Who: Kansas vs. Oklahoma
When: 7 tonight
Where: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, Oklahoma
Series: Sooners lead 34-29
Notable: Wednesday night, OU snapped No. 3 Baylor’s 25-game winning streak with a 68-64 win in Norman.
Time to roll
With just two games remaining in the regular season — tonight vs. OU and 7 p.m. Monday at home vs. Iowa State — the Jayhawks need to get hot if they want to play in the postseason. At least one game in the Big 12 tournament in Dallas (March 6-9) is guaranteed, but unless the Jayhawks can win that event to qualify for the NCAA Tournament or climb above .500 to become eligible for the WNIT, KU will be watching others play this March.
Playing without Asia
A stress fracture in her foot forced KU senior Asia Boyd to miss her first game of the season Wednesday night, and the Jayhawks said playing without her took some getting used to. “It’s definitely hard losing anybody at this point in the season,” senior guard Natalie Knight said. “And Asia is kind of that X-factor for us.”
Streaking
Freshman point guard Lauren Aldridge, who once again played all 40 minutes during Wednesday’s loss to K-State (the fourth time in five games she played 40 minutes and 10th time this season), kept her strong season going with seven assists. Aldridge, who averages five assists per game, has recorded at least that many dimes in 16 of KU’s 29 games this season.
Slumping
During Wednesday’s home loss to Kansas State, senior forward Chelsea Gardner threw up some big totals in points (15) and rebounds (15). And K-State coach Jeff Mittie said there were times in the second half when Gardner dominated defensively. So while she might not be slumping completely, those 15 points came on 5-of-20 shooting, and she also fouled out for the fifth time this season.
Probable starters
Kansas
(13-16 overall, 4-12 Big 12)
G — Natalie Knight, 5-7, sr.
G — Lauren Aldridge, 5-7, fr.
G — Chayla Cheadle, 6-0, fr.
F — Jada Brown, 6-0, soph.
F — Chelsea Gardner, 6-3, sr.
OKLAHOMA (18-9, 12-4)
G — Peyton Little, 5-11, soph.
G — Gabbi Ortiz, 5-5, fr.
G — Sharane Campbell-Olds, 5-10, sr.
G — Gioya Carter, 5-9, soph.
C — Kaylon Williams, 6-3, jr.
