SATURDAY DECEMBER 19, 2009
Michigan Wolverines (5-4) v #1 Kansas Jayhawks (9-0)
The Michigan Wolverines will tip off at Phog Allen Fieldhouse against the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday in Lawrence, Kansas.
These teams have met three times since 1980 with Michigan owning the series 3-0, including a 96-77 win Jan 27, 1985.
Xavier Henry recorded a season-high 31 points, including four 3-pointers leading the Jayhawks to a 90-65 victory over LaSalle on Saturday at the Sprint Center. Marcus Morris had had his first double double with 12 points, and 12 rebounds while center Cole Aldrich added 19 points, six rebounds and five blocks. Tyshawn Taylor was steady at the point guard position, scoring 10 points with six assists. Through nine games Henry is averaging 18.0 points while hitting 54 percent of his shots. Kansas is ranked in the top 10 in eight statistical categories. They are No. 2 in scoring margin (Texas is #1, with 31.6 points per game) and are among the nation’s leaders in field-goal percentage, while also being ranked second in field-goal percentage defense.
Junior Guard Manny Harris put up 27 points while DeShawn Sims scored 23 leading the Michigan Wolverines to a 75-64 win over Detroit on Sunday. Harris and Sims — the teams leading scorers, are averaging more points per game than they did in 2008, but the rest of the team is still off the mark. Despite Harris’ efforts to keep the Wolverines in games, including a triple-double — 18 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists against Northern Michigan in the first game of the season, the Wolverines are struggling both offensively and defensively. Mostly due in part to an inexperienced backcourt and little size up front.
Odds have the Kansas Jayhawks a -20 point favorite.
Michigan has started poorly after being ranked No. 15 in the preseason for the first time since 1996, following its first NCAA tournament bid in more than a decade. They are scoring an average of 70 points per game, while the Jayhawks are putting up 90 PPG.
Kansas should have no problem grabbing another double digit win at home in this one.
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