Kansas-Oklahoma State men’s basketball preview

No. 8 Kansas at Oklahoma State

▪ WHEN/WHERE: 1 p.m. Saturday at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.

▪ TV/RADIO: ESPN; KCSP (610 AM)

▪ ABOUT KANSAS (19-3, 8-1 Big 12): The Jayhawks begin the second half of the Big 12 season with a two-game lead over West Virginia and Iowa State. Beginning with Saturday’s game at Oklahoma State, Kansas will finish the conference season with five road games and four home games. The Jayhawks play at Texas Tech on Tuesday, and if they can pick off at least one victory in the next four days, they should be in solid position to win at least a share of an 11th straight Big 12 regular-season title. For Kansas, it’s been a simple formula during Big 12 play. The Jayhawks are holding opponents to 39.6 percent shooting from two-point range; Frank Mason has been a rock at point guard; and Kansas leads the league in three-point shooting at 39.6 percent. Sophomore wing Brannen Greene, meanwhile, has made 12 of 16 from three-point range in Kansas’ last five games. “Regardless if Brannen’s stats are 40 percent or 50 percent or 60 percent, the guy can really shoot the ball,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “I mean, he’s probably as good a shooter as we’ve had since I’ve been here.” Entering Saturday, Self is 13-6 against Oklahoma State, his alma mater, during his Kansas tenure. That record includes a 3-4 mark in Stillwater.

▪ ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (15-7, 5-5 Big 12): The Cowboys are .500 in the Big 12 after an overtime victory at Texas on Wednesday. In the midst of a grueling four-game stretch, Oklahoma State plays host to KU after notching a victory over Baylor, falling to Oklahoma at home and then scratching out a victory in Austin. In the first matchup with Kansas on Jan. 13, Oklahoma State shot just 31 percent in a 67-57 loss. Junior guard Phil Forte was four of eight from the floor while finishing with 18 points, and senior forward Le’Bryan Nash had 21 points while hitting five of 14 shots. But the rest of the Oklahoma State roster combined for just 18 points. The Jayhawks will likely use sophomore guard Wayne Selden to cover Forte, who shoots 40 percent from three, while freshman Devonte’ Graham could come off the bench to add some defensive pressure. The Cowboys, meanwhile, are second in the Big 12 in three-point field goals per game at 6.9 and steals at 8.7. Oklahoma State is positioned to return to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year with a strong finish, but a victory over KU would go a long way toward cementing its place in the field.

This story was originally published February 6, 2015 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Kansas-Oklahoma State men’s basketball preview."