Game Preview // K-State Begins Two-Game Road Swing at Oklahoma Saturday

Feb 23, 2018 | Men's Basketball

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GAME #29
KANSAS STATE (20-8, 9-6 Big 12) AT OKLAHOMA (16-11, 6-9 Big 12)
Saturday, February 24, 2018 >> 5 p.m. CT >> Lloyd Noble Center (11,562) >> Norman, Okla.

TELEVISION
ESPN2 // 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
soonersports.com
ou.statbroadcast.com [media only]

TICKETS
soonersports.com/tickets
(800) 456.GoOU [4668]
Single Game: various prices

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee '78)
Overall: 433-231/20^th season
At K-State: 120-76/6^th season
vs. Oklahoma: 8-3 (2-3 on the road)

Oklahoma: Lon Kruger (Kansas State '75)
Career Record: 617-392/32^nd season
Record at Oklahoma: 138-88/7^th season
vs. Kansas State: 7-9 (5-2 at home)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (20-8, 9-6 Big 12)
G: #2 Cartier Diarra
G: #5 Barry Brown, Jr.
G: #20 Xavier Sneed
F: #32 Dean Wade
F: #14 Makol Mawien

Oklahoma (16-11, 6-9 Big 12)
G: #0 Christian James
G: #11 Trae Young
G: #20 Kameron McGusty
F: #21 Kristian Doolittle
C: #4 Jamuni McNeace

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Oklahoma leads 107-99
Big 12 era: Oklahoma leads 15-14
In Norman: Oklahoma leads 62-27
In Manhattan: K-State leads 61-36
Active Streak: K-State, 1
Weber vs. Oklahoma: 8-3 (2-3 on the road)
Kruger vs. K-State: 7-9 (5-2 at home)
Weber vs. Kruger: 9-3 (2-3 on the road)

OPENING TIP

Kansas State (20-8, 9-6 Big 12) kicks off a two-game road swing on Saturday, as the Wildcats travel to Norman, Okla., to face former lettermen and head coach Lon Kruger and his Oklahoma Sooners (16-11, 6-9 Big 12) at 5 p.m., CT at the Lloyd Noble Center. K-State has won four of its last five games, including three in a row, after winning a defensive slugfest against Texas, 58-48, at home on Wednesday, while Oklahoma has dropped six straight after falling at No. 8/8 Kansas, 104-74, in its last outing on Monday night. Saturday's game will air on ESPN2 and the WatchESPN?app with Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play) and Fran Fraschilla (analyst) on the call.
K-State will finish the regular season with two of its last three games on the road beginning on Saturday at Oklahoma. Following the trip to Norman, the Wildcats play their last regular-season road game at TCU (19-9, 7-8 Big 12) on Wednesday, Feb. 27 before hosting Baylor (17-11, 7-8 Big 12) in the home finale on Saturday, March 3.
The team is 7-5 away from Bramlage Coliseum this season, including 6-3 in true road games and 4-3 in Big 12 road contests. The six true road wins tie Kansas for the most of any league team, while K-State is one of three schools (Kansas and West Virginia) with four or more Big 12 road wins. A win against the Sooners would guarantee a winning road record in Big 12 play for the first time since going 6-3 in 2012-13.
K-State and Oklahoma will meet for the second time this season and the first time since the Wildcats earned an 87-69 upset of the No. 4/6 Sooners on Jan. 16 at home. Paced by 20-point efforts from juniors Barry Brown, Jr., and Dean Wade, K-State put together one of its most complete performances of the season, as the Wildcats connected on 56.5 percent (35-of-62) from the field, including an incredible 73.1 percent (19-of-26) in the second half. Overall, this will be the 207th meeting between the schools since 1920 with Oklahoma owning a 107-99 advantage, including a 62-27 mark at home. K-State has won eight of the last 11 meetings in the series, but have dropped back-to-back games at the Lloyd Noble Center by double digits. The last Wildcat win in Norman came in overtime, 66-63, on Jan. 10, 2015.
K-State used a late 16-4 scoring run to end the game, including 14 from Barry Brown Jr., during the span, to secure the 29th 20-win season in program history, defeating Texas, 58-48, at Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday. The victory marked the 10th 20-win season in the last 12 seasons, including the fourth time in the last six seasons that the Wildcats have reached 20 wins under head coach Bruce Weber. The Wildcats have now won a series-best four straight over the Longhorns, including a season sweep for the third time since round-robin play began in 2012. Brown led all scorers with 16 points, including 14 in the last 4:49 of the game, on 5-of-10 shooting from the field. He was joined in double figures by Dean Wade, who scored 13 points on 5-of-12 field goals to go with a career-best 4 blocks, and redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra, who added 12 points. Sophomore Xavier Sneed grabbed a career-best 13 rebounds.
Balanced scoring has been a key to K-State's success under head coach Bruce Weber, as the Wildcats are 51-18 (.739) when four or more players score in double figures, including 10-2 (.833) this season. The team is 6-0 when sophomore Makol Mawien registers double digits, while they are 8-2 when Diarra scores 10 or more points with six of those coming in the last 13 games.

NOTES ON OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma enters Saturday's game with a 16-11 overall record and a 6-9 mark in Big 12 play after dropping its sixth consecutive game in a 104-74 loss at No. 8/8 Kansas on Monday night. The Jayhawks connected on 60.9 percent from the field, including 16 3-pointers on 55.2 percent shooting, while the Sooners hit on just 46.2 percent, including 26.3 percent from long range. Sophomore Kameron McGusty led four players in double figures with 22 points on 9-of-15 field goals, while junior Jamuni McNeace added 18 points.
K-State will once again face one of the nation's top scoring teams in Oklahoma, as the Sooners rank third nationally in scoring offense at 87.0 points per game, which has included six 100-point and six 90-point outputs. The team is connecting on 47.1 percent from the field, including 37.0 percent from 3-point range, while hitting on 75.9 percent from the free throw line. They average 9.7 3-point field goals per game with three players (Trae Young, Brady Manek and Christian James) totaling 50 or more made treys. Overall, the Sooners average 38.7 rebounds, 15.6 assists, 6.6 steals and 4.9 blocks per game. Defensively, the team is allowing 82.8 points on 44.8 percent shooting, including 37.2 percent from 3-point range.
The Sooners are led by freshman phenom and expected Big 12 Player of the Year Trae Young, who leads the country in both scoring (28.3 ppg.) and assists (9.2 apg.), while connecting 42.7 percent from the field, including 36.6 percent from 3-point range, and 85.8 percent from the free throw line. He also averages 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 35.2 minutes per game. Junior sharp-shooter Christian James averages 12.3 points on 46.9 percent shooting, including 38.1 percent from 3-point range, while freshman Brady Manek averages 10.7 points on 47.4 percent shooting, including 38.7 percent from long range. Three other players (Kameron McGusty, Rashard Odomes and Khadeem Lattin) all average better than 7.3 points per game, while Lattin is tops in rebounding (6.2 rpg.) and blocked shots (2.0 bpg.).
Oklahoma is led by soon-to-be Hall of Fame head coach Lon Kruger, who has a 138-88 (.611) record in his seventh season leading the Sooners. Overall, he is 617-392 (.611) in his 31st season as a head coach leading Pan American (1982-86), K-State (1986-90), Florida (1990-96), Illinois (1996-2000), UNLV (2004-11) and now Oklahoma. He is the first and only head coach to lead five different schools to the NCAA?Tournament.

K-STATE/OKLAHOMA CONNECTIONS:

Aside from his playing career for K-State from 1971-74, Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger is one of 10 former K-State players or coaches who currently serve as a head coach at the Division I level (13 when including Division II), including four current head coaches who played for the Wildcats. Kruger, who had his jersey honored in 2006, led the Wildcats to an 81-46 record from 1986-90, which included four NCAA?Tournament appearances.
Oklahoma director of operations Mike Shepherd is a 1992 K-State graduate and a former manager for Kruger during his stint in Manhattan.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be 207th meeting between Kansas State and Oklahoma on the hardwood, including the 30th in the Big 12 era, with the Sooners holding a 107-99 advantage in a series that dates to 1920. Oklahoma is one of just two Big 12 opponents to hold a series advantage over K-State with the 107 wins the third-most by an opponent, following Kansas (196) and Missouri (116). The Sooners own a 62-27 edge at home in the series.
K-State has won eight of the last 11 meetings, including six straight at Bramlage Coliseum. The Sooners have won three of the last four games at the Lloyd Noble Center, including the last two by double digits. The last Wildcat victory in Norman came on Jan. 10, 2015 in a 66-63 win in overtime.
Oklahoma enacted revenge in the teams' latest meeting at the Lloyd Noble Center on Feb. 25, 2017, as K-State could not shake a poor shooting night in an 81-51 win by the Sooners. The Wildcats connected on 25 percent (14-of-56) from the field, including 24.2 percent (8-of-33) in the first half. It was the sixth-lowest field goal percentage in school history and the lowest since hitting on just 23.4 percent against Nebraska on Jan. 11, 2006.
Head coach Bruce Weber is 8-3 all-time against Oklahoma, including 2-3 on the road.

LAST MEETING: K-STATE 87, 4/6 OKLAHOMA 69 (JAN. 16, 2018)

Paced by 20-point efforts from juniors Barry Brown, Jr., and Dean Wade, K-State put together one of its most complete performances of the season with an 87-69 win over No. 4/6 Oklahoma in the teams' last meeting at Bramlage Coliseum on Jan. 16. K-State has now defeated at least one Top 25 opponent in a school-record 12 consecutive seasons, including a school-best eight straight seasons with a victory over a Top 10 opponent. The Wildcats have beaten a ranked Sooner team four times in the last six games at home, including twice when ranked in the Top 5.
K-State connected on 56.5 percent (35-of-62) from the field, including 73.1 percent (19-of-26) in the second half. The Wildcats also hit on 52.9 percent from 3-point range (9-of-17) and knocked down all 8 free throws. The squad, which tallied 11 steals, scored 19 points off of 20 Sooner turnovers.
Four Wildcats reached double figures for the third consecutive game, including a game-high 24 points from Brown and 21 from Wade. Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra posted double digit points for the third consecutive start with 16 points, while sophomore Xavier Sneed added 13 points.

LAST TIME OUT: K-STATE 58, TEXAS 48

K-State used a late 16-4 scoring run to end the game, including 14 from junior guard Barry Brown, Jr., during the span, to secure the 29th 20-win season in program history, defeating Texas, 58-48, in front of 8,623 fans at Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday night. The Wildcats have now posted 10 20-win seasons in the last 12 seasons, including four in the last six seasons under head coach Bruce Weber. It marked the second time this season that the team has won a game without scoring 60 points and the first time since a 56-51 home win over Georgia (1/27).
Brown led all scorers with 16 points, including 14 in the last 4:49 of the game, on 5-of-10 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. He was joined in double figures by fellow junior Dean Wade, who scored 13 points on 5-of-12 field goals, and redshirt freshman guard Cartier Diarra, who added 12 points. The team is now 8-2 when Diarra registers double figures this season with six of those coming in the last 13 games.
On defense, the Wildcats held the Longhorns to 48 points on a season-low 28.6 percent (16-of-56) from the field, including 18.8 percent (6-of-32) in the second half, and their second-lowest point total of the season. The team also recorded a season-high 7 blocks, including a career-high 4 rejections from Wade. It marked the eighth time the Wildcats have held an opponent under 60 points this season, including fourth time under 50 points. The team has now held 66 opponents to 60 points or less under coach Bruce Weber's direction with the squad boasting a 59-7 record in those contests.
K-State posted a rebound advantage of 39-36, which marked the ninth time this season out-distancing its opponent, and the second consecutive game in Big 12 play and fourth league game overall. After grabbing 9 offensive rebounds vs. Texas, the Wildcats are averaging 11.0 offensive boards in the last two games after tying a season-high with 13 vs. Iowa State (2/17).
K-State out-scored Texas, 30-22, in the paint, which marked the 19th time with at least 30 points in the paint and the 20th time holding the edge over its opponent. The Wildcats are averaging 29.6 points in the paint in winning four of their last five games, including a 31.3 average in the last three.

ANOTHER 20-WIN SEASON AND OTHER NOTABLE ACCOLADES

With the win over Texas, K-State collected a 20-win season for the 29th time in school history, including the fourth time in six seasons under head coach Bruce Weber. The four 20-win seasons are the fourth-most by a head coach in school history, trailing Jack Hartman (seven), Tex Winter (five) and Frank Martin (five). The Wildcats have now posted 10 20-win seasons in the last 12 seasons, which is the best stretch in school history.
K-State's nine Big 12 wins are the most in a single season since winning 10 in 2013-14 and the Wildcats are guaranteed a .500 or better finish in league play for the first time since 2013-14. The five Big 12 home wins are the most since posting seven in 2014-15 and guaranteed a winning home record in league play for the first time since 2014-15 (7-2). The team had been below .500 (4-5) at home in Big 12 play in each of the last two seasons.
K-State has now swept the season series from Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Texas. It marked the first time sweeping the Cyclones since 2011 and the first win at Hilton Coliseum since 2011 to go with the first sweep of the Cowboys since 2012. Wednesday's win over the Longhorns gave the Wildcats four straight victories in the series for first time in the Big 12 era and first time since winning the first five meetings from 1971-84. The team still has opportunities to take the season series from their last three opponents - Oklahoma, TCU and Baylor.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

K-State has been solid taking care of the basketball this season, averaging a Big 12-low 11.3 turnovers per game. The average ranks 34th nationally, while the 316 total turnovers places 41st in the nation. It is on pace to be the lowest turnover average in school history with only the 2012-13 squad averaging less than 12 turnovers per game (403/11.5). In contrast, the Wildcats have also forced their opponents into 14.4 turnovers per game, which ranks fourth in the league. The team ranks 31st nationally and third in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+3.1).
K-State has posted 12 turnovers or less in 21 of 28 games, including single-digit turnovers on eight occasions (UC Irvine, George Washington, Oral Roberts, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State (twice), Georgia and Kansas). Despite turning it over a season-high 18 times vs. 7/7 Texas Tech (2/10), the Wildcats have still registered 12 games of 10 turnovers or less in last 27 games. The team is averaging just 12.3 turnovers per game in Big 12 play.
K-State is averaging 14.5 assists per game on 25.7 made field goals per game, which ranks seventh in the Big 12. However, when comparing it to the low turnover average, the team ranks 55th nationally and fourth in the league in assist turnover ratio at 1.3. They have dished out 20 or more assists five times, including a season-best 25 vs. SE?Missouri State (12/16), 22 vs. American (11/10) and Northern Arizona (11/20) and 20 vs. Iowa State (2/17).

OVERALL THE OFFENSE HAS BEEN SOLID

K-State is averaging 72.9 points on 47.2 percent shooting, including 35.7 percent from 3-point range, to go with a solid 75 percent clip from the free throw line through 28 games. The team eclipsed 2,000 points in a single season for the 12th consecutive season Wednesday, while they have posted at least 200 3-point field goals in consecutive seasons. The Wildcats' offensive numbers are slightly less since the start of Big 12 play with the team averaging 71 points on 46.7 percent shooting, including 37.2 percent from 3-point range, and 74.9 percent from the free throw line in Big 12 play. Although the team ranks eighth in scoring offense in league play, they are third in field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage.
The Wildcats have scored 80 or more points 11 times, including three 90-point efforts against Arizona State (11/23), Iowa State (12/29) and Baylor (1/22), while five of the 11 80-point games have come since the start of Big 12 play. It is the most 90-point (three) and 80-point games (11) in the first 28 games since the 2009-10 season, which saw the team post 16 80-point and five 90-point games.
K-State has connected on better than 50 percent from the field in 14 games, including a season-best 62.5 percent (35-of-56) vs. SE?Missouri State (12/16), while eight have come in Big 12 play. The 14 games of 50 percent or better shooting is the highest for a single season since registering 19 such games in 1987-88. The team has hit on 50 percent or better in both halves in 10 games (American, Arizona State, Vanderbilt, USC?Upstate, SE Missouri State, Iowa State, TCU, Baylor, Texas and Oklahoma State).
The Wildcats tied a season-high for both field goals made (35) and attempted (62) vs. Oklahoma (1/16), while they registered season-highs for assists (25), points in the paint (44) and dunks (7) vs. SE?Missouri State. It was the most assists since dishing out 25 at Baylor on Feb. 15, 2014, while it was the most points in the paint since 46 vs. Iowa State on Feb. 28, 2015.

SUCCESS BEYOND THE ARC

K-State has been successful from 3-point range, averaging 7.5 treys per game on 35.7 percent shooting (210-of-588). Sophomore Xavier Sneed is one of seven players with double-digit 3-point field goals, as he leads all players with 52 treys on 35.6 percent shooting (52-of-146) this season. Junior Kamau Stokes is second on the team with 37 treys on 38.5 percent shooting (37-of-96), while Dean Wade (35), Barry Brown, Jr. (34), Cartier Diarra (26), Amaad Wainright (11) and Brian Patrick (10) all have 10 or more 3-point makes. Wade (Iowa State) and Sneed (West Virginia) both connected on 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). Wade ranks fifth in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage (43.2), while Sneed is 13th in 3-point field goals made (1.9).
K-State has hit on eight or more 3-pointers in 15 of 28 games this season, including double-digits against American (11/10; 12), Arizona State (11/23; 15), USC Upstate (12/5; 12), SE?Missouri?State (12/16; 11), Iowa State (12/29; 13), West Virginia (1/1; 10) and Iowa State (2/17; 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 vs. 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. The 13 3-point field goals made vs. Iowa State (12/29) tied for the ninth-most makes in school history and were the most in a Big 12 game since hitting 14 against the Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 5, 2011.

BENCH PROVES VITAL

The K-State bench proved to be important in the 82-72 win over Oklahoma State (2/14), as reserves accounted for 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, with junior Kamau Stokes accounting for 11 points on 4-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-4 from long range, freshman Levi?Stockard III posting a season-high 8 points on 3-of-4 shooting and junior Amaad Wainright adding 5 points on 2-of-2 field goals, including a 3-pointer. It marked the most bench points in Big 12 play and the most since scoring 30 against USC?Upstate (12/5/17).
K-State has struggled this season getting production from its bench, as opponents have posted a 477-322 advantage in bench scoring, including a 266-121 mark since the start of Big 12 play. However, the Wildcats are 7-1 this season when it holds the advantage in bench points.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS

K-State has been solid on the defensive end this season, allowing 66.9 points on 42.1 percent shooting, including 32.2 percent from 3-point range. The team ranks among the Top 50 in turnover margin (31st), steals per game (42nd), 3-point field goal percentage defense (47th) and scoring defense (48th), while they are second in the Big 12 in scoring defense, third in turnover margin, steals and 3-point field goal percentage defense.
K-State has held all but four opponents (Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State, Baylor and West Virginia) 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 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 64.7 points per game (12,674 points). K-State has a 99-27 (.786) record when holding a foe to 69 points or less since 2012-13 and a 21-49 (.300) mark when allowing an opponent to score 70 or more.

TRIPLE SCORING THREAT

Even with Kamau Stokes slowed by injury, K-State still has a trio of scoring threats in juniors Dean Wade (16.2 ppg.) and Barry Brown, Jr. (16.2 ppg.) and sophomore Xavier Sneed (11.3 ppg.). They rank sixth (tie) and 26th in scoring in the Big 12, as the three are averaging 43.6 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting, including 36.2 percent from long range, and 77.5 percent from the free throw line. Without Stokes, the trio 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 15 career games, including 11 this season. The three have combined for 50 or more points on five occasions, including 51 vs. No. 6/5 West Virginia (1/1) on 50 percent shooting, 59 vs. Oklahoma State (1/10) on 55.2 percent shooting, 58 vs. No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16) on 57.5 percent shooting, 50 at Oklahoma State (2/14) on 50 percent shooting and 59 vs. Iowa State (2/17) on 61.5 percent shooting. They have combined for 62 double-figure scoring games this season, including Wade's team-high 24, while the three have 22 20-point games among them, including 10 by Brown and nine by Wade.
Wade is averaging 16.2 points on 54.4 percent shooting, including 43.2 percent from 3-point range, and 73.2 percent from the free throw line, while he is averaging 18.3 points on 53.9 percent shooting, including 46.4 percent from 3-point range, and 79.6 percent from the free throw line, through the first 15 games of Big 12 play. His scoring average in Big 12 play is third behind Oklahoma's Trae Young (28.8 ppg.) and Kansas' Devonte' Graham (19.0 ppg.), while he ranks in the Top 15 in seven other Big 12-only stats, including fourth in 3-point field goal percentage, sixth in minutes played, seventh in field goal percentage and 10th in rebounding. He has scored 20 or more points in six of the last 11 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), 20 vs. 7/7 Kansas (1/29) and 22 vs. Iowa State (2/17), while he has led the team in scoring in seven of the last 10 games. He has scored in double figures in all 15 Big 12 contests.
Brown is tied with Wade in scoring average at 16.2 points on 44.9 percent shooting, including 31.8 percent from 3-point range, and 79.3 percent from the free throw line, while he is averaging 18.1 points on 46.8 percent shooting, including 36.4 percent from 3-point range, and 76 percent from the free throw line through the first 15 league games. After his 34-point effort at Baylor (1/22), he is the first Wildcat with multiple 30-point games since Rodney McGruder (three) in 2011-12, while he has seven 20-point games in league play. His career-best 38 vs. Oklahoma State (1/10) were the most by a Wildcat since Jacob Pullen also had 38 vs. Wisconsin on March 19, 2011 and the most at home since Pullen's 38 vs. Kansas on Feb. 14, 2011.
Sneed is starting to heat back up with 10 double-figure scoring games in the last 15 outings and has registered double-digit points 17 times this season, including three 20-point games (Vanderbilt, SE Missouri State and West Virginia). He is the 3-point leader with 52, 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.

STOKES RETURNS BUT SLOWLY

Junior guard Kamau Stokes returned the lineup against No. 15/11 West Virginia (2/3), posting 2 points on 0-of-3 shooting, including 0-of-3 from 3-point range, and a 2-of-2 effort from the free throw line to go with a team-best 4 assists and 1 turnover in 10 minutes of action. It marked his first action since going down with a foot injury at No. 18/18 Texas Tech (1/6), which required him to miss seven games.
Stokes is being brought back slowly but seems to be returning to form after a stellar performance at Oklahoma State (2/14), in which, he scored 11 points on 4-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, to go with 3 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal in 25 minutes. It marked his most minutes since playing 38 vs. West Virginia (1/1), while it was his first double-digit scoring game since his 23-point effort at Iowa State (12/29/17). In the six games since returning, he is averaging 3.7 points on 30.4 percent shooting with 2.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 17.0 minutes per game.

DIARRA FILLING IN NICELY

Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra has played well since having to take over for Kamau Stokes, who was injured against Texas Tech (1/6) and missed seven games before returning to play 10 minutes at West Virginia (2/3). With Diarra running point, K-State has averaged 69.5 points on 46.2 percent shooting (317-of-686), including 35.2 percent (87-of-247) from 3-point range, with an average of 13.2 assists and 11.4 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 10.8 points on 53.1 percent shooting (51-of-96), including 41.5 percent (17-of-41) from 3-point range, and 88.9 percent (32-of-36) from the free throw line in 29.6 minutes per game in the last 14 games. Since earning his first start against Oklahoma State (1/10), he is averaging 10.8 points on 52.7 percent shooting (48-of-91), including 39.5 percent (15-of-38) from long range, and 90.6 percent (29-of-32) from the free throw line.
Diarra has tallied double-digit points in eight of the last 14 games (had two before joining lineup), which includes a season-best 18 points at No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13). He ranks fifth in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage in league-only (46.2) games with at least two treys in six games.

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.

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: AT TCU (19-9, 7-8 Big 12)

K-State continues Big 12 play on Tuesday, as the Wildcats travel to Fort Worth Texas, to play TCU (19-9, 7-8 Big 12) at 8 p.m., CT on ESPNU. K-State won the first meeting, 73-68, at home on Jan. 20 and will attempt a season sweep for the first time since 2016.