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Game 6: Toledo at No. 2 Kansas – Preview and Prediction

Bobby Norell
KU faces its final tune-up before squaring off with Syracuse on Saturday.

The Jayhawks are undefeated, riding high and shooting the lights out early on here in the 2017-18 season. Kansas has shot at least 55% in four of the five first games, ranking ninth nationally in eFG% at 61%. The Toledo Rockets will have their work cutout for them when they travel to Lawrence on Tuesday night

About Toledo: The Rockets finished .500 last season, falling short of any postseason action. It’s been an up and down start to the season for Toledo. They’ve taken down St. Joe’s, who is usually a pretty strong program out of the Atlantic 10. They beat the same Oakland team that the Jayhawks demolished last week, and they only trailed by one at the half on the road at Syracuse. Last week they fell to a Cornell team that won just eight games a year ago. This season they have two of the best scorers in the MAC in Tre-Shaun Fletcher and Jaelen Sanford, who are both averaging north of 18 PPG.

Game Info and Notes:

  • Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 at 7:00 pm CT
  • Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, Kan.
  • ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app
  • Kansas holds a 2-0 all-time record over Toledo. Both wins (2006 and 2013) were by exactly 10 points.
  • The Jayhawks moved up to No. 2 in the latest AP Top 25 Rankings.
  • Udoka Azubuike leads the NCAA in FG%, shooting at a 77.6% clip
  • Five Jayhawks are averaging double figures in scoring (Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Lagerald Vick, Udoka Azubuike, Malik Newman and Devonte’ Graham); Mykhailiuk leading the way at 18.8 points per game,  Vick is next at 17.6 ppg
  • The Jayhawks are averaging 20.5 assists per game, which ranks fifth nationally
  • Graham leads the Jayhawks and the Big 12 with 9.2 APG
Rockets to Watch

Tre’Shaun Fletcher – 6’7″ senior, wing

The transfer from Colorado is off to a blazing start this season, recording three double-doubles and three games with at least 20 points. He’s averaging 19.8, which is third in the MAC. His 9.6 rebounds are also good for second in the MAC. He can score from almost anywhere on the court — he’s shooting 37% from deep this year. KU will have its hands full with him, but certainly a matchup Lagerald Vick will welcome with open arms.

Jaelen Sanford – 6’4″ junior, guard

Sanford has taken his games to another level this season, upping his scoring average from 13.8 PPG to 18.2, good enough for second on his team and fourth in the conference. He dropped 31 points and eight assists in the season opener against St. Joe’s, but since then has just been decent to average.

Nate Navigato – 6’8″ junior, forward

Navigato is not your traditional forward, who is going to bang inside. He’s much more of a perimeter player, as he’s averaging 8.3 3-PT attempts per game. He leads the Rockets in three-point shooting, as he’s knocking down 40% of his outside shots.

Prediction

Kansas 89 – Toledo 70

AUDIO PREVIEW: LINK

Toledo can score the ball (they’re averaging 80 PPG), so that’s why I think they can crack the 70 point mark on the Jayhawks — something that the Jayhawks have let happen only once this season. That being said, KU is shooting out of their minds right now. I don’t see Toledo being the team to cool them off. Give me Azubuike to have another big game. Toledo does not have anyone that matches up that well with him. Luke Knapke, who is 6’11”, 235 lbs., might have the best shot, but still Azubuike outweighs him by about 35-40 lbs.

Bobby Norell

My name is Bobby Norell. I'm from a small town in northern Indiana. I recently graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Sport Communication. Even though my diploma says I'm a Hoosier, my love for the Jayhawks has never wavered. They'll always come No.1.

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