Saturday 84-79 in overtime. The Cowboys have road wins at Kansas, Texas and Texas Tech. Oklahoma St has won 7 straight games. The Cowboys are 12-10-1 ATS and the total is 8-9 this season.
Oklahoma St is outscoring teams 73-62 this season. OSU is shooting 44% from the field and 33.3% from 3 point range. The Cowboys are #33 in free throw shooting making 74.2% from the line. Oklahoma St averages 37.1 rebounds per game, and gives up 30.8 per game. Cowboy opponents are shooting 39.2% from the field and 33.3% from 3 point range. OSU is #40 in opponent’s field goal percentage. The Cowboys average 13 assists, 8 steals, 5 blocks, and 12 turnovers a game.
Guard Markel Brown averages 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Guard Marcus Smart averages 15 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3 steals per game. Guard-forward Le’Bryan Nash averages 13.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. Guard Phil Forte averages 11.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals. Michael Cobbins averages 6.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. Kamari Murphy, Philip Jurick, and Kirby Gardner make up the rest of the rotation. Guard Jean-Paul Olukemi (knee) is out for the season.
Kansas is 5-1 ATS after a straight up win of 20 points or more, 5-2 after a cover, 1-5 in road games, and against teams with winning home records. The road team has covered the last 4 in this series.
Oklahoma St is 4-0 ATS after failing to cover, 42-20-3 at home, and 2-8 against teams with winning records. The under is 6-1 ATS in this series in Stillwater.
Kansas should be fired up after the Cowboys upset them on Groundhog Day. They Jayhawks hope it isn’t a repeat of that day. The Cowboy fans will be loud in Gallagher-Iba. Oklahoma St has an .876 winning percentage at home since 1988. I like Oklahoma State to win at home.
