November 19, 2009

Top-ranked Kansas returns home to face Central Arkansas in its second game of the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase on Thursday, at 7 p.m. on Jayhawk TV. The Jayhawks defeated Memphis 57-55 in a defensive battle Tuesday evening in the opening round of the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Central Arkansas is 1-1 on the season after its 71-67 loss to Tennessee Tech on Nov. 16.

About Kansas

Kansas is 2-0 for the third straight season. The Jayhawks are looking to extend the nation's longest home court winning streak, currently at 42 victories, against Central Arkansas. KU is anchored by Associated Press Preseason All-Americans and Big 12 Preseason Co-Players of the Year Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich. Collins is averaging 17.5 points per game, while Aldrich is scoring 14.5 points and pulling down 9.5 rebounds per outing. Aldrich has nine blocked shots in KU's first two contests. KU's leading scorer is freshman guard Xavier Henry, who is at 19.5 points per game. Henry had 27 points in his debut, a KU freshman debut record, against Hofstra and 11 versus Memphis. Off the bench, sophomore forward Marcus Morris is scoring 9.5 points per game, including 10 versus Memphis. He is followed by KU starters Markieff Morris and Tyshawn Taylor, who are scoring five points per contest each. Markieff is second on the team with 6.5 rebounds per game. Freshman forward Thomas Robinson, junior guard Tyrel Reed and freshman guard Elijah Johnson, are also in the KU rotation through two games.

Kansas is the five-time defending Big 12 champion, finished 27-8 last season and won the league title outright with a 14-2 conference record. The Jayhawks advanced to their third-straight NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 before falling to NCAA runner-up Michigan State in Indianapolis.

About Central Arkansas

Located in Conway, Ark., with an enrollment of 11,783, Central Arkansas is 1-1 on the season. The Bears opened the year defeating its cross town foe Hendrix 68-40 on Nov. 13 before falling to Tennessee Tech 71-67 on Monday in its first round game of the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase. Central Arkansas has four players averaging double figures led by Mike Pouncy at 12 points per game. Tadre Sheppard comes off the bench and leads the Bears in rebounds with seven per contest to go along with his 11 point scoring average. He has a team-high five steals and has been to the free throw line a team best 18 times. Jared Rehmel has made five of UCA's eight three pointers this season and is scoring 11 points per game. Carlos Dos Santos averages 10 points through two games and has a team-high four blocked shots. Imad Qahwash - 4.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg - is UCA's fifth starter. As a team Central Arkansas averages 67.5 points and is giving up 55.5 points per game. The Bears and their opponents each average 41 rebounds per contest. Last season Central Arkansas was 10-19.

The Series

Central Arkansas is one of six schools this season KU is facing for the first time in men's basketball. The Bears are members of the Southland Conference. Kansas has faced only one other Southland Conference team and that was Texas-San Antonio, which KU defeated 103-69 on Dec. 23, 1990, in Allen Fieldhouse.