Kansas @ Stanford preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 1, 2018 ) Stanford 84, Kansas 90

Kansas looks to bounce back from a one-point loss to Villanova on Sunday when the fifth-ranked Jayhawks visit Stanford, which is off to its best start since 2008. Kansas is averaging a Big 12-best 81.9 points but will be tested by a Stanford defense that is allowing 57.5 points per contest.

Sophomore guard Devon Dotson is averaging 20.8 points, 5.2 assists and 2.6 steals in his last five games for the Jayhawks, who were ranked first in the country before stumbling in the final two minutes of last Saturday’s 56-55 loss to Villanova. “You could tell when we played Villanova we didn’t compete — not from a try standpoint down the stretch, but we didn’t compete from an execution standpoint,” Kansas coach Bill Self told reporters. “There were about four things that happened that were unbelievable to me, and I really believe it was because we lost focus.” The Jayhawks are 94-13 following a loss during the Self era but need to be careful not to overlook Stanford, which has recorded nine of its 11 victories by double digits. Kansas expects to have starting guard Marcus Garrett (8.7 points per game) in the starting lineup after the junior missed the second half of the Villanova contest due to an ankle injury.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, ABC

ABOUT KANSAS (9-2): Senior center Udoka Azubuike recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Villanova and is averaging 14 points and 8.4 rebounds while leading the nation in field goal percentage at 80.5 percent. Sophomore guard Ochai Agbaji has scored 20 or more points in two of his last four games, but the Jayhawks could use more production from senior guard Isaiah Moss, who is 5-for-18 from behind the arc in his past five games. Sophomore forward David McCormack is averaging 9.5 points on 60.8 percent shooting for the Jayhawks, who open Big 12 play against West Virginia on Jan. 4.

ABOUT STANFORD (11-1): Junior forward Oscar da Silva averages 17.6 points and six rebounds while shooting 61.2 percent from the field to lead the Cardinal, who made a strong impression on San Diego coach Sam Scholl after the Cardinal forced 17 turnovers in last Saturday’s 62-59 win over the Toreros. “They’re very good defensively,” Scholl told reporters. “I think they’re better defensively than they are offensively, and they’re really good offensively. They’re just really athletic and can move their feet and cover ground quickly.” Freshman point guard Tyrell Terry averages 15.6 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Cardinal, who begin Pac-12 play against California on Jan. 2.

TIP-INS

1. Kansas has won the last three meetings against Stanford and owns an 11-3 lead in the all-time series.

2. Stanford coach Jerod Haase helped lead Kansas to two conference titles as a player in the mid-1990s.

3. Kansas ranks third nationally in field goal percentage at 52.1 percent.

PREDICTION: Kansas 76, Stanford 69