Kicking the Tires: KU

by TB on Jan 12, 2009 7:47 PM CST Comment 1 comment

We're bringing back BOTC's completely unscientific preview -- hence, 'Kicking the Tires' -- of the Cats' next opponent. I didn't get around to doing this before the OU game, so for that I apologize. We should have one of these before each game the rest of the way.

Individual Leaders

K-State

Jacob Pullen, 14.3 points/game, 26 steals, 57 assists, 48 turnovers, 28.3 minutes/game

Jamar Samuels, 16 blocks, 59.8 FG%

Darren Kent, 6.3 rebounds/game

Denis Clemente, 78.8 FT%

Fred Brown, 43.2 percent three-pointers

Sherron Collins, 18.1 points/game, 78 assists, 51 turnovers,

Cole Aldrich, 42 blocks, 9.9 rebounds/game, 61.9 FG%

Tyshawn Taylor, 22 steals

Brady Morningstar, 46.2 percent three-pointers

Tyrel Reed, 87.0 FT%

Team Statistics

Scoring Offense

K-State: 79.6 ppg (6th Big 12)

KU: 79.3 ppg (7th Big 12)

Scoring Defense

K-State: 61.0 ppg (4th Big 12)

KU: 65.9 ppg (10th Big 12)

FT%

K-State: 63.2 percent (12th Big 12)

KU: 72.5 percent (3rd Big 12)

FG%

K-State: 45.0 percent (9th Big 12)

KU: 47.1 percent (6th Big 12)

FG% Defense

K-State: 38.2 percent (3rd Big 12)

KU: 38.5 percent (4th Big 12)

3-Point FG%

K-State: 35.6 percent (7th Big 12)

KU: 36.4 percent (6th Big 12)

3-Point FG% Defense

K-State: 29.4 percent (1st Big 12)

KU: 34.5 percent (10th Big 12)

Rebounding

K-State: 41.1 rebounds/game (1st Big 12)

KU: 39.8 rebounds/game (4th Big 12)

Assists

K-State: 15.53 assists/game (4th Big 12)

KU: 17.87 assists/game (2nd Big 12)

Steals

K-State: 7.80 steals/game (6th Big 12)

KU: 7.53 steals/game (7th Big 12)

Assist-to-Turnover Ratio

K-State: 1.13 (7th Big 12)

KU: 1.28 (3rd Big 12)

Statistically, this is a very even matchup, as you can see above. In four of the categories examined, the two teams rank consecutively in the conference. Unfortunately, a couple things make me less than optimistic about this game tomorrow. First, K-State's statistics have been compiled against a schedule Ken Pomeroy ranks as the 290th most-difficult non-conference schedule, while KU has faced the 108th ranked non-conference schedule. Pomeroy projects this as a three-point loss for the Cats, with a 37 percent chance of winning. We've seen longer odds, but it's clear it will take an impressive effort from Frank Martin's Cats to steal this one in Lawrence.

Of course, none of that will make me hate KU any less. Go Cats!

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Some things that scare me, and others I feel good about.

1. “Jacob Pullen, 14.3 points/game, 26 steals, 57 assists, 48 turnovers, 28.3 minutes/game”

Jake (and the rest of our guards) have to protect the ball. We can not afford another 20 turnover effort, especially when such backcourt turnovers usually lead to transition points (i.e. large scoring runs for the opposition). If Jake has 3-4 turnovers early, it will probably get ugly pretty quick.

2. Fred Brown shooting lights out behind the arc. Please, oh please let us find our shooting stroke tonight. I hate watching us shoot so damn awful when you know we have good shooters on the floor. We need Fred to hit some 3’s consistently throughout the game. The 3-point threat could be huge for us, but, as we’ve seen in some of our losses, it can be a deadly poison if the seal isn’t broken.

I can’t wait until the game tonight. The OU game kind of showed us all what we expected to see. We know what type of team we are, and I think KU has pretty much shown what they are so far. I expect us to come out and take the game down to the wire, thus ensuring to take 5-10 more years off my life.

by EMAW on Jan 13, 2009 9:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs