KU

Last time out:

Kansas stopped a three-game skid by beating up the Oklahoma State Cowgirls 66-46. The defense was strong and the game was put away with a 36-7 run. It was the fewest points allowed by the Kansas defense all season.

Player to watch:

Freshman forward Marija Zinic. With sophomore forward Jamie Boyd injured, Zinic will be the first player off the bench and will have to fill in with productive minutes.

Three quick facts:

2 – Times this season Crystal Kemp has been named Big 12 Player of the Week

39 – Kansas’ three-point percentage, best in the conference

2,792 – Average attendance at Allen Fieldhouse this season

Key to victory:

Three-point shooting is a discipline with a distinct home-crowd advantage. The Jayhawk guards will have to tune out the Wildcat faithful and make some shots to take the pressure off Kemp inside. If Kansas can hit shots from outside, Kansas State will have to take its attention away from Kemp to guard the perimeter players.

OFFENSE

As Crystal Kemp goes, so do the Jayhawks. The senior forward leads the team in scoring and her teammates look for her every trip downcourt despite the double-team attention she consistently draws. The offense also threatens opponents from behind the arc, where senior guards Erica Hallman and Kaylee Brown have been the reason Kansas leads the Big 12 in three-point shooting.

DEFENSE

Defense has not been the Jayhawks’ strength this season, and the result has been a lack of fast-break opportunities for an otherwise productive offensive team. The huge performance against Oklahoma State looked good, but it will take a similar performance against a conference contender like Kansas State before Kansas can move forward.

COACHES

Coaches are like officials: they go completely unnoticed until they mess something up, and Bonnie Henrickson hasn’t. When the team started struggling against the zone against the Cowgirls, Henrickson devoted an entire week of practice to beating the zone. Even with a two-day turnaround, the Jayhawks will be ready to play.

KSU

Last Time Out:

Kansas State fell by one in overtime at Texas. The Wildcats had a chance to end the game in regulation, but freshman Shalee Lehning missed two free-throws with 7.5 seconds left with the game tied.

Player to Watch:

Junior forward Claire Coggins is one of the best players Kansas has seen all season. At 5’11”, Coggins can score in the paint and beyond the arch. Look for Coggins to see open looks all night long, with the Kansas defense struggling mightly in conference play.

3 Quick Facts:

25.5 - The Wildcat’s average margin of victory in their eight straight victories against the Jayhawks.

71.2- Kansas State’s team free throw percentage, third-best in the conference.

5,328 – Average attendance at Bramlage Coliseum this season

Key to Victory:

Kansas State has dominated the series since 2002, especially at home at Bramlage Coliseum. If Kansas State can rattle freshman point guard Ivana Catic early and get the crowd involved, look for another purple pounding. Look for Kansas State to play zone and force Kansas’ streaky shooting guards to beat them with jump shots.

OFFENSE

The Wildcats offense, like the Jayhawks, centers on strong post play. Junior forward Clair Coggins leads the Wildcats with 13.1 points per game. Coggins scored a career-high 26 points, including six three-pointers in the Wildcats one-point overtime loss on Sunday at Texas. Kansas State starts two freshmen, Marlies Gipson and JoAnn Hamlin, in the post alongside Coggins. As a team, Kansas State ranks 10th in the Big 12 Conference in scoring offense, averaging 59.3 points per game.

DEFENSE

Defensive pressure in the post is the key to stopping Kansas senior forward Crystal Kemp. Expect the Wildcats to play zone defense, which has given the Jayhawks trouble at times this season. Kansas State is holding its opponents to 38 percent shooting from the field, good for sixth in the conference. The Wildcats also block nearly six shots per game.

COACHES

During the past four season, Deb Patterson has quietly become one of nation’s best coaches. Since the 2002 season, Kansas State is 104-27, including four straight trips to the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats are on track for their fifth consecutive season of at least 20 victories and a postseason bid.