Game Primer: How to Watch, Key Players and Important Information for Kansas vs Maine

Here's everything you need to know to follow the Jayhawks as they start play in the Saint Mary's Thanksgiving Classic

Contents

1. Overview
2. The Numbers
3. How to Watch
4. Game Coverage
5. Key Players 
6. Fun Facts

The Kansas Jayhawks started to the season off 3-0 in their opening season homestand, as center Taiyanna Jackson showed off her improved offensive play. In their latest outing against UTRGV, the Jayhawks finally got the dominant win that they looked like they were heading to in the first two games, and now they will try to build off of that momentum. Today, they start off against the Maine Black Bears.

Overview

The Jayhawks shook things up a bit in their last game against UTRGV, as Wyvette Mayberry made her first start of the season. Four players scored in double figures in the contest, and the Jayhawks finally showed off the form that they were expected to have over the course of the whole game.

The Kansas Jayhawks are still receiving votes in both polls this week, and will look to use a strong showing to break into the rankings next week.

This is the first meeting between the Jayhawks and the Black Bears. The last meeting between these two programs was an 80-57 victory for Kansas back on December 30, 2010.

Here are the essentials:

The Numbers

Kansas: 3-0

Maine: 2-2

How to Watch

Friday, November 25th, 2:00 p.m. CST

Moraga, CA: UCU Pavilion

TV: WCC Network streamed via YouTube

- Joaquin Wallace (Play-by-Play)

Radio: IMG Jayhawk Radio Network

- Steven Davis (Play-by-Play)

Webcast: Kansas Online Radio

Game Coverage

Follow along during the game for live updates from the Blue Wings Rising Twitter account.

Come join the conversation in the Blue Wings Rising Discord Server.

Key Players 

Holly Kersgieter (15 pts, 15 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, against UTRGV)

Kersgieter was electric for the Jayhawks in the last game, and continued to show why she was honored as part of the All-Big 12 Preseason team. The defense doesn't show up quite as much in the box score, but she will look to get off to a good start on the road to carry some momentum into a true road game tomorrow..

Taiyanna Jackson (10 pts, 6 reb, 0 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk, against UTRGV)

Jackson wasn't as active on the boards in the last one, but the Jayhawks didn't really need her to be. She has gotten over the 100 block mark, and is now looking to continue her dominant streak down low.

Chandler Prater (15 pts, 10 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, against UTRGV)

Prater had a break-out game against UTRGV, matching Kersgieter as the leading scorer for Kansas, and collecting her first double-double of the season with her career-high mark of 10 rebounds. She has routinely been an important piece for this team, but she has a chance early in the season to step up into an even bigger role.

Wyvette Mayberry (12 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, against UTRGV)

Mayberry got her first start against UTRGV, and she followed through, scoring 12 points. She had a big run in the second quarter to push the lead going into half, and Kansas was never challenged after that. The Jayhawks have high hopes for the Tulsa transfer, and her emergence early in the season could greatly increase the ceiling of this team.

Fun Facts

Taiyanna Jackson leads the team in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots in the first three games of the season.

Zakiyah Franklin came off the bench in the last game, scoring seven points and putting her career total at 999. She will be the 31st player to score 1,000 points in a Jayhawk uniform the next time she scores.

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