SB Nation Kansas City - Kansas Clears Another Hurdle With Kansas State Sweephttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2012-02-14T08:11:49-06:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/25600382012-02-14T08:11:49-06:002012-02-14T08:11:49-06:00Kansas Clears Another Hurdle With Kansas State Sweep
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<p>At the beginning of the year Kansas was talking about taking a step back. Early departures and graduation left the team with just a shell from an Elite Eight team that won the Big 12 a year ago, yet Kansas is right back in the hunt for a Big 12 title and even in the conversation for a number one seed.</p>
<p>In order to do that the Jayhawks likely need to win out and they cleared another big hurdle last night with a road win against Kansas State. The win completes a sweep of the Jayhawks in state rival and just a week after sweeping 3rd place Baylor, Kansas is well positioned to make a run at an eighth straight Big 12 crown.</p>
<p>At this point it's a two team race with Missouri being the other team in contention. Missouri of course won the first meeting between the two teams in Columbia, but a return trip to Lawrence is just 11 days away on the calendar. </p>
<p>Heading into the final stretch it looked as if Missouri had gained a favorable draw following their win against the Jayhawks. The Tigers were facing what looked to be an easier schedule down the stretch and Kansas had road trips to Baylor and last night in Manhattan on the schedule. With other games still posing potential stumbling blocks, those were two that both sides viewed as big in terms of a possible Jayhawk setback.</p>
<p>With wins in both games and a clean sweep of Kansas State, Kansas now sits in first place for the moment and clears yet another hurdle in the long Big 12 regular season. With just five games remaining Kansas will now have a week between games and a chance to rest up before taking on Texas Tech this Saturday in Lawrence. That would certainly seem like a win based on the Red Raiders struggles, then Kansas heads to College Station where they'll need to avoid overlooking a road opponent just days before Missouri steps foot into Allen Fieldhouse. </p>
<p>If Kansas can take the three game winning streak they are currently on and extend that three more, then the Jayhawks will sit at least one game ahead of Missouri with two games to play. That doesn't assure a Big 12 title, but it would be a huge step toward accomplishing that feat. And in a year where Kansas was expected to be down, it would be one of the better coaching jobs by head coach Bill Self and a testament to a Kansas program that consistently faces higher expectations than any team in the league.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-jayhawks/2012/2/14/2797260/kansas-clears-another-hurdle-with-kansas-state-sweepOwen RCT2012-02-13T22:30:30-06:002012-02-13T22:30:30-06:00Kansas Vs. Kansas State Final Score: Jayhawks Hang On 59-53
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/kansas-jayhawks">Kansas Jayhawks</a> survived a couple of different runs by Kansas State but were able to keep the Wildcats at arms length capturing a 59-53 win. </p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145563/thomas-gipson">Thomas Gipson's</a> free throw with 11:49 remaining erased a 10 point halftime lead for the Jayhawks. Kansas responded with a 11-0 run to take a 47-37 lead with just 5:38 remaining. The Wildcats would get as close as 55-51 with under 30 seconds remaining in the game but two <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99945/thomas-robinson">Thomas Robinson</a> free throws iced things in the final moments. </p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52446/tyshawn-taylor">Tyshawn Taylor</a> led the Jayhawks with 20 points and five assists. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53330/jeff-withey">Jeff Withey</a> was a major factor at both ends of the court finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks. Thomas Robinson added 10 points and nine rebounds for Kansas who improve to 21-5 and 11-2 in the Big 12 with the win. </p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/31336/jamar-samuels">Jamar Samuels</a> was solid in the loss for the Wildcats finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99951/rodney-mcgruder">Rodney McGruder</a> added 12 points while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123753/will-spradling">Will Spradling</a> tossed in 10. Kansas State falls to 17-8 and 6-7 in the Big 12. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Jayhawks, head over to <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.rockchalktalk.com/">Rock Chalk Talk</a>. For more from the Wildcats check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.bringonthecats.com/">Bring On The Cats</a>. For more on this and every NCAA Basketball game, please head over to the <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-jayhawks/2012/2/nhl">SB Nation NCAA hub</a> page.</span></i></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-jayhawks/2012/2/13/2796760/kansas-vs-kansas-state-2012-final-scoreKris Willis2012-02-13T21:03:35-06:002012-02-13T21:03:35-06:00Kansas Vs. Kansas State Score: Jayhawks Carry 28-18 Lead Into Halftime
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/kansas-jayhawks">Kansas Jayhawks</a> used their size and strength inside to limit Kansas State to a season low for points in a half and grab a 28-18 lead at halftime. </p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/53330/jeff-withey">Jeff Withey</a> has been a factor at both ends of the court scoring eight points in the first half while grabbing four rebounds. Withey also recorded four blocks in the first half and helped the Jayhawks limit the Wildcats to just 23 percent shooting in the first half. </p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52446/tyshawn-taylor">Tyshawn Taylor</a> also scored eith points in the first half while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99945/thomas-robinson">Thomas Robinson</a> added five points and six rebounds. </p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/31336/jamar-samuels">Jamar Samuels</a> scored 11 of Kansas State's 18 first-half points and also added nine rebounds. Leading scorer <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/99951/rodney-mcgruder">Rodney McGruder</a> struggled through the first 20 minutes scoring five points on just 2-10 shooting. </p>
<p><i style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">For more on the Jayhawks, head over to <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.rockchalktalk.com/" target="_blank">Rock Chalk Talk</a>. For more from the Wildcats check out <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.bringonthecats.com/" target="_blank">Bring On The Cats</a>. For more on this and every NCAA Basketball game, please head over to the <a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #232e80; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-jayhawks/2012/2/nhl">SB Nation NCAA hub</a> page.</span></i></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-jayhawks/2012/2/13/2796643/kansas-vs-kansas-state-2012-scoreKris Willis2012-02-13T07:00:54-06:002012-02-13T07:00:54-06:00K-State Is Kansas' Last Major Hurdle Before Missouri Comes Calling
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<figcaption>Missouri is unbeaten at home this season in Columbia, where the Tigers are 14-0.</figcaption>
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<p>Missouri and Kansas won big on Saturday, and Kansas has another big game tonight against Sunflower Showdown rival Kansas State.</p> <p>If you were a road team on Saturday in the <a href="http://www.big12sports.com">Big 12</a>, you had no chance. All five games were won by wide margins by the home teams, including winless <a href="http://www.redraiders.com">Texas Tech </a>(0-11 previously in Big 12 play), claiming its first "W" in league competition in an 18-point blowout over fellow bottom-feeder <a href="http://www.soonersports.com">Oklahoma</a> before a half-empty house in Lubbock.</p>
<p>A weekend replay sums up this way: <a href="http://www.mutigers.com">Missouri </a>and <a href="http://www.kuathletics.com">Kansas</a> continue to pummel their opponents, heading toward a Showdown of gargantuan proportions two weeks out with the conference crown looming for the winner. Baylor continues to fall while Iowa State continues to move up in the standings. And <a href="http://www.kstateathletics.com">Kansas State </a>is in grave danger of falling out of the March Madness conversation after blowing a 13-point halftime lead at Texas and having to turn right around a face and even tougher test against a Kansas Jayhawk team playing about as well as anybody in the country right now.</p>
<p>The one saving grace for Kansas State in its game tonight vs. the Jayhawks is the game is in Manhattan, where Kansas suffered its worst regular-season defeat a year ago, losing to the Wildcats by 16 points.</p>
<p>Unless things change pretty drastically between now and March 3, the final weekend of the regular season, the four teams that will be earning coveted first-round byes in the Big 12 postseason tournament will be Missouri, Kansas , without question, <a href="http://www.cyclones.com">Iowa State </a>and, most likely <a href="http://www.baylorbears.com">Baylor</a>, although the Bears appear to be on a steep downward spiral at the present. Two games still separates the stumbling Bears, but neither Texas nor Kansas State appears to have the staying power to make up the difference, even with six games still remaining.</p>
<p>As far as K-State is concerned, coach Frank Martin is searching desperately for something positive to help get his team turned around. In doing so, he can't afford to look backward or too far forward, because there is nothing the Cats can do about the second-half collapse at Texas, and his teams next three games are against Kansas, Missouri and Baylor, all teams that are ahead of Kansas State in the standings. Here is something positive for Wildcat fans to contemplate, though: If Kansas State were to pull off the upset in any or all of the next three games, they will have a quality win or two to point to that could just get them off the bubble come NCAA Tournament selection time.</p>
<p>At this late stage, there isn't too much mystery left in the Big 12 men's basketball race. Five or six teams are probably going to get into the NCAA Championship from the Big 12, with the Jayhawks and Tigers the only ones right now whose places are secure. Baylor and Iowa State are almost sure selections, but the final two spots are still up for grabs, with Kansas State and Texas currently holding on for dear life.</p>
<p>ESPN March Madness guru Joe Lunardi currently has Missouri projected as one of the four top seeds in the NCAA Tournament, and some experts are even considering the Tigers a strong contender to be one of the final four teams standing. One of the chief reasons for this is that the high field-goal and free-throw percentage of Mizzou's four guard, senior-dominated lineup can be a critical advantage come tournament time when the ability to score and shoot free throws late can be the difference between winning and losing in a one-game elimination tournament. In the interest of fair balance, however, I hasten to point out that the Tigers have never been to a Final Four.</p>
<p><i>Kansas City Star</i> sports columnist Sam Mellinger had the perfect description of the Tigers this season: "They are short, but quick. They can be overpowered around the basket, but win a game from the three-point line. They can give up baskets, but make up for it on the other end," Mellinger writes.</p>
<p>Despite a 15-point win over his alma mater on Saturday, coach Bill Self was not happy with the Jayhawks' second-half performance against <a href="http://www.okstate.com">Oklahoma State</a>, on a day in which KU wore throwback uniforms and honored its 1952 national championship team. Kansas jumped all over the Cowboys early, shooting almost 70 percent in the first half and running out to a 27-point halftime lead. The Jayhawks let the lead evaporate all the way down to 12 points in the second half, committing 11 turnovers to none for the Cowboys.</p>
<p>"This is like an NCAA Tournament game," the KU coach said. "You have a lead, come out flat for five minutes in the second half and you can't get the momentum back. It's a good learning experience."</p>
<p>In addition to KU-K-State tonight, there is another big game on the schedule down in Waco, where Baylor will take on Iowa State, the team they're tied with for third place. Baylor will be trying to stop a two-game losing skid against the top teams in the league. Four of the Bears' last eight games have been against Kansas and Missouri. Before then, Baylor had won its first 17 games of the season and was ranked No, 4 in the country.</p>
<p><b>For more information:</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.kansascity.sbnation.com/users/Owen">
<p>Kansas Jayhawks sports news and commentary</p>
<p>More Missouri Tigers' sport new</p>
</a><a href="http://www.kansascity.sbnation.com/users/TB"></a><a href="http://www.kansascity.sbnation.com/users/Owen"></a><a></a>s</p>
<p>Additional Kansas State Wildcats sports news</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2012/2/13/2793903/k-state-is-kansas-last-major-hurdle-before-missouri-comes-callingChip Rouse2012-02-13T03:58:00-06:002012-02-13T03:58:00-06:00Kansas Vs. Kansas State: Game Time, TV Schedule And More
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/kansas-jayhawks">Kansas Jayhawks</a> and the Kansas State Wildcats will square off in their second installment of the Sunflower State Showdown on the basketball court Monday night as KU looks to solidify a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament while K-State looks to solidify their place in NCAA tournament.</p>
<p>Kansas came out victorious in the first matchup in Lawrence back on January 4th, as Bill Self's basketball team ambushed the Wildcats 67-49. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52450/travis-releford">Travis Releford</a> had a huge game as his 16 points and 11 rebounds helped the Jayhawks batter and bruise the Wildcats. KU outrebounded K-State 48-24, and that's surely going to be a point of emphasis for Frank Martin in the rematch.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Here is all the pertinent information you'll need for Monday night's battle for the Sunflower State.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Game Date/Time: </b><span style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Monday</span><span style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"></span>, February 13, 8 p.m. CT</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Location: </b><span style="outline-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">Bramlage Coliseum, Manhattan, Kansas</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">TV:</b> ESPN/ESPN3</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><b style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Radio: </b>K-State Sports Network/<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sirius 91/XM 91</span></p>
<p><i><b>We'll have plenty more on this game on SB Nation Kansas City, so keep it locked to this StoryStream for the latest news. For more on the Jayhawks, head over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rockchalktalk.com">Rock Chalk Talk</a>. For more from the Wildcats check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bringonthecats.com">Bring On The Cats</a>. For more on this and every NCAA Basketball game, please head over to the <a href="../../nhl">SB Nation NCAA hub</a> page. </b></i></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-jayhawks/2012/2/13/2796068/kansas-basketball-ksu-game-time-tv-scheduleEddie Maisonet