Game Primer: How to Watch, Key Players and Important Information for Kansas at Iowa State
The conference opener didn't go well for the Kansas Jayhawks, as cold shooting and strong defense from West Virginia was too much to overcome in the second half. But the Jayhawks have a chance to bounce back on a two-game road trip, starting tonight with the Iowa State Cyclones.
The Cyclones are led by 29th-year head coach Bill Fennelly, who has a 598-305 record at the school. He is 41-21 against Kansas in his time in Ames, while Kansas head coach Brandon Schneider has a 1-16 record against Iowa State.
The Jayhawks used a victory in Allen Fieldhouse last year to tie up the overall series with 48 wins each. However, Kansas has lost eight-straight games against Iowa State. lead the all-time series 17-7, but the Jayhawks have won 3 of the last 4, including both matchups in Lawrence in the last two seasons.
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: 7-5 (0-1 Big 12): CBB Analytics Adjusted Net Rating - 48th overall, 47th offense, 52nd defense
Iowa State: 8-4 (1-0 Big 12): Net Rating - 54th overall, 44th offense, 80th defense
Line: KU -1.5
O/U: 132.5
How to Watch
Wednesday, January 3rd, 6:30 p.m. CST
Ames, IA: Hilton Coliseum
TV: Big 12 NOW on ESPN+
- Larry Morgan (Play-by-Play), Molly Parrott (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 Cyclones have made their name this year on their offense, passing the ball around to find really good shots while maintaining a moderate pace to the game. They don't look to push the pace on either end of the floor, and don't seem to handle pace from their opponents very well.
On the offense, they still mainly look to play on the inside, and when they do, they are absolutely deadly. They shoot 54.6% from inside the arc, including a ridiculous 72.4% at the rim. But they actually take a lower number of interior shots than most teams in the nation, and they don't go to the line often. Instead, they shoot 39.4% from beyond the arc, and get way too many open opportunities due to their passing. The offensive rebounding needs some work, but that's the only real weakness.
The defense is another story completely. They don't force turnovers, being one of the worst teams at stealing the ball. They give up a ton of shots, especially on the perimeter. But a lot of that has to do with the fact that they lock down the interior. They are third-best in the country at getting defensive rebounds. They don't send opponents to the line very often, but they seem to struggle with teams that are good at passing the ball around on the offensive end.
Players to Watch
Addy Brown - 6'2" Freshman Forward
14.5 pts, 9.0 rebs, 5.8 asts, 0.4 stls, 0.6 blks, 37.3% 3P%
Brown is the best overall player on the squad, able to do a bit of everything. She isn't afraid to take the ball outside and shoot from the perimeter, as she averages more than 4 long-range shots per game. But she truly shines as a passer, leading the team in assists by a very high margin.
Nyamer Diew - 6'2" Senior Forward
10.5 pts, 4.8 rebs, 1.7 asts, 0.3 stls, 0.7 blks, 36.5% 2P%
Diew isn't quite the all-around player that Brown has been this year, but she still can do a bit of everything. Her leadership on the team has also really helped a stable of freshman players.
Audi Crooks - 6'3" Freshman Center
16.5 pts, 6.0 rebs, 0.8 asts, 0.2 stls, 0.6 blks, 68.5% eFG%
It's not often we highlight three interior players, but the ability to play both high and low has really set them all apart. Crooks has really come on strong recently, and will be a huge problem for Kansas.
Matchups to Watch
It's a bit disheartening to look at the game against West Virginia and then expect Kansas to play better on the road. But West Virginia validated its early record, and the Cyclones are nowhere near as strong as the Mountaineers.
Given the interior strength, it will be extremely important for Kansas to get going on the perimeter. Holly Kersgieter, the leading three point shooter for the Jayhawks, will need to get started early, as will S'mya Nichols. But even more important is going to be the ball-handling abilities of Zakiyah Franklin and Wyvette Mayberry, as they will need to find ways to get Iowa State out of their comfort zone and open up some lanes in the interior.
Prediction
This one is rough, and I'm leaning on the slew of upper classmen that the Jayhawks play to lead them in this one. Kansas can be successful without Taiyanna Jackson having a phenomenal night, but they will need to find a way to get something from the inside. Entry passes have been an area where Kansas has struggled, but I don't think Iowa State will be able to stop them all.
Kansas 71, Iowa State 70.
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