Kansas State University Athletics
Streaking Men's Hoops Squad Hosts Monmouth Sunday
Dec 28, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2002
Game 11
Monmouth (N.J.) (1-5)
at Kansas State (6-4)
Sunday, December 29, 20022 p.m. CST
Bramlage Coliseum (13,340)
Manhattan, Kan.
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Tip Time: 2:05 p.m. CST.
Television: None.
Satellite Coordinates: N/A
Radio: Live across the 27-station Mid America Sports Network. A live audio stream will also be available on www.k-statesports.com. Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play) and Ben Boyle (color) will call the action.
The Records: Kansas State, 6-4, won its fourth in a row last Sunday, defeating Oregon State, 90-72. Monmouth, 1-5, has not played since suffering a 72-63 loss at home against St. Peter's on Dec. 14.
K-State Coach Jim Wooldridge: Wooldridge (Louisiana Tech '77) is in his third season at Kansas State and owns a record of 30-38 (.441). The 2002-03 campaign marks Wooldridge's 16th as a collegiate head coach. He has amassed a 259-185 (.583) all-time record. In his first two seasons at K-State, Wooldridge lifted the Wildcats from the cellar of the Big 12 to a seventh-place finish in just his second year in Manhattan. Kansas State posted a 13-16 record in 2001-02.
Monmouth Coach Dave Calloway: Calloway (Monmouth '91) is in his sixth year with the Hawks and is 60-74 since taking over at his alma mater. The 2001 Northeast Conference coach of the year, Calloway guided Monmouth to the 2001 NEC Tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. He also played collegiately at Monmouth, scoring 1,458 career points between 1987-91.
The Series: First meeting.
Streaking Kansas State hosts Monmouth Sunday, looks to extend win streak to five
Kansas State (6-4), winners of four in a row and five of its last six games, closes out the December portion of is schedule Sunday at 2 p.m., when the Wildcats host Monmouth (N.J.). The game is the third of a season-long six game homestand for K-State, which has lost just once in Bramlage Coliseum this season.
The Wildcats, who took the past week off for the Christmas holiday, are coming off a 90-72 victory over Oregon State last Sunday. Gilson DeJesus, the country's top 3-point shooter among players with at least 50 attempts, posted his first career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds and Matt Siebrandt added 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting to lead Kansas State. The Cats also shot 75 percent from 3-point distance, dished out a combined 25 assists, including 10 by Frank Richards, and committed just six turnovers.
Sunday's game will be the first in over two weeks for Monmouth, which hasn't played since Dec. 14. The Hawks (1-5) will be out to snap a two-game skid after dropping back-to-back games against in-state rivals Seton Hall and St. Peter's.
The game will be the first ever between the two teams.
At stake for K-State
* Kansas State will be looking to extend its current win streak to five games. It would be the most consecutive wins of the Jim Wooldridge era and the Wildcats' most wins in a row since K-State won games No. 2-6 of the 1999-2000 season to start 5-1.
* K-State will be gunning for its fifth straight home win. The Wildcats have won 10 of their last 12 in Bramlage Coliseum.
* A win over Monmouth Sunday would put the Cats three games over .500 after 11 games for the first time since 1999-2000.
* The Cats have not allowed a team to shoot 50 percent or better this season and will looking extend that streak to 11 games.* The Wildcats have shot over 50 percent in four straight games and will be gunning to make it five in a row versus the Hawks.
A quick look at the Wildcats
Kansas State enters Sunday's game with a 6-4 record. All six of K-State's wins have come by double-digit margins, including a pair of 30-point victories. The Wildcats' average margin of victory in its six wins is 22.9 points. On the flip side, Kansas State has struggled in close games, dropping all four of its losses by less than 10 points, including a pair of four-point defeats.
The Wildcats moved past the 50-percent mark in shooting on the year thanks to their 56.9-percent effort from the floor versus Oregon State. K-State has now connected on 277 of 551 attempts (50.3 percent), including a scalding 56.5 percent (135 of 239) in the last four games, and ranks second in the Big 12 in shooting.
Incredibly, Kansas State has been even better from beyond the arc in its last four outings, shooting a staggering 61.5 percent (32 of-52). Led by the nation's top 3-point shooter, senior forward Gilson DeJesus, the Wildcats have emerged as the Big 12's No. 1 shooting team from 3-point distance, drilling 43.5 percent (126 of 203) on the season.
On defense, K-State has held its last six opponents to a combined 36.8 percent (132-359) from the floor. Overall, foes are connecting on just 38.6 percent of their shots, with just two clubs eclipsing the 45-percent plateau. No team has managed to shoot 50 percent or better this season versus the Cats, who rank fifth in the Big 12 in field goal percentage defense.
Individually, K-State has put fourth a balanced attack on the offensive end. Seven different Wildcats have scored in double figures at least three times, with DeJesus and junior guard Frank Richards leading the way with six double-digit scoring games each.
The Wildcats have also had six different players turn in high-scoring honors, with Richards, DeJesus and senior forward Pervis Pasco being the only repeat performers.
Richards and DeJesus are the only K-Staters currently averaging double figures in scoring through the first 10 games of the season. DeJesus leads the way at 12.6 ppg, with Richards not far back with 11.8. Richards is also the Cats' assist leader, dishing out 5.2 per contest, which ranks sixth in the Big 12.
On the glass, senior Pervis Pasco has been a monster over the last six games and has averaged 8.5 rebounds to take over as K-State's leading rebounder with a 6.6 average per game. Pasco, who led the Wildcats with 18 points and 12 boards last Friday night against Lipscomb, has posted double-doubles in two of the last three games.
The book on Monmouth
Monmouth will be out to get its season back on track after stumbling to a 1-5 start. The Hawks will also be looking to avoid their second three-game losing streak of the young season. MU, which opened the year with three straight losses, finally broke into the win column on Dec. 7 with a 70-57 win a Hofstra. However, the Hawks dropped back-to-back games against Seton Hall and St. Peter's prior to the Christmas break.
Still, Monmouth has been a gritty side, despite it record, as the Hawks have yet to lose by more than 10 points and played within three points (60-57) of Princeton, which recently gave Texas all it could handle in Austin.
Three Monmouth players are averaging double-digit points, led by sophomore guard Dwayne Byfield's 13.3 points. Senior center Kevin Owens is averaging 12.8 points and is also the team's top rebounder with 9.2 per game.
The Hawks are coached by Dave Calloway, who starred at Monmouth from 1987-91, scoring 1,458 points. He is in his sixth season at MU and in 2001 guided the Hawks an Northeast Conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
K-State vs. Monmouth Series
* Sunday's game will be the first ever between Kansas State and Monmouth.
* K-State is 6-3 all time against teams from the Northeast Conference.
* Last year, Kansas State defeated Fairleigh Dickinson of the Northeast Conference, 88-45.
* The Wildcats have won five in a row over current members of the Northeast Conference.
* Kansas State is 1-1 all-time against teams from the state of New Jersey. The Wildcats lone win came last year versus Fairleigh Dickinson, with the loss coming to Seton Hall.
December to remember
After getting out to a 1-3 start in the month of November, the Wildcats have put together a strong push in December. K-State enters Sunday's game with a chance to go 6-1 this month. Should Kansas State win, it would be the Cats' best December performance since going 6-0 in 1998 en route to a 20-13 campaign. K-State also went 6-1 during December of 1997.
Winning at least six games during December has been a positive omen for the Cats. Since 1990, Kansas State has won at least six games in December six times, resulting in five winning seasons and five postseason berths, including a pair of NCAA bids.
Cats breaking out on offense
As Kansas State's new players continue to grow in head coach Jim Wooldridge's system, the Wildcats are beginning to put up some impressive numbers on the offensive end of the floor.
* K-State has averaged over 83 points per game in its last six outings, improving its season scoring average to 75.0 points per contest. By comparison, K-State averaged just 62.8 points in its first four games of the year and 68.4 points per game last season.
* The Wildcats have shot over 56 percent from the field in their last four games, including 60.7 percent against Texas-Pan American, their highest shooting percentage since hitting 66 percent against Coastal Carolina on Dec. 6, 1997.
* Overall, K-State is now shooting 50.3 percent from the field this season, which ranks second in the Big 12 Conference. The Cats have been even more impressive over the last six games, connecting at a 52.5-percent (189-for-360) clip.
The best ever?
With its nine trifectas against Oregon State, Kansas State has now connected on at least seven 3-point baskets in seven straight games. It is K-State's most productive stretch from beyond the arc ever. The last time Kansas State hit seven or more 3-pointers in four straight games occurred during the 1993-94 campaign, when the Cats buried eight or more in each of the first four games to open the season.
More from beyond the arc
A big part of Kansas State's offensive progress in recent weeks has been the Wildcats' improvement from 3-point distance.
* K-State has shot a torrid 61.5 percent (32-for-52) from 3-point range in its last four games, including a season-high 75 percent (9-12) against Oregon State.
* The Wildcats now lead the Big 12 in 3-point shooting at 43.5 percent for the season. By comparison, Kansas State shot just 34.8 percent last season and only 30.4 percent during its 2001-02 pre-conference schedule.
* K-State's 43.5 percent 3-point field goal percentage ranks sixth in the nation.
Defense coming together, too
Kansas State head coach Jim Wooldridge has been pleased with the Wildcats' effort on the defensive end.
* Kansas State has held 7 of 10 opponents under 70 points this year, including three below 60 points. BYU's 73 points in the season opener remains the opponent season-high point total.
* The Wildcats have yet to allow an opponent to shoot 50 percent or better. In fact, only two opponents -- BYU and Northwestern -- have managed to crack 45 percent from the floor.
* K-State has held five of its last six opponents below 40-percent shooting, including Arkansas-Pine Bluff (27.3) and Texas-Pan American (34.8), which were held under 35 percent.
Winning big
Following Kansas State's 18-point victory over Oregon State, the Wildcats' average margin of victory in its six wins now stands at 22.9 points. All five of K-State's victories this season have been by double digits, including wins in five of its last six games.
Last season, Kansas State racked up just six double-digit victories, four of which occurred during non-conference play.
Cats keeping the glass clean
Since being outrebounded in its first two games of the season, Kansas State has maintained the advantage on the glass in seven of it subsequent eight games. K-State had its string of seven straight games with more rebounds snapped by Oregon State, which outboarded the Cats, 34-31.
Kansas State's run of seven consecutive games with more boards was the best rebounding string for K-State since the Wildcats opened the 2000-01 season by outboarding its first nine foes. More recently, the Wildcats finished with a 13-rebound edge against Wichita State and a 14-board edge against Lipscomb.
Better to give
Kansas State didn't waste any time getting into the holiday spirit during December as the Wildcats have posted a number of phenomenal assist totals.
The Wildcats opened the stretch against Texas-Pan American by combining for 22 assists. It was K-State's most assists since the Cats dished up 24 against Fairleigh Dickinson on Dec. 29, 2001.
K-State came back another solid assist performance at Wichita State, totaling 17 on the night.
Last Friday versus Lipscomb, Kansas State dished out a 24 assists before doing itself one better with a season-high 25 against Oregon State on Sunday. The Cats' assist total versus the Beavers was its most since serving up 26 against Arizona State on Nov. 24, 1998.
The Wildcats' 88 assists in the last four games are more that K-State had in its first six games combined (77).
At your service
In just 10 games, Kansas State has already topped 20 assists three times. By comparison, the Wildcats eclipsed the 20 assist mark just twice all season and just once during its pre-conference schedule. On the year, K-State has totaled 165 assists, 40 more than its opponents, with nearly 60 percent of its field goals resulting from assists. Last year, 57 percent of Kansas State's field goals came via assists.
Cats taking care of the rock
Kansas State did its best job of taking care of the ball in over a decade against Oregon State last Sunday as the Wildcats committed just six turnovers. It is K-State's fewest since having the same number versus Nebraska on Feb. 8, 1992. Overall, the Wildcats have committed eight fewer turnovers than their opponents on the season and have had 10 or fewer miscues in 4 of 10 games. Last year, K-State had 10 or fewer miscues in just five games all year.
First half fortunes
Kansas State continues to put up strong first halves this season, taking leads into the locker room in 8 of 10 contests.Kansas State equalled its biggest halftime lead of the season against Texas-Pan American, racing to a 50-32 edge at the break. K-State's other double-digit halftime leads came against Michigan by 18 (41-23), Arkansas-Pine Bluff by 15 (38-23), Lipscomb by 14 (37-23), Oregon State by 14 (48-34) and Wichita State by 13 (44-31).
The Wildcats' 29-28 halftime lead against Northwestern was its smallest of the season. K-State also led BYU, 36-31, at intermission.
Overall, Kansas State is 6-2 when leading at the break. However, the Cats are a perfect 6-0 when holding a double-digit edge at halftime.
Balancing Act
To say Kansas State has had a balanced score sheet in its first five games would be an understatement.
* K-State has had a different leading scorers in 6 of 10 games. Only Gilson DeJesus, Frank Richards and Pervis Pasco have led the Wildcats in scoring more than once.
* Kansas State has just two player averaging double-digits points -- DeJesus at 12.6 ppg and Richards at 11.8 ppg. Overall, seven different K-Staters are averaging at least 7.7 points per game.
* Seven different Wildcats have scored in double figures at least three times this season.
* K-State' No. 4 and 7 scorers, Tim Ellis and Marques Hayden, have yet to start a game.
Song remains the same
Kansas State continues to go with the same starting lineup it has all season. Thus far, head coach Jim Wooldridge has started juniors Jarrett Hart and Frank Richards at the guard positions and seniors Gilson DeJesus, Pervis Pasco and Matt Seibrandt at the forward positions in all 10 games.
Speaking of starts
Gilson DeJesus and Matt Siebrandt have made 23 and 55 career starts, respectively. Pasco has started all 39 games of his collegiate career.
DeJesus nation's most dangerous 3-point weapon
Kansas State senior wingman Gilson DeJesus continues to be the nation's hottest 3-point shooter. He has connected on 34 of 57 (59.6 percent) attempts from beyond the arc.
* DeJesus, whose 34 treys leads the nation, is 15th overall in shooting percentage, but first among players with at least 50 attempts.
* DeJesus leads the Big 12 in both 3-point field goals made, attempted and percentage made.
* The senior was a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond the arc against Oregon State.
* DeJesus, who drilled 7 of 12 from beyond the arc against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, connected on 5 of 6 from outside 19-9 at Wichita State.
* His career-best seven treys against UAPB are tied for the fourth-most on K-State's single-game chart.
* Thirty four of his 44 field goals this season have come from 3-point distance.
DeJesus on a tear over last six
Gilson DeJesus has scored in double figures in five of the last six games and has taken over as Kansas State's leading scorer. The senior, who is averaging 12.6 points on the season, has been on fire in the last six games, shooting 61.5 percent from the floor and averaging 15.2 points.
Last season DeJesus averaged just 6.2 points per game and connected on 36 of 98 3-point field goal attempts. He already has made 34 triples this season.
Big shoes fit just fine
Concerns about Kansas State's production at the point following the graduation of Larry Reid appear to be evaporating as the Wildcats continue to obtain solid production from newcomer Frank Richards. In 10 games all Richards has done is:* Rank second on the team in scoring with a 11.8 points per game average.
* Score in double digits in a team-high six games and lead the Wildcats in scoring three times.
* Shoot over 51 percent from the field and a team-best 78.6 percent from the free throw line. His free throw percentage is 11th in the Big 12 Conference.
* Lead K-State and rank sixth in the Big 12 in assists with 5.2 per contest, including four games with at least seven assists and a career-best 10 assists versus Oregon State.
* Lead Kansas State in assists in 8 of 10 games.
* Haul down 3.0 rebounds per game.
* Pick off 10 steals, the second-best total among Wildcat players.
Hart Attack
After struggling with ligament damage to his right thumb since the first half of the BYU game, junior Jarrett Hart appears to have turned the corner in K-State's last three home games.
Hart, who averaged over 19 points a game and earned third team NJCAA All-American honors as a sophomore last season at Arkansas-Fort Smith, poured in a team a career-high 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting, including a 3-for-3 effort from beyond the arc, against the Texas-Pan American.
He came back last Friday night with his second 7-for-8 shooting performance, finishing with 14 points and a career-best eight assists.
The scoring performances are just the second and third double-figure point outings of the season (he had 11 points versus Michigan) for Hart, who has connected on 16 of 23 attempts (70 percent) from the floor in the last three home games.
Stepping up
Since getting off to a slow start at the Paradise Jam, senior Matt Siebrandt has really stepped up his game.
* Siebrandt has scored in double figures in four of the last eight games, including a 14 points on 7 of 11 shooting at Wichita State and a season-high 21 points on 8 of 10 attempts versus Oregon State. He also had eight points against Ark.-Pine Bluff and nine points at UW-Green Bay.
* Over the last four games, Siebrandt is second on the team in scoring with 13.8 points and has connected on 56 percent (23 of 41) of his attempts.
* Siebrandt has also been solid on the glass over the span, averaging 5.8 rebounds and tying a career high with nine boards vs. the Wichita State.
* In the last six games, Siebrandt has three games with at least eight boards and is now third on the team in rebounding.
Get it outta here
Pervis Pasco continues to be a defensive force down low. After tying a career high with five blocks against Michigan, Pasco added three more versus UTPA and one each at Wichita State and versus Lipscomb. He is now averaging 1.30 per game to rank 10th in the Big 12. The junior is also moving up K-State's career blocks chart and ranks eighth all-time with 62. With 12 more he will move into a tie with Kevin Howell in the No. 7 position.
Steals from the post
Post players aren't usually associated with coming up with a plethora of steals, however K-State's Pervis Pasco is challenging that notion. Pasco leads the Wildcats in thefts with 15. Last year, he had just 23 for the entire season.
trouble
After not having a player turn in a double-double in K-State's first seven games, Pervis Pasco has had one in two of the Cats' last three games.
Pasco collected his first double-double of the season and the 11th of his K-State career at Wichita State. He finished with 12 points and a 10 rebounds.
He came back with a season-high 18 points and a season-best 12 rebounds last Friday against Lipscomb, with his 12 boards being just one short of tying a career-high.
Over the last five games, Pasco has averaged 8.5 rebounds and has climbed to 14th in the Big 12 in that category. Last season, the forward averaged 8.4 rebounds per game.
Super sixth-man
Junior college transfer Tim Ellis may still be getting used to Kansas State's offensive sets. But, the Seattle, Wash., native continues to put up solid numbers, despite coming off the bench.
* Ellis, who has yet to start, is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.6 points per game, and third in the Big 12 in 3-point shooting (51.9%).
* The junior owns four double-figure scoring games, including a 15-point outburst at Wichita State and 14 points off the bench versus Oregon State. He also scored 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting against BYU and 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting against Michigan.
* Over the last four games Ellis has averaged 11.3 points and shot over 60 percent from the floor, including an unbelievable 67 percent from behind the arc.
* Overall, Ellis ranks second on the team in field goal percentage at 55.2 percent, despite launching most of his shot from outside the paint.