My dad was born and raised in the Topeka area and grew up loving our 'Hawks. He has spent the last 30+ years in and around Austin, Tx and has an affinity for the Horns as well now. Last night he predicted a KU blowout on saturday and thinks the score will be 90-58.
He believes (rightly so, I think) that Rick Barnes is the Anti-Bruce Weber. Barnes can recruit with the best of them and coach with the worst of them.
I could see a blowout because of the Atmosphere that is likely to occur with a bounce back game and gameday crew in town. I think it will be hard for our players to not be jacked up knowing they can control their own destiny these next 3 games.
Factor in the players only meeting and I bet a few things get corrected on Saturday that we need to see.
Texas has played horribly since we beat them in Austin. I've watched 3-4 games and they are a horribly underachieving team that doesn't seem to have good chemistry. That guy Yancy has come on for them lately
Going to be a very hard fought game with TEXAS ' height staying close to basket this time. Our guys will see a level of rough play they haven't seen this season. Perry is finally going to get a taste of being put down hard--Brannen too, if he gets hot.
TEXAS will be ready to play.
GameDay Quick Facts
• TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. Dan Shulman (pxp), Jay Bilas (analyst) and Shannon Spake (reporter) will call the action.
KANSAS SERIES INFO:
• Kansas leads, 24-8. Last meeting: Kansas 75-62 (Jan. 24, 2015; Austin).
• Saturday's contest marks the 33rd meeting between Texas and Kansas.
• The Jayhawks hold a 24-8 lead in the all-time series that dates back to a 36-34 Texas win in Austin on Dec. 16, 1938. UT was coached by Jack Gray and KU by Dr. "Phog" Allen.
Notables
• BARNES GOES FOR 400TH win AT TEXAS: With a win in Lawrence, head coach Rick Barnes would become just the NINTH active NCAA Div I coach to reach the 400-win milestone at his CURRENT school.
• BLOCK PARTY: Texas set a new team single-season mark for most blocked shots (207 through first 28 games) in Tuesday's loss at No. 20/19 West Virginia. The Horns rank FIRST nationally in blocks per game (7.4 bpg) through games of Feb. 24.
• YANCY ON A ROLL: Sophomore guard Kendal Yancy has averaged 17.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg in 32.3 mpg over the last three contests while hitting 19-of-39 (.487) field goals, including 9-of-20 (.450) from three-point range.
**Kelly needs to guard Yancy and not let him get any open shots. **
Our crowd will give us +5 points so I'll go 75-59 KU.
I like your dad
@RockChalkinTexas If Kelly guards Yancey that puts Wayne on the larger Jonathan "Elbow" Holmes. Can Wayne stop the longer Holmes?
@Kip_McSmithers Would Perry be the one to go against Holmes? Frank on Taylor, Wayne on Holland and Cliff on Ridley/Turner/Lammert?
I want our crowd to politely (non-KSU style) remind Myles Turner he made the wrong choice!
I'd like to add that I'm glad Barnes is holding his player responsible for his actions, wait, Holmes is still projected to start?? And here I thought Barnes had more class.
@RockChalkinTexas : I don't think that's UT's lineup. Holmes is their 3 man. They have Lammert, Ibeh, Turner, and Ridley to lock down the 4-5.
I'm not going to predict anything. I don't want this game to fall into a "jinx trap game" for me.
I'm throwing salt over my shoulder as I write this.
@drgnslayr Please pitch another pinch for me. After that collapse in Manhattan, I'm left with the late afternoon Saturday shivers.
Allow BIll Self 2 seasons to work with the Longhorn lineup + Perry Ellis. John Cal might suffer some digestive maladies come April.
Will do.
From here on out, I'm practicing "reverse jinxing." It worked in Ames on Wednesday. I have to be careful talking about it, or I will commit a double-reverse jinx.
I have to follow the rules of the "Pierce the Ploughman's Crede"
I thought Holmes had a flagrant 2 on Tuesday night. Will he be allowed to play??
I just called the local FM sports talk radio station (104.9 The Horn) and asked them whether or not Holmes was going to get to play because of the flagrant 2 and the producer told me that "It was certainly possible but we haven't heard anything one way or the other and as soon as we do, we'll be sure to announce it."
Nothing on the UT site either.
Stay tuned...................
@nuleafjhawk I was also born in Topeka but that is where the similarities stop. I really hate UT and I expect this to be a very close game. Their post season depends on this game. If they have a big win against a top 10 team on their floor it will probably put them into the NCAA. They are like a cornered animal and I anticipate all of their players bringing all they have.
@nuleafjhawk that big on Texas' team who got a flagrant 2...Ridley? Will he be playing tomorrow? Anyone know?
Almost positive Holmes is not forced to be held out on Saturday. The only way he doesn't play would be as @Kip_McSmithers suggests that Barnes holds him out, which he won't.
Holmes plays. He was making threes before the foul meaning he could be on an uptick, shooting wise. He had struggled in that area after a concussion.
Two rough home games ahead with the cornered Longhorns having to win any way they can and the constant contact Mountaineers on Tuesday. Wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of Lucas since he seems to be the only big body we have that can withstand such a pounding.
Cliff's bruised sternum has really been affecting him. Jamari is easily displaced. And Perry is too valuable to let him truly rough it up even with his recent demeanor.
@benshawks08 remember Mari's hustle got us going at Texas!
I believe we are underestimating how desperate this UT team is. I said this before the KSU game and thought there was a good possibility KU would lose.
KSU was desperate to not make this season go to waste. The ONLY way to do that was the beat the Jayhawks. Texas NEEDS this win and a couple more to have hope in the making the round of 64. Expect UT to come out hungry and get at least 15 offensive boards.
Lets hope I'm wrong!
@JhawkAlum Texas has been needing some wins the last few weeks too! Jayhawks plus AFH are at a desperate pt also. Those heifers can't keep up!
@Crimsonorblue22 We dang sure better be desperate after losing 2 out of our last 3 (something not a lot of past Kansas teams can say....) and playing like doo-doo for a good part of the TCU game.
Well said, they have had their chances and failed miserably to keep themselves off the bubble. I don't think going on the road in the most hostile place to play in the country not just the Big 12 is going to give them the edge they will need to win. KU is playing for just as much or more now and it's going to be a great game for KU. We started a 4 game losing streak for them earlier this year and we get a chance to give them another 4 game losing streak tomm.
@BeddieKU23 I'm hoping!!!🙏🙏
Coaching at Texas will cause a person to age quickly. Texas newspaper's think that if Texas doesn't make the tournament that Rick will be gone.
Texas ticket, 60 years!
@Crimsonorblue22
Wow. What's happening to college sports? $100 for a game? Realizing this is a do or die type of game, but $100? How can a family afford this? How can Jayhawk parents keep their kids Jayhakws if/when they can't afford to take their kids to games? Self should donate some of his salary to make it possible for Jayhawks families that CANNOT afford tickets to attend games such as this! We must protect our future generation from becoming KStater or Tigers because those tickets are more affordable!!!