Kansas Jayhawks at Kansas St Wildcats, Frank Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, KS
Monday, February 14, 2011, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV, ESPN
Opening Line: Kansas -4 1/2
Current Line: Kansas -5 1/2
Opening Total: 147 1/2
Current Total: 145
Money Line: Kansas -240 / Kansas St +200
Though it is Valentine’s Day, there is no love lost between these two Sunflower State rivals. If you can even call it a rivalry. Kansas has won 42 of the last 44 meetings against Kansas St, including a 90-66 beatdown last month in Lawrence. Kansas has won 26 of the last 27 in Manhattan. Both of these teams were ranked in the top ten preseason polls, but only the Jayhawks have lived up to the expectations. Kansas is a narrow #1 in both polls, but Texas, Ohio St, and Pitt are also receiving first place votes. Kansas is 24-1 overall and 9-1 in the Big 12. The only loss is to Texas at home last month. The Jayhawks have won 6 in a row since then including an 89-66 pasting of Iowa St Saturday in Lawrence. Kansas also has wins over Arizona, UCLA, Memphis, Colorado St, USC, California, Michigan, Iowa St twice, Nebraska twice, Baylor, Colorado, Texas Tech, and Missouri. Kansas St, meanwhile, has battled a rash of off-court issues, including suspensions, injuries and players leaving the program. The Wildcats are 15-9 overall and 4-6 in the Big 12. Kansas St has losses to Duke, Florida, UNLV, Oklahoma St, Colorado twice, Missouri and Texas A&M. The Wildcats are 2-1 since the loss at Kansas, but they lost at Colorado Saturday 58-56 when the refs waved off a potential game-winning buzzer beater by the Wildcats. Kansas St has wins over Virginia Tech, Gonzaga, Washington St, Texas Tech, Baylor, Nebraska, and Iowa St.
Kansas leads the overall series 181-90, including 73-44 in Manhattan. Kansas St hasn’t won against Kansas in Manhattan since 2008. Kansas is 6-0 straight up and 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings. Four of those six have gone over the total. Kansas is 28-15 ATS when playing a team with a winning record the last 3 seasons. Kansas St is 6-13 ATS this season, including 5-12 ATS versus teams with winning records.
Kansas guard Josh Selby has missed the last 3 games for the Jayhawks with a possible stress fracture in his foot. He is listed as doubtful for this game tonight. Selby averages 12 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. He also shoots 43.5% from 3-point range. He also missed the first 9 games of the season with an injury. Kansas is also with out forward Thomas Robinson who is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Robinson is averaging 8.9 points, and 6.4 rebounds a game. Kansas is led by the Morris twins, 6’9″, 235 pound Marcus and 6’10”, 245 pound Markieff. “Little Brother” Marcus averages 16.9 points, 7 rebounds and 1.4 assists a game. Big Brother Markieff averages 13.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks a game. He leads the team in rebounding and blocks. Both Morris brothers shoot over 34% from 3-point range. Guard Tyrel Reed averages 9.6 points, 3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals a game. Tyshawn Taylor averages 8.8 points, 2 rebounds, leads the team in assists with 4.8 a game, and averages 1.2 steals a game. Brady Morningstar averages 6.2 points, and leads the team in steals with 1.5 a game. Reed, Taylor, and Morningstar will have to pick up the scoring slack if Selby and Robinson can’t go. Kansas is outscoring opponents 84-64 on the season. Kansas is shooting 52.3% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range. The Jayhawks are holding opponents to 38.8% shooting from the field. Kansas averages 39 rebounds and has a rebounding margin of +7.5. The Jayhawks average 18.6 assists and 13.3 turnovers a game. They force 15.2 turnovers a game on defense. Kansas averages 8.5 steals and 4.6 blocks a game.
Kansas St is a program in chaos right now. Forwards Wally Judge and Freddy Asprilla have left the team. Forward Curtis Kelly missed the first three games due to injury for the Wildcats then was later suspended 6 games. He is under investigation for an undisclosed violation of K-State’s student-athlete guidelines. Guard Jacob Pullen leads the Wildcats in scoring, assists, and steals despite missing 3 games of his own due to a suspension. He averages 18 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. Guard Rodney McGruder averages 11 points, 6.4 rebounds to lead the team, and 1.6 assists a game. Forward Jamar Samuels averages 9.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists a game. Kelly is averaging 9.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and leads the team in blocks with 1.2 a game. Kansas St is outscoring opponents 73-68 on the season. The Wildcats shoot 43.1% from the field and 36.7% from 3-point range. Wildcat opponents are shooting 42.2% from the field. K-State struggles from the free throw line making only 61.3% of their free throws. The Wildcats average 39.2 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +7.8. The Wildcats average 14.1 assists and 15.4 turnovers a game. They force 16.3 turnovers a game on defense. The Wildcats average 6.1 steals and 4.6 blocks a game.
Even without Selby and Robinson, Kansas should roll in this game. The betting public agrees with this assessment as Kansas opened as a 4 1/2 point favorite, and the line has climbed to 5 or 5 1/2. There are even a couple of 6 1/2’s out there for those looking for value on Kansas St. I just think Kansas St is showing signs of quitting on coach Frank Martin, and the distraction of the kelly situation can’t help.
Our college basketball handicappers are red hot in 2011. Don’t miss out on any more winners this season.
