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

The Kansas Jayhawks dominated in the Border War showdown on Monday, defeating the Missouri Tigers to move on to a rematch against the first team to beat them this season: the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Cornhuskers are led by head coach Amy Williams, who is in her 7th season in Lincoln. She has a 115-98 record at the school, and is 3-0 against the Jayhawks in her time there. Head Coach Brandon Schneider is 0-3 against the Cornhuskers.

The Jayhawks hold a 50-34 overall lead over the Cornhuskers in the series between the two programs, including a 26-10 advantage in games taking place in Lawrence. However, Nebraska has won the last three games in the series.

Kansas is 11-5 all-time in the WNIT, including a 1-2 record in the third round.

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: 21-11 (9-9 Big 12): CBB Analytics Net Rating - 48th overall, 56th offense, 68th defense

Nebraska: 18-14 (8-10 Big Ten): Net Rating - 80th overall, 81st offense, 102nd defense

Line: TBD

O/U: TBD

How to Watch

Thursday, March 23rd, 6:30 p.m. CST

Lawrence, KS: Allen Fieldhouse

TV: Big 12 Now on ESPN+

- Josh Klingler (Play-by-Play), Wayne Simien (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 Cornhuskers are fairly balanced overall between perimeter and post games, with a large number of shots either in the paint (but not at the rim) or from outside the arc (but not in the corners). They play at a moderately slow pace and are in the top 30 in assists per game. This translates into a team that is methodical offensively, looking to pass the ball around the perimeter until they find an opening for an entry pass or a drive, or a great perimeter shot opens up.

Defensively, the team is pretty strong at the rim, preventing opponents from accruing large offensive rebounding stats, affecting interior shots and in general preventing good shooting opportunities. However, the ball pressure isn't really there, as seen by their 10.0% steal percentage, which ranks 235th in the nation.

Sum it all up and you have a very deliberate team that tries to slow the game down and force you to grind out points. And that tracks with the game that they played earlier this year where regulation ended with a 60-all tie.

Players to Watch

The Cornhuskers are a very balanced squad, with five players averaging double digit points. Jaz Shelley leads the team, averaging 14.6 points, 6.2 assists and 1.7 steals. She leads the team in three-point shooting percentage and in free-throw percentage. Allison Weidner and Sam Haiby round out the perimeter trio, averaging 10.2 and 10.8 points and 6.2 and 5.0 rebounds per game, respectively.

In the interior, center Alexis Markowski leads the attack, averaging 12.2 points and 9.9 rebounds. She also averages just under one steal and one block per game. But she also shoots 34.7% on a non-trivial 75 three-point attempts this season, which should allow her to stretch the floor a bit when she is guarded by Kansas center Taiyanna Jackson. Forward Isabelle Bourne rounds out the interior in a similar fashion, as she averages 12.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. She shoots a bit more from the outside, making 31.6% of her 98 three-point attempts this season. No matter how you put it, this interior duo can stretch the floor.

Matchups to Watch

I'll be interested to see how coach Brandon Schneider handles this one defensively, especially with regards to Jackson. She has shown the ability to play out on the perimeter, but is much more comfortable cleaning up drives to the paint. Will Kansas go zone and try to use Holly Kersgieter, Wyvette Mayberry and Zakiyah Franklin to pressure while allowing Chandler Prater a bit more freedom to roam and pick up threats, or will they play man with a primarily switching scheme to keep Jackson as close to the paint as possible? Either could work but it will be a fascinating coaching matchup.

On the court, Kansas is going to need to get more from Mayberry in this game, especially with Ioanna Chatzileonti on the bench after scoring 10 points in the first game. The Jayhawks have shown the ability to use their defense to get big stops and immediately turn that into offense, and that will be key here.

Prediction

The Jayhawks did nearly everything you would have thought they needed to in the game in Lincoln earlier this season. Unfortunately, 21 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end, from Jackson was not enough, but I don't think that Nebraska has figured out a good plan to stop her from being dominant on the inside.

The main worry will be if Nebraska can get hot from beyond the arc without an answer from Franklin and Kersgieter (and Mayberry and Prater to an extent). I think the crowd energy will be enough to push them past the Cornhuskers and into the Great 8.

Kansas 69, Nebraska 66.

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