Kansas-Missouri: Jayhawks Must Stay One Step Ahead of Tigers

I read Robert Givens' Missouri-Kansas preview article a few minutes ago.

Good work on an informative take on what Mizzou should do to oust my Jayhawks this evening in the Border Showdown, Mr. G'.

I know I'm cutting it close to the wire, but that article made me realize what will be key for the guys in red and blue on the other side of that border.

KU may be the No. 2 ranked team in the nation right now, but even with the rivalry issues set aside, this game will probably give the Jayhawks some real trouble.

I think the key for Bill Self's club will be getting one step ahead from the get-go and keeping the Tigers at an arm's length.

Robert points out that Missouri can get impatient and isn't a stranger to bad shots from behind the arch.

This is where it gets touchy, though.

Do you play tight on the perimeter and force the quick Missouri guards to slash into the lane? That sounds risky, but you certainly don't want to let the Tigers get hot from deep.

In fact, I think that's the absolute last thing you want to do.

Kansas can force them to slash and play paint-style ball, but it's going to take a stronger effort from very specific personnel.

First of all, Jeff Withey needs to play very well when he's in. He did pretty admirably against Iowa State and is the only guy on this team that Mike Anderson may not be ready for.

Neither Withey nor Aldrich may be quick enough, honestly, to cover the smaller Tiger forwards effectively. However, at least one of the two has to be in and on to keep the Missouri guards away from easy buckets at all times.

Secondly, Xavier Henry absolutely has to play better. His defense is still a bit unpolished, and once Kim English leaves the game, he'll be mismatched. Such a mismatch will probably not go to the favor of our bigger, three-point-popping swing man, as it would likely be with a smaller, faster guard.

I'm going to go as far as to say that in such a big game with such a difficult situation on our hands, I don't think Henry should play his standard number of minutes. I think we'll need Morningstar's entire perimeter defense we can get.

Thirdly, the two-guard spot has to show me something. Tyshawn Taylor may prove to be the most pivotal key to this game. 

Not only does he have to keep 43 and 40 percent three-point shooters (respectively) Marcus Denmon and Zaire Taylor from getting hot, but he has to be on top of his game offensively too.

Mizzou may lay off him a bit early to keep him out of the lane where he's best, but he has to be patient and, in this game, much better cautious than creative. Taylor can not force drives, interior passes, and most importantly bad threes and long rebounds. 

Kansas can win the battle of the boards and slow a hectic group of Tigers down, or it can allow long rebounds to mask MU's lack of post-presence and fuel their transition game.

Taylor's three-point ball isn't awful, but he needs to allow the ball to come back through him. Tyrel Reed doesn't have the Taylor-esque speed and defensive abilities Kansas will need, but better a consistent Reed than a bad Taylor.

Finally, Sherron Collins needs to know where his game is at. Last year, J.T. Tiller made Collins look average. This season, the Tigers will have to spare whoever they can to pack the post. If they don't prevent Ciole Aldrich and the Morris Twins from heating up, this contest will be over early.

They can't just leave Collins open, though, and Tiller knows that. This means that Collins is going to have to cough up the rock and have faith. 

Hopefully Taylor will make the smart play, Henry will pull out of his slump, and crafty veterans like Reed and Brady Morningstar will keep the defense honest and then find a way to get Aldrich and either twin the ball inside where the tigers are weakest.

It's a little specific and knit-picky, but I'm positive that Bill Self knows how little a margin for error the Hawks may have against a spurty, momentum-driven Tiger squad.  Hopefully his players realize this as well.