No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks (26-7) vs. No. 18 West Virginia Mountaineers (24-9)

Time: 5 p.m. | Location: Sprint Center, Kansas City, Mo.

TV: ESPN | Radio: IMG Jayhawk Radio Network

Log on to KUsports.com for our live game blog coverage and follow the KUsports.com staff on Twitter: @KUSports @mctait @TomKeeganLJW @bentonasmith @nightengalejr @chasenscott & @nickkrug

Keys for Kansas

1. Get Vick going

Without mentioning him by name, Kansas coach Bill Self made it clear after Friday’s win over K-State that the Jayhawks need Lagerald Vick to get going again.

It’s been a bit of an ongoing issue for this team all season, with Vick having some incredible highs and some rough lows the entire way.

But there’s no time like the present for the junior guard to find his groove again, and doing so will increase KU’s chances in the Big 12 title game tremendously and send Kansas into the NCAA Tournament feeling much better about its chances there, as well.

“There’s a player on our team that affects our energy level more than anybody else and when he’s good we’re good and when he’s not, we’re not near as good,” Self said Friday. “We’ve got to correct that real soon because that inconsistency is how you lose this time of year.”

It’s not all on Vick. He’s going to need help from the rest. But, for the most part, those other guys have either done what they’re supposed to do or filled their roles admirably during this tournament. It’s Vick’s turn to follow suit and the best way for him to do that is by being ultra-aggressive and following in Malik Newman’s footsteps — don’t think, just play.

2. Bigs have to score

It does not have to be pretty. But it does have to happen. And all it has to happen to is the tune of the 14 or 16 points that KU forwards Mitch Lightfoot and Silvio De Sousa combined to score in the first two games at this year’s Big 12 tournament.

Here’s the reason.

In two games — and relatively limited minutes — against the Mountaineers this season, KU big man Udoka Azubuike recorded 31 points on 12-of-13 shooting, which not only made for some easy buckets but also forced that nasty WVU defense to account for someone in the paint, giving KU’s guards room to breathe on the perimiter.

With Azubuike out with a knee injury for the third game in a row, De Sousa and Lightfoot are going to have to be locked in on converting their opportunities when they come.

That’s particularly true of lobs and slip passes off of dribble penetration. There’s no time for fumbling those passes or not getting up to get them today. Each one has to be converted. And if they are, that will give guys like Malik Newman and Svi Mykhailiuk the room they need to keep knocking in shots from the outside.

3. Graham time

Slowed by some kind of cold during the past couple of days, if ever there were a time for KU’s leader to return to form offensively, this would be it.

And there’s not a chance in the world that Devonte’ Graham is not well aware of that.

After spending the first two games primarily setting up his teammates — Graham has 17 assists in two games at the Big 12 tourney — it’s time for Graham to find his scoring touch again against the Mountaineers.

He does not have to be Devonte’ Graham vs. Texas Tech in Lubbock, but would it surprise anyone if he is?

After shooting just 5-of-19 combined in the first two games in Kansas City, including just 2-of-11 from 3-point range, Graham sure seems due for a good shooting day.

His legs have been a bit heavy in the past two games — perhaps because of the cold but also possibly fatigue — but is there anyone doubting that playing in a championship game with a trophy on the line will bring out the best in Graham and inspire him to play with incredible effort and energy?

If he does, and if his teammates follow his lead, the Jayhawks will have a shot.

Mega Matchup

Kansas trips to the free throw line vs. West Virginia trips to the free throw line

It might seem like a simple thing to peg as a mega matchup for such a big game, but this element is enormous for a bunch of reasons in this one.

Not only have the Jayhawks done a good job of getting to the free throw line in their first two tournament games in KCMO — Graham in particular, who has offset his rough shooting days by going 13-of-14 from the line in this tournament so far — but they also lived at the line the last time these two met.

You might remember it. KU shot 35 free throws in that comeback victory in Lawrence and West Virginia shot just two.

After that one, Bob Huggins was fairly outspoken about the lopsided edge for the home team and it will be interesting to see if the officials look to make up for that in this one.

Not that there’s really anything to make up for. West Virginia settled for a bunch of outside shots and also went into a stall game with 10 minutes to play, which contributed mightily to the low free throw total.

Beyond that, KU’s entire game plan during its comeback was to drive it at the teeth of the WVU defense and the Mountaineers responded by fouling.

WVU is known for its aggressive defense and puts teams on the free throw line at a higher rate than any other Big 12 team.

35-2 might have been a bit wild but, given the way the game was played, it actually was not that crazy.

So much of this one will depend on whether the referees swallow their whistles and let WVU play that physical brand of defense they like to play or if they make the calls and send Kansas back to the line.

It also will be interesting to see if Bob Huggins elects to try to force the issue somewhat by pounding the ball inside to Sagaba Konate against Mitch Lightfoot and Silvio De Sousa.

Jayhawk Pulse

This has to be one of the weirdest games of the season for the Kansas basketball team.

On one hand, it means very little. Thanks to their wins over Oklahoma State and Kansas State, coupled with losses by Purdue, Duke and Michigan State, the Jayhawks’ status as a No. 1 seed in next week’s NCAA Tournament likely has been solidified no matter what happens today. Heck, thanks to a loss by Xavier on Friday, KU may even find itself as the 1 seed in the Midwest, which means Wichita-Omaha for KU’s road to San Antonio instead of Wichita-Los Angeles. Time will tell on that.

On the other hand, this game kind of means everything. For the seniors, it’s a chance to close out their Big 12 careers with the only thing they’ve ever known — a championship. The last time the Jayhawks were in this position in 2016, Devonte’ Graham was spectacular, against West Virginia, no less, leading KU to the 2016 Big 12 tournament title.

There’s bad blood between these two teams and the Mountaineers no doubt will be still seething over those two regular season losses to KU and looking to avenge them today.

Kansas, meanwhile, which enters as a one-point underdog despite being the top seed, will be looking to validate those wins and cap off a season in which it won an NCAA-record 14th consecutive conference title by winning a second trophy for good measure.

Probable Starters

No. 9 Kansas

G – Devonte’ Graham, 6-2, 185, Sr.

G – Malik Newman, 6-3, 190, Soph.

G – Svi Mykhailiuk, 6-8, 205, Sr.

G – Lagerald Vick, 6-5, 175, Jr.

F – Mitch Lightfoot, 6-9, 215, Soph.

No. 18 West Virginia

G – Daxter Miles Jr., 6-3, 200, Sr.

G – Jevon Carter, 6-2, 205, Sr.

F – Wesley Harris, 6-8, 200, Soph.

F – Esa Ahmad, 6-8, 230, Jr.

C – Sagaba Konate, 6-8, 260, Soph.