Game Information
Kansas State (4-1, 0-0 Big 12)
vs. IUPUI (5-1)
K-State Holiday Classic presented by Subway
Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009 | Tipoff: 3:10 p.m. CT
Location: Kansas City, Mo. | Arena: Sprint Center (18,897)
Television: FOX Sports Kansas City (Ben Boyle, play-by-play; Stan Weber, analyst; Allan Flowers, producer) | Channel Directory: DirecTV 672, Dish Network 446, AT&T U-verse 750 | Internet: www.ESPN360.com
Radio: K-State Sports Network (Wyatt Thompson, play-by-play; Matt Walters, analyst) | Live Stats: www.k-statesports.com | Local Stations: Sports Radio 1350 AM (KMAN; Manhattan), 102.9-FM (KQTP; Topeka) | Satellite Radio: Sirius Channel 129
Head Coaches: Kansas State - Frank Martin (Florida International '93) is 47-25 (.653) in his third season. IUPUI - Ron Hunter (Miami-Ohio '86) is 253-195 (.565) in his 16th season as a head coach and at IUPUI. | Frank Martin is 0-0 all-time vs. IUPUI, while Ron Hunter is 0-0 all-time vs. K-State.
Last Time Out: K-State knocked off No. 18/21 Dayton, 83-75, on Nov. 22, while IUPUI beat IU East, 98-67, on Nov. 25.
Series: First meeting | Last time: First meeting | vs. Summit League: K-State is 30-3 | K-State in Kansas City: 100-68 (.595) | K-State in Sprint Center: 2-1
Rankings: K-State is receiving votes in both the AP and USA Today/ESPN Top 25 polls. IUPUI is not ranked in either poll.
Tickets: $10 (Student single-game tickets), $25 (Single-game tickets) at Ticketmaster at 816.931.3330 or www.TicketMaster.com.
Projected Starters
Kansas State (4-1)
G - #0 Jacob Pullen (6-0, 200, Jr.)
G - #21 Denis Clemente (6-1, 180, Sr.)
F - #23 Dominique Sutton (6-5, 218, Jr.)
F - #24 Curtis Kelly (6-8, 239, Jr.)
F - #15 Jordan Henriquez-Roberts (7-0, 245, Fr.)
IUPUI (5-1)
G - #1 Leroy Nobles (6-5, 185, Jr.)
G - #42 John Ashworth (6-3, 195, Jr.)
F - #5 Alex Young (6-5, 195, So.)
F - #23 Robert Glenn (6-7, 195, Sr.)
F - #54 Billy Pettiford (6-7, 220, Sr.)
K-State returns home to Kansas City to face IUPUI
Kansas State returns home from its successful trip at the Puerto Rico Tipoff to host IUPUI (5-1) at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday at the Sprint Center in the K-State Holiday Classic presented by Subway. It marks the third consecutive season that the Wildcats have played host to a game at the Sprint Center with the squad knocking off Florida A&M, 87-60, on Dec. 4, 2007 and Southern Miss, 74-55, on Dec. 11, 2008. The contest also begins a four-game homestand for K-State, which continues the stretch with games against Fort Hays State (Dec. 1), Washington State (Dec. 5) and Xavier (Dec. 8).
Kansas State has a long history of playing games in the Kansas City area, which dates back eight decades in 1935. This will be the school's 169th game in the City of Fountains, including the fourth in the Sprint Center, which was completed in October 2007. The Wildcats are 100-68 (.595) all-time in Kansas City, which includes play in three different venues (Municipal Auditorium, Kemper Arena and the Sprint Center). Most of those wins (70) came in Municipal Auditorium, which played host to the Big Six/Seven/Eight Holiday Tournament from 1943 to 1978. The team is 2-1 in the Sprint Center with the wins over Florida A&M in 2007 and Southern Miss in 2008 and a loss to Texas A&M (63-60) in the quarterfinals of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship in 2007. The Wildcats will make at least one more appearance at the arena when the Big 12 hosts its annual Men's Basketball Championship in March 2010.
The Wildcats are coming off a third-place finish at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tipoff, in which, the squad posted wins over Boston University (80-70) and No. 18/21 Dayton (83-75) in between a loss to Ole Miss (86-74). The win over the nationally-ranked Flyers was significant because it was the team's first win over a ranked non-conference opponent since beating No. 19 Iowa, 86-78, at home on Dec. 23, 2000. It was the first over a ranked non-conference opponent on a neutral site since K-State knocked off No. 17 Arkansas, 47-46, in Kemper Arena on Dec. 27, 1980. Junior Jacob Pullen and senior Denis Clemente were both selected to the All-Tournament team after averaging 19.0 and 15.0 points per game, respectively. Both players eclipsed the 20-point barrier in the win over Dayton, marking the fifth time they have combined for 40 or more points in a game.
Pullen leads four players in double figures on the season at 16.4 points per game, while pacing the Wildcats in assists (17). Junior transfer Curtis Kelly is second in scoring at 13.8 points per game on a team-best 57.8 percent shooting to go with a team-high 8.0 rebounds per game. Clemente is third at 13.6 points per game to go with a team-high 30.6 minutes per game, while sophomore forward Jamar Samuels averages 11.0 points per game. The team is averaging 82.2 points per game on 47.4 percent shooting, including 32.9 percent from 3-point range, with 41.6 rebounds, 14.8 assists and 6.2 steals.
Series Information
This will be the first meeting between Kansas State and IUPUI on the hardwood. The Wildcats are 30-3 all-time against teams from the Summit League. The squad already has one win against a team from the Summit League this season with an 82-50 victory over Western Illinois on Nov. 15.
Scouting Kansas State
K-State earned a third-place finish in the Puerto Rico Tipoff with wins over Boston University (80-70) and No. 18/21 Dayton (83-75) in between a loss to Ole Miss (86-74) in the semifinals. Senior guard Denis Clemente and junior guard Jacob Pullen were both named to the Puerto Rico Tipoff All-Tournament team. Pullen, who had a season-high 26 points in the win over Dayton, scored in double figures in all three games to average 19.0 points per game, while Clemente averaged 15.0 points, including a 21-point output against the Flyers. Pullen leads four players in double figures for the season at 16.4 points per game, while junior Curtis Kelly is second in scoring at 13.8 points and a team-best 8.0 rebounds per game.
Scouting IUPUI
IUPUI enters today's game with a 5-1 record on the year after earning its second straight win with a 98-67 victory over IU East. The Jaguars are averaging 77.3 points per game on 53.4 percent shooting to go with 31.2 rebounds, 16.8 assists and 8.7 steals and 4.3 blocks per game. The team has three players averaging in double figures led by senior Robert Glenn, who is averaging 18.0 points per game.
Up Next: Fort Hays State (2-0)
K-State returns to action on Tuesday, as the Wildcats host Fort Hays State (2-0) at Bramlage Coliseum beginning at 7 p.m. It will be the first of three straight home games, which includes Washington State (Dec. 5) and Xavier (Dec. 8).
