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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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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 19: Marial Shayok #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones plays defense during the first half of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Lahaina Civic Center on November 19, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 19: Marial Shayok #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones plays defense during the first half of the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Lahaina Civic Center on November 19, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

2. The Play of Transfers for both teams

Like freshmen, transfers have played massive roles in the early season success for both Kansas and Iowa State.

Iowa State is built on a pair of transfers, both of which have been putting up big numbers.

Michael Jacobson, a transfer from Nebraska, has emerged as a budding star in his junior season. Averaging 14.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, the junior forward has played well past his expected production.

On the other hand, Marial Shayok might have been the best player on Iowa State during the absence of Wigginton. The senior guard, a transfer from Virginia, is averaging a whopping 20 points per game on the season and dropped 17 points in the win over Oklahoma State.

Both Shayok and Jacobson will need to play big roles in order for Iowa State to pull off the upset.

For Kansas, a trio of transfers have been producing in their own right. Lead by Dedric Lawson, perhaps the frontrunner for the Big 12 Player of the Year, is averaging 19.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game in his junior season.

His brother K.J. Lawson is averaging just 2.5 points and two rebounds per game, but if he plays solid minutes, look for the transfer from Memphis to be a sneaky contributor for the Jayhawks.

Finally, Charlie Moore, a transfer from Cal, might just be the biggest sleeper of the game. The former four-star recruit is averaging just four points per game but could find himself in big minutes if other guards find themselves in foul situations. The former premier prospect has big game potential and could tap into that on Saturday if given the chance.

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