Kansas is in need of a bounce back after struggling towards the end of the regular season with Joel Embiid went down with a stress fracture. He was the team's leading rebounder, averaging 11.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. The 10th ranked Jayhawks could certainly use him as they go up against the Oklahoma State Cowboys who are aware they need to make a big run in the Big 12 tournament to make the NCAA tournament.
Embiid was the Big 12 defensive player of the year so losing him is a big hit to the team. Head coach Bill Self does not expect him to return until the final round of the tournament if Kansas makes it that far. After winning their tenth-straight regular-season title, Kansas split their final two games with Embiid injured. The Jayhawks fell to West Virginia despite Andrew Wiggins putting up 41 points in the game. The Jayhawks will need another big performance from the freshman if they intend on escaping a heated matchup with the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State is on a roll right now. Since getting Marcus Smart back from a three-game suspension, the Cowboys have won the past five of six games, including a first round tournament game against Texas Tech on Wednesday. Markel Brown had 20 points in the win while Smart added 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the efficient showing.
Oklahoma State needs to advance far in the conference tournament if they have any hope of making the NCAA rounds. The team did beat Kansas in the final month of the season during a 5-1 stretch. Smart put up 21 points, including 20 in the second half. Wiggins on the other hand was held to just 15 points while missing 11 of 15 shots overall. The Cowboys appear to have the freshman's number as he only put up three points in the Jayhawk's home win over Oklahoma State. The winner of Thursday's game will face the winner of Iowa State-Kansas State.
