Game Preview // K-State Travels to 15/11 West Virginia on Saturday

GAME #23
rv/rv KANSAS STATE (16-6, 5-4 Big 12) vs. 15/11 WEST VIRGINIA (16-6, 5-4 Big 12)
Saturday, February 3, 2018 >> 3 p.m. CT >> WVU Coliseum (14,000) >> Morgantown, W.Va.

TELEVISION
ESPN2 // WatchESPN // ESPN3

Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play)
Fran Fraschilla (analyst)
Eric Posman (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.wvusports.com
wvu.statbroadcast.com [media only]

TICKETS
Sold out

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee '78)
Overall: 429-229/20^th season
At K-State: 116-74/6^th season
vs. West Virginia: 4-8 (1-4 on the road)

West Virginia: Bob Huggins (West Virginia '77)
Career Record: 835-336/36^th Year
Record at West Virginia: 245-125/11^th Year
vs. Kansas State: 9-4 (4-1 at home)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (16-6, 5-4 Big 12)
G: #2 Cartier Diarra
G: #5 Barry Brown, Jr.
G: #20 Xavier Sneed
F: #32 Dean Wade
F: #14 Makol Mawien

West Virginia (16-6, 5-4 Big 12)
G: #2 Jevon Carter
G: #14 Chase Harler
F: #21 Wesley Harris
F: #23 Esa Ahmad
F: #50 Sagaba Konate

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: West Virginia leads 9-5
In Morgantown: West Virginia leads 4-2
In Manhattan: Tied 3-3
Big 12 era: West Virginia leads 8-4
Active Streak: West Virginia, 3
Weber vs. West Virginia: 4-8 (1-4 on the road)
Huggins vs. K-State: 9-4 (4-1 at home)
Weber vs. Huggins: 6-8 (1-4 on the road)

OPENING TIP

Kansas State (16-6, 5-4 Big 12) begins the second half of Big 12 play on Saturday afternoon, as the Wildcats travel to Morgantown, W. Va., to take on No. 15/11 West Virginia (16-6, 5-4 Big 12) at 3 p.m., CT at the WVU Coliseum. Both teams sit in a tie for fourth place in the Big 12 standings after the first half of league competition with 5-4 marks, just two games behind Kansas and one game behind second-place Texas Tech and Oklahoma. Saturday's game will air on ESPN2 and the WatchESPN?app with Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play) and Fran Fraschilla (analyst).
K-State hasn't fared well in recent trips to play West Virginia with the Wildcats dropping four straight at the WVU Coliseum by an average of 12 points per game, including an average of 17 points per game in the last two visits which includes a 70-55 loss in 2016 and a 85-66 setback in 2017. Overall, the team is 2-4 in games played in Morgantown with the last win coming 65-64 on Jan. 12, 2013.
West Virginia owns a 9-5 advantage in the all-time series with K-State with eight wins in the last nine meetings between the schools by an average margin of 8.4 points per game. The Mountaineers are 8-4 in the Big 12 era and are attempting to sweep the season series for the third time in four seasons after earning a 77-69 win over the Wildcats in the first meeting on New Year's Day at Bramlage Coliseum. In that contest, West Virginia connected on 53.6 percent from the field and had four players score in double figures led by freshman Teddy Allen's 22 points. K-State was held to just 35.7 percent shooting, as sophomore Xavier Sneed led with 20 points.
Saturday's contest marks the start of three road games in a four-game stretch, as the Wildcats play back-to-back road tilts at No. 15/11 West Virginia and Texas (14-8, 4-5 Big 12) before returning home to face No. 10/10 Texas Tech (18-4, 6-3 Big 12) on on Feb. 10. The team is 5-4 away from Bramlage Coliseum this season, which includes a 4-2 mark in true road games and a 2-2 mark on the road in Big 12 play. The four true road wins are the second-most of any Big 12 team this season and only eclipsed by Kansas' five. The team is 0-2 away from home against ranked teams, falling 74-58 at No. 18/18 Texas Tech on Jan. 6 and 73-72 on No. 12/12 Kansas on Jan. 13.
K-State saw its four-game winning streak come to an end on Monday night, as No. 7/7 Kansas completed the season sweep with a 70-56 win at Bramlage Coliseum. The Jayhawks jumped out to a 15-4 lead en route to a 40-27 advantage after halftime on 70 percent shooting, as the Wildcats could get no closer than five points the rest of the way. K-State shot a near season-low 32.3 percent from the field, including a season-worst 25.7 percent in the first half, despite scoring 21 points off of 16 Kansas turnovers. Junior Dean Wade continued his solid play with his sixth consecutive 20-point outing with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting. He is the first Wildcat since Michael Beasley in 2007-08 to post six straight 20-point games.
Junior Barry Brown, Jr. and Wade are averaging 21.2 and 20.2 points per game at the midway point of Big 12 play, which rank second and third, respectively, among all Big 12 players. They are two of only four league players (along with Oklahoma's Trae Young (33.7 ppg.) and Texas Tech's Keenan Evans (20.1 ppg.) to average 20 points or more points per game. Brown and Wade have combined to score 373 points in the first nine Big 12 games, which is the fourth-best totalat this point of league play and the most since Michael Beasley and Bill Walker totaled 397 points in 2008.

NOTES ON 15/11 WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia enters Saturday's contest with a 16-6 overall record and a 5-4 mark in Big 12 play after dropping a 93-77 decision at Iowa State on Wednesday night. The Mountaineers shot just 43.3 percent from the field, including 34.6 percent from 3-point range, while the Cyclones connected on 62.1 percent, including 55.6 percent from long range, while posting just 8 turnovers. Senior Jevon Carter paced three players in double figures with 18 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds, while junior Esa Ahmad and sophomore Sagaba Konate each added 17 points.
The Mountaineers are averaging 80.6 points on 42.4 percent shooting, including 33.6 percent from 3-point range, while they are allowing 67.8 points on 41.6 percent from the field, including 35.6 percent from long range. The team is averaging 9.0 3-point field goals per game with four players totaling 24 or more treys. They lead the Big 12 in turnover margin (+6.8), offensive rebounds (14.9) and steals (8.8) and rank second nationally in turnover margin and offensive rebounds, fifth in turnovers forced (18.4), 10th in steals per game and 18th in scoring margin (+12.9).
Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Jevon Carter paces four players in double figures at 17.4 points per game on 41.1 percent shooting, including 39.5 percent from 3-point range, and 86.1 percent from the free throw line. The senior, who ranks second in both steals/game and total steals (71) and 11th in assists (6.6 apg.), places among the Top 10 in the Big 12 in seven categories, including steals (1st), scoring (3rd), free throw percentage (3rd), assists (4th), minutes (4th), assist/turnover ratio (5th) and 3-point field goals made (9th) Senior Daxter Miles, Jr., is second in scoring at 12.8 points per game on 43.2 percent shooting, while sophomore Lamont West (10.7 ppg.) and Sagaba Konate (10.1 ppg.) also average double figures. Konate, who is shooting 51.6 percent from the field, leads in both rebounding (8.0 rpg.) and blocked shots (3.3 bpg.).
West Virginia is led by soon-to-be Hall of Fame head coach Bob Huggins, who has an 835-336 (.713) overall record in 36 seasons as head coach, which includes stints at Walsh College (1980-83), Akron (1984-89), Cincinnati (1989-2005), Kansas State (2006-07) and now his alma mater, West Virginia. He has a 245-125 (.662) record in his 11th season in Morgantown, which includes eight NCAA?Tournaments and a Final Four in 2010.

K-STATE/WEST VIRGINIA CONNECTIONS

West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins is one of 11 former K-State players or coaches who currently serve as a head coach at the Division I level (14 when including Division II), including 4 current head coaches who played for the Wildcats. Huggins led the Wildcats to a 23-win season in 2006-07.
Huggins' staff also includes a number of K-State ties, including assistant Erik Martin, who spent one year as an assistant at K-State from 2006-07, and coordinator of operations Josh Eilert, who played at K-State from 2002-04.
West Virginia senior Daxter Miles, Jr., and K-State junior Kamau Stokes both hail from Baltimore and attended Dunbar High School together for one year in 2012-13. The tandem of Miles and Stokes helped Dunbar to a 26-2 record and a Class 1A state championship and Baltimore City title.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be 15th meeting between Kansas State and West Virginia on the hardwood, including the 13th in the Big 12 era, with the Mountaineers holding a 9-5 advantage in a series that dates to 1949. West Virginia has won eight of the 12 matchups since joining the Big 12 in 2013, including four straight wins at the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers have had the upper hand of late, winning eight of the last nine meetings and three in a row.
In the teams' last meeting at the WVU?Coliseum on Feb. 11, 2017, No. 13/14 West Virginia used the momentum of an early second-half technical by head coach Bob Huggins to take control in a tightly-contested game en route to an 85-66 win. With K-State leading 37-36 with 18:37 to play in the second half, Huggins was whistled for a technical foul on a disputed foul call, allowing Kamau Stokes to hit a pair of free throws. Trailing 39-36, West Virginia used the emotions of the moment to get back-to-back dunks from Esa Ahmad and Sagaba Konate and ignite a 12-1 run to take a 48-40 lead with 14:14 to play. The Wildcats would close to within 50-44 on a layup by senior reserve Austin Budke with 13:03 remaining, however, seven straight points ended any hopes of a comeback as the Mountaineers extended the lead to double figures, which they held for the rest of the game.
K-State's lone win in the last nine meetings with West Virginia came last season at home, as current guard Barry Brown used a stellar second-half effort (scoring all 15 of his points after halftime) to hold off a late rally from the Mountaineers, 79-75, on Jan. 21, 2017.
Head coach Bruce Weber is 4-8 all-time against West Virginia, including a 1-4 mark at WVU Coliseum.

LAST MEETING: 6/7 WEST VIRGINIA 77, K-STATE 69

Led by freshman Teddy Allen's game-high 22 points off the bench, No. 6/7 West Virginia used a balanced scoring effort with four players in double figures to upend K-State, 77-69, in the teams' latest meeting on New Year's Day at Bramlage Coliseum. The Mountaineers connected on 53.6 percent from the field, including 50 percent or better in each half, and held a 40-18 advantage in points in the paint. Sophomore Lamont West scored 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while senior Daxter Miles, Jr., and sophomore James Bolden added 10 points each.
Sophomore Xavier Sneed led K-State with 20 points, including a career-best six 3-point field goals, while junior Dean Wade collected his third double-double of the season with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The Wildcats connected on just 35.7 percent from the field with 10 of their 20 made field goals coming from 3-point range, while they scored 25 points off of 18 Mountaineer turnovers.

LAST TIME OUT: 7/7 KANSAS 70, K-STATE 56

No. 7/7 Kansas jumped out to a big lead and held off several attempted comebacks by K-State to earn a 70-56 win before a sold-out crowd at Bramlage Coliseum on Monday night. The Wildcats led just once -- 2-0 to open the game -- and shot a near season-low 32.3 percent (21-of-65) from the field, including a season-worst 25.7 percent (9-of-35) in the first half. The team battled back from an early 15-4 deficit to close within five points on three occasions, including 40-35 with 15:09 to play, however, could get no closer as the Jayhawks ran its winning streak to seven games in the series.
K-State was led by junior Dean Wade, who posted his sixth consecutive 20-point contest, with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, to go with a team-best 8 rebounds in a career-best 40 minutes. Sophomore Xavier Sneed scored 10 points, while junior Barry Brown, Jr., added 9 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. In addition, Wade eclipsed 1,000 career points with his first 3-pointer of the first half, becoming the 29th player in school history to register 1,000 career points and second this season (Barry Brown, Jr.).
K-State scored 56 points on 32.3 percent shooting (21-of-65), including 22.2 percent (6-of-27) from 3-point range, and connected on 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the free throw line. The 56 points tied the second-fewest points scored by the Wildcats this season in consecutive games (Georgia).
Defensively, the Wildcats forced the Jayhawks into 16 turnovers, the most Kansas has turned the ball over in Big 12 play this season, and the most since Dec. 10 loss against Arizona State (16). The 16 turnovers forced marked the fifth time K-State has forced the opponent into 15 or more turnovers.
K-State posted a season-low 7 turnovers, which marked the seventh time this season with single-digit turnovers.

OFFENSE OFF TO A GOOD START

K-State is averaging 75.4 points on 47.9 percent shooting, including 36.2 percent from 3-point range, to go with a solid 75.2 percent clip from the free throw line through 22 games. The Wildcats' offensive numbers are slightly better since the start of Big 12 play with the team averaging 75.8 points on 48.2 percent shooting, including 39.6 percent from 3-point range, and 75.4 percent from the free throw line in Big 12 play. Although the team ranks eighth in scoring offense in the league, they are second in free throw percentage, fourth in field goal percentage and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage. The Wildcats lead the Big 12 in field goal percentage (48.2) and are third in 3-point field goal percentage (39.6) since the start of league play.
The Wildcats have scored 80 or more points 10 times, including three 90-point efforts against Arizona State (11/23), Iowa State (12/29) and Baylor (1/22). It is the most 90-point and 80-point games in the first 22 games since 2009-10 (which had 13 80-point and 4 90-point games), while the 1,659 points are the most points through 22 games since scoring 1,783 (81.0 ppg.) in the same span to start the 2009-10 season. The current 75.8 points per game scoring average in Big 12 play is the highest by a Wildcat team through the first nine league games since averaging 78.4 points in 2007-08.
K-State 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 13 3-point field goals tied for the ninth-most makes and the most in a Big 12 game since hitting 14 at Iowa State on Feb. 5, 2011.
K-State has connected on better than 50 percent from the field in 11 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 eight games (American, Arizona State, Vanderbilt, USC?Upstate, SE Missouri State, Iowa State, TCU and Baylor). The Wildcats tied a season-high for both field goals made (35) and attempted (62) against Oklahoma (1/16), while they registered season-highs for assists (25), points in the paint (44) and dunks (7) vs. SE?Missouri State (12/16). 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.

TRIPLE SCORING THREAT

Even without junior Kamau Stokes, K-State still has a trio of scoring threats in juniors Barry Brown, Jr. (17.0 ppg.) and Dean Wade (16.4 ppg.) and sophomore Xavier Sneed (11.0 ppg.). They rank sixth, eighth and 29th in scoring in the Big 12, as the three are averaging 44.3 points per game on 47.8 percent shooting, including 35.5 percent from long range, and 78.5 percent from the free throw line. Since the injury to Stokes, the trio have averaged 48.6 points per game on 45.7 percent shooting, including 35.4 percent from long range, and 81.8 percent from the free throw line.
The trio of Brown, Wade and Sneed have all scored in double figures in 12 career games, including eight this season. The three have combined for 50 or more points three times this season, including 51 against No. 6/5 West Virginia (1/1) on 50 percent shooting, 59 against Oklahoma State (1/10) on 55.2 percent shooting and 58 against No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16) on 57.5 percent shooting (23-of-40). They combined for 48 points against No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13) on 46.2 percent shooting. They have combined for 48 double-digit scoring games, including Wade's team-high 18. Brown and Wade are tied for the team lead in both career 20-point games (12) and single-season 20-point games (eight).
Brown is averaging 21.2 points on 48.5 percent shooting (63-of-130), including 36.6 percent (15-of-41) from 3-point range, and 78.1 percent (50-of-64) from the free throw line, through the first nine Big 12 games. His scoring average ranks second in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma's Trae Young (33.7 ppg.). His 191 points are the second-most by a Wildcat though the first nine Big 12 games since 2007-08, trailing the 237 scored by Michael Beasley in 2008. After his 34 points at Baylor (1/22), Brown is the first Wildcat with multiple 30-point games since Rodney McGruder (three) in 2011-12. His 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. He recently became the 28th Wildcat to score 1,000 career points with 15 points against TCU (1/20).
Wade is not far behind Brown in scoring in Big 12 games, averaging 20.2 points on 58.1 percent shooting (68-of-117), including 52.9 percent (18-of-34) from 3-point range, and 77.8 percent (28-of-36) from the free throw line to go with 6.7 rebounds through the first nine league contests. The average ranks third in the Big 12, while Wade is second in 3-point field goal percentage, fifth in field goal percentage and eighth in rebounding. His 182 points are the fourth-most through the first nine Big 12 games since 2007-08. He has scored 20 or more points in the last six games, including 22 points vs. No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13), 21 vs. No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16), 20 vs. No. 24/25 TCU (1/20), 24 vs. Baylor (1/22), 20 vs. Georgia (1/27) and 20 vs. 7/7 Kansas (1/29). During this stretch, he is averaging 21.2 points on 51.6 percent shooting and he is the first Wildcat with six straight 20-point games since Michael Beasley in 2007-08.
Brown (21.2 ppg.) and Wade (20.2 ppg.) have combined to score 373 points on 53 percent shooting in the first nine Big 12 games, which is the most since Michael Beasley (26.3 ppg.) and Bill Walker (17.8 ppg.) combined for 397 points in the first nine league games in 2008. Historically, it is the fourth-most points by a duo in the first nine league games, trailing the 407 by Chuckie Williams (25.3 ppg.) and Mike Evans (19.9 ppg.) in 1975, the 397 by Beasley and Walker in 2008 and 386 by Norris Coleman (24.7 ppg.) and Joe Wright (18.2 ppg.) in 1986.
Sneed is starting to heat back up with six double-figure scoring games in the last nine outings and has registered double-digit points 13 times this season, including three 20-point games (Vanderbilt, SE Missouri State and West Virginia). He is the 3-point leader with 37, which includes a career-best 6-of-9 effort vs. West Virginia (1/1). He collected his first career double-double vs. Oklahoma State (1/10) with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

DIARRA FILLING IN NICELY

Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra has played well since having take over for Kamau Stokes, who was injured 15 minutes into the first half against Texas Tech (1/6) and has missed the last seven games. With Diarra running point, K-State has averaged 74.3 points on 47.8 percent shooting (182-of-381), including 36.6 percent (48-of-131) from 3-point range, in this seven-game stretch with an average of 13.6 assists and 10.1 turnovers per game.
Diarra, who was averaging 3.9 points on 44.2 percent shooting in the 14 games prior to the Texas Tech game, has averaged 11.9 points on 56.1 percent shooting (32-of-57), including 48.0 percent (12-of-25) from 3-point range, and 90.5 percent (19-of-21) from the free throw line in 33.5 minutes per game in the last eight games. Since earning his first start against Oklahoma State (1/10), he is averaging 12.0 points on 55.8 percent shooting (29-of-52), including 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from long range, and 94.1 (16-of-17) percent from the free throw line.
Diarra has tallied double-digit points in six of the last eight games (had two before joining lineup), which includes 17 points vs. Oklahoma State (1/10), a season-best 18 points at No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13) and 16 vs. No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16). The Big 12 leader in 3-point field goal percentage in league-only (56.5) games has knocked down at least two 3-pointers in four of the last eight games, including three vs. the Jayhawks (1/13).

IMPRESSIVE SCORING FEAT, PART 1

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.

IMPRESSIVE SCORING FEAT, PART 2

Barry Brown, Jr., enjoyed a special night with a career-high 38 points in the Wildcats' 86-82 win over Oklahoma State on Jan. 10. 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 top-ranked Kansas on Feb. 14, 2011. Brown, who scored 20 or more points in the fourth time in a five-game stretch, connected on 12-of-17 from the field to go with an 11-of-16 effort from the free throw line. He scored 26 of his 38 points after halftime on 8-of-10 field goals and 9-of-13 free throw line. He also added 6 steals, which were the most by a Wildcat in a Big 12 game.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

K-State has been solid taking care of the basketball this season, averaging a Big 12-low 10.9 turnovers per game. The average ranks 17th nationally, while the 239 total turnovers rank 21st 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 15th nationally and second in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+4.1).
K-State has posted 12 turnovers or less in 17 of 22 games, including single-digit turnovers on seven occasions (UC Irvine, George Washington, Oral Roberts, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State, Georgia and Kansas). Since turning over the ball a season-high 17 vs. American (11/10), the Wildcats have averaged just 10.6 turnovers in the last 21 games, including 11 games of 10 turnovers or less. The team is averaging just 12.0 turnovers per game in Big 12 play.
K-State is averaging 15.0 assists per game on 26.6 made field goals per game, which ranks seventh in the Big 12. However, when comparing it to the low turnover average, the team ranks 28th nationally and third in the league in assist turnover ratio at 1.38. 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 from 3-point range, averaging 7.8 treys per game on 36.2 percent shooting (171-of-472). Sophomore Xavier Sneed is one of six players with double-digit 3-point field goals, as he leads all players with 37 treys on 33.6 percent shooting (37-of-110) this season. Injured junior Kamau Stokes is second on the team with 33 treys on 41.3 percent shooting (33-of-80), while Barry Brown, Jr. (29), Dean Wade (27), Cartier Diarra (21), Brian Patrick (10) and Amaad Wainright (9) all have more than nine 3-point makes. Wade (Iowa State) 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 16 of 22 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 66.8 points while holding its opposition to 42 percent shooting, including 32.3 percent from 3-point range. The team ranks among the Top 55 in turnover margin (17th), steals per game (24th), and scoring defense (53rd), while they are second in the Big 12 in steals and turnover margin and third in scoring defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense.
The Wildcats have held seven of the 22 opponents to 45, 51, 49, 58, 59, 49 and 51 points, respectively, as they have now held 65 opponents to 60 points or less under head coach Bruce Weber's direction with the squad boasting a 58-7 (.891) record in those contests.
K-State has held all but three opponents (Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State and Baylor) to below its scoring average and has held its opponents to an average of 11 points below its season scoring average. The nation's top-ranked scoring team -- Oklahoma (93.6 ppg.) -- was held to a season-low 69 points on 41.9 percent shooting, including 28 percent from 3-point range, and were forced into a season-worst 20 turnovers. TCU, who ranked fifth in scoring offense at 88.6 points per game on 50.8 percent shooting, were held to 68 points on 42.9 percent shooting. K-State held Kansas, who ranked 22nd nationally in scoring offense, to just 70 points on Monday night while forcing them into 16 turnovers.
K-State has scored 20 or more points off of turnovers in nine games, which includes 38 vs. Northern Arizona (11/20) and 36 vs. USC?Upstate (12/16). The Wildcats opened the year with four consecutive games of 20 or more points off of turnovers, which included the 38-point effort vs. NAU on a school-record-tying 19 steals. The team has done it three times in Big 12 play, including 25 vs. West Virginia (1/1).
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 64.6 points per game (12,269 points). K-State has a 96-26 (.787) record when holding a foe to 69 points or less since 2012-13 and a 20-48 (.294) 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: TEXAS (14-8, 4-5 Big 12)

K-State continues Big 12 play on Wednesday, as the Wildcats travel to Austin, Texas, to take on Texas (14-8, 4-5 Big 12) at 7 p.m., CT on the Longhorn Network.

Game Preview // K-State Travels to 15/11 West Virginia on Saturday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Barry Brown, Jr.

Austin Budke

Cartier Diarra

Makol Mawien

Brian Patrick

Xavier Sneed

Kamau Stokes

Dean Wade

Amaad Wainright

Kansas State University Athletics

Game Preview // K-State Travels to 15/11 West Virginia on Saturday

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Barry Brown, Jr.

Austin Budke

Cartier Diarra

Makol Mawien

Brian Patrick

Xavier Sneed

Kamau Stokes

Dean Wade

Amaad Wainright

Related Videos