GAME NOTES: The Oklahoma Sooners have traveled to Lawrence for a Big 12 Conference clash with one of the nation's truly elite teams, the third-ranked Kansas Jayhawks. Oklahoma carried a five-game win streak into Saturday's clash with Kansas State, but that home game ended in a heart-breaking 84-82 loss. That tilt marked the league opener for the Sooners, who are now 12-4 overall. Kansas has yet to lose a game this season, as the club carries a 16-0 record into this contest. The Jayhawks are coming off Saturday's 79-58 romp over Nebraska to open Big 12 play, and all but three of their 16 victories have come by double figures. Kansas owns a 132-64 advantage in the all-time series with Oklahoma, including a 64-47 romp over the Sooners in the most recent meeting last season.

Blake Griffin, Longar Longar and Tony Crocker are all averaging double figures in scoring for Oklahoma. Griffin has been the best of that trio, as he is netting 15.4 ppg to go along with 9.1 rpg. He is shooting 60 percent from the floor and is tops with 22 steals. Longar checks in with 13.1 ppg and 6.1 rpg, while Crocker provides 11.5 ppg. The Sooners are scoring 75.1 ppg while limiting opponents to 61.8 ppg on 39 percent shooting from the field. Griffin scored 27 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in the loss to Kansas State on Saturday. Longar tallied 18 points, David Godbold scored 15 and Crocker managed 13 for the Sooners, who connected on 52.8 percent of their field goal attempts. Unfortunately, they permitted the Wildcats to connect on 56.4 percent of their total shots.

Kansas is a well-disciplined and unselfish team that has been outstanding at both ends of the court through the first 16 games. The Jayhawks are netting 83.7 ppg on 52.2 percent shooting from the floor, and they are limiting opponents to 58.6 ppg on 38.2 percent shooting from the field. Darrell Arthur is tops on the roster with 13.4 ppg, and Mario Chalmers is netting 12.1 ppg. Darnell Jackson (12.0 ppg) and Brandon Rush (11.4 ppg) add balance to the lineup for the Jayhawks, who have forced 313 turnovers in 16 outings, nearly 20 per contest. Also, they have attempted almost 100 more free throws than the opposition. Rush scored 19 points for Kansas on 5-of-7 shooting from three- point range in the victory over Nebraska on Saturday. Chalmers posted 14 points and six assists, while Russell Robinson and Sasha Kaun tallied 10 points each. Kansas connected on 53.8 percent of its field goal attempts in that game and earned a 37-24 rebounding advantage.

Go with Kansas tonight, as it appears to be the class of the Big 12. There are many fans and analysts who believe that the Jayhawks are the nation's best team, and it is hard to argue at this point.