Kansas-Rhode Island college basketball preview
P | No. | Kansas | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 33 | Landen Lucas | 6-10 | So. | 3.7 |
F | 34 | Perry Ellis | 6-8 | Jr. | 11.3 |
G | 10 | Svi Mykhailiuk | 6-8 | Fr. | 6.0 |
G | 1 | Wayne Selden | 6-5 | So. | 6.3 |
G | 0 | Frank Mason | 5-11 | So. | 8.7 |
P | No. | Rhode Island | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 12 | Hassan Martin | 6-7 | So. | 15.7 |
F | 55 | Gilvydas Biruta | 6-8 | Sr. | 9.7 |
G | 0 | E.C. Matthews | 6-5 | So. | 16.3 |
G | 10 | Biggie Minnis | 6-3 | Jr. | 2.7 |
G | 32 | Jared Terrell | 6-3 | Fr. | 11.7 |
▪ WHEN/WHERE: About 1 p.m. Thursday at HP Fieldhouse in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
▪ TV/RADIO: ESPN2; KCSP (610 AM)
▪ ABOUT KANSAS (2-1): The Jayhawks open the Orlando Classic against Rhode Island, a team coming off a victory over then No. 25 Nebraska last Saturday. KU will play either Tennessee or Santa Clara on Friday, but the game will be at 11 a.m. on ESPN regardless of whether the Jayhawks are in the winners or consolation bracket. KU coach Bill Self continues to tinker with the starting lineup, in part to find the right combination; in part to send a message to certain players about doing things the right way. Freshman Svi Mykhailiuk made his first career start against Rider and finished with 10 points while looking comfortable in the offense. Freshman forward Cliff Alexander added 10 points off the bench, but sat on the sidelines for most of the second half. Sophomore wing Brannen Greene also staked a claim for more minutes, finishing with 17 points off the bench. If the Jayhawks defeat Rhode Island, they will face the winner of Santa Clara-Tennessee in the semifinals on Friday. Freshman guard Devonte’ Graham is expected to return after missing last game with a shoulder sprain.
▪ ABOUT RHODE ISLAND (3-0): Rams coach Dan Hurley, in his third season at Rhode Island, is part of a famed East Coast basketball lineage. His father is legendary New Jersey high school coach Bob Hurley Sr., who coached former KU guard Tyshawn Taylor at St. Anthony High School, while his younger brother is former Duke guard and current Buffalo coach Bobby Hurley. Dan Hurley, who played at Seton Hall, scored one of the biggest victories of his tenure on Saturday. The Rams knocked off a Nebraska team that played in the NCAA Tournament last year. Freshman guard Jared Terrell was a top-100 recruit who played with KU freshman guard Devonte’ Graham at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. The Rams are ranked 103rd in the country in KenPom’s efficiency rankings. Their defense ranks 58th, while their offense is 160th.
▪ BOTTOM LINE: The Rams have some quality guards, but Kansas should be able to survive the Rams on the strength of its depth and defense.
| Rustin Dodd, rdodd@kcstar.com
This story was originally published November 26, 2014 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Kansas-Rhode Island college basketball preview."