Three-minute preview: No. 2 Kansas at San Diego State

Kansas at San Diego State

▪ WHEN/WHERE: 10 p.m. Tuesday at Viejas Arena in San Diego

▪ TV/RADIO: CBS Sports Network; KCSP (610 AM)

▪ ABOUT KANSAS (9-1): Three years ago, during the 2012-13 season, the Jayhawks suffered an early loss to Michigan State at the Champions Classic before reeling off eight straight wins entering a road trip to Ohio State. The Jayhawks won that game, with Ben McLemore introducing himself to the country, and that KU team cemented itself as one of the nation’s best teams. This year, a similar pattern has surfaced. After a loss to Michigan State in Chicago on Nov. 17, the Jayhawks have won eight straight and can make it nine in San Diego. It would be the program’s longest winning streak since winning 18 straight during that 2012-13 season. It would also provide some momentum heading into the holidays. Following the trip to San Diego State, Kansas will have a week off before facing UC Irvine on Dec. 29 at Allen Fieldhouse — the final nonconference tuneup before the Jayhawks open Big 12 play against Baylor on Jan. 2. Kansas will also have a final nonconference game against Kentucky on Jan. 30 at Allen Fieldhouse. This is KU’s first true road game, but the Jayhawks are 4-1 away from Allen Fieldhouse, winning three games at the Maui Invitational and another game at the Sprint Center. San Diego State is responsible for one of Bill Self’s nine losses at Allen Fieldhouse, and the Aztecs own a 2-1 all-time record against Kansas. The Jayhawks, with a deep and balanced team, are poised to even that record on Tuesday.

▪ ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (7-5): When the season began, Kansas’ trip to San Diego State was positioned as one of the strongest tests of the Jayhawks’ nonconference schedule. Two years ago, San Diego State took down Kansas inside Allen Fieldhouse, and as the second game of the two-game series loomed, the Jayhawks would be looking for payback in their first true road game. Thing is, the Aztecs’ performance this season takes some shine off Tuesday’s game. San Diego State is 7-5 and coming off a home loss to Grand Canyon. The Aztecs have also suffered losses to Utah, West Virginia, Arkansas Little Rock and San Diego. Once picked to finish first in the Mountain West Conference, San Diego State is no sure thing to return to the NCAA Tournament. The Aztecs have struggled to score, ranking just 257th nationally in offensive efficiency. They are shooting just 31.7 percent from three-point range, and they are also turnover prone, relying on young guards. The Aztecs’ leading scorer is freshman guard Jeremy Hemsley, who was rated as the nation’s 74th best recruit in the 2015 class, according to Rivals.com. Defensively, San Diego State can be stifling. They rank seventh in the country in defensive efficiency and their length can pose problems for opposing teams. Two years ago, San Diego State used that defensive formula to shock Kansas at home. This time, the question is this: Will the Aztecs have enough offense to pull off the upset?

This story was originally published December 21, 2015 at 4:33 PM with the headline "Three-minute preview: No. 2 Kansas at San Diego State."