Game Primer: How to Watch, Key Players and Important Information for Kansas vs Georgia Tech

Tonight, the Kansas Jayhawks Women face off against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tournament. Here is everything you need to know to be ready for the game.

Contents

1. Overview
2. The Numbers
3. How to Watch
4. Game Coverage
5. Key Players
6. Fun Facts

The Kansas Jayhawks are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, after finishing the season 20-9 (11-7 in the Big 12) and finishing 5th in the Big 12 conference. They enter the tournament as the 8th seed in the Spokane Regional and will face the 9th-seeded Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first round.

Overview

The Jayhawks come into this year's NCAA Tournament looking to continue the best season they have had in a decade. Standing in their way is a Georgia Tech team that was highly rated coming into the season, but struggled in the middle of their schedule, losing 6 of their last 9 games before this tournament.

The Kansas Jayhawks received votes in the final AP poll of the season, but are currently unranked in both polls. The Yellow Jackets are receiving votes in both polls, but are also unranked.

This is the first-ever meeting between these two teams. Kansas is making their 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, while Georgia Tech is making their 11th appearance (2nd consecutive).

Here are the essentials:

The Numbers

Kansas: 20-9, 11-7 Big 12

Georgia Tech: 21-10, 11-7 ACC

Line: KU +2.0

O/U: 122.5

How to Watch

Friday, March 18th, 6:30 p.m. CST

Maples Pavilion, Stanford, CA (7,233)

TV: ESPNU

- Tiffany Greene (Play-by-Play), Steffi Sorensen (Analyst)

Radio: IMG Jayhawk Radio Network

- Jimmy Chavez (Play-by-Play)

Webcast: Kansas Online Radio

Online Streaming: www.espn.com/watch or the ESPN app (subscription required)

Game Coverage

Follow along during the game for live updates from the Rock Chalk Podcast Twitter account.

Check out the tournament preview episode of the Rock Chalk Podcast:

Come join the conversation in the Blue Wings Rising Discord Server.

Key Players

#1 Taiyanna Jackson, 6'6" junior center

© Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports

A force on the inside, Jackson's play will go a long way to setting the tone of this game. She is the single-season leader for blocks with 90 this year. She leads the Jayhawks in rebounds per game (8.2) and blocks per game (3.1, which ranks fourth nationally).

#13 Holly Kersgieter, 5'11" junior guard

© Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The leading scorer for the Jayhawks at 13.4 points per game, Kersgieter is a threat to light it up from beyond the arc at any point. She has struggled recently, only scoring in single digits three out of the last five games. Kansas will need her to be consistent and effective tonight to move on to the next round.

#15 Zakiyah Franklin, 5'8" junior guard

© Amy Kontras-USA TODAY Sports

Franklin has finished the last 4 games with double digit scoring. She has consistently sparked runs for the Jayhawks this season, especially with set plays at the end of a quarter. She averages 4.1 assists per game, which leads Kansas, and averages 12.1 points per game.

#13 Lorela Cubaj, 6'4" senior forward

© Nikos Frazier / Journal & Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cubaj leads the Yellow Jackets in 4 statistical per game categories (rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) and is less than a point per game behind the leader. She will likely match up with Jackson on the inside, and the battle between those two early will do a lot to set the tone for the game

#31 Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, 5'9" senior guard

© William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

The senior from Finland is the leading scorer for the Yellow Jackets, and has had a big role on helping to defend in the perimeter this year despite her size. While it's difficult to envision her guarding Jackson by herself, her defense on Ioanna Chatzileonti and Chandler Prater will go a long way to determining how this game goes.

#24 Eylia Love, 6'1" sophomore guard

© William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

The guard from Kansas City, KS is the main threat on the outside for the Yellow Jackets. She leads the team in 3-point percentage, at 40.7%. She is third on the team in scoring average, at 10.6 points per game.

Fun Facts

The last time the Jayhawks were in the tournament, they made their second consecutive run to the Sweet 16 as a double-digit seed.

The Jayhawks are 9-4 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They have won 2 consecutive games in the round prior to this year, with their last loss being a 71-69 2OT loss to Vanderbilt.