Keys to the game
Tennessee's scoring offense vs. Kansas' scoring defense. The Vols rank 8th in the nation in scoring offense, netting an average of 84.1 points per game. The Jayhawks, though, rank 66th in the nation in scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 61.8 points per contest.
Kansas' scoring offense vs. Tennessee's scoring defense. Kansas scores an average of 79.9 points per game, and Tennessee gives up an average of 73.2 points per game.Their ranking? 26. Our ranking? 267th. Uh-oh. Expect the Jayhawks to score more than their average and Tennessee to score fewer than theirs. Both teams in the 80s? Kansas in the 80s and Tennessee in the 70s?
Apparent advantages
Kansas advantages. Scoring defense, scoring margin, FG% defense, FT%, blocks, steals, turnover margin.
Tennessee advantages. Scoring offense, three-point FGs, three-point FG defense, assists.
Pushes. FG%, rebound margin.
Kansas players to watch
Sophomore center Cole Aldrich. Aldrich leads the team in FG% (59.6%), FT% ( 87.2%), rebounds (10.5 per game), and blocks (2.6 per game). He's ranked nationally in each of those categories at 22, 33, 15, and 20, respectively.
Junior guard Sherron Collins. Collins leads the team in points (18 per game), assists (4.9 per game), and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.96).
KEY STATS COMPARISON |
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 |
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| Category | Rank |
Actual |
Rank |
Actual |
| Scoring Offense | 8 |
84.1 |
26 |
79.9 |
| Scoring Defense | 267 |
73.2 |
66 |
61.8 |
| Scoring Margin | 60 |
10.9 |
17 |
18.1 |
| Field-Goal Percentage | 62 |
47.1 |
59 |
47.1 |
| Field-Goal Percentage Defense | 180 |
43.0 |
21 |
37.2 |
| Three-Point Field Goals Per Game | 128 |
6.7 |
170 |
6.2 |
| Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage | 204 |
32.4 |
125 |
35.4 |
| Three Pt FG Defense | 144 |
0.329 |
246 |
0.359 |
| Free-Throw Percentage | 128 |
69.7 |
51 |
72.8 |
| Rebound Margin | 13 |
9.7 |
12 |
9.9 |
| Assists Per Game | 10 |
18.3 |
22 |
17.4 |
| Assist Turnover Ratio | 43 |
1.2 |
30 |
1.25 |
| Blocked Shots Per Game | 148 |
3.4 |
37 |
5.1 |
| Steals Per Game | 158 |
7.0 |
58 |
8.5 |
| Turnovers Per Game | 217 |
15.3 |
126 |
13.9 |
| Turnover Margin | 199 |
-0.6 |
78 |
2.5 |
| Personal Fouls Per Game | 303 |
21.4 |
227 |
19.7 |
| PLAYERS TO WATCH | |
|
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| Category | Player | Rank | Actual | Player | Rank | Actual |
| Points PG | Tyler Smith | 100
|
17.6
|
Sherron Collins | 82
|
18.0
|
| FG% | Cole Aldrich | 22
|
59.6
|
|||
| 3-Point FG PG | ||||||
| 3-Point FG% | ||||||
| FT % | Cole Aldrich | 33
|
87.2
|
|||
| Rebounds PG | Wayne Chism | 97
|
7.9
|
Cole Aldrich | 15
|
10.5
|
| Assists PG | Bobby Maze | 82
|
4.7
|
Sherron Collins | 73
|
4.9
|
| Blocks PG | Cole Aldrich | 20
|
2.6
|
|||
| Steals PG | ||||||
| Assist-TO Ratio |
Bobby Maze | 26
|
2.76
|
Sherron Collins | 91
|
1.96
|