Game Primer: How to Watch, Key Players and Important Information for Central Arkansas at Kansas

The Kansas Jayhawks are back home for a three game homestand that includes the start of conference play. After demolishing Wichita State down in Wichita, they look to do the same against a Central Arkansas Sugar Bears team to prepare for the upcoming slate.

The Sugar Bears are led by 1st-year head coach Tony Kemper. This is his 7th overall season in coaching and he has an 85-94 record. Kansas Coach Brandon Schneider is 4-4 in his career against the Sugar Bears, all coming from when he was at Stephen F Austin. This is the first-ever matchup between Kansas and Central Arkansas, while Finnie has never faced the Jayhawks.

Before today's important matchup, here are the essentials:

The Numbers

Editor's Note: Unless otherwise noted, all stats are provided by CBB Analytics. CBB Analytics is a new stats website in college hoops, covering both men and women's basketball in D-I, D-II and D-III. You can follow them on Twitter @CBBAnalytics

Kansas: 5-4: CBB Analytics Net Rating - 85th overall, 69th offense, 144th defense

Central Arkansas: 6-5: Net Rating - 143rd overall, 114th offense, 213th defense

Line: TBD

O/U: TBD

How to Watch

Saturday, December 16th, 4:00 p.m. CST

Lawrence, KS: Allen Fieldhouse

TV: Big 12 NOW on ESPN+

- Josh Klingler (Play-by-Play), Niccolly Wuellner (Analyst)

Radio: IMG Jayhawk Radio Network

- Steven Davis (Play-by-Play), David Lawrence (Analyst)

Webcast: Kansas Online Radio

Game Coverage

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Opponent Team Form

The Sugar Bears have slogged their way to a winning record by being one of the slowest teams in Division I. Defensively, they work hard to keep teams out of the paint and off the glass, and they have turned many opponents into outside shooting teams. But other than that, they don't keep opponents off the line, they don't force turnovers, and they are very susceptible to the fast break.

Offfensively, they are much better. They aren't a high-volume shooting team, but they shoot well from 3. They could probably take more long-range shots to take advantage, but they are a good shooting team. Unfortunately, they aren't good at taking care of the ball, don't have great ball movement, and don't get to the line.

Players to Watch

Kinley Fisher - 5'7" Junior Guard

14.0 pts, 2.1 rebs, 1.0 asts, 0.5 stls, 42.5% 3P%

Fisher comes off the bench but plays the most minutes on the team. She is a jack-of-all-trades type of guard that can make life difficult for the Kansas perimeter players.

Bree Stephens - 6'0" Junior Forward

5.8 pts, 6.7 rebs, 1.6 asts, 1.5 stls, 1.6 blks, 38.3% FG%

Stephens is the main interior defender and is responsible for keeping teams out of the paint. She will have her hands full with the Kansas lineup though.

Matchups to Watch

Kansas loves to go inside, especially with Taiyanna Jackson. Central Arkansas will need to prevent easy passes into the paint, which is much easier said than done.

To that end, the perimeter defense will be huge. Not only does Kansas have S'mya Nichols, Holly Kersgieter, Zakiyah Franklin and Wyvette Mayberry as threats from outside, but they need to keep them from going over the top into the middle.

Prediction

The Jayhawks just have too much firepower, and the ability to play both inside and outside make it hard to imagine that Kansas will struggle. With no worry about Jackson being gone and having to adjust to that, Kansas should roll early and often.

Kansas 79, Central Arkansas 58.

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