(Sports Network) — The fourth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will take on the Colorado State Rams in the Kansas City Shootout this evening, as the two teams collide at the Sprint Center.
Bill Self's Jayhawks are 8-0 for the second straight year and the fourth time under his watchful eye. KU has certainly looked the part of a national title contender this year and earned a marquee victory last time out, posting an 81-68 win over nationally-ranked Memphis in New York City as part of the Jimmy V Classic from Madison Square Garden.
Tim Miles is in his fourth season at the helm at Colorado State. His Rams have four wins in their first six games this season but come into this contest following a 90-83 bitter loss to rival Colorado on Wednesday.
This marks the first time that these two programs have met on the hardwood.
The 121st edition of the Rocky Mountain Showdown proved to be worth the price of admission, as the Buffaloes and Rams went toe-to-toe for the full 40 minutes and then overtime. In the extra session, the Rams could not hold serve and fell to CU by seven points. Other than its .286 shooting in overtime, CSU shot the ball well overall, finishing at 55.2 percent for the game. Travis Franklin led the way with 19 points, followed closely by Andy Ogide's 17. Wes Eikmeier and Jesse Carr tallied 13 and 10 points, respectively. Offense has not been a problem for Colorado State, as the team has scored 80 or more points in four of its six games and is currently averaging 81.3 ppg on a stout .533 shooting. Ogide and Franklin form a solid one-two punch, averaging 17.5 and 16.2 ppg, respectively. Ogide is also tops on the team in rebounding, hauling in 8.0 caroms per game.
Kansas has its own dynamic duo in brothers Marcus and Markieff Morris and both were instrumental in the victory over the Tigers last time out. Markieff led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Marcus tallied 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Tyshawn Taylor added 13 points to the cause, while Thomas Robinson came off the bench with 10. The Jayhawks shot 51.7 percent from the floor in the first half but took just a two-point lead into the locker room. However, a scorching .630 performance after the break turned a close game into a comfortable victory. This team has really excelled offensively this season, leading the Big 12 in scoring (88.8 ppg), scoring margin (+28.3), field-goal percentage (.569) and three-point accuracy (.415). Marcus Morris leads the way with 18.0 ppg thanks to 63.2 percent shooting. Markieff adds 12.4 ppg and paces KU in rebounding at 8.9 rpg. Taylor adds 10.8 ppg, but is much more valuable as a distributor, leading the Big 12 in assists (6.4 apg).
This is CSU's first trip outside of the state of Colorado. Unfortunately for the Rams, it won't be a successful maiden voyage, as Kansas is simply too strong at both ends of the floor.
GAME NOTES: The fourth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will take on the Colorado State Rams in the Kansas City Shootout this evening, as the two teams collide at the Sprint Center.
FACTS & STATS: Site: Sprint Center (18,756) -- Kansas City, Missouri. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Colorado St. 3-1, Kansas 5-0. Away Record: Colorado St. 1-1, Kansas 0-0. Neutral Record: Colorado St. 0-0, Kansas 3-0. Conference Record: Colorado St. 0-0, Kansas 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.