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Tonight’s Game
Kansas enters the Northern Colorado game having won three of its last four games and four of its last six. The Jayhawks are 3-1 in Allen Fieldhouse this season and 5-4 overall. In its five victories, Kansas is winning by an average of 26.8 points per game. KU’s four losses have been by an average of 4.5 points. Northern Colorado brings a 0-13 record to Lawrence after its 63-52 setback at Northern Arizona Monday.
About Kansas
Kansas (5-4) leads the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense as opponents are shooting 32.1 percent this season. The Jayhawks are also outrebounding opponents by an average of 6.3 boards per game. Freshman guard Brandon Rush paces KU in scoring at 12.9 points per game. Rush also leads the team in three-point field goal percentage at 54.5 and free throw percentage at 76.2. Sophomore centers Sasha Kaun and C.J. Giles are next in scoring at 11.9 and 9.7, respectively. Giles leads Kansas in rebounding at 7.4 per game and blocked shots at 2.4 per contest. Kaun is just behind Giles in rebounding at 7.3 rpg. Senior guard Jeff Hawkins leads the team in assists with a 3.4 average and freshman guard Mario Chalmers leads the team in steals with 21 through nine games. The game will mark the regular-season debut of sophomore forward Darnell Jackson who missed the first eight games of the season due to an eligibility issue. Jackson started one game last season and averaged two points and 1.7 rebounds. He will provide inside depth for the Jayhawks.
About Northern Colorado
Kansas is the final leg in a Northern Colorado (0-13) four-game road trip that spans more than 4,800 miles. The Bears began the trip at Oregon State (Dec. 14) and continued at Loyola-Marymount (Dec. 17) and at Northern Arizona Dec. 19. Nine of the Bears’ first 12 games have been on the road in 2005-06. UNC is in its third year of NCAA Division I reclassification. The Bears are independent this year and will be a member of the Big Sky Conference in 2006-07. UNC is led by sophomore guard Sean Taibi who is averaging 13.2 points per game. Sophomore center Kirk Archibeque is next in scoring at 11.8 points per outing and paces the Bears in rebounding with an 8.6 average.
The Series
Kansas and Northern Colorado are meeting for the first time in men’s basketball. The Bears are the second team the Jayhawks have faced for the first time in men’s hoops this season. KU defeated Western Illinois 86-57 on Dec. 3, also in Allen Fieldhouse.
KU-Northern Colorado Connections
®Northern Colorado director of athletics Jay Hinrichs received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Kansas in the early 1980s. Hinrichs is in his second year at UNC after a three-year stint in the Kansas Athletics Department. He was the associate athletics director for facilities at Kansas when he left for Northern Colorado and joined the KU staff as the director of the Williams Fund in 2002. Hinrichs was a long-time KU men’s basketball statistician when he worked for the Kansas City Royals prior to his stint at KU.
®UNC freshman guard Marcus Frye is from Overland Park, Kan., and attended Blue Valley Northwest High School, the same school as KU media relations student assistant Brian Harrison. Frye has yet to play this season for the Bears.
®UNC radio play-by-play announcer Troy Coverdale is from Circleville, Kan., and is a 1993 graduate of Kansas State.
The Coaches
Kansas coach Bill Self is in his third season at KU with a 52-20 (.722) record entering the week. Overall, Self is in his 13th season with a 259-125 (.674) mark. In 2004-05, Self won his fifth league title as a head coach in the past seven years with the other two being second-place finishes. He won two titles at Tulsa (1999, 2000), two at Illinois (2001, 2002) and a share of the Big 12 title at Kansas in 2005. A 1985 graduate of Oklahoma State University, Self recorded his 250th career win at Kansas State on Feb. 9, 2005. His win against Colorado last season marked his seventh straight 20-win season as a head coach and eighth overall. Self has yet to face Northern Colorado.
Northern Colorado is coached by Craig Rasmuson who is in his seventh season at UNC with a 58-118 record. Rasmuson is in his 12th season overall with a 124-184 record. He has coached the Bears in all three seasons of NCAA Division I competition. His 2001-02 team went 14-13 to post its first winning season since the 1997-98 season.
A Kansas Win Would…
Improve Kansas to 6-4 on the season… Extend Northern Colorado’s losing skid to 17 games dating back to last season… Give KU its first win against Northern Colorado and make the series 1-0 in favor of the Jayhawks… Make Bill Self 1-0 against Northern Colorado as a head coach… Give Self a 53-20 record while at Kansas and 260-125 overall mark… Give KU a 4-1 record in Allen Fieldhouse this season, 154-9 since 1994-95 and 570-103 overall… Make Kansas 1,854-773 all time.
A Kansas Loss Would…
Make Kansas 5-5 on the season… Snap a 16-game Northern Colorado losing streak… Give KU a 1-0 series record against Northern Colorado… Make KU 3-2 at home this season, 153-10 in Allen Fieldhouse since 1994-95 and 569-104 all time in the facility… Drop Bill Self to 52-21 while at Kansas, 259-126 overall and 0-1 against Northern Colorado… Make Kansas 1,853-774 all time.
KU Player Notables
®Sophomore SASHA KAUN registered his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds against Pepperdine on Monday. His 18 points were the most since he had 19 versus Nevada four games ago.
®Sophomore C.J. GILES is averaging 9.5 rebounds and four blocked shots in his last two games. In that span he had five blocked shots against California and 10 rebounds versus Pepperdine.
®Sophomore RUSSELL ROBINSON registered a career-high seven rebounds and a season-high 10 points against Pepperdine on Monday. At 6-1, Robinson has six blocked shots in his last four games.
®Freshman BRANDON RUSH is 6-for-8 (75 percent) from three-point range in his last three games.
®Freshman MARIO CHALMERS pulled down a career-high four rebounds and dished out a career-best six assists against Pepperdine on Monday. Chalmers has six multi-steal games this season.
®Senior CHRISTIAN MOODY is averaging 22 minutes in his last two games. He was 3-for-4 from the field scoring eight points against Pepperdine.
®Senior STEPHEN VINSON has averaged 20.5 minutes in his last two games, including a career-high 25 minutes against California.
KU Team Notables
®Kansas’ top seven scorers are either freshmen or sophomores.
®Kansas leads the Big 12 in blocked shots per game at seven per game. The Jayhawks also lead the league in field goal percentage defense allowing 35.4 percent.
®Kansas has held every opponent to under 50 percent shooting this season and has outshot eight of nine foes.
®Kansas has used the starting lineup of Jeff Hawkins, Russell Robinson, Brandon Rush, Sasha Kaun and C.J. Giles in every game this season.
®KU has held four opponents to 59 points or less this season. The Jayhawks have done this 17 times under Bill Self.
®Through eight games, Kansas has had four different players lead the team in scoring, four in rebounding, five in assists, five in steals and four in blocked shots.
®Three different Jayhawks have scored 20 or more points in games this season – Sasha Kaun – 25 vs. Idaho State; Brandon Rush – 20 vs. Arkansas; and C.J. Giles – 21 vs. Chaminade. Last year only Wayne Simien and Keith Langford posted 20-point games for KU.
®Kansas is 153-9 (94.4 percent) in Allen Fieldhouse since 1994-95. Included in that run are five undefeated seasons – 14-0 in 1994-95; 13-0 in 1995-96; 15-0 in 1996-97; 16-0 in 1997-98; and 13-0 in 2001-02.
Last Time Out – Kansas 63, Pepperdine 43 (Dec. 19, 2005)
Kansas held Pepperdine to 43 points on its way to a 63-43 non-conference victory at Allen Fieldhouse. KU used several runs in the first half to take a 14-point lead into the break. Sophomores Russell Robinson and Sasha Kaun led the Jayhawks with seven points in the first stanza. Kansas held the Waves to just 27 percent from the floor on 7-of-26 shooting. The Jayhawks led by as many as 22 points in the second half. Kaun recorded his second career double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore C.J. Giles pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds and chipped in five points and three blocks. KU received solid guard play from Robinson and freshman Mario Chalmers. Robinson scored a season-best 10 points and pulled down a career-high seven rebounds. Chalmers filled up the stat line with seven points, four rebounds, three steals and a career-high six assists.
Kansas-Pepperdine Leftovers
®Senior Christian Moody recorded career-highs in three-point field goals (two) and three-point field goal attempts (two). His eight boards tied a season-high.
®Sophomore Sasha Kaun’s three blocks tied a career high. His 15 field goal attempts (all two-point attempts) tied a KU season high as well as his own career-best
®Freshman Mario Chalmers recorded season highs in rebounds (four), assists (six) and tied a season high with 24 minutes played.
®The game marked the first time this season that Kansas had two players grab 10 or more boards.
®Kansas’ +26 rebound margin is the most since the Jayhawks outrebounded Fort Hays State by 34 on Dec. 10, 2003.
®Kansas pulled down a season-high 56 rebounds, including 21 offensive boards. KU tied a season high with 10 blocked shots. The 56 boards are the most since the Jayhawks pulled down 59 against Fort Hays State on Dec. 10, 2003.
®KU recorded team lows in three-point field goal attempts (11) and fouls (13).
®The game marked the first time since Feb. 26, 2003, against Texas A&M that a Kansas opponent failed to produce a double-digit scorer.
®Pepperdine set opponent season lows in points (43), points in a half (19), three-point field goal percentage (16.7), free throws (six), free-throw attempts (12) and free throw percentage (50). The Waves tied opponent lows in field goals (17), three-point field goals (three) and offensive rebounds (nine).
KU’s Julian Wright Named Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year by League Coaches
Kansas rookie Julian Wright was named the 2006 Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year by the conference coaches. Previous KU Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year honorees includes Nick Collison in 2000 and David Padgett, who shared the honor with Drew Lavender of Oklahoma in 2004. Kansas’ Jeff Boschee was the 1999 Big 12 Freshman of the Year at season’s end.
Kansas Men’s Basketball Fall Signees
Sherron Collins, G, 5-11, 195, Chicago, Ill. (Crane HS)
Brady Morningstar, G, 6-3, 170, Lawrence, Kan. (Free State HS/New Hampton [N.H.] School)
A New Look
Kansas Athletics recognized the Ward family prior to the Fort Hays State game Nov. 9 at Allen Fieldhouse for their contributions to the newly completed renovations in the Fieldhouse. Enhancements to Allen Fieldhouse include a new playing floor, new lighting system, new scoreboard/video board, new sound system, and new windows and updated safety equipment. Additionally, the bleachers have been painted crimson and blue, the east-side chairback seats have been refurbished, some first-level restrooms have been updated, the inside ceiling has been painted and the outside of the Fieldhouse has been cleaned. Officially dedicating on Jan. 21, the Booth Family Hall of Athletics is under construction on the east side of the Fieldhouse.
This past spring, KU signed an eight-year agreement to make adidas the official footwear and apparel company for KU athletics. Beginning this fall, each of the Jayhawks’ 18 intercollegiate athletics teams will wear adidas footwear, uniforms, apparel and accessories.
Ten Jayhawks on NBA Rosters
Ten former Jayhawks, including rookies Aaron Miles (Golden State Warriors) and Wayne Simien (Miami Heat), appeared on opening-day rosters for various teams in the National Basketball Association. Other former Jayhawks on current rosters include Nick Collison (Seattle Supersonics), Drew Gooden (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls), Raef LaFrentz (Boston Celtics), Greg Ostertag (Utah Jazz), Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics), Scot Pollard (Indiana Pacers) and Jacque Vaughn (New Jersey Nets).
Falkenstien’s Farewell Tour
Veteran University of Kansas football and basketball color announcer Max Falkenstien, 81, announced Aug. 30 that the 2005-06 athletic season will be his final season of broadcasting Jayhawk athletic events. His retirement will end 60 years of working KU games. In 2004, Falkenstein was given the prestigious Curt Gowdy Award presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He has also been honored by the College Football Hall of Fame. In 2001, The Sporting News named Falkenstien “the best college radio personality in the country.”
Noting Kansas Basketball
®Kansas’ 23-7 record last season marked the 16th straight season the Jayhawks have won 23 or more games dating back to 1988-89 and the 21st time in the last 22 years KU has notched 22 or more victories.
®KU has won 10 or more league games for the last 11 seasons and 43 times overall.
®Bill Self has won 23 or more games each of his last seven seasons as a head coach.
®Since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1996-97, the Jayhawks are 118-26 in league play, which is 18 more wins than the next team on that list, Oklahoma (100-44).
®Kansas has won five of the nine regular-season Big 12 titles and the first three Big 12 Tournament crowns.
®KU’s 48 conference titles more than doubles its next closest Big 12 foe. Texas is next with 23 league crowns.
®Kansas has led its league in home attendance each of the last 19 seasons dating back to 1986-87 and 24 times in the last 28 years. KU has ranked in the top 10 in national attendance in each of the last 10 seasons and 13 of the last 14 years.
®Kansas has been sold out – 16,300 – every game at Allen Fieldhouse since 2001-02 season opener against Pittsburg State (16,100).
®Each KU senior class since 1986-87 has won at least 100 games.
®The Jayhawks have made 16 straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The last time KU failed to participate in the Big Dance was in 1989 (probation).
®Kansas has had success in the early stages of the NCAA Tournament, having won 21 of the last 22 first-round games.
®Kansas has been to two NCAA Final Fours, three Elite Eights and won three Big 12 regular-season championships in the last four seasons.
®KU has won 14 straight conference-openers. The Jayhawks’ last loss in a league-opener was to Oklahoma on Jan. 8, 1991.
®Kansas boasts a 22-game win streak on Senior Day. The last time KU lost its last home game of the season was a 60-58 defeat to Nebraska in 1983.
This Day in KU Men’s Basketball History
Dec. 22, 1900: Kansas was in its third season of basketball and was coached by the inventor of the game Dr. James Naismith. The Jayhawks traveled to Newton, Kan., to face Ajax Athletic Club and lost the game 2-0. The game ended early because of a dispute over knowledge of the rules. Kansas walked off the court and the game was forfeited. KU finished out the year 4-8.
Up Next
After a brief holiday break, Kansas continues its home stand when it plays host to New Orleans on Thursday, Dec. 29. That game will tip at 6:30 p.m. (CST) and will air on ESPN2. KU will then face Yale on Jan. 4 at 7 p.m., in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawk-Eli game will air on Jayhawk TV. KU closes out its non-conference schedule when it plays host to Kentucky on Jan. 7 at 11 a.m. ESPN will broadcast the KU-UK tilt.
2005-06 Kansas Men’s Basketball Headlines
-Defending Big 12 Champ Kansas Picked Third in Big 12 Preseason Poll
-Julian Wright Named Preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year
-10 Jayhawks on NBA Opening Day Rosters, Including Rookies Aaron Miles and Wayne Simien
-KU Unranked in Preseason Polls for First Time Since 1990-91
-Brandon Rush on Rivals.com Top 10 Impact Freshman for 2005-06; Mario Chalmers and Julian Wright Listed Among as Impact Players
-Sophomore Darnell Jackson to Miss First Nine Games Due to Eligibility Issue
-Kansas Records 1,850th All-Time Victory Against Chaminade
-C.J. Giles Ties KU Record and Sets Big 12 Mark Making Nine Straight Field Goals Against Chaminade
-Kansas Wins 184th Game in Kansas City and 80th in Kemper Arena with 69-56 Win Over Cal
