A Closer Look At San Jose State

On Monday night, Kansas plays host to San Jose State.

San Jose State: The Facts

Located in San Jose, Calif., with an enrollment of 26,796, San Jose State is 2-2 on the season after its 94-54 home win versus UC Santa Cruz on Nov. 20. The Spartans are members of the Western Athletic Conference and are coached by George Nessman who is 79-143 in his eighth season at SJSU. Through four games, San Jose State averages 76.2 points and is giving up 67.5 for a +8.8 scoring margin. The Spartans are outrebounding foes 39.5 to 34.2, average 8.5 steals and 6.3 threes per game. In their two losses, the Spartans lost by four at New Orleans (72-68 on Nov. 9) and two versus Houston (77-75 on Nov. 13).

SJSU is led by senior guard James Kinney who is averaging 21.0 points to go along with 6.5 rebounds. Kinney leads the team with 11 steals and is second with seven three-point field goals made. Sophomore guard Nick Grieves played in his first game of the season against UC Santa Cruz and had 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, all from three-point range, in 11 minutes. Junior forward Chris Cunningham leads the team with 9.0 rebounds per game to go along with his 12.0 scoring average. Sophomore guard D.J. Brown is also scoring 12.0 points per game and he has a team-high nine three-pointers made and 14 assists.

Other San Jose State starters include junior center Alex Brown (6.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and senior guard Chris Jones (3.3 ppg, five steals). Senior guard LaVenne Pennington is a top reserve who averages 5.3 points per game. Spartans who also see regular playing time include sophomore forward Stephen Smith (4.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg), Louis Garrett (3.3 ppg) and junior guard Xavier Jones (4.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg).

Kansas vs. San Jose State: The Series

Kansas and San Jose State are meeting for the first time in men's basketball. SJSU and Oregon State (Nov. 30), are the only teams on this season's schedule that KU has not previously played in men's hoops. Kansas is 16-3 against current members of the Western Athletic Conference: 5-2 vs. Utah State, 3-1 vs. Denver, 2-0 vs. Idaho and New Mexico State, and 1-0 vs. Louisiana Tech, Seattle, Texas-Arlington and Texas-San Antonio.

A closer look at the San Jose State Spartans

#1 D.J. Brown: 6-foot-2, 185-pound guard

#2 Jaleel Williams: 6-foot-6, 215-pound forward

#4 Aalim Moor: 6-foot-3, 194-pound guard

#5 Xavier Jones: 6-foot-4, 205-pound guard

#10 Stephon Smith: 6-foot-8, 260-pound forward

#15 Chris Cunningham: 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward

#21 Mike VanKirk: 7-foot-1, 240-pound center

#22 David Andoh: 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward

#23 Chris Jones:: 6-foot-4, 205-pound guard

#24 LaVanne Pennington: 6-foot-4, 180-pound guard

#30 Nick Grieves: 6-foot-3, 160-pound guard

#32 Louis Garrett: 6-foot-6, 215-pound forward

#33 James Kinney: 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard

#44 Alex Brown: 6-foot-11, 210-pound center

Record: 2-2

Home Record: 2-1

Away Record: 0-1

Neutral Record: 0-0

WAC Conference Record: 0-0

National Ranking: NR

Wins: Weber State, UC Santa Cruz

Losses: Santa @ New Orleans, Houston

Upcoming games: @ Kansas, @ Montana State, @ UC Davis, Sacramento State, Santa Clara, James Madison (Las Vegas), @ Texas State, @ UTSA, Idaho, Seattle U, New Orleans, @ Utah State, @ Denver, @ New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, UT Arlington, @ Seattle U, @ Idaho, Utah State, New Mexico State, Denver, @ UT Arlington, @ Louisiana Tech, UTSA, Texas State

Scoring Leaders:

James Kinney: 21.0

Nick Grieves: 18.0

D.J. Brown: 12.0

Chris Cunningham: 12.0

Rebounding Leaders:

Chris Cunningham: 9.0

James Kinney: 6.5

Alex Brown: 4.5

Assist Leaders:

D.J. Brown: 3.5

Chris Cunningham: 2.3

James Kinney: 2.0

Field Goal Shooting Percentage Leaders:

Chris Cunningham: 22-of-32 (68.8%)

Alex Brown: 12-of-18 (66.7%)

James Kinney: 34-of-75 (45.3%)

D.J. Brown: 13-of-30 (43.3%)

3 point Field Goal Shooting Percentage Leaders

Nick Grieves: 6-of-8 (75.0%)

D.J. Brown: 9-of-14 (64.3%)

James Kinney: 7-of-24 (29.2%)

Free-throw Percentage Leaders:

D.J. Brown: 13-of-13 (100.0%)

James Kinney: 9-of-14 (64.3%)

Chris Cunningham: 4-of-7 (57.1%)

San Jose Offensive Averages:

Scoring: 305 (76.2 PPG)

Scoring Margin: +8.8

Field Goal %: 49 (119-of-243)

3-Point FG %: 43 (25-of-58)

3-Pont FG's Made Per Game: 10.5

Free-throw %: 56 (42-of-75)

Free-throws Made Per Game: 10.5

Rebounds: 158 (39.5 per game)

Rebound Margin: +5.3

Assists: 64 (16.0 per game)

Turnovers: 66 (16.5 per game)

Turnover Margin: -1.5

Steals: 34 (8.5 per game)

Blocks: 22 (5.5 per game)

Opponent Averages :

Scoring: 270 (67.5 PPG)

Field Goal %: 40 (98-of-243)

3-Point FG %: 31 (19-of-61)

3-Pont FG Made Per Game: 4.8

Free-throw %: 69 (55-of-80)

Free-throws Made Per Game: 13.8

Rebounds: 137 (34.2 per game)

Assists: 55 (13.8 per game)

Turnovers: 60 (15.0 per game)

Steals: 23 (5.8 per game)

Blocks: 14 (3.5 per game)