Kansas State University Athletics

K-State closes out the 2003 home slate with a visit from Bethune-Cookman

Dec 22, 2003 | Men's Basketball

Game 8

Bethune-Cookman (0-5) at Kansas State (6-1)

 

Monday, December 22, 2003

Bramlage Coliseum (13,340)

Manhattan, Kan.

 

Tip Time: 7:07 p.m. CST.

 

Television: Wildcat TV Network: WIBW-TV(CBS) in Topeka, KSCC (UPN) in Wichita, KMCI (Ind.) in Kansas City and Metro Sports in Kansas CityBen Boyle (play-by-play) and Stan Weber (color) will serve as the on-air talent.

 

Radio: Live across the 28-station Mid America Sports Network. A live audio stream will also be available on www.k-statesports.com. Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play) and Chris Allison (color) will call the action.

 

The Records: Kansas State is 6-1 after an 89-50 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday. Bethune-Cookman is 0-5 after dropping a 70-26 decision to Nebraska on Saturday.

 

Rankings: Neither team is ranked.

 

K-State Coach Jim Wooldridge: Wooldridge (Louisiana Tech ’77) is in his fourth season at Kansas State and owns a record of 43-52 (.453). The 2003-04 campaign marks Wooldridge’s 17th as a collegiate head coach. He has amassed a 272-199 (.578) all-time record.

 

Bethune-Cookman Coach Clifford Reed: Reed (Bethune-Cookman ’91) is in his third season at Bethune-Cookman.  He has guided the Wildcats to a 14-32 (.304) record.  He was named head coach on April 8, 2002 after spending five years as an assistant to Horace Broadnax.

 

The Series: Kansas State is 1-0 all-time against Bethune-Cookman. The Wildcats posted a 62-54 win over the Wildcats from Bethune-Cookman at home on Dec. 14, 1996.

 

Officials: Tom Eades, Randy Heimerman, Will Lynde

 

Projected Starting Lineup

 

Bethune-Cookman (0-5)                                               Statistics

G             #10 Anis Taylor (6-1, 183, So.)                        8.6 ppg., 2.6 rpg.

G             #12 O’Neal Carter (6-1, 170, Jr.)                       6.2 ppg., 2.6 rpg., 2.0 apg.

G             #23 Markey Picard (6-0, 180, Sr.)                    7.4 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 2.8 apg.

F              #22 Diondre Larmond (6-6, 200, Jr.)                  5.6 ppg., 3.8 rpg.

C             #33/11 Michael Williams II (6-7, 195, So.)         3.2 ppg., 4.8 rpg.

 

Kansas State (6-1)                                                        Statistics

G             #11 Tim Ellis (6-4, 175, Sr.)                             12.4 ppg., 5.7 rpg.

G             #22 Frank Richards (6-2, 190, Sr.)                   5.9 ppg., 3.4 apg., 2.1 rpg.

G             #30 Jarrett Hart (6-5, 210, Sr.)                         11.4 ppg., 4.1 apg., 4.0 apg.

F              #15 Jeremiah Massey (6-7, 215, Jr.)                 15.6 ppg., 8.0 rpg.

F              #23 Marques Hayden (6-7, 235, So.)                10.0 ppg., 8.3 rpg.

 

K-State closes out the 2003 home slate with a visit from Bethune-Cookman

          Kansas State looks to enter its eight-day holiday break with momentum, as the Wildcats (6-1) play host to Bethune-Cookman (0-5) in the 2003 home finale at Bramlage Coliseum on Monday.

            The game will be carried live on the Wildcat Television on four affiliates - WIBW-TV (CBS) in Topeka, KSCC (UPN) in Wichita, KMCI (Ind.) in Kansas City and Metro Sports (Time Warner and Comcast Cable) in Kansas City - throughout the state of Kansas with Ben Boyle (play-by-play) and Stan Weber (color) calling the action.

            The game will also air live across the 28-station Mid-America Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play) and Chris Allison (color) calling the action.

            Kansas State is coming off one its best all-around performances of the season in a 89-50 drumming of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday.  Five Wildcats scored in double figures led by junior Jeremiah Massey who posted 20 points for the third game in a row.

            Kansas State is off to its best start since opening the 1997-98 season with nine consecutive victories.  The Wildcats have won seven in a row at home dating back to last season, including all six in 2003.

 

Last time out: K-State 89, TAMU-CC 50

          Jeremiah Massey had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead Kansas State to an 89-50 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday.                  

Massey, who was 8-of-11 from the floor, has scored 20 or more points in three straight games. Four other Wildcats scored in double figures. Marques Hayden had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats. Tim Ellis and Jarrett Hart each had 13 points and Cartier Martin had 12 for the Wildcats.

            K-State shot 51 percent - 40 percent from 3-point range - in an easy win. The Wildcats’ defense held the Islanders to just 34 percent, the seventh straight time the Wildcats have held their opponents under 40 percent shooting. K-State led 38-28 at halftime and quickly turned the lead into 20 just three minutes into the second half.

 

A quick look at the Wildcats

  • Through seven games, Kansas State is averaging 76.4 points per game on 45.0 percent shooting (196-of-436) from the field, including 35.0 percent (35-of-100) from three-point range... The Wildcats have also connected on 63.9 percent (108-of-169) of its free throws.
  • Kansas State’s play on defense has been arguably the biggest key so far in the success of the season, as the Wildcats rank among the top 4 in four defensive categories in the Big 12... The team is second in three-point field goal percentage defense (23.5), third in field goal percentage defense (31.5) and fourth in  scoring defense (60.9) and rebounding margin (+7.8)... None of the Wildcats’ first seven opponents have hit over 40 percent from the field.
  • Kansas State has been quite effective on the boards, out-rebounding six of its first seven opponents... The Wildcats have totaled 40 or more rebounds in four of the last five games... The team’s 43.9 rebounds per game average ranks third among Big 12 schools... Five players are averaging four or more rebounds.
  • Depth has also been a big key for the team, as the Wildcats have used double-digit players in six of seven games... The team used all 14 players three times and have used between 11 and 12 in three of the last four games... Only one player (Jarrett Hart) is averaging over 30 minutes per game, while nine are playing between 10 and 29 minutes.
  • Not only does Kansas State have depth, but quality in its depth as eight players are averaging five or points, including four in double figures... The Wildcats have had a different leading scorer in four of their first seven games, while nine different players have scored in double figures.
  • Kansas State is also averaging 19.43 assists, which ranks first in the Big 12... The Wildcats posted a near school-record 29 assists against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, just three short of the school mark set twice in 1991-92... Nine different players recorded assists, including three with five or more.
  • Junior Jeremiah Massey has come up big in the Wildcats’ last three games, averaging 22.0 points and 10.3 rebounds... He became the first player since Ayome May to score 20 points in three straight games... He leads in both scoring (15.6 ppg.) and steals (1.4 spg.), while he is second in rebounding (8.0 rpg.)... Tim Ellis (12.4 ppg.) and Jarrett Hart (11.4 ppg.) and Marques Hayden (10.0 ppg.) also average in double figures...  Ellis is first in three-point shooting (53.8) and Hart first in assists (4.0 apg.), while Hayden leads in shooting and rebounding (8.3 rpg.).

 The book on Bethune-Cookman

  • Bethune-Cookman is currently 0-5 on the season after dropping a 70-26 decision to Nebraska on Saturday... B-CC has played just one home game in 2003-04, falling to Maine on Nov. 24, and won’t return home until playing Norfolk State on Jan. 10.
  • Bethune-Cookman is averaging 45.0 points per game on 32.9 percent shooting (91-of-277) from the field thus far, including 21.3 percent (20-of-94) from three-point range...  The team averages 29.6 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.4 blocks and 10.2 steals per game.
  • Sophomore guard Anis Taylor is one of five players averaging five or more points with a team-leading 8.6 points per game, while senior guard Markey Picard and junior guard O’Neal Carter adds 7.4 and 6.2 points per game, respectively... Sophomore forward Michael Williams III leads the squad with 4.8 rebounds per game
  • Bethune-Cookman is led by fourth-year head coach Clifford Reed, who has a 14-32 (.304) record at the helm of the Wildcats.
  • Bethune-Cookman returns three starters and six overall lettermen from the 2002-03 season, in which, the team posted an 8-22 record and tied for ninth place with a 5-13 mark in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. 

Bethune-Cookman Series Notes

  • Kansas State is 1-0 against Bethune-Cookman... The Wildcats posted a 62-54 win over Bethune-Cookman at home on Dec. 14, 1996... K-State shot just 35 percent from the field in the contest, but connected on nearly 90 percent of its free throws.
  • K-State is 10-0 against teams from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference... Half those wins have come against Coppin State, a team the Wildcats are 5-0 lifetime against, while the program has recorded one victory each over Bethune-Cookman, Delaware State, Florida A&M, Hampton and Howard... The team has not faced a MEAC team since defeating Hampton, 86-71, in Manhattan on Dec. 20, 2000... Hampton went on to upset second-seeded Iowa State in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
  • Kansas State is 5-0 against teams from the state of Florida... The Wildcats have faced just four schools from the Sunshine State, including Bethune-Cookman... K-State has also played Florida State (2-0), UCF (1-0) and Florida A&M (1-0).

Statistical Comparison

Category                                              K-State             B-CC

Record                                                  6-1                    0-5

Points Per Game                                   76.4                  45.0

Opponent PPG                                      60.9                  63.4

Field Goal Pct.                                      45.0                  32.9

Opp. Field Goal Pct.                              35.1                  46.6

3-Pt. FG per game                                 5.0                    4.0

3-Pt. FG Pct.                                         35.0                  21.3

Opp. 3-Pt. FG Pct.                                 23.5                  30.6

FT Percentage                                       63.9                  65.7

Rebound Margin                                    +7.8                  -8.4

Turnover Margin                                     +6.0                 +4.0

 

Defense Key

          One of the biggest factors in Kansas State’s early success this season has been its play on the defensive end.  The Wildcats rank among top five in five defensive categories in the Big 12 this season, including second in three-point field goal percentage defense (23.5), third in field goal percentage defense (35.1)  and total rebounds (43.9) and fourth in scoring defense (60.9), rebounding margin (+7.8) and defensive rebounds (28.57).

            None of the Wildcats’ first seven opponents have hit 40 percent from the field, while only one - Oregon State - has scored over 70 points (and that took three overtimes in an 87-82 Beaver win on Dec. 6.).  Four opponents have scored 60 points or less against the Wildcats, while the last two - Wichita State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi - have mustered just 50 points.  K-State held the Islanders to nearly 30 points off their scoring average of 78.9 points, while the Shockers were held to nearly 25 points under their season average of 74.8 points.  Two Wildcats - Jeremiah Massey  (8.3 rpg.) and Marques Hayden (8.0 rpg.) - rank seventh and eighth in the Big 12’s in rebounding.

 

Bench Scoring

          Another key to Kansas State’s success this season has been its ability to get production from its bench.  The Wildcats have used 10 or more players in six of its seven games in 2003-04, including 11 or more in games against Wyoming, Oregon State, Wichita State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Eight players are averaging five or more points, including four in double figures.  The Wildcats also have had a different leading scorer in four of their first seven games, while nine different players have scored in double figures.

            This statistic was particularily evident games against Oregon State and Wichita State,  in which, the Wildcat bench contributed more points than the starters.  The bench scored 42 points in the 87-82 triple-overtime loss to the Beavers, while the reserves poured in 30 in the 54-50 win over the Shockers.

            However, much of this bench scoring in those two games came from junior Jeremiah Massey, who combined for 46 points.

            The Wildcat got just 27 points from its bench in the win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday. 

 

Big man, big impact

          Junior forward Jeremiah Massey entered Kansas State with high expectations after being named the California Community College tri-Player of the Year and earning All-American honors at Oxnard Community College in 2002-03. 

            After a slow start, in which Massey averaged just’ 10.8 points and 6.3 rebounds during his first four contests, he is starting to live up to those expectations.  He has come up big in the Wildcats’ last three games, averaging 22.0 points and 10.3 rebounds against Oregon State, Wichita State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.  He tied his career-high for points with back-to-back 23-point outings against the Beavers and Shockers, while he pulled down a career-best 12 boards against OSU. 

            Massey is the first Wildcat to score 20 points in three straight games since Ayome “Paco” May accomplished the feat in 1996-97.  In fact, he is the first player in K-State history to post 20 points in a double-double in back-to-back games since Norris Coleman did it four times in 1987.  His scoring and rebounding totals in these three games represent over 50 percent of his total for the season.

 

Spiderman to the rescue

          Senior Tim Ellis has picked up where he left off last season, as the Seattle, Wash., native has been a guiding force for the Wildcats this season.

            Nicknamed “Spiderman” by his teammates,  Ellis has been one of the major cogs in the early success for Kansas State.  He leads the team in three-point field goal (53.8) percentage, while he is second in scoring (12.4 ppg.), field goal percentage (55.6) and minutes (28.3).  He is also third in rebounding (5.7).

            He has scored in double figures in six of the last eight games. Currently, his 12.4 points per game average is three points higher than his average last year.

            After scoring in double-digits in the first three games, he moved his game to a new level against Wyoming, tallying a career-high 10 rebounds to go with 16 points for his first double-double. 

            Although Ellis managed just seven points against Oregon State, he nearly tied his career high for rebounds for the second straight game with nine.  After just seven games, he has nearly half as many rebounds (40) as he did all of last season (83). 

 

Hart of the matter

          Senior guard Jarrett Hart continued his impressive personal comeback against Wyoming, as the Little Rock, Ark., tied his career-high with a team-leading 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes.

            It marked the second straight game that Hart has a played a major role in the team’s victory, as he hit the game-winning 3-point basket with four-tenths of a second left to give the Wildcats’ a 68-65 win against Gardner-Webb.  The 3-pointer came on the heels of a  solid defensive play, in which, Hart took a charge with the Bulldogs in possession of the ball and the score tied.  Hart ended the game with a team-high 14 point along with four rebounds and two assists.

            Hart had 13 points and a team-high six assists - with no turnovers - on Saturday.

            Although Hart saw significant action in the previous two games, he had to sit out the preseason schedule due to violation of team rules.  Hart was forced to have his every move monitored by the coaching staff and has since been a model student-athlete.

            "It was day to day ... I had to follow a strict regiment every day," said Hart. "There was school work, not missing appointments ... a lot of things. Coach made sure that it wouldn't happen again. He's been watching over me a lot the last few weeks and it's made me a better person."

 

Slim Fast

          One of the biggest surprises this season has been the new looks sported by senior guard Jarrett Hart and sophomore forward Marques Hayden.  The two combined to lose nearly 60 pounds in the offseason. 

            The weight loss has seemed to pay off so far, as Hayden leads the team with a 56.5 field goal percentage to go with a near double-double average of 10.0 points and 8.3 rebounds, while Hart has averaged 11.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and a team-best 4.0 assists most off the bench.

            Hayden dropped about 35 pounds off his 6-foot-7 frame, falling from 265 to 230, while Hart moved nearly 20 pounds off his 6-foot-5 body to 210 pounds.

            Both athletes changed their minds and their bodies with the help of strength coach Marcus Kinney, who began the process last season.  In addition to lower intensity, longer cardio workouts, the duo kept “meal-recall sheets”, which recorded everything that was put in their mouths over a period of time.  From there, Kinney was able to talk to them about the proper food choices and the timing of meals. 

 

Martin sees first action

          Highly-regarded freshman forward Cartier Martin  saw his first action of the season against Wyoming, pouring in 10 points on 2-of-7 shooting in 15 minutes of action.  Martin also hit 4-of-4 free throws.

            Martin turned in his best performance yet against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with career-high 12 points to go with four rebounds and two assists.

            Martin had to serve a three-game suspension after receiving an improper benefit from a family friend during his high school career in Texas. The violation was not related to the Wildcats’ recruitment.

            A consensus Top 100 player, he was named to Parade magazine’s All-American High School Boys’ Basketball team as a senior at Nimitz High School in Houston, Texas.  He averaged 21.3 points and 9.6 rebounds his senior season, as he was selected first team Class 5A all-state and first team all-district.

            Martin lived up to his billing in the exhibition season, averaging 15.5 points on 40 percent shooting with 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 block and 1.0 steals in 30.5 minutes.  He had a sensational start against EA Sports, as he scored 21 points on 8-of-18 shooting with nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 30 minutes.  The 21-point effort was the best by a K-State player in an exhibition game since Belvis Noland notched 22 in a loss to Marathon in 1994.

 

Diarra still sidelined

          Although freshman forward Cartier Martin is cleared to play, junior forward Dramane Diarra continues to wait as the NCAA hears K-State’s appeal.

            A transfer from Cloud County (Kan.) Community College, Diarra played for a team in his native France that considers itself professional.  However, he received only expense money, and the league the team plays in doesn’t consider itself professional.

            “He didn’t receive anything except actual and necessary expenses, which according to the NCAA doesn’t constitute a professionalized player,” said Kansas State athletic director Tim Weiser.

            He will continue to practice with the Wildcats.

 

Impressive debut

          True freshman point guard Dez Willingham has showed a glimpse of his immense promise in his first seven games as a Wildcat, as he is averaging 5.7 points on 38.5 percent shooting from the field, including 43.5 percent from three-point range, with a near team-best 3.6 assists in 20.4 minutes of action.  He ranks 14th in the Big 12 in assist-turnover ratio (1.39).

            In the opener against Birmingham-Southern on Nov. 21, he became the first true freshman to start an opener since Ayome May started against Bradley (11/25/95).  He responded with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. 

            Willingham continues to show his true range as a point guard.  He totaled 15 assists in the wins over Lipscomb and Gardner-Webb, while averaging 8.0 points on 42.9 percent shooting, including 44.4 percent from three-point range.  He dished out the game-winning assist on Jarrett Hart’s three-pointer.

            Willingham came to Kansas State, as one of the program’s most heralded recruits in memory.  He was named the most valuable player of the Class 5A State Tournament as a senior en route to guiding DeSoto High School to the state title.  In addition, he was selected the Dallas Morning News’ Player of the Year and first team Class 5A all-state by the coaches.

 

Split Loyalties                                                                     

          When junior Mark Frederick joined the Kansas State basketball team as a walk-on in July, he was turning his back on nearly 20 years of loyalty to the University of Kansas. His father, Bob, played and coached basketball for the Jayhawks before spending  15 years as the school’s athletic director (1987-2001).  His father remains an assistant professor in the School of Education at KU, while his mother, Margey, is the Director of Visitor Services at the university. In addition, the Lawrence, Kan., native served as a ball boy for the Final Four in 1995 and 1996 when his father was head of the selection committee.

            Brother, Brad, played basketball at North Carolina (1996-99) under KU alum and all-time wins leader Dean Smith and K-State alum Bill Guthridge.  Brad currently serves as an assistant at Vanderbilt under former KU assistant Kevin Stallings.   

 

Noting K-State’s newcomers

            One of the nation’s top recruiting classes, which includes six scholarship players and two walk-ons, comprise Kansas State’s group of eight rookies in 2003-04.  The group, which includes high school standouts Lance Harris, Tyler Hughes, Cartier Martin and Dez Willingham, junior college transfers Dramane Diarra and Jeremiah Massey and walk-ons Justin Williams and Mark Frederick, was ranked as the No. 1 recruiting class by Hoop Scoop magazine.

            Clark Francis of Hoop Scoop related, “(K-State’s) top eight players are good enough to play for almost anybody in the country.  As a result, we should be talking about one of the most improved teams in college basketball at this time as year from now.”

            The ranking marked the third straight year that a Kansas State recruiting class has been rated as one of the nation’s 25 best.  Last year’s class, which includes returning starters Frank Richards and Tim Ellis and key reserves Jarrett Hart and Marques Hayden, was rated as the No. 11 recruiting class by the publication.

 

Diaper Dandies

            All six new scholarship players for Kansas State this coming season received some type of acclaim during the 2002-03 season.

  • Freshman Dez Willingham, who was named the most valuable player of the Class 5A State Tournament en route to guiding DeSoto High School to the state title, was selected the Dallas Morning News’ Player of the Year and first team Class 5A all-state by the coaches.  He was one of three signees ranked among Hoop Scoop’s top 170 players.  Willingham ranked No. 66 nationally, while fellow freshmen Cartier Martin and Lance Harris were rated at No. 104 and No. 167, respectively.
  • A two-time first team all-state selection, Cartier Martin was also named to Parade magazine’s All-American fourth team.  Street and Smith’s magazine named Martin the top impact freshman in the Big 12.
  • Junior Jeremiah Massey was one of three California Community College Players of the Year.  He was a consensus Top 70 junior college prospect.  Lindy’s magazine named him the nation’s best rebounder among junior college players.
  • Willingham (72), Martin (89) and Harris (172), along with freshman Tyler Hughes (274) were all top 300 prospects by Prepstars, while Massey and junior Dramane Diarra were listed among the “Best of the Rest” from the junior college ranks by the service.

Going Global

Incoming Kansas State freshman Dez Willingham picked up valuable experience over the summer, as he helped the Global Games Select Team to a second place finish at the fourth annual Coca-Cola Global Games International Basketball Tournament held June 29-July 5 at SMU’s Moody Coliseum.  The select team, which consisted mostly of Texas high school stars, posted a 3-2 record in the 10-team tournament.  The tournament featured the 21-and-under USA Men’s Junior World Championship team and junior national squads from Serbia-Montenegro, Canada, Lithuania, Puerto Rico, Ukraine, Africa, Scandinavia and Brazil.  Team USA, which gave the select team both of its losses, finished first with a perfect 5-0 record.

  • Willingham was a starter in all five games where he was the squad’s second-leading scorer and eighth overall in the tournament with an 11.0 points per game average.  He also paced the team and ranked third overall in assists with a 4.5 per game average.
  • Willingham scored in double figures in three of the five games, including a 17-point performance in a win over Brazil.  He went 5-of-8 from the field, including a team-best 3-of-4 from the three-point line, with five assists, three steals and two rebounds.  He also tallied 13 points in an upset of Serbia-Montenegro to advance the select team to the Gold Medal game against Team USA.  He shot 4-of-8 from the field with a team-high eight assists, two steals and two rebounds.

K-State legend Mitch Richmond

has number retired by Sacramento

Former Kansas State All-American Mitch Richmond saw his Sacramento King's jersey retired on Dec. 5 before the team's game with the Minnesota Timberwolves at ARCO Arena.  He became the first player in franchise history, during the Sacramento Era, to have his number retired.

            During his 14-year NBA career, Richmond's most productive years occurred as a member of the Kings. He was named to the All-NBA Team in six consecutive years from 1993-94 to 1997-98, and averaged 23.3 points per game through his seven-year career in Sacramento. He was also selected for the NBA All-Star Game on six occasions as a Kings player, of which he played in five and was named the Game's Most Valuable Player in 1995. Additionally, during his stay in Sacramento, he was a member of the 1996 gold-medal winning Olympic Team (Dream Team II). He guided the Kings into the playoffs in 1995-96, marking the franchise's first postseason appearance since 1985-86.

            Richmond closed his illustrious career by spending three seasons as a member of the Washington Wizards (1998-99 to 2000-01), and winning an NBA Championship in his final season (2002-03) as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. With career averages of 21.0 points (.455 FGs, .388 3FGs, .850 FTs), 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game over 976 contests, he is one of only 28 players on the NBA's all-time scoring list to amass over 20,000 points.

 

K-State Receive Letters of Intent from Allen, Stewart

Kansas State head men’s basketball coach Jim Wooldridge continued to build on his recruiting success of the past year, as they announced the signing of high school standouts Curtis Allen (Poly High/Long Beach, Calif.) and Clent Stewart (Union High/Tulsa, Okla.) to National Letters of Intent on Nov. 13.

            “We are really excited about the addition of Curtis (Allen) and Clent (Stewart) to our program,” said Wooldridge.  “They are not only tremendous basketball players and individuals, but they fit into the type of program we are building here at Kansas State.  The signing of these two young players is another step in solidifying an already strong foundation.  We look forward to seeing them develop into outstanding young players and men.”

            A 6-foot-4, 190-pound shooting guard from Long Beach, Calif., Allen is considered one of the best high school players in the talent-rich state of California.  Allen spent the past three years playing at Rolling Hills Prep in Palos Verdes, Calif., where he led the team to consecutive CIF Southern Section Division V-AA titles in 2002 and 2003.  He was named the Division V Player of the Year last season after averaging 26.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.2 blocks and 4.0 assists.  Allen transferred to Long Beach Poly High School for his senior season.

            A 6-foot-4, 180-pound point guard from Broken Arrow, Okla., Stewart enters his senior season at Tulsa Union High School as one of the top prospects in the state of Oklahoma by a number of recruiting services.  Like Allen, he is rated among the top 150 players by a number of publications, including at No. 106 by Hoop Scoop.  Stewart is also listed at No. 127 nationally by RivalsHoops.com and No. 143 by Hoopmasters.com.  He is also rated among the top-30 wing/shooting guards in the nation by both Rivals (26) and Hoopmasters.com (29).

 

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

  • Kansas State lost four lettermen from the 2002-03, including starting forwards Gilson DeJesus, Matt Siebrandt and Pervis Pasco.  DeJesus and Pasco were both named to the honorable mention All-Big 12 team, while Siebrandt was selected to the conference’s All-Improved Team.  The three accounted for over 45 percent of the team’s scoring, rebounding, field goals and blocks.
  • DeJesus, who led the team in scoring and three-point shooting, ranked among the Big 12 leaders in four categories.  He ranked third in three-point field goal percentage (43.7), fourth in three-point field goals made (2.67), 19th in rebounding (5.7 rpg.) and 30th in scoring (11.2 ppg.).
  • Pasco ranked among the Big 12’s top 10 in four categories, including eighth in blocked shots (1.53 bpg.) and ninth in rebounds (7.5 rpg.).
  • Siebrandt, who finished in a statistical dead heat for the Big 12 shooting lead in league games.

Statistical Breakdown

            Here’s a breakdown of what’s back in 2003-04.

  • Games Played (172/303) ...................................................................... 56.8%
  • Game Starts (60/150) ........................................................................... 40.0%
  • Minutes (3,111/6,025) ........................................................................... 51.6%
  • Points (1,031/2,089) ............................................................................. 49.4%
  • Rebounds (422/1,122) .......................................................................... 37.9%
  • Offensive (100/341)................................................................................ 29.3%
  • Defensive (322/771)............................................................................... 41.8%
  • Field Goals Made (373/766) .................................................................. 48.7%
  • 3-Point Goals Made (83/169) ................................................................. 49.1%
  • Free Throws Made (202/388) ................................................................. 52.1%
  • Assists (314/462) ................................................................................. 67.9%
  • Blocked Shots (43/109) ........................................................................ 39.4%
  • Steals (82/148) .................................................................................... 55.4%
  • Fouls (255/539)..................................................................................... 47.3%

Experience Needed

            Kansas State’s roster may look chalked full of experience with six returning lettermen and four seniors. However, of the 16 players listed on the Wildcat roster, eight will be new to the program, including four true freshmen in 2003-04.  In total, only junior Travis Canby has played more than one season at K-State. The balance of the roster, 14 of the 16 players, have played one year or less of Division I basketball.

 

Improvement In The Air

            Although Kansas State did not progress in the win-loss column in 2002-03, the statistics show that the Wildcats played better basketball in Big 12 play.

  • In 2001-02, K-State finished Big 12 play with a 6-10 record.  However, of the 10 losses, just two were by fewer than 10 points.  In fact, the Wildcats’ average margin of loss in Big 12 games was 16.1 points, while its average margin of victory was 10.2 points.  Though K-State finished 4-12 in 2002-03, eight of its losses were by single digits, resulting in an average loss margin in Big 12 games of 9.3 points, with three of the four wins coming by double figures.
  • On the rebounding front, K-State outboarded eight of its 16 Big 12 foes last season.  In 2001-02, the Wildcats finished with the advantage on the glass in just three of 16 games.

Shooting For The Stars

K-State’s most surprising statistic of the season may have been its shooting from the field, where the Wildcats hit 45.8 percent to rank third in the Big 12. 

  • The field goal percentage was the best by a Wildcat team since 1997-98 team connected on 45.9 percent.  However, it was the third-highest in the last 14 years when the 1989-90 team posted a 46.4 percent field goal percentage. 
  • From three-point range, K-State shot 36.1 percent, the best mark since the 1999-00 team hit 36.8 percent.

Heartbreak City

Of Kansas State’s 17 losses in 2002-03, 13 came by fewer than 10 points, including eight of its 12 Big 12 Conference setbacks. 

  • The common denominator in all 13 of its close losses seemed to be slow starts and playing on the road.  Kansas State trailed or was tied at the half in 12 of its 13 close losses, while nine of the 13 came away from Bramlage Coliseum. 
  • Overall, Kansas State was 0-12 when trailing or tied at the half last season and just 2-12 in away/neutral site games. 
  • Four of the K-State’s five home losses in 2002-03 were by seven points or less, including a two-point overtime loss to No. 6 Oklahoma.

Home Court Advantage

Kansas State finished the 2002-03 season with an 11-5 home record, which included a nine-game winning streak between Dec. 4 and Jan. 22.  The Wildcats’ victory over Nebraska on Jan. 22 clinched K-State’s 57th consecutive home winning season.  It also marked the 10th time in the last 12 years that the Wildcats have won at least nine games on its home court.  Dating to 2001-02, the Cats have won 28 of their last 34 games in Bramlage.  Overall, K-State is 36-17 (.679) at home under head coach Jim Wooldridge.

 

On the Defensive

Kansas State continued its tradition of stellar defensive play, as the Wildcats ranked fourth in the Big 12 in scoring defense (66.2 ppg.) and second in field goal percentage defense (40.1).  Both statistics were the best of the Jim Wooldridge era and the lowest since the 1998-99 team held opponents to 64.0 points per game on 37.1 percent shooting.

  • Kansas State held 20 of its 30 opponents under 70 points in 2002-03, including eight below 60 points and three under 50.
  • Only six opponents BYU, Northwestern, Kansas (twice), Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Missouri  managed to crack 45 percent from the floor against Kansas State.
  • K-State did not allow an opponent to shoot over 50 percent in its first 18 games.  Overall, just Oklahoma (54.4 percent) and Kansas (52.5 percent) topped 50 percent.
  • For the season, K-State held 16 of its last 26 opponents and 18 of 30 overall below 40 percent shooting from the field. 

Richards Finishes Strong

Guard Frank Richards finished his junior season on a strong note. Over the last nine games, Richards scored in double figures seven times, including matching his season high with 20 points at Missouri. In the previous seven Big 12 games, he scored in double digits just once. He also had a 1.7:1 assist-to-turnover ratio over that span, dishing out 33 assists and committing 20 miscues and has hit 19 of 29 attempts (66 percent) at the free throw line.

 

Spiderman To The Rescue

Guard Tim Ellis lived up to his Spiderman nickname in 2002-03, saving Kansas State on numerous occasions, including canning a 3-pointer with one-tenth of a second to play to force overtime against Oklahoma.

  • Ellis came off the bench in K-State’s first 11 games before moving into the starting lineup for the next 15 games. He finished fifth on the team in scoring, averaging 9.4 points, while shooting 43.7 percent from the field.
  • The junior owned 14 double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 21 points vs. Monmouth and a 15-point outbursts against Texas Tech and at Wichita State. He also led the Cats with 14 points vs. Kansas at home and at Colorado had 13 at Kansas.
  • Ellis was the Wildcats’ leading scorer in the Big 12 Tournament loss to Colorado, as he connected on 6 of 12 field goals, including 3 of 4 3-point shots, for a team-high 17 points.

Tube Time

            Kansas State will make a total of 18 regular-season television appearances during the 2003-04 season, including six each on ESPN (ABC, ESPN or ESPN Regional) and Fox Sports Net Midwest.  K-State signed a three-year contract with Fox Sports Midwest in September to be the exclusive third-tier television right holder for men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and baseball.  Over the next three season, Fox will televise approximately 50 live K-State sporting events, including a minimum of 30 men’s basketball telecasts. In addition, the Wildcat Television Network and Metro Sports out of Kansas City will team up to provide six other telecasts. 

K-State MBB | Tang Talkin' Transfers - Abdi Bashir Jr
Wednesday, September 10
K-State MBB | Hang With Tang On The Go (Season 4, Episode 1)
Friday, September 05
K-State MBB | Coach Driscoll Mic'd Up
Friday, August 08
K-State MBB | Vet Week 2025
Monday, August 04