The Sports Network
By Scott Haynes, Senior College Basketball Editor
FACTS & STATS: Site: Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) -- Lawrence, Kansas. Television: CBS. Home Record: Texas 11-1, Kansas 10-0. Away Record: Texas 2-1, Kansas 4-0. Neutral Record: Texas 2-1, Kansas 4-0. Conference Record: Texas 3-0, Kansas 3-0. Series Record: Kansas leads, 17-6.
GAME NOTES: Top-10 foes collide in Big 12 play from Lawrence this afternoon, as the second-ranked Kansas Jayhawks put the nation's longest homecourt win streak on the line against the 10th-ranked Texas Longhorns.
Kansas remains undefeated on the season and comes in following a dominating performance in Waco, disposing of Baylor, 85-65. The win pushed the Jayhawks to 3-0 in league play and 4-0 on the road. Now, Bill Self's squad returns to the friendly confines of the Allen Fieldhouse where the team has won 69 straight games.
Rick Barnes' Longhorns are also undefeated in Big 12 action, moving to 3-0 with Wednesday's 81-60 pasting of Texas A&M. Texas has won three straight games and nine of its last 10 overall.
This is the 24th all-time meeting between these two teams. Kansas holds a 17-6 series advantage overall and has won all nine meetings in Lawrence.
The Longhorns have excelled at both ends of the floor this season and currently boast of a +16.8 scoring margin, averaging 78.2 ppg, while allowing just 61.3. Texas relies heavily on the play of its talented frontcourt, starting with sophomore sensation Jordan Hamilton. The 6-10 forward is averaging 19.7 ppg, while pulling down 7.1 rpg. Freshman Tristan Thompson (13.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and senior Gary Johnson (12.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg) round out the productive trio. Freshman guard Cory Joseph (11.2 ppg, team-high 58 assists) runs the show from the point. The Longhorns simply blew by the Aggies this week, shooting a sizzling 58 percent from the floor in the 21-point romp. Hamilton led the way once again, going 10-of-14 from the floor for a game-high 27 points. Thompson and Johnson provided plenty of scoring punch as well with 18 and 14 points, respectively.
Kansas is another team that has shown little to no weakness thus far. The Jayhawks have the ability to win games at either end of the floor. KU is shooting a ridiculous .524 from the field overall and putting up 83.2 ppg, while limiting the opposition to a mere .376 shooting clip and just 61.1 ppg. In addition, Kansas has enjoyed dominance on the boards (+7.9 rebounding edge), while forcing 16.5 turnovers per game. It all starts with the Morris' twins. Marcus is shooting 61.2 percent from the floor and leads the team with 17.2 ppg. Markieff isn't far behind at 57.3 percent shooting, while averaging 13.2 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game. Freshman Josh Selby adds 12.1 ppg to the cause, with the starting five rounded out by fellow guards Tyrel Reed (9.4 ppg) and Tyshawn Taylor (8.9 ppg, team-high 91 assists). The Jayhawks shot a eye-popping 79.3 percent from the field in the first half to blow by the Bears early on. Marcus Morris led the charge with 25 points. Markieff poured in 19 points, while Selby (12 pts), Reed (11 pts) and Mario Little (10 pts) all got in the act as well.
Texas has never won in Lawrence and although the Longhorns are on a nice little run and coming off a huge victory over Texas A&M, getting the job done at the Allen Fieldhouse is no small task. The Jayhawks will themselves to victory at home and should do so again.