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With only two games left in the regular season, there are some tight conference races with teams battling for either number one seeds for their tournament or to improve their position to be able to host the opening round or two. The Big 12 conference is no different, as the two teams (both nationally ranked) Texas A&M Aggies and the Kansas Jayhawks (who will probably move up to number two tomorrow) need to come away from Phog Allen Fieldhouse (Wednesday night) with a victory. Kansas (12-2 in the Big 12; 27-2 overall) who defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 82-70 their last time out (Saturday, February 26) caught a break when conference leader Texas Longhorns (12-2 in the Big 12; 24-5 overall) couldn’t hold onto a 22-point lead and fell to Colorado 91-89. Texas holds the tie-breaker (by virtue of winning the only match-up with Kansas this year 74-63) in case of a co-champion situation meaning the Longhorns would be the number one seed in the conference tournament.

Texas plays host to Kansas State on Monday and then travels to Baylor Saturday. In the meantime, Kansas must take care of their business at hand starting with Texas A&M (9-5 in the Big 12;22-6 overall) before worrying about their final game which won’t be a walk in the park as they have to travel to (also nationally ranked in the last poll) Missouri (22-7, 8-6 in the Big 12).

Kansas will probably move up one spot in the polls due to #1 Duke losing to Virginia Tech (64-60, Saturday) comes in Wednesday’s match-up on a three game winning streak and is 9-1 in their last 10 games. Kansas, who averages 83.8 points a game which leads the Big 12 Conference and is the fourth most nationally, is 16-1 at home and 2-1 vs. the AP Top 25. Kansas’ only setbacks this year is at Kansas State (84-68) and against Texas. Kansas State was the preseason conference favorite and though they had their issues early, they are coming on having won four straight while Texas who was ranked fifth in the nation before falling to Colorado is a very good team. Defensively, Kansas is decent allowing slightly less than 65 points a game (64.9) which ranks the Jayhawks fifth in the Big 12.

Kansas who is led by the Morris twins (Marcus Morris 17.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 60.9% FG, 35.9% 3-pointers; Markief Morris 13.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 60.2 FG, 41.3% 3-pointers) is the top shooting team in the nation (52.3%). Kansas also grabs an average of 38.4 rebounds (11.4 offensively) a game (30th most nationally) and dishes out 18.4 dimes (ranked first nationally). In addition, Kansas launches 19.1 three-pointers a game connecting on 7.5 (39.3%), shoots 67.5% (15.8-23.55) from the free throw stripe, commits 14 turnovers and block four shots.

The Morris twins can do everything well and have been the rock behind the Rock-Sock-Jayhawk slogan. Marcus Morris is 6’9” and is a little more athletic and more of a pure scorer than the inch taller Markief Morris (6’10”). Both Morris twins can either post-up or shoot from the perimeter though Marcus (23-64) likes to shoot the long bombs a little more Markief (19-46). While Marcus Morris is slightly more gifted offensively, Markief Morris (team high 34 blocks) leads the Big 12 conference with 11 double-doubles and is a little bigger body than Marcus. Both Morris twins make a living getting to the charity stripe as Marcus Morris is 108 for162 (66.6% )while Markief Morris is 79 for 118 (66.9%).

Reserve freshman guard Josh Selby is the only other Kansas player to score in double figures (10.4 PPG, 3.0 APG) though senior guard Tyrel Reed (who has attempted the most treys this year with 143 connecting on 39.2%; 9.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 42.9% FG ) and sophomore forward Thomas Robinson (8.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 62.8% FG) have been solid. Kansas has the talent to go nine or ten deep but with the variety of issues Kansas has dealt with this year Bill Self (Kansas coach) hasn’t been able to use his rotation like he probably would like to.

Now with the suspension of point guard and leading distributor Tyshawn Taylor (team rules violation; Taylor has missed the two previous games), Self may not have a full squad available until the conference tournament. Taylor (a junior is averaging 8.8 points a game and 4.7 assists) is extremely quick and talented but has infuriated Self with his inconsistent play.

Texas A&M enters the game Wednesday (currently ranked #21 in the AP top 25 though they might fall a couple of places when the new poll comes out) needs a victory to secure the third seed in the Big 12 Conference tournament and possibly position itself for a six or seven seed in the NCAA tournament. Texas A&M is coming off a 58-51 due to their woeful shooting performance hitting just 19 of their 54 shots (the Aggies who have connected on 44.5% of their shots this season which is 128th best in the nation). Texas A&M has a cushion of one game over Kansas State and Missouri for third place a first round bye in the Big 12 tournament. The Aggies closes the regular season out the Saturday against Texas Tech.

Texas A&M, who is 3-2 vs. the AP Top 25 and 5-3 in road games faces a tough task against the more athletic and taller Jayhawks, has had trouble scoring this season averaging 69.4 points a game (166th nationally; 5th in the Big 12). Texas A&M attempts 15.51 three-pointers a game knocking down 5.24 a game (33.8% which is well below average) however, the Aggies do get to line a decent amount (16.3-23.4) and knocks down 70% of those shots. Texas A&M is a solid defensive team surrendering only 60.5 points a game which is the second fewest in the Big 12 Conference. Also, Texas A&M does a decent job rebounding hauling in 36.8 a game (83rd nationally) but has gone to the offensive glass hard collecting 12.4 rebounds a game. Texas A&M also turns the ball over only 12.2 times a game. Due to their lack of outside shooting, Texas A&M relies on their frontcourt to provide most of their scoring punch. 6’7” sophomore forward Khris Middleton (14.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 45.6% FG and 35.6% 3-3pters) and 6’8” junior forward David Loubeau (11.2 PPG 4.9 RPG and 49.6% FG) are the Aggies only double figure scorers. Though senior guard BJ Holmes (9.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 42% FG) and 6’7 forward Nathan Walkup (9.7 PPG 5.8 RPG, 50.5% FG and 34.7 3-pointers) have the ability to produce.

Recap of the Last Game

Kansas 82 Oklahoma 70

The Kansas Jayhawks got a huge game from the Morris twins who combined for 42 points and 19 rebounds (Marcus Morris 23 points and 9 rebounds; Markief Morris chipped in with 19 points and 10 rebounds to win their third straight game 82-70 over the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman (Oklahoma) Saturday. Kansas who shot 56.8% (25-44) from the field, which marks the 21st time this season Kansas has connected on over 50% of their shots, defeated Oklahoma for the seventh straight time in the series. Kansas knocked down 6 of their 14 shots from beyond the arc, went to the line an astounding 35 times (making 26) and collected 11 offensive caroms. Kansas did turn the ball over 13 times while forcing just six Oklahoma miscues. Oklahoma connected on just two less field than the Jayhawks (23-50; 46%) and the same number of shots from long distance six (6-19). The main difference in the game was the disparity in free throws. The Sooners who connected on a slightly better percentage (78% to 74) from the line had 12 fewer attempts producing eight less points than Kansas (18-23).

Kansas, without Taylor (as mentioned above), got a scare when Johnson (five points in 16 minutes)left the game with about 12½ minutes left to play with a neck injury. However, according to Kansas Coach Bill Self, Johnson’s x-rays revealed no damage and he could’ve returned to game if needed. Kansas who outrebounded Oklahoma 33 to 14, led 45-33 at halftime. Besides the Morris twins, Reed (11 points) was the only other Jayhawk to reach double-figures in scoring.

Baylor 58 Texas A&M 51

Texas A&M traveled to Waco on Saturday night and came away disappointed falling to the Baylor Bears 58-51. Texas A&M as usual played solid defense but like so many times this year the Aggies had trouble scoring. Texas A&M shot just 35% from the floor which was their third lowest shooting performance of the year. Texas A&M also only knocked down 5 of their 22 (22.7%) shots from beyond the three-point arc and committed 13 turnovers while only dishing out 6 assists.

The Aggies defense held Baylor to 19 of 48 shooting (39.6%) and 4-15 (26.7%) from beyond arc while forcing 14 turnovers. However, Texas A&M committed 21 fouls putting the Baylor at the line 24 times (9 more free-throws then the Aggies attempted which resulted in an 8 point difference; Baylor was 16-24 from the charity stripe while A&M was 8-15).

Baylor who was up 32-28 at halftime, got hot early in the second half and built a 41-32 lead with 10:29 left. The Aggies then went on 7-0 run but Baylor had answer hitting two three-pointers and four foul shots to regain control of the contest 53-43. Middleton put up a double-double (12 points and 10 boards) for the Aggies but was on 4 for 12 from the floor (33%) and connected on just two of his seven three point shots (28.5%). Forward David Loubeau also hit double figures with 14 points on 6-8 shooting.

Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon disappointed with the Aggies offense credited Baylor’s defense, “Their zone was fantastic. It was like they had six guys out there. They were everywhere. And our zone attack wasn’t very good.”

Final Analysis

Kansas is rolling after their misstep against Kansas State and according to Reed are on a mission, “Every year, we go in wanting to win the Big 12 and win the Big 12 Tournament and then have the best opportunity for a number one seed. We’ve got two more games and I guess the balls in our court and we’ve got to take care of business.” In addition, Kansas seldom loses at Phog Allen Fieldhouse, winning 94.8% of their games there under Self (128-7).

Though Kansas is not as good defensively as Texas A&M, the Jayhawks just have too much firepower as either Morris twin (Marcus is the more likely one), Selby, Reed, Taylor (if his suspension is lifted), senior Mario Little or Reed and senior Brady Morningstar (if they get hot) can carry the offensive load. In conference play, Kansas (averaging 81.64) has only been held under 80 points three times. Defensively, Kansas (72.07) has allowed their Big 12 brethren to put up 65 or more points 12 times.

Texas A&M (averaging 64.92 points a game in conference) doesn’t have the shooting ability or firepower to get into a transition game with Kansas, though Holmes who has knocked down 41% of his three-pointers (41-100) and has gotten to the line 104 times (hitting 80 of them) could cause the Jayhawks problems. Otherwise, the Aggies (given up 63.35 points a game in conference play) will have to slow the game down by working the ball inside to Middleton, Loubeau and Walkup and play typical Texas A&M defense.

The Aggies do have a wildcard (Holmes could be considered one but I’m sure the Jayhawks are aware of him) and that is freshman forward Kourtney Robinson (12.9 MPG, 5.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 60% FG). Robinson who is athletic and provides depth for the Aggies frontline could be a difficult match-up for the Jayhawks frontline if the Aggies can get the Morris twins into foul trouble.