Kansas News

Jayhawks eager to try to solve Syracuse's 2-3 zone | KUsports.com
Unlike just about any other program in the country — Princeton's back-cutting offense or West Virginia's relentless press also come to mind — the Orange are known, year after year, for finding extreme length and terrific athletes and plugging them into a highly active and effective 2-3 zone defense that creates fits for opposing offenses.

Tough Ending: KU volleyball falls to Missouri in five sets | KUsports.com
It was three years ago when freshmen Kelsie Payne and Ainise Havili took the floor together in their first NCAA tournament together. Kansas was the 16-seed, playing host to Arkansas Little Rock, and it was the third straight time Ray Bechard’s team had made its way to the tournament.

Gameday Breakdown: No. 2 KU basketball vs. Syracuse | KUsports.com
“Got to get a guy in the open spaces,” Lightfoot said. “And get the ball moving.”

KU-Syracuse basketball preview: Lineups, tipoff time, TV, facts and figures
Syracuse has played all home games so far this season. The Orange defeated Maryland (72-70), Toledo (72-64), Oakland (74-50), Texas Southern (80-67), Iona (71-62) and Cornell (77-45). … Freshman forward Oshae Brissett scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds vs. Toledo. … Sophomore guard Tyus Battle is on the Jerry West Award watch list.

KU Q&A: Billy Preston, Silvio De Sousa, Sam Cunliffe and a Big 12 projection
As far as Silvio De Sousa goes, his potential early enrollment at KU appears to have hit a speed bump this week. Gary explains it all in this story (are you following him on Twitter yet?), but the basic gist is, De Sousa will need a better score on a standardized test Saturday to be eligible to join KU this month.

KU’s explosive offense to be tested by Orange’s defense on Saturday
The cold, hard stats regarding KU’s offense and Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense have made some wonder whether the two 6-0 teams will light up the scoreboard, struggle scoring or fit somewhere in between during Saturday’s 4:30 p.m. Hoophall Miami Invitational finale at American Airlines Arena.

Other Sports News

USC beats Stanford for Pac-12 title after goal-line stand, 99-yard drive - CBSSports.com
Sam Darnold threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns and engineered a back-breaking 99-yard drive following a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter to lead No. 10 Southern California to a 31-28 victory over No. 12 Stanford in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday night.

Predicting the champion for every one of college basketball's 32 conferences - CBSSports.com
Kansas is the favorite in the Big 12 until it doesn't win it. Even after losing Josh Jackson and Frank Mason, the Jayhawks are loaded with NBA-caliber talent and a senior in Devonte' Graham who could slip right into Mason's massive shoes he left behind.

2017 Hero World Challenge leaderboard: Tiger Woods five back after 68 on Friday - CBSSports.com
Hoffman made a ridiculous 12 birdies in the second round and is up by three strokes over Jordan Spieth and Tommy Fleetwood, and four over Justin Rose. Woods, who shot 69-68 in the first two rounds, is 7 under and just five back after the first two rounds. He's tied for fifth alongside a host of others including Rickie Fowler.

WATCH: Warriors star Kevin Durant ejected in blowout victory over Magic - CBSSports.com
Golden State led Orlando by 16 points after Durant made a basket when he turned and had some words for referee Scott Foster. He was given a technical and immediately ejected from the game.

WATCH: Pelicans star Anthony Davis helped to locker room after suffering groin injury - CBSSports.com
In the afternoon, the big man learned he had been fined $25K for verbally abusing a referee and failing to leave the floor in a timely manner after his first career ejection Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Then, Friday night, when the New Orleans Pelicans were taking on the Utah Jazz, Davis went down with a groin injury and had to be helped to the locker room.

Song of the Day

DMX’s version of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer is exactly as good as you think it will be