(5) Kansas (30-3) vs. (6) Texas (28-5)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Sprint Center (18,500) -- Kansas City, Missouri. Television: ESPN. Home Record: Kansas 20-0, Texas 17-1. Away Record: Kansas 8-3, Texas 7-3. Neutral Record: Kansas 2-0, Texas 4-1. Conference Record: Kansas 13-3, Texas 13-3. Series Record: Kansas leads, 14-6.
GAME NOTES: A pair of Big 12 teams ranked in the top-10 meet in Kansas City this afternoon to decide the conference tournament champion as the fifth- ranked Kansas Jayhawks collide with the sixth-ranked Texas Longhorns at the Sprint Center. The two teams that figured to be here in the end, Kansas has lost a total of just three games the entire season, but one of those came against the Longhorns on the road by a score of 72-69 back on February 11th. After picking up a bye for the opening round of the 12th annual event, second- seeded Kansas dismissed Nebraska on Friday in the quarterfinals and then took care of Texas A&M yesterday in a 77-71 final. As for the top-seeded Longhorns, their journey in the tourney began with a 66-59 win versus Oklahoma State two days ago and continued with a 77-49 blowout of the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. It is the third straight year that these two squads have met in the title tilt, with Kansas winning both previous outings. Last year it was a thrilling 88-84 overtime verdict and the year before an 80-68 decision. The Jayhawks have worn the Big 12 crown five times thus far in 11 opportunities, while Texas has played in the championship game four times but come up empty in each effort. As far as the all-time series between the schools is concerned, Kansas is ahead by a count of 14-6.
Brandon Rush saved his best for Saturday afternoon as he tallied a career-high 28 points in the win over Texas A&M during the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament. Rush made good on 5-of-8 shot behind the three-point line for the Jayhawks and was a perfect 5-of-5 at the free-throw line. Darnell Jackson added 14 points as the only other double-digit scorer for the group. Kansas dropped 53.8 percent of its total shots and turned the ball over just seven times on the day. Currently second on the team in scoring, Rush accounts for 12.7 ppg on 42.0 percent shooting beyond the arc, which is almost where he is for field goal shooting overall (.421). Darrell Arthur checks in with 13.0 ppg and Jackson another 11.9 ppg on a sizzling 63.9 percent from the field. Jackson is the leader on the glass for the team with his 6.9 rpg, which has meant quite a bit to a unit that is beating the opposition on the boards by an average of almost eight per game.
Ahead by just seven points at the break, Texas opened up the offense in the second half and outscored the Sooners to cruise to the commanding 28-point win on Saturday. As the Longhorns connected on 53.8 percent from the field in the second half, the defense for the squad limited Oklahoma to a mere 27.6 percent and 2-of-14 behind the three-point line. A.J. Abrams accounted for 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting beyond the arc, followed by D.J. Augustin and Damion James with 17 and 13 points, respectively, with the latter also clearing a team-best nine rebounds along the way. Prior to Saturday's outing, Augustin had led the team in scoring in seven straight games, which is why he is one of the top performers in the nation and currently leads the group with his 19.8 ppg. But more than just a scorer, few players can operate an offense like Augustin who averages almost six assists per game as well. Abrams (16.1 ppg) and James (13.2 ppg) provide plenty of scoring support, while James is not only a 43.7 percent shooter behind the three-point line, but also one of the top rebounders in the Big 12 with 10.7 per game.
Both teams play an exciting brand of basketball, but with the way the Longhorns handled Oklahoma yesterday it would be tough to pick against Abrams and Augustin in a pivotal contest.
FACTS & STATS: Site: Sprint Center (18,500) -- Kansas City, Missouri. Television: ESPN. Home Record: Kansas 20-0, Texas 17-1. Away Record: Kansas 8-3, Texas 7-3. Neutral Record: Kansas 2-0, Texas 4-1. Conference Record: Kansas 13-3, Texas 13-3. Series Record: Kansas leads, 14-6.
GAME NOTES: A pair of Big 12 teams ranked in the top-10 meet in Kansas City this afternoon to decide the conference tournament champion as the fifth- ranked Kansas Jayhawks collide with the sixth-ranked Texas Longhorns at the Sprint Center. The two teams that figured to be here in the end, Kansas has lost a total of just three games the entire season, but one of those came against the Longhorns on the road by a score of 72-69 back on February 11th. After picking up a bye for the opening round of the 12th annual event, second- seeded Kansas dismissed Nebraska on Friday in the quarterfinals and then took care of Texas A&M yesterday in a 77-71 final. As for the top-seeded Longhorns, their journey in the tourney began with a 66-59 win versus Oklahoma State two days ago and continued with a 77-49 blowout of the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. It is the third straight year that these two squads have met in the title tilt, with Kansas winning both previous outings. Last year it was a thrilling 88-84 overtime verdict and the year before an 80-68 decision. The Jayhawks have worn the Big 12 crown five times thus far in 11 opportunities, while Texas has played in the championship game four times but come up empty in each effort. As far as the all-time series between the schools is concerned, Kansas is ahead by a count of 14-6.
Brandon Rush saved his best for Saturday afternoon as he tallied a career-high 28 points in the win over Texas A&M during the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament. Rush made good on 5-of-8 shot behind the three-point line for the Jayhawks and was a perfect 5-of-5 at the free-throw line. Darnell Jackson added 14 points as the only other double-digit scorer for the group. Kansas dropped 53.8 percent of its total shots and turned the ball over just seven times on the day. Currently second on the team in scoring, Rush accounts for 12.7 ppg on 42.0 percent shooting beyond the arc, which is almost where he is for field goal shooting overall (.421). Darrell Arthur checks in with 13.0 ppg and Jackson another 11.9 ppg on a sizzling 63.9 percent from the field. Jackson is the leader on the glass for the team with his 6.9 rpg, which has meant quite a bit to a unit that is beating the opposition on the boards by an average of almost eight per game.
Ahead by just seven points at the break, Texas opened up the offense in the second half and outscored the Sooners to cruise to the commanding 28-point win on Saturday. As the Longhorns connected on 53.8 percent from the field in the second half, the defense for the squad limited Oklahoma to a mere 27.6 percent and 2-of-14 behind the three-point line. A.J. Abrams accounted for 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting beyond the arc, followed by D.J. Augustin and Damion James with 17 and 13 points, respectively, with the latter also clearing a team-best nine rebounds along the way. Prior to Saturday's outing, Augustin had led the team in scoring in seven straight games, which is why he is one of the top performers in the nation and currently leads the group with his 19.8 ppg. But more than just a scorer, few players can operate an offense like Augustin who averages almost six assists per game as well. Abrams (16.1 ppg) and James (13.2 ppg) provide plenty of scoring support, while James is not only a 43.7 percent shooter behind the three-point line, but also one of the top rebounders in the Big 12 with 10.7 per game.
Both teams play an exciting brand of basketball, but with the way the Longhorns handled Oklahoma yesterday it would be tough to pick against Abrams and Augustin in a pivotal contest.
