No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks (8-1) vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-4)
Time: 2:15 p.m. | Location: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kansas
TV: ESPN | Radio: IMG Jayhawk Radio Network
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1. Keep working inside
Kansas coach Bill Self has adjusted his approach to fit his personnel, but just because the Jayhawks are more comfortable than ever playing with four guards on the floor does not mean that Self has given up entirely on playing from the inside out.
In the win over UMKC on Tuesday night, the Jayhawks continually threw the ball inside, looking to get easy buckets or free throws from their big bodies in the post.
It didn’t exactly work — KU’s bigs combined for 17 points and 12 trips to the free throw line — but it did not leave Self or the Jayhawks discouraged either.
Look for more of the same in this one, as the Jayhawks continue to try to establish some sort of inside game to go along with their terrific perimeter attack.
“We’re not going to score consistently shooting 50 percent from three all the time,” Self said. “You’ve got to be able to throw the ball inside and get fouled or score on the block some. You have to be able to do that. So we need to feed those guys more often, get them more touches. On the flip side of that, they don’t need to look to score if they’re getting the ball more. They can wait and have better timing and not force the issue. I think the more touches you get, the less you feel inclined that you have to score. The less touches you get, obviously, you want to try to shoot the ball. I think that’s a natural instinct. So we need to allow those guys to play out of rhythm, and it will be best for our team if we play inside-out.”
2. Push the pace
Not only are the Jayhawks forcing an average of 14 turnovers per game, but the Cornhuskers also are coughing it up about that many times.
In their latest game, a 15-point home loss to No. 10 Creighton, Nebraska turned it over just 13 times but found itself in several bad situations on offense because the Huskers failed to execute and played sped up.
Nebraska coach Tim Miles said playing too fast on offense and not getting back on defense killed the Cornhuskers in that one, so it would make sense for the Jayhawks’ defensive game plan to be to hound the Huskers’ offense and get out and run.
The Jayhawks have been fantastic in transition so far this season and their four-guard lineup has made both defensive pressure and fastbreak points even easier to come by. Unless the Huskers tighten up things on their end, it could be another fast-paced, high-scoring affair for Kansas.
“Stopping transition and competing with their athleticism on the boards is key,” Miles said. “It’s gonna have to be a half-court game. Get back in half-court set and make sure it takes them a while to score against us.”
3. Keep emotions in check
Friday’s news about the arrest of KU sophomore Carlton Bragg no doubt stirred up some emotions with his teammates and the entire KU basketball program.
But it’s important for the rest of the Jayhawks who will have to play today’s game — and possibly a lot longer — without him to keep their focus on the task and hand and not the off-the-court issues surrounding their friend and teammate.
Although he had not gotten off to a great start, Bragg’s potential always was a part of the equation and many believed it was just a matter of time before he broke through and got on a roll.
That clearly is not the case now and today’s game will mark the first in which Kansas will attempt to figure out how to play with just two big men.
NU guard Tai Webster vs. KU guard Josh Jackson
One of just two Cornhuskers shooting better than 45 percent from the floor, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Webster enters Saturday’s game as Nebraska’s leading scorer at 17.2 points a game but with a huge target on his back. The man hunting that bull’s eye is likely to be KU freshman Josh Jackson, who, at 6-8, 210, has both height and weight on the Nebraska senior but does not give up anything in the way of quickness. Jackson takes great pride in playing defense and will not only look to harass Webster when he has the ball in his hands but also to haunt him when he does not.
KU coach Bill Self said Thursday that the Cornhuskers would present Kansas with one of the tougher challenges of the season to date from a competitive standpoint and the Huskers’ track record of non-conference match-ups with the likes of UCLA, Dayton, Clemson and Creighton certainly have the Huskers prepared for high-level competition.
The Jayhawks have been on fire from three-point range in their past four outings and continue to use the four-guard lineup highlighted by Frank Mason III, Devonte’ Graham and Josh Jackson to their advantage on both ends of the floor.
Nebraska has athletes who match up decently well with the Jayhawks but may not have the experience. NU starts four sophomores and also lacks offensive punch thanks to the departure of former KU transfer Andrew White III.
Playing at home against a team that will have to play a perfect game to compete, the Jayhawks likely will continue to do what they do best while also trying to work on the handful of weaknesses that have popped up so far this season.
Because Nebraska is a “name opponent” from a Power 5 Conference, KU figures to gain some confidence from a good performance today even if the game goes the way so many others already have this season.
No. 3 Kansas
G – Frank Mason III, 5-11, 190, Sr.
G – Devonte’ Graham, 6-2, 185, Jr.
G – Josh Jackson, 6-8, 207, Fr.
G – Lagerald Vick, 6-5, 175, Soph.
C – Udoka Azubuike, 7-0, 280, Fr.
Nebraska
G – Glynn Watson Jr., 6-0, 174, Soph.
G – Tai Webster, 6-4, 195, Sr.
F – Ed Morrow Jr., 6-7, 234, Soph.
F – Michael Jacobson, 6-9, 239, Soph.
F – Jack McVeigh, 6-8, 215, Soph.