*****Offical Kansas vs. Iowa State Thread*****
 

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/preview?gameId=330742305

Coverage: ESPNU/WatchESPN
7:30 PM ET, March 15, 2013

If the first two meetings are any indication, 40 minutes may not be enough to decide a third clash between No. 7 Kansas and Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament semifinals.

After winning a pair of thrilling overtime contests in the regular season, the top-seeded Jayhawks look to punch their ticket to the title game by sweeping the fifth-seeded Cyclones in Kansas City on Friday night.

Iowa State (22-10) advanced to the semis and may have locked up an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament with a 73-66 victory over Oklahoma on Thursday.

Junior Melvin Ejim finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds and senior Will Clyburn had 17 and eight boards as the Cyclones used a 12-0 second-half run to win their first league tournament game since 2005.

The victory also set up a third meeting with the Jayhawks (27-5), who took care of business with a 91-63 rout over Texas Tech on Thursday.

"I can't wait for the opportunity," Clyburn said. "They beat us twice during the year. Probably games we shouldn't have lost, but, hey, I'm ready for payback."

Kansas guard Ben McLemore, who had 24 points against the Red Raiders, also stepped up in a 97-89 overtime victory over the Cyclones on Jan. 9 in Lawrence. The redshirt freshman finished with 33 points and hit all six of his 3-point attempts -- including a game-tying bank shot with one second left at the end of regulation.

Elijah Johnson proved to be the hero in the second meeting, pouring in a career-high 39 points in a 108-96 overtime victory on Feb. 25.

The senior guard scored eight in the final 29 seconds of regulation and 12 in overtime as Kansas put together another late rally to snap the Cyclones' 22-game home winning streak.

"Those two games may be the two most exciting games played in our league this year," said Kansas coach Bill Self, who captured his 500th career victory in the February contest.

McLemore is again playing well for the regular-season co-champs, averaging 24.0 points and hitting 14 of 28 from beyond the arc his last four games.

Senior Jeff Withey totaled 28 points and 22 rebounds while recording a pair of double-doubles against the Cyclones, and he's shot 21 of 23 from the field while recording 20 blocks in his last four contests.

The Jayhawks shot a tourney-record 66.0 percent from the field on Thursday and shot 52.3 percent -- hitting 21 of 44 from 3-point range -- against Iowa State this season.

The Cyclones, however, showed some improvement in that area on Thursday, limiting Oklahoma to 38.1 percent shooting overall and 3 of 18 from beyond the arc.

Ejim had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the January loss to the Jayhawks, but finished with four and seven while battling foul trouble in the second meeting.

After a scoreless performance Thursday, Korie Lucious will try to get back on track in this contest. The senior guard averaged 19.0 points against Kansas this season.

Clyburn also provided a spark in the two meetings, finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds in each contest.

The Cyclones, who lead the nation with 9.9 3-point field goals per game, have made 31 of 79 from that distance against the Jayhawks.

Kansas won 13 straight games in this series by an average of 15.7 points before a loss in Ames last season.

Topekans -- will this game also be on local programming?

Yesterday's game was on ESPN2 and like channel 7 on Cox.

Up here it shows ESPNU

ESPN ticker said ESPNU and to check local programming.

I would assume, or hope a local network in Topeka would carry it too.

Why don't you just name this the

*************OFFICIAL KANSAS V RUST SHACK THREAD**************

Would be more appropriate, no?

Because that should just be silly. He cant play the entire team by himself.

Anybody from the Ames area going to be feasting on a Great Plains pizza during the contest?

Hope no one gets shot tonight

38 the spot in KC

I'm assuming that's local.

Yes, thought Topeka got that also? could be wrong

I am not familiar with the station name. I know it's not that. Like, I said it is like channel 7 through Cox.

I am willing to bet the game will be locally televised like most big 12 tournament games.

just go to Baby Dolls & watch it there

Not tonight, but I eat their pizza on occasion. Good stuff.

Nope.

SASNAK all the way!

Next time you come to SUX, bring me one will ya? :)

Sucks what? ;)

Hope no one tries to beat up Bill Self tonight.

I wish. Haven't had Great Plains since college. Damn. Guess I need to stop back through there next time I'm in the area...

then Cox 7 will show, its no different than a regular season game.

That also makes me think of DaVinci's Pizza in campus town - their pepperoni and cream cheese pizza was to die for. Sad that place closed...

Got a co worker going down there this weekend to visit her son & the bitch won't bring me one! :harumph:

That's my assumption too. :thumb:

Guess I won't know 100% until 6:30.

LMAO it will be on somewhere. You will get it.

Oh, for sure.

I'd much rather in the comfort of my home.

I'll have the girlfriend check for me at 6:30, since I'm off at 7.

If it isn't on, mad dash to the nearest bar. LMAO

whattt theee ****KK!!!!!! whata ****ing BITCH!!!!!!

Self: They should have a chip on their shoulder, but us? Nah, we just play...
Immediately go to Withey: Oh, we have a chip on our shoulder, too...

Heh.

Has there been a Mel Weatherwax sighting?

In before the Rustshack.... "5 on 8 isn't fair".

So much for this game. I'm getting the feeling KU bitch slaps the flood aggies tonight.

Wish I could get this game in HD. This sucks. :(

I would assume as a Cats fan you'd rather play KU again, right?

Naturally. As weird as it sounds, I always want a shot at KU.

Niang flop counter is currently at 6.

Not weird at all.

I am hoping for an all Kansas final.

It's weird when you consider our record against ya'll.

Would fit well with the All Kansas Conference.

Excellent call by the ref on that illegal screen. I hate cheaters.

Did you ever figure out the local channel? It's local channel 27, KSNT. I don't know what that is on Cox.

So far Young is playing like garbage on defense and BMac can't keep a hold of the ball.

Well, you can't beat them without playing them.

Good luck against OSU tonight. :thumb:

Yup. Taken care of.

FYP/ Tiger/Aggie/Husker fan

KU playing bad thus far.

True enough, and thanks.


BTW, I would be far from disappointed if the beakers were to lose tonight. KU losing is never a bad thing.

oooooh, its going to be one of those games....

WTF? We are turning it over at an alarming pace.

Well, besides the 25% shooting, 4 turnovers, and ISU's couple of wide open 3s, I really think they've got a shot.

Geez, we can't hit wide open shots.

Playing like a giant pile of dog poop so far.

Someone can make a shot any day now.

That was a great possession. Need more, plz.

BOOOOOOOOOO

B mac scared? Jesus

Booooo!!

Lmao do ISU fans boo everything?

Is that McLemore's 3rd turnover already? JFC

Yes.

Yes.

C'mon Elijah.

Dammit.

When Elijah looks for his shot we struggle.

ISU is out of control now. ROFL

Life.

Nice lay in by Releford. Probably should have been an and 1.

Let's see if Tharpe can get going since EJ has looked off thus far.

EJ has the nicest looking form it just doesn't go in often lol.

9-0 KU run to take the lead.

That's what she said.

This is why I hate conference tournaments. F'ing pointless tournament

Huh? Should be a great night of basketball. :shrug:

Fun game to watch.

I think I agree with that call.

What a dumb*** . Just completely uncalled for McLemore, way to give ISU free points.

Kevin Young's ankle injury

****ing horse shit ****ers

Bill is going to have a heart attack if he isn't careful.

I love seeing McLemore take over.

Pretty borderline, IMO... kind of a dumb thing to do, but not over the top by any means.

Shit, that's what I get for not pausing when getting more beer.