Kansas-TCU men’s basketball preview
No. 9 Kansas at TCU
P | No. | Kansas | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 31 | Jamari Traylor | 6-8 | Jr. | 5.1 |
F | 34 | Perry Ellis | 6-8 | Jr. | 12.8 |
G | 12 | Kelly Oubre | 6-7 | Fr. | 8.6 |
G | 1 | Wayne Selden | 6-5 | So. | 8.9 |
G | 0 | Frank Mason | 5-11 | So. | 12.7 |
P | No. | TCU | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 14 | Karviar Shepherd | 6-10 | So. | 6.7 |
F | 33 | Chris Washburn | 6-8 | So. | 6.8 |
G | 34 | Kenrich Williams | 6-7 | So. | 8.4 |
G | 32 | Trey Zeigler | 6-5 | Sr. | 8.7 |
G | 5 | Kyan Anderson | 5-11 | Sr. | 13.7 |
▪ WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth, Texas
▪ TV/RADIO: ESPNU; KCSP (610 AM)
▪ ABOUT KANSAS (16-3, 5-1 Big 12): Four days after notching a key road victory at Texas, the Jayhawks return to the Lone Star State. Kansas needs a victory to maintain sole possession of first place in the Big 12. After six Big 12 games, the Jayhawks rank second in scoring offense (75.0 points per game), fourth in scoring defense (65.3 per contest) and first in margin of victory (9.7 per game). Kansas has continued its solid outside shooting during conference play; the Jayhawks are first in the Big 12 in three-point shooting, hitting 39.6 percent from long distance in Big 12 play. One reason: After hitting four threes at Texas, sophomore Brannen Greene is now shooting 48 percent for the season from three-point range. For now, the KU rotation also appears to be shrinking. Bill Self played just eight players at Texas, with Greene, freshman guard Devonte’ Graham and freshman big man Cliff Alexander coming off the bench.
▪ ABOUT TCU (14-5, 1-5 Big 12): In his third year at TCU, coach Trent Johnson has the Horned Frogs on the rise. After recording a 20-43 record over the last two seasons, TCU began the year 13-0. The Frogs have stumbled in Big 12 play, starting 1-5, but the numbers back up the improvements in Fort Worth. TCU ranks 18th in the country in defensive efficiency, holding opponents to just 36.6 percent shooting inside the three-point line. That’s the second-best mark in the country. Sophomore transfer Chris Washburn is a capable shot-blocker, while 6-foot-10 sophomore Karviar Shepherd provides length on the inside. Wednesday’s game will be played at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, a district high school gym in Fort Worth that seats 4,750. TCU is renovating its home gym, Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, and playing off campus this season. Kansas coach Bill Self said he didn’t anticipate the smaller environment being an issue. “I haven’t said a word to our players about it yet,” Self said. “I don’ think it’s a big deal.”
| Rustin Dodd, rdodd@kcstar.com
This story was originally published January 27, 2015 at 11:36 AM with the headline "Kansas-TCU men’s basketball preview."