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Big 12 Basketball: Key 2018-19 storylines for Kansas vs. Iowa State

By Jason Kinander

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 02: Dedric Lawson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse on January 02, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 02: Dedric Lawson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse on January 02, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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LAWRENCE, KANSAS – JANUARY 02: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Kansas Jayhawks dunks during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse on January 02, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – JANUARY 02: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Kansas Jayhawks dunks during the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Allen Fieldhouse on January 02, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

1. The performance of Kansas and Iowa State’s freshmen

Freshmen have flown completely under the radar in the Big 12 throughout this season.

After losing several superstar freshmen from last season, this year’s group of Big 12 newcomers were a pretty thin group.

However, three of the best freshmen in the entire league will be on display on Saturday and will need to come up big in order for either team to come out on top.

For Kansas, a pair of five-star recruits will need to play up to their premier prospect standards.

Quentin Grimes, a starting guard for the Jayhawks, already made his big conference play first impression against Oklahoma, scoring 14 points in the win. Grimes is averring 8.5 points per game on the season, but will likely need to contribute more like his previous game on Saturday.

Devon Doston, another five-star guard, has been even better for Kansas. Dotson is averaging 11.5 points per game and scored 16 points against Oklahoma. The two-headed monster of Grimes and Dotson has been a killer combo for the Jayhawks all season, and they’ll need to stay consistent with their non-conference play in order for Kansas to win.

Meanwhile for Iowa State, four-star guard Talen Horton-Tucker put up big numbers in non-conference play, averaging 13.6 points and 6 rebounds per game. Horton-Tucker failed to add any points in the Cyclones win over Oklahoma State and absolutely cannot let that happen on Saturday. If Iowa State wins, Horton-Tucker will have been right in the middle of it.

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