When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa
Who: Iowa State
Series: Jayhawks lead 47-32 overall and trail 21-16 at Hilton.
Won’t back down: With tough games night in and night out the rest of the way, it’s possible the Jayhawks will be underdogs until the end of the season. Rather than look at that as a negative, first-year coach Brandon Schneider has spun it into a positive and used it as a rallying cry for his young team. “Our big thing (is), just don’t be timid in anything we do, don’t second-guess yourself,” Schneider said. “Even though you’re that team that’s not supposed to win doesn’t mean you have to back down or be timid. You still have to be aggressive.”
Double trouble: Iowa State junior Seanna Johnson is one of just two Big 12 players averaging a double-double (17.4 points and 10.3 rebounds), and she has topped the 20-point mark in scoring five times this season. The most recent came during a 75-54 loss to No. 4 Texas on Wednesday, when Johnson scored 23 points but could not top the Longhorns by herself. Iowa State’s loss to Texas snapped the Cyclones’ eight-game winning streak. The bulk of the Iowa State offense runs through Johnson, who leads ISU in field-goal attempts, field goals made, free-throw attempts and free throws made.
Streaking: Sophomore forward Chayla Cheadle enters tonight on the heels of her second strong outing in a row. A starter to open the season, Cheadle came off the bench for games 3-6, was back in the starting lineup for three games after that, back on the bench for four games after that and returned to the starting lineup Wednesday night against Baylor. She led the Jayhawks in scoring (12) and rebounding (5) in the 18-point loss to the Bears and is averaging 11 points and six rebounds since KU began playing Big 12 foes. “So far, since we’ve started conference play, my confidence has kind of been lifted,” Cheadle said. “I’ve been in and out of the lineup and just try to do whatever I can to help the team.”
Slumping: Sophomore point guard Lauren Aldridge. Three games ago, KU’s leading scorer was averaging 14.1 points per game and coming off of a stretch of five straight games in double figures. But that average is down to 11.4 points per game now after Aldridge struggled to a four-point night in the nonconference finale and has been shut out of both Big 12 games so far. Wednesday night, in an 18-point loss to Baylor, Aldridge played just eight minutes in the first half because of foul trouble and never got going on the offensive end. Aldridge has made just one of 22 shots during her three-game slump.
Probable starters
Kansas
(5-9 overall, 0-3 Big 12)
G — Lauren Aldridge, 5-7, so.
G — Asia Robertson, 5-7, fr.
G — Kylee Kopatich, 5-10, fr.
G — Chayla Cheadle, 6-0, so.
F — Caelynn Manning-Allen, 6-4, jr.
Iowa State
(10-4 overall, 2-1 Big 12)
G — Jadda Buckley, 5-8, so.
G — Seanna Johnson, 5-10, jr.
G — Nicole Blaskowsky, 5-7, sr.
G — Bridget Carleton, 6-1, fr.
C — Bryanna Fernstrom, 6-5, so.
John YoungWhen: 2 p.m. today
Where: Allen Fieldhouse
Who: St. John’s
Series: KU leads, 1-0
Guard support: After Kansas University’s women’s basketball team defeated Creighton on Wednesday, coach Brandon Schneider said KU’s offense is at its best when the Jayhawks’ guards are knocking down shots from outside. Sophomore point guard Lauren Aldridge shot 4-for-9 from three-point range in the 13-point home win, and freshman Kylee Kopatich drained all three of her tries from deep.
But Schneider added that KU’s ability to use freshmen Aisia Robertson and Jayde Christopher as primary ball-handlers for stretches also helps KU’s offense.
“When you can play Jayde Christopher at the 1, and you can get Lauren off the ball a little bit — I mean, I love Lauren as a point guard, but I like her in a shooting role, as well,” Schneider clarified. “But the amount of minutes that (Aldridge) plays, I think it takes a little bit of the pressure off of her. And Jayde is so aggressive and does such a great job of getting in the lane, when you can surround her or any other guard with guys that can make shots, then the offense does look much better.”
Streaking: In two of her last three games, KU freshman forward Tyler Johnson has provided the Jayhawks with easy baskets off the bench. Johnson shot 4-for-8 against Northern Illinois and 4-for-6 against Creighton. The 6-foot-2 Leavenworth native is averaging 5.3 points in just 12.2 minutes.
Slumping: Through six games, KU’s free-throw shooting hasn’t been consistent. The Jayhawks have improved of late, making 14 of 19 at SMU and shooting 7-for-8 at the foul line versus Creighton, but overall Kansas is hitting just 64.8 percent. Junior Caelynn Manning-Allen leads the team in free-throw attempts and has hit 12 of 19 (63.2 percent).
Probable starters
Kansas (4-2)
G — Lauren Aldridge, 5-7, so.
G — Aisia Robertson, 5-7, fr.
G — Kylee Kopatich, 5-10, fr.
F — Jada Brown, 6-0, jr.
F — Caelynn Manning-Allen, 6-4, jr.
St. John’s (5-1)
G — Aliyyah Handford, 5-9, sr.
G — Aaliyah Lewis, 5-5, jr.
G — Danaejah Grant, 5-9, sr.
F — Sandra Udobi, 6-2, jr.
F — Imani Littleton, 6-3, so.
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Where: Moody Coliseum, Dallas
Who: Northern Illinois
Series: First meeting
SMU Thanksgiving Classic: The Kansas University women’s basketball team and first-year coach Brandon Schneider are spending their holiday weekend at a two-day mini-tournament hosted by SMU. KU opens against Northern Illinois, out of the Mid America Conference, and will face either SMU or Cal State-Fullerton on Saturday afternoon, depending on which teams win tonight’s games.
Road trip: Coming off their first loss of the season, Monday at Arizona, the Jayhawks have some early tests away from Allen Fieldhouse this week. Before KU left for its three-game excursion, Schneider said the first road trip of the year can be great for team bonding.
“I love it, because I get to still be part of the team, even though I’m the coach,” Schneider said. “I like to travel. I like kind of being hunkered down in the hotel room. But it’s also a chance to really talk to our team about these trips. They’re business trips, not vacations. We’ll try to have some fun, obviously, but there’s some times when we’ve really got to lock in and focus and make sure we’re as prepared and focused as we need to be.”
Streaking: Through three games this season, junior KU forward Caelynn Manning-Allen is making 59.1 percent of her shot attempts and scoring 9.3 points per game. She set a career high with 12 points against Texas Southern, and also tied a personal best with four blocks in the season opener.
Slumping: Freshman guard Kylee Kopatich looks to bounce back from a tough outing in her first career road game. Kopatich, a starter, shot 1-for-12 from the floor and 1-for-8 from three-point range at Arizona. Schneider has a lot of confidence in the first-year guard, though, and while one off game has her shooting 22.2 percent on three-pointers, Kopatich is averaging 9.7 points — second on the team to sophomore Lauren Aldridge’s 13.7.
Probable starters
Kansas (2-1)
G — Lauren Aldridge, 5-7, so.
G — Aisia Robertson, 5-7, fr.
G — Kylee Kopatich, 5-10, fr.
F — Jada Brown, 6-0, jr.
F — Caelynn Manning-Allen, 6-4, jr.
Northern Illinois (2-1)
G — Ally Lehman, 5-10, jr.
G — Lacia Gorman, 5-6, sr.
G — Mikayla Voigt, 5-9, fr.
F — Natecia Augusta, 6-0, sr.
F — Kelly Smith, 6-1, soph.
When: 2 p.m. today
Where: Allen Fieldhouse
Who: Kansas vs. Texas Southern
TV: Time Warner Cable Sports Channel, WOW channels 37, 226.
Series: KU leads 3-0, with all games in Allen Fieldhouse
New era: Kansas kicks off the Brandon Schneider era with the start of 2015-16, and the new season brings a new mentality to the hardwood. KU returns six players from last year’s squad that went 15-17. Joining the veterans are nine new faces who hope to make an immediate impact.
Opening success: The Jayhawks are 37-10 in season openers since the inception of the women’s basketball program in 1968. Kansas has won 10 straight season openers dating back to 2005.
Salute to service: Kansas will honor all active and retired military personnel with Salute to Service today. A special Salute to Service flag will be given away to fans in attendance. All active and retired military personnel will receive $5 admission into the game.
Exhibition rewind: The Jayhawks completed a perfect 2-0 exhibition slate with victories over Pittsburg State and Emporia State. Kansas opened its exhibition schedule with an 80-54 win over the Gorillas and concluded its exhibition test with a 68-57 win over the Hornets.
Know the foe: The coaches’ favorite to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Texas Southern finished the 2014-15 season with a 19-10 overall record and a 16-1 league mark. The SWAC regular-season champion, TSU earned a bid to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. The Lady Tigers lost, 79-69, to Southern Miss in the opening round of the WNIT.
Probable starters
Kansas
G — Lauren Aldridge, 5-7, so.
G — Asia Robertson, 5-7, fr.
G — Kylee Kopatich, 5-10, fr.
G — Chayla Cheadle, 6-0, so.
G — Caelynn Manning-Allen, 6-4, jr.
When: 2 p.m. today
Where: Allen Fieldhouse
Who: Kansas vs. Emporia State
Series: KU leads 5-0 in exhibitions
Familiar foe: It wasn’t that long ago that new Kansas University women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider held the same position at Emporia State. The Hornets’ head coach from 1998-2010, Schneider led ESU to a 306-72 record and the 2010 NCAA Division II national title.
Today, he’ll face Emporia State for the first time in his coaching career, and square off with his former protégé, Jory Collins, who replaced Schneider when Schneider left to become head coach at Stephen F. Austin.
Looking for a paint presence: In KU’s first exhibition, a 26-point victory over Pittsburg State, junior post player Caelynn Manning-Allen carried the Jayhawks in the second quarter, scoring 10 points on a variety of shots.
Schneider said the 6-foot-4 forward has really developed her offensive game, with the help of assistant Katie O’Connor, over the past several months.
“It would sure help our team,” the new KU coach said, “if we could get some offensive contribution from that position.”
Probable starters
Kansas
G — Lauren Aldridge, 5-7, so.
G — Asia Robertson, 5-7, fr.
G — Kylee Kopatich, 5-10, fr.
G — Chayla Cheadle, 6-0, so.
G — Caelynn Manning-Allen, 6-4, jr.
Emporia State
G — Kelly Moten, 5-8, jr.
G — Kelsey Barnwell, 5-9, sr.
G — Addie Lackey, 5-8, so.
F — Sandra Njoie, 6-2, sr.
F — Kathryn Flott, 6-1, jr.
When: 2 p.m. today
Where: Allen Fieldhouse
Who: Kansas vs. Pittsburg State
Series: KU leads 5-0 in exhibitions
Unofficial debut: Today marks the first time new Kansas coach Brandon Schneider will lead the Jayhawks onto the court at Allen Fieldhouse — even if it is just an exhibition.
Schneider takes over a program that went 15-17 in former coach Bonnie Henrickson’s final season, and lost its top three scorers from a year ago.
Preaching patience: Fielding a team that might open the season with two sophomores and two freshmen in the starting five, Schneider expects to deal with inevitable early mistakes, and rein it in later.
“Here early, we may throw it to the cheerleaders and the band a lot, but that’s OK for me,” the former Stephen F. Austin and Emporia State head coach said. “Early in the season, I want them to play without fear of making mistakes.”
Probable starters
Kansas
G — Lauren Aldridge, 5-7, so.
G — Asia Robertson, 5-7, fr.
G — Kylee Kopatich, 5-10, fr.
G — Chayla Cheadle, 6-0, so.
G — Caelynn Manning-Allen, 6-4, jr.
