PREVIEW: K-State Hosts 7/8 West Virginia on a Blackout Saturday

GAME PREVIEW

JAN 21, 5:05 PM

Bramlage Coliseum
Manhattan, KS

7/8
WEST VIRGINIA
MOUNTAINEERS
15-3 (4-2 Big 12)

RV/RV
K-STATE
WILDCATS
14-4 (3-3 Big 12)

ESPN2
Sirius 81, XM 81

Blackout Bramlage

TELEVISION
ESPN2
• Mark Neely (play-by-play)
• Mark Plansky (analyst)
• Ian Gruca (producer)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network
• Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
• Stan Weber (analyst)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 81/XM 81

ONLINE/MOBILE
K-State Game Center at kstatesports.com
• Free audio stream available
WatchESPN.com
• Free video stream available

TICKETS
kstatesports.com
$25 (bench), $50 (chairbacks)
Wildcat 4-Pack: $75 (4 bench/GA)
12+ Groups: $15

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)
Overall: 406-213/19th season
At K-State: 93-58/5th season
vs. West Virginia: 3-5 (2-2 at home)

West Virginia: Bob Huggins (West Virginia ‘77)
Overall: 806-324/35th season
At West Virginia: 216-113/10th season
vs. Kansas State: 6-3 (2-2 on the road)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (14-4, 3-3 Big 12)
G: #3 Kamau Stokes (11.3 ppg., 4.7 apg.)
G: #5 Barry Brown (12.7 ppg., 3.3 rpg.)
G: #25 Wesley Iwundu (12.1 ppg., 5.3 rpg.)
F: #32 Dean Wade (10.1 ppg., 5.2 rpg.)
F: #4 D.J. Johnson (12.3 ppg., 6.3 rpg.)

7/8 West Virginia (15-3, 4-2 Big 12)
G: #2 Jevon Carter (11.9 ppg., 4.8 apg.)
G: #4 Daxter Miles, Jr. (10.2 ppg., 2.0 rpg.)
F: #11 Nathan Adrian (10.7 ppg., 6.5 rpg.)
F: #20 Brandon Watkins (7.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg.)
F: #23 Esa Ahmad (11.7 ppg., 4.6 rpg.)

INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: West Virginia leads 6-4 (series began in 1949)
In Big 12 era: West Virginia leads 5-3 (2-2 on the road)
In Manhattan: Series tied 2-2 (last meeting - 1/2/2016)
Current Streak: West Virginia, 5
Last Meeting: West Virginia, 70-55, in Morgantown, W. Va., on 1/26/2016
Weber vs. West Virginia: 3-5 (2-2 at home)
Weber vs. Huggins: 5-5 (2-2 at home)

GAME 19 - QUICK HITTERS
• Kansas State (14-4, 3-3 Big 12) continues the gauntlet that is Big 12 play on Saturday, as the Wildcats take on former coach Bob Huggins and No. 7/8 West Virginia (15-3, 4-2 Big 12) at 5 p.m. CT at Bramlage Coliseum.
• Huggins coached K-State for just one season from 2006-07, helping the Wildcats to their first 20-win season and first postseason appearance in 8 seasons with a 23-12 mark and a trip to the Postseason NIT. However, he helped set the stage for the tenure of his former assistant Frank Martin who tallied 117 wins and 5 consecutive postseason trips from 2007-12.
• Huggins is one of 13 current Division I or II?head coaches with ties to the K-State program as either a former player or coach, including 3 in the Big 12 (joining Oklahoma’s Lon Kruger and OSU’s Brad Underwood).
• Saturday’s contest will be the last at home for January, as the Wildcats finish the month off at Iowa State on Tuesday and at Tennessee in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 28. The team is 10-1 at home venues this season with the Baylor loss snapping an 11-game home court winning streak.
• West Virginia owns a 6-4 edge in the all-time series with K-State, which includes a 5-game winning streak and wins the past 2 seasons at Bramlage Coliseum. The last Wildcat win (78-56) came at home on Jan. 18, 2014.
• K-State ended a 2-game skid on Wednesday night with a 96-88 win at Oklahoma State, which was the first victory at Gallagher-Iba Arena since 2012. The Wildcats totaled the ninth-most points in a road game in school history, including the most-ever in a Big 12 road game.
• Sophomore Barry Brown tallied his second career 20-point game with a career-best 22 points to pace 5 Wildcats in double figures against the Cowboys. Senior Wesley Iwundu, who had 15 points to go with a game-tying 8 rebounds and a career-best 8 assists, became the 27th Wildcat and the fourth under head coach Bruce Weber, to eclipse 1,000 career points.
• K-State is the only Big 12 team to have all 5 starters averaging in double figures and the lone school with 5 double-digit scorers. In all, the Wildcats have had 6 different leading scorers with 5 of those players tallying at least 10 double-figure scoring games led by sophomore Barry Brown’s 14.
• K-State ranks among the national leaders in steals (8.3 spg./26th) and turnovers forced (16.0/33rd). The Wildcats have helped force double-digit turnovers in 16 games, including 10 or more steals 6 times, and have scored at least 14 points off those turnovers in 17 games. The team is averaging 17.7 points off of turnovers, including 15.3 points in Big 12 play.

THE OPPONENT: 7/8 WEST VIRGINIA (15-3, 4-2 Big 12)
• No. 7/8 West Virginia enters Saturday’s game with a 15-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in Big 12 play after falling 89-87 in overtime on Wednesday night at home... The Mountaineers are 5-2 away from home, including 3-1 in true road games.
• The Mountaineers are averaging 89 points on 48.2 percent shooting, including 35.4 percent from 3-point range, on the season with 38 rebounds, 18.2 assists, 12.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game... They are allowing foes 63.9 points per game on 41.7 percent shooting, including 31.9 percent from beyond the arc... The team is shooting 64.5 percent from the free throw line.
• West Virginia ranks 1st in the Big 12 in scoring offense, scoring margin, assists, steals, turnover margin and offensive rebounds.
• WVU is one of the diverse scoring teams in the Big 12 with 6 players averaging 8 or more points, including 4 in double figures led by junior Jevon Carter (11.9 ppg.)... Carter paces the team in assists (4.8 apg.) and steals (3.1 spg.)... Sophomore Esa Ahmad (11.7 ppg.), senior Nathan Adrian (10.7 ppg.) and junior Daxter Miles, Jr. (10.2 ppg.) also average double digits.
• West Virginia is led by 10th-year head coach Bob Huggins, who is one of just 10 Division I coaches to tally 800 or more wins.

BREAKING?DOWN?THE?SERIES
• This will be the 11th meeting between the two schools with West Virginia leading 6-4 in a series that dates to 1949.
• West Virginia is 5-3 in the Big 12 era vs. K-State with the Mountaineers sweeping the season series in both 2015 and 2016.
• The Mountaineers’ current 5-game winning streak is the longest by an Big 12 foe against the Wildcats, which includes an 87-83 victory in double overtime in Manhattan on Jan. 2, 2016 and a 70-55 victory at home on Jan. 26, 2016.
• K-State is 2-2 at home against West Virginia with the last win coming by a score of 78-56 on Jan. 18, 2014.

LAST SEASON VS. WEST VIRGINIA
• West Virginia won both meetings in 2016, including a double-overtime 87-83 victory in the last meeting in Manhattan.
• No. 19/17 West Virginia scored the final 4 points of the second overtime, including a pair of free throws from Jevon Carter with 5 seconds remaining, to hold on for an 87-83 win over K-State in the first meeting of 2016 at Bramlage Coliseum... The game went back and forth between the two teams with the lead changing 29 times to go with 19 ties, including 11 lead changes in the second half to force overtime... Barry Brown paced four Wildcats in double figures with a season-high 20 points on 6-of-12 field goals, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range, along with Wesley Iwundu (16), Kamau Stokes (15) and Dean Wade (13).
• Among those returning, Brown averaged 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in 2 games with West Virginia in 2016, including his first career 20-point game, while Stokes, Iwundu and Wade all averaged 11.0 points in 2 starts.

‘CATS FACE ANOTHER FORMER WILDCAT
• West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins is one of 9 former K-State players or coaches who currently serve as head coach at the Division I level (13 when including Division II), including 6 current head coach who played for the Wildcats.
• The list of Division I head coaches includes Oregon’s Dana Altman (assistant coach from 1986-89; head coach from 1990-94), UC Riverside’s Dennis Cutts (assistant from 2005-06), Georgia’s Mark Fox (assistant from 1994-2000), UTSA’s Steve Henson (player from 1986-90), SMU’s Tim Jankovich (player from 1979-82; assistant from 1984-86), Oklahoma’s Lon Kruger (player from 1971-74; assistant from 1978-82; head coach from 1986-90), South Carolina’s Frank Martin (assistant from 2006-07; head coach from 2007-12) and Oklahoma State’s Brad Underwood (player from 1984-86; assistant from 2006-12).
• This is the third meeting with a former K-State player/coach as the Wildcats knocked off Kruger and his Oklahoma Sooners, 75-64, on Jan. 7, while the Wildcats defeated Underwood and his Oklahoma State Cowboys, 96-88, on Wednesday.
• Huggins’ staff also includes a number of K-State ties, including assistant Erik Martin, who spent 1 year as an assistant at K-State from 2006-07, and coordinator of operations Josh Eilert, who played at K-State from 2002-04.

HOME SWEET HOME
• K-State has a 149-28 (.842) record at Bramlage Coliseum over the past 10 seasons, including 64-23 (.736) mark in Big 12 play.
• K-State has a 350-108 record (.764) at Bramlage Coliseum, which are the 2nd-most wins behind the 378 at Ahearn Field House.
• The Wildcats need 1 more win to post double-digit wins at Bramlage Coliseum for the 16th consecutive season, including the 24th time of its 29 seasons in the arena... The Wildcats are 9-1 this season with 10 consecutive wins dating back to last season.
• K-State is 33-55 (.375) all-time against Top 25 foes at Bramlage Coliseum, including 18-15 (.545) since 2008.
• Head coach?Bruce Weber is 65-13 (.833) at Bramlage Coliseum, including 29-10 (.744) vs. Big 12 opponents.

CATS EFFICIENT ON OFFENSE
• K-State is averaging 76.3 points on 48.9 percent shooting (483-of-987) and 38.4 percent from 3-point range (139-of-362), through the first 18 games with assists on 63 percent of its made field goals (303/483)... The Wildcats are averaging 76.2 points in Big 12 play on 48.9 percent shooting, including 37.6 percent from long range, with assists on 65 percent of its field goals.
• K-State’s 8 games of 80 or more points equals the entire total of such games from 2015-16 and are the most since the Wildcats scored 80 or more points 11 times in 2010-11... The 8 games are double the totals from 2013-14 (4) and 2014-15 (4).
• The Wildcats may rank just 8th in the Big 12 in scoring offense, but they place in Top 5 in most offensive categories, including 3rd in turnover margin, 4th in field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goals made and assists.
• K-State has shot 43 percent or better in 17 games, including 50 percent or higher 9 times (vs. Omaha (11/15), Hampton (11/20), Green Bay (11/30), Saint Louis (12/3), Prairie View A&M (12/6), Kansas (1/3), Oklahoma (1/7), Texas Tech (1/10) and OSU (1/18).
• K-State connected on 50 percent or better from the field in games against No. 3/2 Kansas (50.8), Oklahoma (54.2)?and Texas Tech (50.0) for the first time in 3 consecutive league games in the Big 12 era and the first time overall since Dec. 12-21, 2009.
• K-State has connected on at least 50 percent of its field goals in at least one half of 16 games this season, including hitting the mark in both halves against Hampton (11/20), Green Bay (11/30), Prairie View A&M (12/6), Oklahoma (1/7) and OSU (1/18).
• K-State has totaled at least 15 assists in 14 of 18 games this season, including 20 or more 5 times... The Wildcats dished out 20 or more assists in 3 consecutive games (vs. Green Bay, Saint Louis and Prairie View A&M) for first time since 2010-11.

OFFENSIVE BALANCE HAS BEEN KEY
• All 5 starters are averaging in double figures led by sophomore Barry Brown (12.7 ppg.), senior D.J. Johnson (12.3 ppg.) and senior Wesley Iwundu (12.1 ppg.), while 6 players are averaging 9 or more points... 6 different players have led the team in scoring, including a team-best 4 times by Brown, Johnson and sophomore Dean Wade and 3 times by Iwundu.
• K-State is the only Big 12 team to have all 5 starters averaging double figures and the only one to have 5 double-digit scorers.
• All 5 starters scored in double figures against Oklahoma (1/7) for the 5th time under Bruce Weber, including the 3rd time this season and the second consecutive game, while a season-high 6 scored double digits in the win over Colorado State (12/17)... It marked the 3rd time under Weber that 6 players had double figures and the first time since Southern Utah on Nov. 14, 2014.
• All 5 starters scored in double figures in consecutive Big 12 games for the first time since at least the 2005-06 season... Starters connected on 52.2 percent from the field against Kansas (1/3) and Oklahoma (1/7), including 39.3 percent from 3-point range.
• K-State narrowly missing having all 5 starters in double figures at Texas Tech (1/10) and at Oklahoma State (1/18)... Brown and Iwundu each finished with 9 vs. the Red Raiders, while Wade was the only starter to not score double digits vs. the Cowboys.
• At least 4 Wildcats have scored in double figures in 11 of 18 games, including at least 3 in 17 games... In all, 7 have at least 1 double-digit scoring game with 5 having at least 10 double-digit scoring games led by Brown’s 14 games of 10 or more points.
• Nine Wildcats are shooting 45 percent or better from the field, including 3 of 5 starters... The starters are shooting a combined 48.6 percent from the field (369-of-759), including 38.3 percent (96-of-251) from 3-point range, this season.
• In all, starters are responsible for 76 percent of the team’s 1,374 points and 483 made field goals, 69 percent of the 139 made 3-pointers and 80.9 percent of the 303 assists... They also own 60 of the 70 double-digit scoring games.

IMPROVEMENT FROM LONG RANGE
• One of the focal points for K-State in the offseason was to make improvement from 3-point range, where the Wildcats finished 10th in the Big 12 in both 3-point field goal percentage (30.0) and 3-point field goals made per game (5.30).
• K-State is shooting 38.4 percent (139-of-362) from 3-point range and is averaging 7.7 3-point field goals per game.
• K-State ranks 53rd nationally in 3-point field goal percentage... The team is 4th in makes and percentage in the Big 12.
• K-State has at least 7 3-pointers in 14 games, including double digits vs. Western?Illinois (11/11), Hampton (11/15) and Prairie View A&M (12/6) and Texas Tech (1/10)... The Wildcats have at least 6 treys in 11 of their 14 wins this season.
• 11 Wildcats have at least one 3-pointer this season, including a team-best 35-of-83 start by Kamau Stokes... Stokes has at least 1 3-pointer in 15 of 18 games, including at least 2 in 12 games... Five players have 10 or more 3-pointers.
• Seven?Wildcats had at least one 3-pointer at Colorado State (12/17) for the 2nd time this season and the 1st time since Green?Bay (11/30)... Before this season, the last time 7 Wildcats had a 3-pointer in a game was against Iowa State on Feb. 12, 2011.
• K-State has made at least one 3-pointer in 290 consecutive games dating back to the start of the 2008-09 season.

GETTING?DEFENSIVE
• K-State has put up some impressive defensive numbers under head coach Bruce Weber, leading the Big 12 in scoring defense twice in the past 5 seasons (60.4 ppg., in 2012-13; 65.4 ppg., in 2013-14).
• Since Weber’s arrival at K-State in 2012-13 (spanning 151 games), the Wildcats lead the Big 12 in scoring defense at 64.3 points per game (9,709)... The next closest team in that span is Baylor (64.9 ppg.) followed by Oklahoma State (65.3 ppg.).
• K-State ranks 30th nationally in scoring defense (63.8), 60th in FG percentage defense (40.7), 26th in steals (8.3) and 33rd in turnovers forced (16.0)... The Wildcats are 2nd in the Big 12 in scoring defense and 3rd in FG?percentage defense and steals.
• Five opponents have been held to 55 points or less, while 9 of 18 foes have been held to 40 percent shooting or less.
• 55 opponents have been held to 60 points or less in?Weber’s tenure with the Wildcats boasting a 49-6 mark in those contests (losses to Kansas in 2012, Northern Colorado & Kentucky in 2013, Texas Southern & Georgia in 2014 and Texas & OSU in 2016).
• K-State held Robert Morris to just 40 points on 22.8 percent shooting (13-of-57)... It was the fewest points allowed and the lowest field goal percentage since Long Beach?State scored 38 points on just 19.6 percent (11-of-56) on Nov. 24, 2013.
• K-State is 81-24 under Bruce Weber when holding an opponent to 69 points or less and 12-34 when allowing 70 or more.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TURNOVERS
• K-State ranks among the national leaders in steals (8.3 apg./26th) and turnovers forced (16.0/33rd).
• The current 8.3 steals per game average is on pace to be the 4th-best average in school history and the highest since 1994-95.
• K-State posted double-digit steals for the 6th time with 11 at OSU and has 51 steals through first 6 games (3rd in Big 12).
• The Wildcats have forced double figure turnovers in 16 of 18 games, including 20 or more turnovers 3 times, with a season-high 25 vs. Robert Morris (11/22)... The team has forced double-digit turnovers in 11 of the last 12 games.
• K-State is averaging 17.7 points per game off of turnovers, including 15.3 points per game in Big 12 play, and have outscored opponents, 319-221.. The team has scored at least 14 points off turnovers in 17 games, including a season-high 26 vs. Omaha.
• Six times the team has scored 20 or more points off turnovers, including on 4 occasions during their 7-game winning streak.
• K-State has scored more than 2,000 points (2,239) off of turnovers under Bruce Weber, an average of 14.8 points per game.

MOMENTUM CHANGE
• K-State has been able to change the momentum by holding opponents without a field goal for stretches of 4 minutes or more in 10 of its 18 games... The Wildcats held Robert Morris without a field goal for two stretch of 6 minutes or more, including 6:13 of the first half (15:50 mark to the 9:37 mark) and a season-best 6:59 of the second half (16:44 mark to the 9:45 mark).
• It marked the third time this season that the Wildcats have held an opponent without a field goal for nearly 6 minutes in the first half, holding Western Illinois (11/11) for 5:57 to start the game and Omaha (11/15) for 6:49 stretch.
• K-State has 16 stretches of holding opponents without points for at least 4 minutes, including 6 in the last 5 games.
• K-State continued its strong defense vs. Texas (12/30), holding the Longhorns of droughts of 6:27 and 4:09 in the first half... The Wildcats turned in an 11-4 deficit into a 19-13 lead during the 6:27 drought, which included 13 straight missed field goals.

PLAYING HARD IS A SKILL
• One of the things that K-State has prided itself in under head coach Bruce Weber has been its ability to play harder than its opponents... Nothing is more valuable to Weber in this regard as the Wayne McClain Play Hart Chart, which is named in honor of the longtime Illinois high school coach and Wildcats’ former director of development who passed away on Oct. 15, 2014.
• The chart, which is kept for both teams by graduate assistants and team managers, is a point system based on the elements of playing hard, including deflections/blocks, steals, dives, loose balls, offensive rebounds and charges (+2).
• K-State has won the Play Hard Chart in 16 of 18 games by a combined score of 693-505.
• Senior D.J. Johnson leads the team with 128 points on the Play Hard Chart, while sophomore Dean Wade is not far behind with 112 points... Johnson and Wade have won the individual game chart a team-high 7 times.
• Johnson has tallied 568 Play Hard points in his career, including a team-best 14 in the opener vs.?Western Illinois (11/11)... He owns the single-game, individual best for the chart since it was start in 2012-13 with 20 at Iowa State on Feb. 27, 2016.

IWUNDU SET TO JOIN ELITE COMPANY
• Senior Wesley Iwundu could be the first Wildcat in school history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals in a career... Currently, he is shy of the milestone by 7 rebounds as he already has 1000+ points, 300+ assists and 100+steals.
• Only Rolando Blackman recorded more than 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists in a career, as steals were not kept.
• Iwundu currently ranks 2nd in rebounding (5.3 rpg.) and assists (3.7 apg.) and 3rd in scoring (12.1 ppg.) and steals (1.1 spg.).
• Iwundu ranks among the Top 20 in 6 Big 12 categories, including scoring (18th), rebounding (15th), free throw percentage (77.2/8th), assists (3.7/12th), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7/13th) and defensive rebounds (4.4/10th).
• Iwundu and Oklahoma’s Jordan Woodard are the only Big 12 players to rank in the Top 20 in scoring, rebounding and assists.
• Iwundu became the 27th Wildcat and the 4th under head coach Bruce Weber to eclipse 1,000 career points at OSU (1/18).
• Iwundu now ranks in the Top 10 in career starts (107/5th), assists (311/7th), minutes (3,160/8th) and steals (105/10th).
• Iwundu is the leader in points (1011), rebounds (493), assists (311), steals (105), minutes (3,160), games (115) and starts (107).

JOHNSON A FORCE IN THE MIDDLE
• Senior D.J. Johnson has become a consistent force in the middle, averaging 12.3 points on a Big 12-best 63.8 percent shooting with team-bests in rebounding (6.3 rpg.) and blocks (1.7 bpg.)... He has double figures in 12 games, including 3 20-point games.
• Dating back to the win over No. 1 Oklahoma last season, Johnson is averaging 12.6 points on 61.4 percent shooting (137-of-223) in the last 29 games with 6.4 rebounds per game... He has 20 double-digit scoring in those games with 3 double-doubles.
• Johnson ranks among the Big 12’s Top 20 in 6 different categories, including field goal percentage (1st), blocked shots (4th), rebounding (11th), offensive rebounds (2.4/9th), defensive rebounds (3.8/14th) and scoring (17th).
• Johnson posted his 5th career 20-point game (3rd this year) with 20 points vs. No. 1/1 Baylor (1/14) on 9-of-13 field goals.
• Johnson joined unique company in the win over Gardner-Webb (12/21), becoming just the 10th Wildcat to go 8-of-8 or better from the field in school history and the 1st since Luis Colon went 9-of-9 vs. Southern Miss at the Sprint Center on Dec. 11, 2008.
• Johnson tallied his 3rd career double-double, including his 2nd this season, at Colorado State (12/17) with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting with 10 rebounds... All 3 career double-doubles have come on road (at Texas Tech (3/5/16 and at Saint Louis (12/6/16).
• Five of his 6 career double-digit rebounding efforts have come this year, including a career-best 12 vs. Western Illinois (11/11).
• His 31 blocked shots have already surpassed his total from 2015-16 (29), while twice he has posted a career-best 4 blocks.
• His career 59.3 field goal percentage ranks 2nd in school history after shooting a school-record 60.8 percent as a junior.

WADE A BIG FACTOR
• Sophomore Dean Wade has broken out to become a major scoring factor for the Wildcats, registering double figures in 8 of the last 11 games... During that stretch, he has led the team in scoring 3 times, including a career-tying 20 points at Kansas (1/3).
• During this 11-game span, Wade is averaging 12.3 points on 56.6 percent shooting (47-of-83), including 41.9 percent (13-of-31) from 3-point range, and 82.4 percent (28-of-34) from the free throw line to go with 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals.
• Wade ranks 5th in field goal percentage (60.0/27-of-45) while averaging 12.3 points per game in Big 12 play with double-digit scoring game in 4 of 6 games, including the first 4 league games for the 1st time in his career.
• Wade registered his 2nd career 20-point game at Kansas (1/3), going 6-of-12 from the field and 8-of-9 from the line... It was his 1st 20-point game of the season and his 1st since posting 20 vs. Oklahoma State in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.
• Wade was also stellar in the Big 12 opener against Texas (12/30), scoring 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 2 treys.
• Wade has scored in double figures in 26 career games (10 this season) with K-State posting a 21-5 mark in those contests.

STOKES ON POINT
• Sophomore Kamau?Stokes return from injury has been one of the biggest storylines to K-State’s 14-4 start to the season.
• After starting 20 of the first 21 games of his freshman season, Stokes went down with a season-ending knee injury against Ole Miss on Jan. 30, 2016, requiring him to miss the final 12 games of the season... At the time of his injury, he was averaging 9.4 points on 36.5 percent shooting with 2.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.9 minutes per game.
• Now fully healthy, Stokes has built on his success during the team’s European Tour this summer to start all 18 games and average 11.3 points per game to go with team-highs in assists (4.7 apg.), minutes (32.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1).
• Stokes ranks among the Big 12 leaders in 5 categories, including 4th in minutes (32.5), 6th in 3-point field goal percentage (42.2), 7th in assists (4.7), 9th in both 3-point field goals per game (1.9) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.1).
• Stokes ranks 1st on the team in 3-point field goals (35), 3-point attempts (83) and percentage (42.2)... He has knocked down at least 2 treys in 12 games, including a season-high 5 at Texas Tech (1/10).
• Stokes has scored in double figures 13 times, including in 8 consecutive games, with a season-high 18 vs. Gardner-Webb.
• Stokes, who ranks in the Top 10 in the Big 12 in both assists (7th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (9th), has dished out 5 or more assists 11 times this season (after doing it 3 times in 21 games as a freshman), including a career-high 8 at Colorado State (12/17).
• Stokes ranks 1st on the team in scoring (13.3 ppg.), 3-pointers (13), assists (5.7 apg.) and minutes (35.3) in Big 12 play.

BROWN MORE THAN JUST A SCORING THREAT
• Sophomore Barry Brown has elevated his game to become more than just a scoring threat for the Wildcats, as he ranks among the national leaders in steals, placing 18th nationally in steals per game (2.3) and 21st in total steals (41).
• Brown has at least 2 steals in 13 of 18 games, including a career-best 5 vs. Hampton (11/20)... He ranks 2nd in the Big 12.
• Brown’s 41 steals have already surpassed his 40 from last season, which tied Jacob Pullen for the 4th-most by a freshman.
• Brown has also been a consistent scoring threat for the Wildcats, averaging 12.7 points on 43.8 percent (84-of-192) shooting.
• Brown leads all Wildcats with 14 double-figure scoring games, including 4 of the 5 Big 12 games.
• Brown has led the Wildcats in scoring 4 times, including a career-high 22 points at Oklahoma State (1/18)... He also led the way against Western Illinois (11/11) with 18, Omaha (11/15)?with 15 and Green Bay (11/30) with 18.

X-FACTOR
• Freshman?Xavier Sneed has provided a big boost from the bench this season, averaging 9.2 points on 50.4 percent shooting (57-of-113), including 38.5 percent (25-of-65) from 3-point range, to go with 3.3 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game.
• Sneed has scored in double figures 9 times, including 12 vs. No. 1/1 Baylor (1/14) and 11 at Oklahoma State (1/18).
• K-State is 8-1 this season when Sneed scores in double figure, while he is responsible for 9 of the bench’s 10 double-digit games... He ranks 3rd on the team in both 3-point FG makes (25) and attempts (65).

WEBER TOPS 400 CAREER WINS
• Head coach Bruce Weber recently reached a coaching milestone, as he earned his 400th career win in the Wildcats’ victory over Prairie View A&M, 74-55, on Dec. 6... He became the 131st Division I head coach to accomplish the feat, including the 51st active coach... He is the 4th current Big 12 coach to win 400 games, joining Bob Huggins, Bill?Self and Lon Kruger.
• Weber currently ranks 5th on the school’s all-time wins list with 93 victories after passing Lon Kruger (81, 1986-90), Jim Wooldridge (83, 2000-06), Tom Asbury (85, 1994-2000) and Charles Corsaut (89, 1923-33) earlier this season... His 93 wins now trail all-time wins leader Jack Hartman (295), Tex Winter (261), Jack Gardner (146) and Frank Martin (117).
• Interesting note, Weber is one of several K-State head coaches to earn milestones this season... Football coach Bill Snyder won his 200th game (all at K-State) vs. Kansas on Nov. 26, while volleyball coach Suzie Fritz won her 300th match (all at K-State) vs. Mississippi State on Sept. 9 and women’s basketball coach Jeff Mittie won his 500th game at Omaha on Dec. 4.

BEASLEY, McGRUDER MAKE NBA OPENING DAY ROSTERS
• K-State had two former players on opening day NBA rosters, as Michael Beasley (Milwaukee Bucks) and Rodney McGruder (Miami HEAT) debut for their respective teams on Oct. 26... McGruder earned his first career start vs. Atlanta on Nov. 15.
• K-State is one of six Big 12 teams with multiple NBA players, joining Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas... It marked the first time multiple Wildcats have been on NBA teams since Beasley (Miami), Bill Walker (Miami) and Cartier Martin (Detroit) all played in the league during the 2014-15 season.
• Beasley, who is entering his ninth NBA season, played the final 20 games of the 2015-16 season with the Houston Rockets after a stint with the Shandong Golden Stars of the Chinese Basketball Association... He was traded to the Bucks in September.
• McGruder, who is entering his first season in the NBA, signed a free-agent contract with the HEAT in July and was able to snag with the final spots on the team’s 15-man roster... He helped the HEAT’s D-League team (Sioux Falls Skyforce) to D-League title.

BOOZER NAMED TO COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME
• Two-time All-American Bob Boozer was among 8 individuals announced on March 22 to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame... He was posthumously inducted on Friday, Nov. 18 as part of the CBE?Hall of Fame Classic at the Sprint Center.
• Considered one of the most decorated players in K-State history, Boozer was a first team All-American in both 1958 and 1959 and he averaged a double-double for his 77-game career with 21.9 points on 44 percent shooting with 10.7 rebounds per game. He is one of only two players (Willie Murrell) in school history to average 20 points and 10 rebounds in a career.

PAIR OF FRESHMEN TO MISS 2016-17 SEASON
• Freshmen Cartier Diarra and James Love III?are expected to miss the 2016-17 season after going down with injuries.
• Diarra went down with a knee injury in a practice in early July and underwent surgery on July 13.
• Love broke his foot in a practice in late October and underwent surgery on Nov. 5.
• Diarra averaged a double-double of 18.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game his senior season at West Florence High School en route to earning Class 4A All-State honors from the South Carolina Basketball?Coaches Association (SCBCA)... Love averaged 10 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks per game as a senior at American?Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla.

‘CATS ANNOUNCE THE SIGNINGS OF McGUIRL, SHADD &?STOCKARD
• Head coach Bruce Weber announced the signing of high school standouts Mike McGuirl (Ellington, Conn./East Catholic), Nigel Shadd (Chandler, Ariz./Tri-City Christian Academy) and Levi Stockard III (St. Louis, Mo./Vashon) on Nov. 11.
• The trio went a combined 72-8 during their respective junior seasons in 2015-16 with two state titles… They have a combined four state championships in their careers.
• A 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard McGuirl averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks in 2015-16… He was First Team Class L All-State and selected to FAB 15 All-Courant Team.
• A 6-foot-9, 238-pound forward Shadd averaged 18.5 points on 69.3 percent shooting with 14 rebounds and 3.9 blocks… Twice named to Canyon Athletic Association All-State Teams.
• A 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward Stockard averaged 10 points on 94.7 percent shooting with 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks… Named to Class 4 All-State Team as a junior.

‘CATS JUMP START SEASON WITH EUROPEAN TRIP
• K-State was able to get a jump start on its preparations for the 2016-17 with a 10-day trip to Italy and Switzerland from August 8-19... Aside from the cultural experience of visiting historic landmarks in both countries, the Wildcats were able to play five games against various club, select and national teams and posted a 3-2 record.
• K-State defeated BC Silute (97-80) on August 11, the Italian Select (90-55) on August 13 and BBC Lausanne (68-47) on August 18 with losses to LCC?University (75-82) on August 10 and the Kosovo National Team (74-85) on August 16.
• The Wildcats averaged 80.8 points on 43.6 percent shooting (152-of-349) with 45.4 rebounds, 11.8 steals and 11.6 assists per game... Sophomore Kamau Stokes led the way in scoring at 10.8 points per game to go with a team-best 3.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per outing... Stokes had a tour-high 20 points in the loss to the Kosovo National Team.
• Freshman Xavier Sneed, who scored in double figures in the first four contests, also averaged double figures at 10.4 points per game to go with 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game... Sophomore Dean Wade averaged 9.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while senior D.J. Johnson led the way in rebounding at 6.8 per outing to go with an 8.0 points per game average on 69.6 percent shooting... Five other players averaged better than 5 points per game (Barry Brown (7.6 ppg.), Carlbe Ervin II (6.8 ppg.), Isaiah Maurice (6.2 ppg.), Brian Patrick (6.2 ppg.) and Wesley Iwundu (5.4 ppg.).

UP NEXT: AT IOWA STATE (11-6, 3-3 Big 12)
• K-State begins a 2-game road swing on Tuesday, as the Wildcats travel to Ames, Iowa to take on Iowa State (11-6, 3-3 Big 12) at Hilton Coliseum beginning at 8 p.m., CT on ESPNU.

Schedule