Three-minute preview: Holy Cross at Kansas men’s basketball

▪ WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence

▪ TV/RADIO: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel; KCSP (610 AM)

▪ ABOUT KANSAS (6-1): Four days after a 75-69 victory over Harvard, Kansas returns to Allen Fieldhouse to face Holy Cross. The Jayhawks ascended to No. 2 in the latest Associated Press poll Monday — their highest ranking since early in the 2013-14 season — and they now have a chance to pick up some steam before the final stretch of nonconference play. The Jayhawks face Oregon State on Saturday at the Sprint Center before taking a week off for finals. Where can the Jayhawks improve? Start on the boards, where they were thoroughly outrebounded (39-31) by Harvard. Then move to the offensive side of things, where Wayne Selden’s foul trouble contributed to a so-so performance. After hitting six three-pointers against Chaminade, sophomore Svi Mykhailiuk has found himself in another mini slump. Mykhailiuk is 5 for his last 21 from behind the arc and went 1 for 6 against Harvard. This will be the final game of Brannen Greene’s six-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Kansas, meanwhile, has won 27 straight games inside Allen Fieldhouse. They will likely make it 28 Wednesday, but a sterling performance would feel better after Saturday’s close call.

▪ ABOUT HOLY CROSS (3-5): The first thing to know about Holy Cross: The Crusaders have claimed a one-point home victory over Harvard, the same team that gave the Jayhawks trouble on Saturday. Holy Cross has played the nation’s 294th hardest schedule, according to KenPom.com. The Crusaders, who also have victories over Marist and Sacred Heart, are somewhat reliant on the three; they shoot nearly 45 percent of their shots from behind the arc, a clip that ranks 23rd nationally. Kansas is 2-1 all-time against Holy Cross. The Crusaders scored a victory in 1949, when legendary guard Bob Cousy was on the roster. The Jayhawks won a tense opening-round game in the 2002 NCAA Tournament and later opened the 2002-03 season with a victory over Holy Cross at Allen Fieldhouse. The Crusaders are coached by Bill Carmody, the former Princeton and Northwestern coach.

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Three-minute preview: Holy Cross at Kansas men’s basketball."