The unranked Kansas Jayhawks (19-10, 10-8) stumble into Fertitta Center Monday night to take on the back-to-back Big 12 champion Houston Cougars (25-4, 17-1) for BIG Monday…I just had to type those words one time!

I’m unsure where the Jayhawks have gone wrong this season, but it appears they have a severe lack of on-floor leadership. Hunter Dickinson will again be the “head of the snake,” as he is a stat-stuffing talent. Dickinson gives Houston issues with his ability to pass out of the low-mid post, but he is not the leader that Self thought he would be.

Self has recently voiced that he has been looking for leadership on the floor and hasn’t found it in the past couple of years. The Jayhawks will look for someone to step up in this game and beyond to give them a chance in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments.

As for this game: Senior Night. Clinched Championship. Nets cut. Big Monday. I have no idea what to expect, except that the Jayhawks are desperate for a big win. I’m sure Kelvin Sampson wants to see his seniors finish their final game at Fertitta Center with a win and a season sweep of Kansas looks good on the resumé, regardless of the Jayhawks’ record. I’d bet we will see more of Mercy Miller and Ced Lath in this game and against Baylor on Saturday night. Who would’ve thought that a BIG MONDAY in March against the Jayhawks really would not mean anything in the Big 12 standings?

Kansas National Rankings

• Net – #19; Houston Ranked #3
• Kenpom – #20; Houston Ranked #3
• AP Poll – #NR; Houston Ranked #4 (maybe #3 when this comes out?)
• Coaches Poll – #NR; Houston Ranked #5 (Should be top 3/4 Monday)

Kansas Offensive Rankings (Top 50 in Nation)

#8 – Assists Per Game: 17.7

#22 – Assist/Turnover Ratio: 1.55

#49 – Field Goal Percentage: 47.37%

Jayhawks Defensive Rankings (Top 50 in Nation)

#8 – Rebounds (Defensive) Per Game: 28.31

#12 – Field Goal Percentage (Defense): 39.22%

#15 – Three-Point Percentage (Defense): 29.9

#19 – Fouls Per Game: 14

#25 – Blocks Per Game: 4.8

#34 – Rebounds Per Game: 38.66

Kansas Offense Notes

• The Jayhawks use Dickinson as a facilitator because he draws attention and is an excellent passer. Coach Self said they will play through “Hunt” down the stretch. He and Flory Bidunga gave the Coogs issues with their “hi-low” offense in January at Allen Fieldhouse. The Coogs adjusted well at Fertitta Center last year and will look to do the same this year.
• Kansas wants to get paint touches by getting it to or from their athletic guards and forwards driving to the basket. Zeke Mayo, AJ Storr, KJ Adams, and Dajuan Harris Jr. have all been fantastic at getting paint touches, looking to score or to kick out to guys like Rylan Griffin for three-point opportunities.
• They love to run pick and roll actions and hand-offs to get Dickinson looks to score or to pass to wide open shooters. It will be imperative for the Coogs to communicate on defense and ensure they do not allow any open shots.

Jayhawks Defense Notes

• Kansas typically plays half-court, man-to-man defense but may try some full-court, man-to-man defense.
• They are one of the better defensive teams in the nation, but also times when they don’t seem to care. I would attack the paint and see what it opens up. When Bidunga is out of the game, the Cougars can get clean looks at the rim.
• One of the nation’s better shot-blocking and rebounding teams. 7’2″ Dickinson, 6’9″ pogo-stick Bidunga, and super athlete KJ Adams make those things happen

Kansas Personnel Report (* Indicates Probable Starters)

*#1 – Hunter Dickinson – 7’2″ – GR – Center – (Michigan) – 17ppg, 10rpg.

• LEFTY;
• Huge All-American center. Three-level scorer at 7’2″;
• Excellent in the post. Loves the left-handed hook shot;
• Great mid-range shooter;
• Struggling more from beyond the arc than he has in the past – 9/42 (21%). Down 2% since the last time Houston played them;
• Great decision maker and a great passer.

*#40 – Flory Bidunga – 6’9″ – FR – Forward – 6ppg, 6rpg, 1.5bpg.

• LEFTY;
• Very athletic/long/forward; Think of a hybrid of Ja’Vier and JoJo;
• Excellent around the basket but MUST have it in his left hand to shoot;
• Top notch shot-blocker and rebounder. Extremely long wing-span;
• He is a POWER forward. He wants to dunk everything;

*#5 – Zeke Mayo – 6’4″ – SR – Guard – (South Dakota St.) – 14ppg, 5rpg.

• Athletic three-level scoring guard;
• Really good three-point shooter: 69/177 (39%);
• Can make tough pull-up jumpers off the bounce;
• Likes to get downhill in the paint and make a play inside.

*#3 – Dajuan Harris Jr. – 6’2″ – GR – Guard – 9ppg, 3rpg, 6apg.

• Outstanding point guard;
• At his best when getting in the paint to score or distribute to an open shooter;
• Best floater in college basketball (now that the Shead kid from UH is gone);
• Struggling from three-point land this year; 22/74 (30%);

*#24 – KJ Adams – 6’7″ – SR – Forward – 9ppg, 5rpg.

• Missed the first Houston game with a shoulder injury;
• SUPER athletic forward that can jump out of the gym;
• Not a good shooter outside of the paint. Hasn’t attempted a three-pointer this season;
• At his best in the short pick and roll;
• Coaches and the media LOVE him, but I don’t get it. He plays hard and is super athletic, but he can be a liability. He is a GREAT role player, but coaches and the media treat him as a superstar. But what do I know?

#6 – Rylan Griffen – 6’6″ – JR – Guard – (Alabama) – 7ppg, 2rpg.

• Really good outside shooting guard;
• High-level “Three and D” guy;
• Has taken 162 shots and 106 of those were from 3pt – 39/106 (37%).

#8 – David Coit – 5’11” – SR – Guard – (Atlantic Cape CC/ Northern Illinois) – 5ppg, 2rpg.

• Short/stocky back-up guard;
• Was a great scorer at Northern Illinois and has shown flashes at KU;
• Crafty at getting in the paint to score;
• Solid three-point shooter: 38/98 (39%), up 4% since the last time Houston played them;

#2 – AJ Storr – 6’7″ – JR – Guard – (St. John’s/ Wisconsin) – 6ppg, 2rpg.

• Highly-paid transfer who has been at six schools in the last 6 years (including high school). First-team all-world traveler; I’d bet almost anything he’s back in the portal after this season…buyer beware;
• Long/athletic scoring guard;
• Really good at attacking the rim;
• Capable, but not a good three-point shooter this year – 18/68 (27%);
• Sometimes settles for poor jump shots.

#4 – Rakease Passmore – 6’5″ – FR – Guard – 1ppg, 1rpg.

• Athletic freshman guard;
• May play a bit more than usual with Shak Moore OUT;

#0 – Shakeel Moore – 6’1″ – GR – Guard – (NC State/ Mississippi State) – 4ppg, 2rpg.

• Confirmed OUT for the game with a foot injury;
• LEFTY;
• Smaller guard but a high-energy guy;
• Pesky defender;

Keys to Victory

1. Communicate on defense. Kansas is savvy on offense. They do a good job of finding the open shooters. Last year, when UH doubled Dickinson, he skip-passed to wide-open guys in the opposite corner. It will be critical for UH not to allow any open outside shots.
2. Keep Dickinson and Bidunga off the glass on both ends. They are both big, physical guys in the paint. The Coogs will need great effort to keep them off the glass and allow them to get second chances.
3. Hold the Mayo and Dickinson to under their averages. Zeke and Hunter can be explosive scorers. It will be important for the Coogs not to allow them both to go off.
4. Beat them in fast-break and second-chance points. Neither team is a huge fast-break squad, but both can run. The Coogs need to get some easy transition baskets off of turnovers. The Coogs need to make 2-3 dagger three-pointers off of offensive rebounds in this one.
5. Win for the Seniors. It’s their last game at Fertitta Center. The younger Coogs have to find a way to ensure they go out with a win on the home court that they have SO MANY wins on.

CATS! follows senior night vs. Kansas