Marquee Matchup: Georgia Tech at KansasPosted: Friday December 31, 2004 1:59PM; Updated: Friday December 31, 2004 2:22PM 
| College Basketball Marquee Matchup |
| SI.com's B.J. Schecter breaks down a big non-conference Top 10 showdown |
 |
No. 9 Georgia Tech (9-1) at No. 2 Kansas (8-0)
Saturday, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Allen Fieldhouse (16,300)
|
 |
|
Give Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt credit for not ducking anyone. After going to the Final Four last year, the Yellow Jackets could have taken the easy road in preparation for the rugged ACC conference season and played a bunch of patsies. Instead, Tech opened at Illinois-Chicago (and nearly lost), fell to Gonzaga in Las Vegas and now travels to Kansas, where the Jayhawks are 128-7 in the last 11 seasons. This highly anticipated game is a rematch of last year's Midwest Regional final, which Georgia Tech won 79-71 in overtime. It will be Kansas' first true test and an important game for the Jayhawks, who will be without star forward Wayne Simien for 4-6 weeks after the All-American suffered an injury to his left thumb. Both teams love to get up and down the floor and will run at every opportunity. New Year's Day might be best known for college football bowl games, but this is one college hoops contest you won't want to miss.
|
| |
|
Luke Schenscher
AP
|
|
Sizing up Georgia Tech
With five seniors (four in the starting lineup), the Yellow Jackets have the experience and poise to win in the most difficult environments. Guard B.J. Elder, fully recovered from an ankle injury that plagued him during the NCAA tournament, is shooting the ball extremely well and leads the team with 14.2 points per game. Kansas must find Elder on the perimeter because when he spots up from 3-point range uncontested, he's automatic. Jarrett Jack (13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds) has stepped up his game and is playing as well as any point guard in the nation. He took 400-500 shots every day last summer and that has helped him become a reliable shooter from outside (56.3 percent from the field).
Will Bynum (11.4 points per game) brings instant offense off the bench. He's explosive off the dribble and a good shooter. When Bynum is in the game, he's the guy Kansas must stop. Luke Schenscher, the 7-1 Aussie center, continues to improve every game. He has awkward-looking but effective post moves and averages 10.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Isma'il Muhammad (9.5 points, 6.1 rebounds per game) might be the most athletic player in the nation and can jump out of the gym. Tech has added depth with highly touted freshmen Anthony Morrow, who's coming off a career-high 20-point performance against Lafayette, and Ra'Sean Dickey.
|
Aaron Miles
David E. Klutho/SI
|
|
Sizing up Kansas
How will the Jayhawks handle the loss of Simien, who leads the team with 17.4 points and 12 rebounds per game? While Keith Langford (15.3 points per game) and J.R. Giddens (10.5) can pick up the scoring, the entire team must crash the boards to make up for the loss of Simien's rebounding. Junior walk-on Christian Moody has been a pleasant surprise, starting all eight games, shooting 62.5 percent from the field and averaging 5.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. But with Simien out, there will be more pressure on the 6-8 Moody to be strong inside while staying out of foul trouble.
Veteran point guard Aaron Miles is Kansas' floor leader and became the Big 12's all-time leader in assists (800) against Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Dec. 22. He averages 8.5 points and 7.8 assists per game and must continue to stay aggressive against Georgia Tech. Russell Robinson (7.9 points per game), a flashy guard from New York City, gives the Jayhawks a huge spark off the bench and is a rising star. Alex Galindo (5.8 points per game), a freshman forward, must also give Kansas productive minutes off the bench.
Intangibles
Georgia Tech is explosive offensively, but the Yellow Jackets also know how to defend. They lead the ACC in scoring defense (54.7 points per game) and are 35-2 the last two seasons when holding opponents under 80 points. ... Tech has won 17 of its last 27 games away from home. ... The Yellow Jackets must play under control. Kansas will often try to go small and keep the game at a fast pace, but Tech must play smart and know when to slow it down and pound the ball inside. ... Schenscher must get touches. Inside, Kansas has nobody to match up against him.
Without Simien, Kansas needs all the help it can get and must make sure it gets a lift from the crowd the entire game. ... The Jawhawks must avoid a half-court game at all costs and should run, run, run at every opportunity. ... Foul trouble could really hurt Kansas, which must use its fouls judiciously. ... Three-point field goals are going to play a huge role in this game. If Kansas can shoot well from outside, the Jayhawks will have a good chance of winning.
|
| |
Georgia Tech F Isma'il Muhammad
• Senior, 6-foot-6, 228
• Stats: 9.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg
• Two of the nation's top athletes square off in what should be an entertaining individual battle. Muhammad is known for his acrobatic dunks and can rise on the glass with the best of them, but he will be called on for his defense. Not only will he have to keep Giddens in check, but he will also be asked to guard Langford at times.
Kansas G J.R. Giddens
• Sophomore, 6-5, 200
• Stats: 10.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg
• Lightning-quick with a killer first step, Giddens will need to use his speed against the stronger Muhammad and must take him outside. Giddens will also have to straddle the fine line between being more aggressive and forcing things.
|
| |
|
After a relatively easy early non-conference schedule, Kansas needs a test to find out how good it really is. The Jayhawks have to be more resourceful without Simien, and they will. Kansas has the athletes to stay with Georgia Tech and will try to follow the same formula that Gonzaga used to beat the Yellow Jackets: contest every shot (Tech hit just 32 percent of its attempts from 3) and crash the boards (the Zags outrebounded the Yellow Jackets 41-36). Both teams are well-coached and will be adequately prepared, but Georgia Tech has a slight edge for two reasons: 1) The Yellow Jackets are at full strength; and 2) They have played a tougher schedule. That should be enough to come away with a hard-fought victory on the road in a game that will likely be close until the end.
Georgia Tech 85, Kansas 83
|
| |
|
 |
|
