Sitting at No. 3 in the national polls, the Kansas Jayhawks have boasted the results this season to legitimize their high ranking.

In the wake of off-court distractions during the pre-season — a scuffle that broke out between the basketball team and the Kansas football team in September, and the suspension of guard Brady Morningstar in the wake of his DUI — the Jayhawks have remained unfazed.

En route to its 17-1 start Kansas has posted a Big 12 best scoring margin average of 23.5 points. The only blemish for the Jayhawks this season was a 76-68 loss to Tennessee earlier this month. 

Kansas ranks first or second in the Big 12 in 10 of the major statistical categories, including scoring offense (No. 2, 85 ppg.), scoring defense (No. 2, 61.5 ppg) and assists (No. 1, 18.50).

The Jayhawks have recovered from their loss to the Volunteers by opening the conference season with three straight victories (Nebraska, 84-72; Texas Tech, 89-63; Baylor, 81-75).

At the heart of this year’s Kansas squad is All-American senior guard Sherron Collins. Although his scoring average is down from last season (18.9 ppg), Collins has still posted a team-leading 16.3 ppg.

Collins is one of four players on the Jayhawks averaging double figures — guard Xavier Henry (14.9 ppg), forward Marcus Morris (12.2) and center Cole Aldrich (10.8) follow.

The scoring doesn’t stop there. Seven other Jayhawks are averaging at least 3.5 points per game, giving Kansas the depth to rival Texas.

That depth is likely to play a major role in Saturday’s matchup between Kansas and Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum.

Injuries, suspensions and departures have left the Cyclones heavily depleted. Iowa State’s top two scorers, Craig Brackins and Marquis Gilstrap, have recorded marks of 16.2 and 14.9 ppg, but from there the next top scorer, Diante Garrett, drops down to the mark of 8.4 ppg.

It has been five years since Iowa State defeated the Jayhawks — a 63-61 overtime win in Lawrence. Since then, the Cyclones have lost eight straight to their conference rival, by an average of 16.3 points.

Unlike Kansas, which enters Ames with its Final Four hopes still intact, Iowa State is stumbling into Saturday’s game.

Only days following the Cyclones’ first Big 12 road victory in three years, guard Lucca Staiger abruptly announced Tuesday that he was leaving to turn pro in Germany. Iowa State reeling, the Cyclones fell on the road, 78-71, in a winable game against Texas Tech. Without a standout signature win on their resume, the Cyclones are now faced with 13 more games, four of which come against ranked teams, to keep their tournament hopes alive.