Game Preview // K-State Renews Sunflower Showdown Saturday at Kansas

GAME #17
KANSAS STATE (12-4, 2-2 Big 12) at 12/12 KANSAS (13-3, 3-1 Big 12)
Saturday, January 13, 2018 >> 11:01 a.m. CT >> Allen Fieldhouse (16,300) >> Lawrence, Kan.

TELEVISION
ESPN // WatchESPN // ESPN3

Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play)
Fran Fraschilla (analyst)
Joe McCoy (producer)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network

Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
Stan Weber (analyst)

Listen Online: TuneIn.com [free] // www.kstatesports.com/watch [free]
Satellite Radio: Sirius 81 // XM 81 // Internet 81

LIVE STATS
www.kuathletics.com
kansas.statbroadcast.com [media only]

TICKETS
Sold out

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee '78)
Overall: 425-227/20^th season
At K-State: 112-72/6^th season
vs. Kansas: 2-11 (0-5 on the road)

Kansas: Bill Self (Oklahoma State '85)
Career Record: 636-196/25^th Year
Record at Kansas: 429-90/15^th Year
vs. Kansas State: 25-5 (13-1 at home)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (12-4, 2-2 Big 12)
G: #2 Cartier Diarra
G: #5 Barry Brown, Jr.
G: #20 Xavier Sneed
F: #32 Dean Wade
F: #14 Makol Mawien

12/12 Kansas (13-3, 3-1 Big 12)
G: #0 Marcus Garrett
G: #2 Lagerald Vick
G: #4 Devonte Graham
G: #10 Svi Mykhailiuk
F: #35 Udoka Azubuike

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Kansas leads 193-93
Big 12 era: Kansas leads 46-5
In Lawrence: Kansas leads 88-35
In Manhattan: Kansas leads 77-47
Active Streak: Kansas, 5
Weber vs. Kansas: 2-11 (0-5 on the road)
Self vs. K-State: 25-5 (13-1 at home)
Weber vs. Self: 3-12 (0-6 on the road)

OPENING TIP

Kansas State (12-4, 2-2 Big 12) travels east to Lawrence to renew one of the oldest rivalries in college basketball on Saturday morning, as the Wildcats meet No. 12/12 Kansas (13-3, 3-1 Big 12) at 11 a.m., CT at Allen?Fieldhouse. It will the mark the 287th edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown, as the schools have met at least once a season every year since 1912. The contest will air on ESPN with Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play) and Fran Fraschilla (analyst) on the call.
The rivalry ranks as the eighth-longest continuously played in the country (have met at least twice every season since 1912) with the sixth-most gamed played (286). Kansas' 193 wins are the most against one opponent in NCAA?history, while K-State's 93 victories are the most by any Kansas opponent. The series dates to a 54-39 win by the Jayhawks at home on Jan. 25, 1907.
Kansas leads the all-time series, 193-93, including an 88-35 mark at home, with K-State. The Jayhawks have won 45 of the last 50 meetings in the Big 12 era, including 20 of 21 games played at Allen Fieldhouse. The Wildcats have lost 11 consecutive games at Kansas since posting a 59-55 win on Jan. 14, 2006. K-State has not beaten a ranked Kansas team in Lawrence since 1994.
K-State is 4-2 away from home this season, including a 3-1 mark in true road games (Vanderbilt, Washington State and Iowa State). The three road wins tie four other Big 12 schools (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia) for the most in the league. The win at Vanderbilt was just second in Nashville and the first since 1977, while the win at Iowa State snapped a six-game skid and was the first since 2011.
K-State earned its first one of the new calendar 2018 year on Wednesday night, as junior Barry Brown, Jr., turned in a career performance with a personal-best 38 points on 12-of-17 shooting to go with a career-tying 6 steals in an 86-82 win over Oklahoma State at Bramlage Coliseum. He is the first Wildcat to post a 30-point, 5-steal game in school history. The 38 points were the most by a Wildcat since Jacob Pullen scored 38 in his last career game against Wisconsin in the NCAA Southeast Regional Second Round on March 19, 2011 in Tucson, Ariz., and the most at home since Pullen tallied 38 in an 84-68 win over No. 1 Kansas on Feb. 14, 2011. His 6 steals tied a career-high and were the most by a Wildcat in a Big 12 game.
Brown, who ranks fifth in the Big 12 in scoring (16.9 ppg.) and second (24.3 ppg.) in league-only games, posted his first career 30-point game against the Cowboys and scored 20 or more points four times in the last five games. His 97 total points after the first four Big 12 games are the most since Michael Beasley scored 115 points in his first four Big 12 games in 2008.
Down 34-33 at the halftime to Oklahoma State, Brown teamed with redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra to score the Wildcats' first 25 points to start the second half, as the Wildcats connected on 58 percent (10-of-17) during that scoring span as the duo combined for 36 of the team's 53 points after halftime. Diarra, who was making his first career start in place of the injured Kamau Stokes, scored a career-best 17 points to go with a team-high 4 assists in a career-best 37 minutes. The performance came on the heels of an 11-point, 30-minute effort against Texas Tech on Jan. 6, in which, he took over starting duties with Stokes going out with an injury 15 minutes into the game. Stokes had led the Wildcats in a number of categories, including minutes (30.5 mpg.), double-digit scoring games (11), 3-point field goals (33) and assists (4.6 apg.), while ranking third in scoring (13.4 ppg.).

NOTES ON 12/12 KANSAS

No. 12/12 Kansas enters Saturday's game with a 13-3 overall record and a 3-1 mark in Big 12 play after earning an 83-78 win over Iowa State on Tuesday at home. The Jayhawks connected on 14 3-pointers, including a combined 11 from guards Svi Mykhailiuk and Malik Newman, as the pair combined for 50 of the team's 83 points. Newman scored a career-best 27 points off the bench to go with 8 rebounds, while Mykhailiuk added 23 points. Senior point guard Devonte Graham had a near double-double with 11 points and 9 assists to go with a game-high 4 steals.
Kansas once again is one of the most potent offenses in the country, ranking in the Top 10 in nine categories, including 13th in scoring offense (86.6 ppg.), 11th in field goal percentage (51.1) and scoring margin (+16.6), 12th in the 3-point field goal percentage (41.4), 10th in 3-point field goals per game (11.1), seventh in assists per game (18.6) and eighth in assist turnover ratio (1.59). They are dangerous from long range with four players with 26 or more 3-point field goals, including 50+ from Mykhailiuk (57) and Graham (51). The Jayhawks are allowing just 70.1 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting, including 32.5 percent from 3-point range. They are shooting 71.2 percent from the free throw line.
Kansas is a balanced offensive teams with five players averaging in double digits led by Graham's team-best 18.1 points per game on 42.9 percent shooting, including 43.2 percent from 3-point range. Graham ranks seventh nationally in assists per game (7.5 apg.), 27th in 3-point field goals per game (3.19) and 51st in 3-point field goal percentage (43.2). Mykhailiuk, who ranks 11th in 3-point field goals per game (3.56), is second in scoring at 16.9 points per game on 46.5 percent shooting, including 47.9 percent from long range. Lagerald Vick (15.3 ppg.), Udoka Azubuike (14.6 ppg.) and Newman (10.9 ppg.) also average double figures. Azubuike, who leads the Big 12 and ranks second in the nation in field goal percentage at 76.6 percent, leads the way in both rebounds (7.7 rpg.)?and blocked shots (1.5 bpg.).
Kansas is led by Hall of Fame head coach Bill Self, who has a 429-90 (.827) record in his 15th season leading the Jayhawks. Overall, he is 636-196 (.764) in his 25th season as head coach leading Oral Roberts (1993-97), Tulsa (1997-2000), Illinois (2000-03) and now Kansas.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be 287th meeting between Kansas State and Kansas on the hardwood, including the 52nd in the Big 12 era, with the Jayhawks holding a 193-93 advantage in a series that dates to 1907. The 193 wins are the most against one opponent in the country, while the 93 victories by the Wildcats are the most by a Kansas opponent. The Jayhawks own an 88-35 lead at home, including a 20-1 mark since the start of Big 12 play. The two schools have met at least once every season since 1912. It is the eighth-longest continuously played rivalry, while it ties for the sixth-most games played.
Kansas holds a 46-5 mark in the Big 12 era and have won 19 of the last 22 meetings, including 12 of the last 14 games.
Kansas has won 11 straight in the series at home with the last K-State win coming on Jan. 14, 2006 (59-55). The last victory by a Wildcat team over a ranked Jayhawk squad at Allen Fieldhouse came in a 68-64 win on Big Monday on Jan. 17, 1994.
Junior Svi Mykhailiuk's running lay-up at the buzzer proved to be the difference in a tightly-contested Sunflower Showdown, as No. 3/2 Kansas posted a 90-88 win over K-State in the latest meeting at Allen Fieldhouse. K-State had a chance to go ahead late as sophomore Dean Wade's 3-point attempt fell just short and the ball skated out of bounds. It was on the ensuing inbounds play that Mykhailiuk drove the length of the court and hit the game-winning shot to lift Kansas to victory. Wade's 20 points led the way for the Wildcats, who had five players in double figures.
K-State's second-half rally came up short against No. 3/3 Kansas, 74-71, in the latest meeting on Feb. 6, 2017 at Bramlage Coliseum. After the Wildcats tied it at 63-all on forward Dean Wade's third 3-point field goal with 2:53 to play, the Jayhawks scored six straight points to take control of the game. The late 6-0 run was keyed by guard Svi Mykhailiuk's 3-pointer with 2:34 remaining. K-State closed to within 72-69 on a 3-pointer by guard Kamau Stokes with 22 seconds to play, but guard Devonte' Graham canned a pair of free throws with 17 seconds to end any further comeback.
Head coach Bruce Weber is 2-11 all-time against Kansas, including 0-5 on the road.

HISTORY AGAINST RANKED BIG 12 FOES

K-State is 31-88 (.261) all-time against ranked Big 12 teams, including 8-50 (.138) on the road. The numbers have improved greatly since the 2006-07 season, in which, the Wildcats have posted a 26-43 (.377) record against ranked Big 12 squads, which includes a 8-25 (.242) mark in road matchups. The team went just 5-45 against ranked Big 12 foes from 1996 to 2006, including 25 consecutive road losses.
Under coach Bruce Weber, K-State is 14-27 (.341) against ranked Big 12 teams, including a 2-16 mark (.111) on the road. The Wildcats won an overtime thriller over No. 16 Oklahoma, 66-63, on Jan. 10, 2015 then snapped a 10-game skid against ranked Big 12 teams on the road with a 56-54 victory at No. 2 Baylor on?Feb. 4, 2017. Most of the losses in span have come to Kansas (five), Iowa State (three), West Virginia (three), Baylor (twice) and Oklahoma and Oklahoma State (once).
K-State is 5-47 against a ranked Kansas squad since 1994, including 0-22 mark at Allen Fieldhouse dating back to 1995. The Wildcats have not defeated a ranked Jayhawk team on the road since a 68-64 upset of top-ranked Kansas on Jan. 17, 1994. The last time K-State played a Kansas team ranked No. 12 in the country was a pair of meetings in 2003 with the Jayhawks winning 81-64 in Manhattan on Jan. 18, 2003 and 82-64 at home on Feb. 8, 2003.

LAST TIME OUT: K-STATE 86, OKLAHOMA STATE 82

Junior guard Barry Brown, Jr., enjoyed a special night with a career-high 38 points, as K-State snapped a two-game skid with an 86-82 win over Oklahoma State on Wednesday at Bramlage Coliseum. The 38-point scoring output by Brown was the most by a Wildcat since Jacob Pullen also scored 38 points against Wisconsin in the NCAA?Tournament on March 19, 2011, while it was most in a Big 12 home game since Pullen's 38 against Kansas on Feb. 14, 2011. Brown has now scored 20 or more points in four of the last five games, including three of four Big 12 contests. He connected on 12-of-17 from the field to go with an 11-of-16 effort from the free throw line. He also added 6 steals, which were the most by a Wildcat in a Big 12 game.
Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra, who earned his first career start in place of the injured Kamau Stokes, scored a career-best 17 points 6-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-3 from long range, to go with a team-high 4 assists in a career-best 37 minutes. Sophomore Xavier Sneed collected his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-best 12 points. Junior Dean Wade added 10 points, including a 6-of-6 effort from the line. The Wildcats have now had four double-figure scoring in five games this season with the Wildcats a perfect 5-0 when they have balanced scoring.
Brown and Diarra scored the Wildcats' first 25 points to start the second half, as the team connected on 58 percent (10-of-17) during that stretch. The duo combined for 36 of the season-best 53 points after halftime on 68.8 percent (11-of-16) shooting and 75 percent (12-of-16) from the line.
K-State scored 86 points on 50 percent (26-of-52) shooting from the field, including 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from 3-point range, and 75.7 percent (24-of-30) from the free throw line. It marked the eighth time eclipsing the 80-point barrier this season. It marked the eighth time this season the team shot 50 percent or better from the field. The Wildcats' 53 points after halftime were the most scored in a second half and tied for the most in any half this season (53 vs. SE?Missouri State and Iowa State). The squad also posted season-highs for both free throws made (28) and attempted (37).
K-State connected on 80 percent (24-of-30) from the free throw line in the second half, including 88.9 percent (16-of-18) in the final five minutes.
K-State had to use a different starting lineup for the first time this season with Diarra, Brown, Sneed, Wade and sophomore Makol Mawien in the starting five. This was the first time using this lineup with the injury to Stokes, who saw his 49-game start streak end. Brown pushed his team-best streaks of current starts (84) and consecutive starts (62). It was the 82nd career start for Wade, including the 61st in row.

OFFENSE OFF TO A GOOD START

K-State is averaging 76.6 points on 48 percent shooting, including 36.1 percent from 3-point range, to go with a solid 72.8 percent clip from the free throw line through 16 games. The Wildcats have scored 80 or more points eight times, including a pair of 90-point efforts against Arizona State (11/23) and Iowa State (12/29), and have eclipsed the 75-point barrier eight times in the last 13 games. It is the most 90-point and 80-point games in the first 16 games since 2009-10 (which had 12 80-point and 4 90-point games), while the 1,225 points are the most points through 16 games since scoring 1,325 (82.8 ppg.) in the same span to start the 2009-10 season. The 91 points at ISU were the most in a Big 12 opener since 2000.
The Wildcats scored a season-best 91 points at Iowa State (12/29) on 55.2 percent shooting (32-of-58), including 50 percent (13-of-26) from 3-point range. It was the most points in a Big 12 opener since scoring 97 at home against Nebraska on Jan. 8, 2000, while it was the most in a Big 12 opener on the road since scoring 92 at Colorado on Jan. 21, 1987. The 91 points were the most in a Big 12 road game overall since scoring 96 at Oklahoma State on Jan. 18, 2017. The Wildcats connected on 50 percent or better in both halves for the sixth time this season. The 13 3-point field goals tied for the ninth-most makes in school history and most in a Big 12 game since hitting 14 against the Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 5, 2011.
K-State also posted 90 points vs. Arizona State (11/23), which tied for the fourth-most points ever scored in a loss and the most since a 112-95 loss at No. 4 Oklahoma on Feb. 13, 1988. The 84 points at Vanderbilt (12/3) were the most in a non-conference road game since also scoring 84 at Saint Louis on Dec. 3, 2016. The squad also has 80-point efforts vs. American (11/10), NAU?(11/20), USC?Upstate (12/5), SE Missouri State (12/16) and Oklahoma State (1/10). The 86 points against the Cowboys were the most in a Big 12 home game since scoring 89 vs. OSU on Jan. 23, 2016.
K-State has connected on better than 50 percent from the field in eight games, including a season-best 62.5 percent (35-of-56) in the win over SE?Missouri State (12/16). The team has hit on 50 percent or better in both halves in six games (American, Arizona State, Vanderbilt, USC?Upstate, SE Missouri State and Iowa State). The Wildcats posted season-highs for field goals made (35), assists (25), points in the paint (44) as well as dunks (7) vs. SE?Missouri. It was the most assists in a game since dishing out 25 at Baylor on Feb. 15, 2014, while it was the most points in the paint since posting 46 in a win over Iowa State on Feb. 28, 2015. The 35 field goals was one shy of the record in the Bruce Weber era of 36 vs. OSU on Jan. 18, 2017.

TRIPLE SCORING THREAT

Even without junior Kamau Stokes, K-State still has a trio of scoring threats in juniors Barry Brown, Jr. (16.9 ppg.) and Dean Wade (14.6 ppg.) and sophomore Xavier Sneed (11.4 ppg.). They rank fifth, 15th and 28th in scoring in the Big 12, as the three are averaging 42.8 points per game on 49.1 percent shooting, including 34.8 percent from long range, and 76.0 percent from the free throw line.
The trio of Brown, Wade and Sneed have all scored in double figures in nine career games, including five this season. The three combined for 50 or more points twice this season, including 51 against No. 6/5 West Virginia (1/1) on 50 percent shooting (16-of-32) and 59 against Oklahoma State (1/10) on 55.2 percent shooting (16-of-29). They have combined for 34 double-digit scoring games, including Brown's team-high 13 this season.
Brown is averaging 24.3 points on 53.6 percent shooting (30-of-56), including 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from 3-point range, through the first four Big 12 games. His scoring average ranks second in the Big 12 behind Trae Young (30.5 ppg.), while he is 13th in field goal percentage in league-only games. His 97 points are the most by a Wildcat though the first four Big 12 games since Michael Beasley scored 115 in 2008. Brown's career-best 38 points vs. Oklahoma State (1/10) were the most by a Wildcat since Jacob Pullen also scored 38 against Wisconsin on March 19, 2011 and the most in a home game since Pullen's 38 against Kansas on Feb. 14, 2011. It was also the fifth-most by a junior in school history. He leads the Wildcats with 10 career 20-point games, including a team-best six this season (with four in the last five outings). Brown, who ranks third in the Big 12 in steals with 34 on the season, tied his career-high with 6 vs. OSU, which were the most by a Wildcat ever in a Big 12 game and the most since Elliot Hatcher vs. Colorado on Jan. 13, 1996. The school record of 7 steals in a conference game came against Nebraska in 1989.
Wade is not far behind Brown in Big 12 games, averaging 18.8 points on 65.9 percent shooting (27-of-41), including 60 percent (6-of-10) from 3-point range, to go with 6.8 rebounds through the first four league contests. The average ranks seventh in the league, while Wade is fourth in field goal percentage and 11th in rebounding. His 75 points are the sixth-most by a Wildcat through the first four Big 12 games.
Sneed has struggled with his scoring consistency of late with just four double-figure scoring game in his last seven outings, but he has registered double-digit points nine times this season, including three 20-point games (Vanderbilt, SE Missouri State and West Virginia). He is now the leader in 3-point field goals with Stokes out with 27, which includes a career-best 6-of-9 effort in the setback to the Mountaineers on New Year's Day. He collected his first career double-double in the win over Oklahoma State (1/10) with a career-best 12 rebounds to go with 11 points.

IMPRESSIVE SCORING FEAT

In the Big 12 opener at Iowa State, Dean Wade (34), Kamau Stokes (23) and Barry Brown, Jr. (21) combined for 78 of the team's 91 points on 62.8 percent shooting (27-of-43), including 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from 3-point range. It marked just the second time that the Wildcats had a 30-point scorer and two 20-point scorers in the same game since Chuckie Williams (34), Daryl Winston (23) and Mike Evans (20) accomplished the feat in a 108-93 victory at Iowa State on Jan. 29, 1975. It was also the most combined points for three players in a game since Michael Beasley (44), Bill Walker (31) and Clent Stewart (5) combined for 80 points in a loss a Baylor on Feb. 23, 2008. In addition, it was the first time K-State had three 20-point scorers (Jacob Pullen, Denis Clemente and Curtis Kelly) since the 2010 NCAA West Regional Semifinal against Xavier on March 25, 2010.
Wade became the first 30-point scorer since Marcus Foster also scored 34 vs. Texas on Feb. 8, 2014, while it was the most points by in a Big 12 road game since Clemente scored 44 at Texas on Jan. 31, 2009 and most in a Big 12 opener since Beasley had 32 at Oklahoma on Jan. 12, 2008.
Stokes, who tied for the team lead with 11 double-figure scoring games prior to his injury, has registered 20 or more points seven times in his career, including three times this season. Brown, the Wildcats' leader with 13 double-digit scoring games, has been the leader in 20-point games with 10 in his career, including six this season. The two guards combined for 50 points in the loss to Arizona State (11/26) with Brown scoring a then career-best 27 points in the two-point loss to the Sun Devils. Stokes (20) also joined Xavier Sneed (21) with 20-point games in the win at Vanderbilt (12/3).

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

K-State has been solid taking care of the basketball this season, averaging a Big 12-low 11.0 turnovers per game. The average ranks 19th nationally, while the 176 total turnovers also ranks 16th in the nation. In contrast, the Wildcats have also forced their opponents into 15.0 turnovers per game, which ranks fourth in the league. The team ranks 21st nationally and third in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+4.0).
K-State has posted 12 turnovers or less in 12 of 16 games, including single-digit turnovers on five occasions (UC Irvine, George Washington, Oral Roberts, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State). The team is averaging just 10.2 turnovers over the last 11 games (112). Since turning over the ball a season-high 17 vs. American (11/10), the Wildcats have averaged just 10.6 turnovers in the last 15 games, including eight games of 10 turnovers or less.
K-State is averaging 15.5 assists per game on 26.8 made field goals per game, which ranks seventh in the Big 12. However, when comparing it to the low turnover average, the team ranks 24th nationally and fourth in the league in assist turnover ratio at 1.41. They have dished out 20 or more assists four times, including a season-best 25 against SE?Missouri State (12/16) and 22 against American (11/10) and Northern Arizona (11/20).

SUCCESS BEYOND THE ARC

K-State has been successful to start the season from 3-point range, averaging 8.1 treys per game on 36.1 percent shooting (129-of-357). Junior Kamau Stokes is one of five players with double-digit 3-point field goals, as he leads all players with 33 treys on 41.3 percent shooting (33-of-80) this season. Before the injury, he ranked seventh in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made/game (2.2), while he is 14th in 3-point field goal percentage.
Stokes hit a career-high 7 treys vs. Arizona State (11/23), which tied for the fourth-most in school history, while he has at least 3 or three other games.
Xavier Sneed is second in 3-point field goals with 27 on a 34.6 percent clip, while Barry Brown, Jr. (22), Dean Wade (14), Cartier Diarra (13), Brian Patrick (9) and Amaad Wainright (8) all have more than eight 3-point makes. Wade (ISU) and Sneed (West Virginia) both hit a career-high 6 treys recently, while Brown had a career-best 4 against Arizona State (11/23) and Diarra had 4 vs. American (11/10).
K-State has hit on six or more 3-pointers in 11 of 16 games this season, including double-digits against American (12), Arizona State (15), USC Upstate (12), SE?Missouri?State (11), Iowa State (13) and West Virginia (10). The 15 makes against the Sun Devils tied for the second-most in school history and were the most since also converting on 15 3-pointers against Nebraska on Jan. 8, 2000. Overall, the Wildcats hit on 46.9 percent from beyond the arc against ASU with the 32 attempts the third-most ever in a game and the most since attempting a school-record 37 at Texas on Feb. 12, 2005.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS

K-State has been solid on the defensive end to start the season, allowing 65.9 points while holding its opposition to 41.4 percent shooting, including 32.3 percent from 3-point range. The team ranks among the Top 35 in turnover margin (21st), steals per game (29th) and scoring defense (48th), while they are third in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage defense, turnover margin and steals and fourth in scoring defense.
The Wildcats have held six of the 15 opponents to 45, 51, 49, 58, 59 and 49 points, respectively, as they have now held 64 opponents to 60 points or less under head coach Bruce Weber's direction with the squad boasting a 57-7 (.891) record in those contests. The squad has held 17 opponents to 50 points or less under Weber (16-1 record), which includes a Weber era-best 26 points allowed to Alabama-Huntsville on Nov. 13, 2012.
K-State has held all but two opponents (Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State) to below its scoring average and has held its opponents to an average of 10.8 points below its season scoring average. The Wildcats held UMKC (11/14)?to 32.5 points under its scoring average, while UC?Irvine (11/17) and USC?Upstate (12/5) were held to 27 and 26 points, respectively, below its average. Nine opponents (Arizona State, George Washington, Vanderbilt, Tulsa, SE?Missouri State, Iowa State, West Virginia, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State) have shot better than 40 percent from the field.
K-State has put up some impressive defensive numbers under Weber, leading the Big 12 in scoring defense twice in his tenure (60.4 ppg., in 2012-13 and 65.4 ppg., in 2013-14). Since his arrival in 2012-13, the Wildcats are allowing opponents just 64.4 points per game (11,855 points). K-State has a 93-26 (.782) record when holding a foe to 69 points or less since 2012-13 and a 19-46 (.292) mark when allowing an opponent to score 70 or more.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

K-State enjoyed quite the memorable night on defensive end against Northern?Arizona (11/20), as the Wildcats tied the school record with 19 steals while forcing 31 total turnovers and enjoying a 38-15 edge in points off turnovers in the convincing 80-58 win. The 19 steals tied the school mark set against Tulane on Jan. 10, 1976 at Ahearn Field House. The 31 turnovers tied for the fifth most and were the most since also forcing 31 against Kentucky on Nov. 28, 2008. The 38 points off of turnovers were the fourth-most and the most since totaling 39 against Washington State on Dec. 5, 2009.
In all, five different Wildcats had at least two steals, including a career-best 6 by Barry?Brown, Jr., and 5 by Dean?Wade. The 6 steals by Brown tied nine other players for the eighth-most steals in a game. He now has 150 in his career, which ranks third on the all-time list. Kamau Stokes also had 3 steals, while sophomore Xavier Sneed and redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra had 2 each.

ONE OF THE YOUNGEST TEAMS

K-State is one of 15 schools nationally (Auburn, American, Bowling Green, UC Irvine, The Citadel, Holy Cross, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Marquette, Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Toledo and Wofford) to have one or fewer seniors on its roster in 2017-18, while the Wildcats' nine freshmen (true and redshirt) and sophomores ranks nine nationally and are only surpassed by the 12 at Auburn and Kentucky, 11 by UC Irvine, 10 each by American, The Citadel, Tennessee, Toledo and Wofford.

K-STATE WELCOMES SHAUN WILLIAMS

Head coach Bruce Weber announced the signing of Shaun Williams (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) on the first day of the National Signing Period on Nov. 8.
A 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard, Williams led Hazelwood Central in 12 categories en route to helping the Hawks to a 17-11 record and a trip to the Class 5, District 3 Championship Game. He averaged a team-best 18.6 points on 47.4 percent shooting (155-of-237), including 35.2 percent (38-of-108) from 3-point range, to go with 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He connected on a team-best 83.8 percent (98-of-117) from the free throw line. He was a First Team Class 5 All-State selection by the Missouri Basketball?Coaches Association as a junior.

UP NEXT: 9/9 OKLAHOMA (13-2, 3-1 Big 12)

K-State continues Big 12 play on Tuesday night when the Wildcats return home to play host to former Wildcat great Lon Kruger and his Top 10 ranked Oklahoma Sooners (13-2, 3-1 Big 12) at 8 p.m., on ESPNU.

Game Preview // K-State Renews Sunflower Showdown Saturday at Kansas

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