Jayhawks present huge challenge, great opportunity for UNLV

UNLV has endured perhaps the most difficult stretch of schedule in the program’s history over the last two weeks.

Now comes perhaps the toughest game of them all when the Rebels travel to storied Allen Fieldhouse on Sunday to play Kansas.

Beating the Jayhawks anywhere is no easy task. Trying to win in Lawrence is incredibly daunting.

That’s the mission that lies ahead for UNLV as it closes the non-conference season against the No. 13 Jayhawks.

Kansas is 6-0 at home this season and has won 14 straight games in the building. The Jayhawks have won all four times the teams have played in the past, including a 2008 NCAA Tournament game.

Sunday’s matchup represents another outstanding opportunity for UNLV to boost its RPI. Kansas sits at No. 2 in those rankings and will help UNLV’s number regardless of the outcome.

The raw numbers don’t indicate much of a difference between the two teams, however.

UNLV and Kansas score about the same amount of points per game, give up about the same and rebounds at about the same clip.

The Rebels block more shots, but the Jayhawks take the ball away more.

Kansas has done it against more consistent competition, however, and is quite justifiably a 13-point favorite in the game.

The Jayhawks are led by four members of the Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 list in Perry Ellis, Wayne Selden Jr., Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre.

That list doesn’t even include Frank Mason III, who has broken out for 17 points per game over the last two contests and leads the team in made 3-pointers, assists and steals.

All that talent spread around the floor makes Kansas one of the nation’s most balanced teams.

Ellis has produced the best numbers for Kansas this season. The junior leads the team with 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Selden is scoring 8.8 points per game and is second on the team in assists. Oubre, a freshman from Findlay Prep, has scored 20-plus points in two of his last three games to increase his scoring average to 6.9 per game. He is also pulling down 3.7 rebounds per contest.

Alexander, another freshman, is posting 8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in just over 18 minutes per night. He’s also the team’s leader in blocked shots.

It’s all held together by Bill Self, one of the most successful coaches in college basketball.

Even if it weren’t 12 degrees and snowing in Lawrence, this wouldn’t be a fun trip for UNLV.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.