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Tennessee Tech-Kansas Preview

Nov 26, 2009 - 5:07 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Tennessee Tech (3-3) at Kansas (4-0), 8:00 p.m. EDT

With its two preseason All-Americans failing to score in double figures, Kansas relied on its considerable depth for its latest win.

The top-ranked Jayhawks should have more than enough talent to overwhelm visiting Tennessee Tech in their fourth game of the Hall of Fame Showcase on Friday night.

Sherron Collins had nine points Wednesday night against visiting Oakland and Cole Aldrich finished with four in a 2-of-10 shooting performance.

Despite those two stars' modest output, the Jayhawks (4-0) romped to an 89-59 victory and improved the nation's best home winning streak to 44 games.

Sophomore Marcus Morris scored a career-best 19 points and matched a career high with 11 rebounds. His point total has increased in every game and he's shooting 63.0 percent from the field.

"I thought Marcus was the best player in the game," coach Bill Self said. "He played great. He showed range, he showed post moves. He really didn't get a lot of easy baskets and still got 19. I thought he played very well."

Freshman Xavier Henry had 19 points, increasing his team-leading average to 17.3 per game. The highly touted Henry had his best shooting performance of the season as he hit 8 of 11 shots, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range.

"I just listen to coach and try to follow everything. He knows how I like to play so he just tries to work with me to fit in with the team," Henry said. "I feel like I'm getting more comfortable every day. And I'm starting to learn stuff quicker and quicker. Coach is really helping me a lot."

Junior Tyrel Reed added 11 off the bench. Freshman Elijah Johnson and Morris' twin brother, Markieff, contributed eight points apiece. The Jayhawks shot at least 50.0 percent and made at least 10 3-pointers for the third time in their four games.

"We had some individuals obviously not play great but Kansas, as a team, played very well," Self said.

The Jayhawks have averaged 85.3 points and have outscored their opponents by 29.5 per game. Four are averaging in double figures, including Collins (14.0 ppg) and Aldrich (10.0), but they're both nearly five points below their averages from last season.

The Golden Eagles (3-3), meanwhile, are averaging 66.7 points. Before Wednesday night's 72-65 victory at Southern Utah, sophomore forward Kevin Murphy was the only player averaging in double figures (15.3).

Senior guard Frank Davis scored a team-leading 19 points to help his team end a two-game slide and improved his scoring average to 10.3. Murphy finished with four points and two rebounds in 16 minutes.

It was the fifth road game for Tennessee Tech and third win away from home.

"We're real proud of our kids," Eagles coach Mike Sutton told the school's Web site. "Hopefully, the opportunity to play on the road will help us down the road later in the season."

This is the first meeting between Kansas and Tennessee Tech.