The Kansas Jayhawks

[Joneslab]

Now we come to Kansas.

Kansas was one of the preseason favorites to win the whole thing, but now they're reeling. They've lost three of their last five and have really been blown out in a couple of those. They really haven't been right since the epic win over Oklahoma, barely scraping by TCU and Texas at home, and letting Texas Tech hang around.

This is a team that really goes as their first five go. They come off the bench with a couple of guys--watch Green from three--but if they're going to win it'll be on the backs of their starters. Wayne Selden, Jr. looked like he was going to be a first team AA, but he's sputtered lately. Perry Ellis has trouble against bigger players. And they've just not been sharp as a team.

But how much of that is just the grind of the Big 12 and how much is due to flaws in their team remains to be seen. I think they're still one of the three or four best teams in America and will be pumped and ready for this game Saturday. But if Kentucky can play like it's been playing we will have a chance to get one of the tougher regular season wins of the Cal era.

The game is at 7:00 Saturday night on ESPN.

[Joneslab]

Really if you look at the rosters Kentucky doesn't match up that poorly against them.

Kansas will not get much from their 5 men. They're undersized at the 4. They want to run like we do and get quick shots off of Frank Mason's penetration. Just like Kentucky with Ulis.

I think a key will be how we can guard that high/low game that Self always runs. We need the good Poythress, because he's going to be matched up against Perry Ellis. If Poythress gets in foul trouble then it'll be Lee, and Lee is a fouling machine. Then Skal. Skal on the road in the Phog = sketchy.

Need Poythress to play, need Willis to play. Willis probably draws a bigger player in this game, and he needs to crash and grab the way he has been. We hopefully won't need him to score 15 points, he just needs to be a factor on the glass. That's been the reason for Kentucky's turnaround and it's changed the consistency of the front line. Willis has been an every-game player; Lee and Poythress just aren't.

But really we need all hands on deck to win this. Murray needs to be hitting and Briscoe needs to be the mad dog that he is and Ulis just needs to be Ulis. Then we might have a chance to win in the last two or three minutes.

[J.Jennings]

Great game last night against Missouri and i feel pretty good about this Kansas game. Best thing about it, i think Skal has turned the corner and as we all know, this is huge............

[TrueblueCATfan]

i think it will be a great game

[KevinHall]

I believe UK will do well in this game. I don't think they will win. Last years team would have had a hard time winning in Phog Allen as does just about everyone that goes in that place. As long as UK plays well and stays in the game I will be happy. The only way I would be disappointed is if they go out there and get thrashed by 30 and just totally give up. I don't think that will happen.

[Matt Dillon]

Ulis won't let them give up.

[KCKUKFan]

Great game last night against Missouri and i feel pretty good about this Kansas game. Best thing about it, i think Skal has turned the corner and as we all know, this is huge............

I don't think Skal will be getting much play in the Kansas game. I don't think Cal completely trusts him yet (his 0 rebounds last night really stuck out), and Cal will only play the guys he "trusts" on the road at a hostile environment like Allen Fieldhouse.

[George]

I don't think Skal will be getting much play in the Kansas game. I don't think Cal completely trusts him yet (his 0 rebounds last night really stuck out), and Cal will only play the guys he "trusts" on the road at a hostile environment like Allen Fieldhouse.

Agreed. HAVE TO rebound to win this game. Somehow, at 7'16", Skal can't do that.

[Joneslab]

Skal just needs to get in there and hold the line. Don't screw up, score a couple of baskets...a veteran front line with strong guys is not an ideal situation for him.

Willis and Poythress though have to play well. A no-show from either of them and we'll get trounced.

[J.Jennings]

I don't think Skal will be getting much play in the Kansas game. I don't think Cal completely trusts him yet (his 0 rebounds last night really stuck out), and Cal will only play the guys he "trusts" on the road at a hostile environment like Allen Fieldhouse.

Not sure if you noticed but Skal is playing a little more out of the paint facing up.

[Joneslab]

Not sure if you noticed but Skal is playing a little more out of the paint facing up.

Which is where he should've been all along, as Cal said last night.

Still, have to rebound it. The guards play out of the paint too but they rebound. Briscoe and Murray were all over the glass last night.

It's clear that Skal is going to help this team in one way and one way only: hitting that jumper and extending the defense. His game is so limited that he almost can do nothing else. Will block a shot very occasionally, but it has to be put on a platter for him.

He has pristine touch though for his size. He's basically a seven-foot, soft, immobile shooting guard.

[J.Jennings]

Say what you want about Skal but the past week this kid has done a complete 180 on the court rebounds or not. Hell, just look in his eyes, he's gone from "deer in headlights" to about half*** crazy looking. I like it, make our team better and takes pressure off Lee and Poythrees to have a perfect game night in and night out, same for Willis............

[Joneslab]

Say what you want about Skal but the past week this kid has done a complete 180 on the court rebounds or not.............

Only played about three minutes just Saturday.

He's put up two solid games in the last week, but I don't know if I'd call it a complete 180. He's at least been a threat out there and hasn't had the ball raked out of his hands so much.

[justford]

A lot of people would look good playing against Missouri.

[Joneslab]

Self is 200-9 at home as the Kansas coach.