When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Allen Fieldhouse
Who: SMU
Series: Jayhawks lead, 3-2
Playing the right way: In Kansas’ season-opening loss to Missouri State, coach Brandon Schneider lamented the shot selection and said his team didn’t play the “right way.” The Jayhawks shot just 36 percent from the field, and 25 percent from beyond the arc. Schneider wasn’t happy with his team taking shots off without any ball movement or dribble penetration. As a result, sophomore McKenzie Calvert and junior Jessica Washington were the only Jayhawks in double figures.
Defensive identity: Despite the 32 points Kansas surrendered to Missouri State in the fourth quarter, it showed promise on the defensive end, forcing 22 turnovers, and recording 12 steals and six blocks. The six blocks were the most for the Jayhawks in a single game since Feb. 3, 2016. In SMU’s season-opening win over Texas State, it proved to be vulnerable in that area with 20 turnovers.
Avoiding 0-2: A loss today would drop the Jayhawks to 0-2 for the first time since the 2003-04 season when they finished 9-19. The last time Kansas started out 0-1 (2004-05), it bounced back to win its second game against Sacred Hart at home. Historically, November has been kind to the Jayhawks, who have a 122-44 all-time record in the month.
Streaking: Calvert scored a team-high 20 points Sunday, one behind her career high of 21 at USC during her freshman season. She also hauled in four rebounds. Calvert didn’t shoot well from the field (7-for-21) and beyond the arc (2-for-10) but she was the defensive catalyst for the Jayhawks. She led the team with two blocks and a team-high three steals.
Probable starters
Kansas
(0-1 overall)
G — Jessica Washington, 5-8, jr.
G — McKenzie Calvert, 5-9, so.
G — Kylee Kopatich, 5-10, so.
G — Chayla Cheadle, 6-0, jr.
F — Caelynn Manning-Allen, 6-4, sr.
SMU
(1-0 overall)
G — Morgan Bolton, 5-6, sr.
G — Kiara Perry, 5-10, jr.
G — McKenzie Adams, 5-9, jr.
F — Alicia Froling, 6-3, jr.
C — Klara Bradshaw, 6-6, jr.