Davidson Set to Face Kansas for the First Time Since 2008 NCAA Tournament

Davidson (6-3, 2-0 SoCon) vs. No. 12 Kansas (7-2, 0-0 Big 12)

Introducing The Matchup: Two college basketball programs with great individual basketball histories will lock horns in an intriguing non-conference game on Monday night when Davidson travels to Kansas City to take on the Kansas Jayhawks in the "M&I Kansas City Shootout."

Few people, especially Davidson fans, will forget where they were the day the last time these two teams met, which was in the 2008 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight as the Wildcats fell 59-57 to the eventual national champion Jayhawks.

The Stephen Curry-led Wildcats made a magical run in the 2008 NCAA Tournament, and it was nearly a storybook ending, as Jason Richards' potential game-winning, 35-foot three-pointer against the Jayhawks fell just off the right side of the rim as the buzzer sounded. Monday night's matchup will mark just the second all-time meeting between the two storied programs.

Bill Self's Jayhawks have won four-straight heading to Kansas City. Included in that four-game winning streak was a 78-67 win over No. 2 Ohio State eight days ago at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas had the benefit of playing an Ohio State team, which was playing without James Naismath Award favorite Jared Sullinger, who missed the game with an injury. However, the 11-point win by Kansas over the No. 2 team in college basketball is impressive with or without Sullinger.

Both Kansas setbacks have come against two other college basketball "bluebloods" this season, as the Jayhawks first loss came in the Maui Invitational title game against the Duke Blue Devils (61-68) and the other came against the Kentucky Wildcats (65-75) in the "Champions Classic" in Madison Square Garden.

Bob McKillop's Wildcats are 16-6 over their last 22 games, dating back to a late-season run last season. However, the Wildcats have dropped back-to-back contests to Vanderbilt (83-87) and Charlotte (61-84).

Tyshawn Taylor (15.9 PPG, 4.7 APG, 1.7 RPG), who is off to a strong start to the 2011-12 season.
The 6-3 point guard had a career-high 13 assists in the Jayhawks last outing against the Buckeyes. Earlier this season in a 70-42 win over South Florida, Taylor scored a career-high 24 points, which included hitting four treys in the victory. Taylor was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award last season, and he entered the season as an Honorable Mention All-America selection, according to Athlon's college basketball preview magazine.

A Look At Kansas:

The Jayhawks come into Monday night's contest winners of four-straight games and are an experienced club that features a starting five of four juniors and a senior. The Jayhawks utilize a four-guard rotation, led by athletic two-guard Travis Relaford (8.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG). Relaford has started all nine games for the Jayhawks this season, and he has scored in double figures in five games this season, but is at his best on the defensive end of the floor, and leads the team with 13 steals this season.

Relaford will be joined in the backcourt by wing guards Elijah Johnson (9.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG) and Conner Teahan (7.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG) will start in the backcourt for the Jayhawks on Monday evening. Johnson was on fire the last time the Jayhawks took the floor against Ohio State, as he canned five threes in the win over the Buckeyes, which represented a career-high for him from long range.

In the win over UCLA in the Maui Invitational semifinals, Johnson had a career evening, as he scored a career-high 23 points in a 72-56 win over the Bruins. Johnson ranks second on the team in assists, with 31 helpers on the season, while also ranking second on the club in steals, with 12 thefts on the campaign. Johnson's 17 triples leads the Jayhawks.

Teahan gives the Jayhawks good size in the backcourt at 6-6, and turned in the best game of his career in an 88-80 win over Long Beach State. In that contest, Teahan notched career highs for points (14) and three-pointers made (4) in what was the first start of his career. He ranks second on the team in three-pointers made, with 14 triples this season.

Kansas' best player will start in the paint, as the Jayhawks was is considered one the of the premier post players in all of college basketball, in 6-10 junior Thomas Robinson (17.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 1.3 BPG). Robinson is strong and athletic and he gives the Jayhawks a physical presence in the paint. He scored a career-high 26 points in the Jayhawks' 88-80 win over Long Beach State earlier this season. He also recorded career highs for rebounds (17) and blocks (4) in a 77-54 win over Florida Atlantic back on Nov. 30. His 11.4 RPG leads the Big 12.

Rounding out the starting five for the Jayhawks will be seven-foot center Jeff Withey (7.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.8 BPG). Withey is a force on both ends of the floor, and has posted a pair of double-doubles on the season, posting those against Duke and Long Beach State respectively. To show you how much of a force he can be on the defensive end of the floor, he had nine rejections in the win over Long Beach State.

Coming off the bench, Tyshawn Taylor (15.9 PPG, 4.7 APG, 1.7 RPG) is 6-3 point guard that had a career-high 13 assists in the Jayhawks last outing against the Buckeyes. Earlier is one of the best sixth men in college basketball and is off to a strong start to the 2011-12 season. In a 70-42 win over South Florida, Taylor scored a career-high 24 points, which included hitting four treys in the victory. Taylor was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award last season, and he entered the season as an Honorable Mention All-America selection, according to Athlon's college basketball preview magazine.

Joining Taylor as some of the Jayhawks' supporting cast coming off the bench will be Kevin Young (5.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG) and Justin Wesley (2.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG), as the duo adds even more depth to the Jayhawks' front court. As a team, the Jayhawks enter Monday night's game averaging 75.3 PPG, while surrendering 62.1 PPG to opponents. Kansas is shooting the ball at a 48.6 percent clip from the field this season, while shooting 37.0 percent from three. Opponents have connected on 38.5 percent of their shots from the field, while shooting at a 36.3 percent clip from three this season.

A Look At Davidson:

Davidson comes into Monday night's contest with the Jayhawks looking to put an end to a two-game losing streak. The Wildcats come into this evening's contest continuing to be a team that wins games the way it has so many other times in the past, which includes tenacious defense and turning forced turnovers into points. The Wildcats bring one of the veteran-most teams in the Southern Conference into the matchup with the Jayhawks.

Anchoring the Davidson backcourt heading into this evening's contest is J.P. Kuhlman (13.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.1 APG), who was a preseason All-SoCon selection. Kuhlman is a "do-everything" player for the Wildcats, who has been sensational early on in the 2011-12 season. Kuhlman has scored in double figures in three-straight games, and recorded a season-high 21 points in a win at UNC Wilmington earlier this season. Kuhlman has struggled shooting the ball from three this season, connecting on just 21.4 percent from long range.

Joining Kuhlman as starters in the Davidson backcourt will be both Nik Cochran (10.2 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 2.1 APG) and Tom Droney (4.8 ppg, 3.6 RPG). Cochran is a player that can score in a variety of different ways for the Wildcats, and is off to a strong start in the 2011-12 season. Cochran's season-high came in a 14-point win over Presbyterian, as he posted 16 points.

Cochran is shooting the ball at a 41.0 percent clip (10-of-25) from three-point range this season. Droney is known as the Wildcats' best on-the-ball defender, and is the best "scrapper" on the roster.

The front court is the strength of this Davidson team, but the duo of De'Mon Brooks (16.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG) and Jake Cohen (12.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG) will have their hands full on both ends of the floor this evening against the Jayhawks. Brooks is a solid athletic presence with a smooth jumpshot, developing more and more into a player like the player they used to call "Ozone" in Davidson, N.C, also known as Brandon Williams.

Brooks enjoyed his best performance of the campaign against a pair of opponents, scoring 24 points in games against both Guilford and Vanderbilt, but was held to just three points the last time out in the 23-point setback to Charlotte.

Cohen has been one of the most-efficient players on the floor each of his first couple of seasons playing the center for coach McKillop. Cohen, the first true center the Wildcats have had since Martin Ides, and he enjoyed his best performance of the season in the league win over Wofford, as he netted a season-high 26 points in the narrow 72-69 road win. Cohen leads the team on the defensive end, with 14 blocks this season.

A staple of Bob McKillop-coached teams is their bench play, and this season is no different, as the Wildcats have depth in both the backcourt and front court. Sharp-shooting guard Chris Czerapowicz (8.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG) adds good depth and scoring ability to the backcourt coming off the pine, while Clint Mann (5.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG), now in his second season with the Wildcats since transferring in from Iowa State, is the top player coming off the bench in the post.

As a team, Davidson enters this evening's contest averaging 77.1 PPG as a team, while allowing opponents to post 70.3 PPG. The Wildcats are shooting 44.0 percent as a team this season, while opponents are connecting on 46.0 percent from the field. The Wildcats connect at a 30.6 percent clip from three this season, while Wildcat foes are hitting shots from deep at a 33.6 percent clip.

Final Score Prediction: 88-80 Kansas