PREVIEW: K-State Returns to Big 12 Play Wednesday Against TCU

GAME PREVIEW

FEB 1, 6:30 PM

Bramlage Coliseum
Manhattan, KS

NR/NR
TCU
HORNED FROGS
14-7 (3-5 Big 12)

NR/RV
K-STATE
WILDCATS
15-6 (4-4 Big 12)

ESPNEWS
Sirius 108, XM 383

TELEVISION
ESPNEWS
• Mitch Holthus (play-by-play)
• Bryndon Manzer (analyst)
• Kevin Shank (producer)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network
• Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
• Stan Weber (analyst)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 108/XM 383

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

TICKETS
kstatesports.com
$15 (bench/GA), $35 (chairbacks)
Wildcat 4-Pack: $50 (4 bench/GA)
12+group: $10

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)
Overall: 407-215/19th season
At K-State: 94-60/5th season
vs. TCU: 7-2 (4-0 at home)

TCU: Jamie Dixon (TCU ‘87)
Overall: 342-130/14th season
At TCU: 14-7/1st season
vs. Kansas State: 1-0 (0-0 on the road)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (15-6, 4-4 Big 12)
G: #3 Kamau Stokes (11.5 ppg., 4.5 apg.)
G: #5 Barry Brown (12.9 ppg., 3.3 rpg.)
G: #25 Wesley Iwundu (12.4 ppg., 5.6 rpg.)
F: #32 Dean Wade (9.5 ppg., 4.7 rpg.)
F: #4 D.J. Johnson (11.9 ppg., 6.5 rpg.)

TCU (14-7, 3-5 Big 12)
G: #0 Jaylen Fisher (8.9 ppg., 4.4 apg.)
G: #25 Alex Robinson (11.3 ppg., 2.6 rpg.)
G: #34 Kenrich Williams (10.4 ppg., 9.4 rpg.)
F: #10 Vladimir Brodziansky (14.0 ppg., 6.1 rpg.)
F: #15 J.D. Miller (6.4 ppg., 3.3 rpg.)

INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: K-State leads 10-4 (series dates to 1947)
In Big 12 era: K-State leads 7-2 (4-0 at home)
In Manhattan: K-State leads 6-1 (W, 79-54, 3/2/2016)
Current Streak: K-State, 2
Last Meeting: K-State won 79-54 in Manhattan, Kan. (3/2/2016)
Weber vs. TCU: 7-2 (4-0 at home)
Weber vs. Dixon: 0-1 (0-0 at home)

GAME 22 - QUICK HITTERS
• Kansas State (15-6, 4-4 Big 12) returns home on Wednesday, as the Wildcats play host to first-year head coach Jaime Dixon and his upstart TCU?Horned Frogs (14-7, 3-3 Big 12) at 6:30 p.m. CT?at Bramlage Coliseum.
• Wednesday’s game marks the halfway point of the Big 12 slate, as the Wildcats will have played all nine league members. The team looks to go above .500 in league play at the midway point for the first time since 2015, while equaling their entire Big 12 win total (5) -from 2015-16.
• K-State and TCU?are among 8 Big 12 teams in the Top 50 of ESPN’s BPI rankings as well as 7 league schools in the Top 50 of the NCAA’s RPI ratings. The Wildcats rank 32nd in the BPI and 44th in the NCAA?RPI.
• The schools are two of the most improved Big 12 teams, as K-State is two wins shy of equaling its entire total (17) from 2015-16 while TCU?has already improved their win total in both overall (12) and league play (2).
• K-State leads the all-time series with TCU, 10-4, including a 7-2 mark in the Big 12 era. The Wildcats have 6 of the 7 meetings at home, including all 4 since the start of Big 12 play. Last season, the Cats swept the season series for the third time, including a 79-54 win at home on March 2, 2016.
• K-State dropped its second straight game on the road on Saturday, as Tennessee jumped out to an early lead and never trailed in a 70-58 win in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The 58 points were a season-low for the Wildcats, as they converted on just 39.6 percent (19-of-48), including 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from 3-point range. The Vols scored nearly half of their 70 points in the paint (34) to go with an opponent-high 23 second-chance points.
• Sophomore Barry Brown paced three Wildcats in double figures with a game-tying 17 points, of which 15 came in the second half on 6-of-11 field goals. He has netted double digits points in the second half of 4 of the last 5 games, in which he is averaging 11.8 points on 50 percent (20-of-40) shooting, including 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from 3-point range.
• K-State ranks among the national leaders in steals (8.3 spg./23rd) and turnovers forced (16.0/26th). The Wildcats have helped force double-digit turnovers in 19 games, including 10 or more steals 7 times, and have scored at least 12 points off those turnovers in 20 games.
• The Wildcats have been outscored 174-135 in the first half of their last 4 games, as opponents are shooting 52.2 percent (59-of-113) from the field, including 55.1 percent (27-of-49) from long range. In contrast, they have a 163-129 edge after halftime on 50.4 percent (57-of-113) shooting.

THE OPPONENT: TCU (15-6, 4-4 Big 12)
• TCU enters Wednesday’s game with a 14-7 overall record and a 3-5 mark in Big 12 play after dropping an 88-80 decision at home to Auburn in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge... The Horned Frogs have lost 4 in a row, including consecutive games on the road.
• The Frogs are averaging 76 points on 46.2 percent shooting, including 32.7 percent from 3-point range, on the season with 37 rebounds, 16.8 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game... They are allowing foes 68.4 points per game on 43.3 percent shooting, including 34.4 percent from beyond the arc... The team is shooting 68.3 percent from the free throw line.
• TCU?has 5 players averaging 8 or more points, including 3 in double figures, led by junior Vlad Brodziansky (14.0 ppg.)... He ranks 2nd in the Big 12 in field goal percentage (60.9), while he is 1st in blocked shots (2.5 bpg.)... Transfer Alex Robinson (11.3 ppg.) and junior Kenrich Williams (10.4 ppg.) also average double digits... Robinson is tops on the team in both assists (5.3 apg.) and steals (1.6 spg.), while Williams averages a team-best 9.4 rebounds per game.
• TCU is led by first-year head coach Jaime Dixon, who led Pittsburgh to 11 NCAA?Tournaments from 2003-16.

BREAKING?DOWN?THE?SERIES
• This will be the 15th meeting between the two schools with K-State holding a 10-4 advantage.
• K-State leads the series, 7-2, in the Big 12 era, including a 7-1 mark in regular-season meetings.
• K-State swept the series a season ago, winning 63-49 in Fort Worth on Feb. 16 before a 79-54 victory at home on March 2.
• K-State is 6-1 all-time in Manhattan, including 4-0 in the Big 12 era.

LAST TIME VS. TCU
• K-State won both meetings in 2016, including a 79-54 in the last visit to Bramlage Coliseum on March 2, 2016.
• K-State shot a staggering 76.2 percent in the first half, including 66.7 percent from 3-point range, en route to a 79-54 win over TCU at home on March 2, 2016... For the game, the Wildcats shot 56.5 percent (26-of-46) from the field, including 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from 3-point range... Barry Brown led a balanced attack as he led four in double figures with 15 points.
• The Wildcats won the first meeting of 2016 by a score of 63-49 on Feb. 16, as Justin Edwards paced three players in double figures with a game-high 17 points... Barry Brown (16) and Dean Wade (14) also registered double digits.
• Among those returning, Brown averaged 15.5 points on 61.1 percent shooting, including 64.3 percent from 3-point range, in 2 starts against TCU, while Wade averaged 12 points on 57.1 percent shooting in 2 starts.

HOME SWEET HOME
• K-State has a 150-28 (.843) record at Bramlage Coliseum over the past 10 seasons, including 65-23 (.739) mark in Big 12 play.
• K-State has a 351-108 record (.765) at Bramlage Coliseum, which are the 2nd-most wins behind the 378 at Ahearn Field House.
• The Wildcats have posted double-digit wins at Bramlage Coliseum for 16 consecutive seasons and 24 times in the 29-year history of the arena... The team is 11-1 in home venues this season, including 10-1 at Bramlage Coliseum.
• K-State is 34-55 (.382) all-time against Top 25 foes at Bramlage Coliseum, including 19-15 (.559) since 2008.
• Head coach?Bruce Weber is 66-13 (.835) at Bramlage Coliseum, including 30-10 (.750) vs. Big 12 opponents.

CATS EFFICIENT ON OFFENSE
• K-State is averaging 75.0 points on 48.1 percent shooting (554-of-1151) and 37.6 percent from 3-point range (157-of-418), through the first 21 games with assists on 62 percent of its made field goals (341/554) and a +3.0 turnover margin.
• The Wildcats may rank just 9th 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 and assists and 5th in 3-point field goals made.
• 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 current 75.0 points per game scoring average is the highest since the 2009-10 team averaged 79.7 points per game, while the 48.1 field goal percentage is the highest since the 1987-88 team connected on 50.6 percent and the 37.6 3-point field goal percentage is the highest since the 1989-90 team connected on 39.0 percent from long range.
• K-State has shot 50 percent or better 10 times this season, including on 5 occasions in Big 12 play... The Wildcats have shot 50 percent or better against 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), Oklahoma State (1/18) and West Virginia (1/21).
• K-State has connected on at least 50 percent of its field goals in at least one half of 17 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 20 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
• Four of 5 starters are averaging in double figures led by sophomore Barry Brown (12.9 ppg.), senior Wesley Iwundu (12.4 ppg.), senior D.J. Johnson (11.9 ppg.) and sophomore Kamau Stokes (11.5 ppg.), while 6 players are averaging 8 or more points... 6 different players have led the team in scoring, including a team-best 6 times by Brown.
• K-State was the only Big 12 team to have all 5 starters averaging double figures until Wade dropped to 9.5 points per game.
• All 5 starters scored in double figures vs. No. 7/8 West Virginia (1/21) for the 6th time under Bruce Weber, including the 4th time this season and 3rd time in Big 12 play, 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 at No. 3/2 Kansas (1/3) and Oklahoma (1/7) for the first time since at least the 2005-06 season... Starters connected on 52.2 percent in the games against the Jayhawks and Sooners.
• K-State narrowly missed 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 13 of 21 games, including at least 3 in 20 games... In all, 7 have at least 1 double-digit scoring game with 6 having at least 10 double-digit scoring games led by Brown’s 17 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 47.9 percent from the field (429-of-895), including 37.1 percent (108-of-291) from 3-point range, this season.
• In all, starters are responsible for 77 percent of the team’s 1,576 points and 554 made field goals, 69 percent of the 157 made 3-pointers and 81.2 percent of the 341 assists... They also own 72 of the 83 double-digit scoring games.

OFFENSE HAS?ALSO BEEN?STRONG?IN?BIG?12 PLAY
• K-State is averaging 75.1 points in Big 12 play on 47.8 percent shooting (205-of-429), including 36.3 percent (57-of-157) from long range, with assists on 62 percent of its field goals (126/205) and a +3.6 turnover margin.
• The current 75.1 scoring average is the highest in Big 12 play since averaging 76.8 points in 2009-10.
• The Wildcats lead the Big 12 in field goal percentage, while they are 3rd in assists (15.8) and turnover margin (+3.6) and 4th in 3-point field goal percentage, 3-point field goals (7.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.2) and 5th in scoring offense.
• K-State has connected on 50 percent or better from the field in 5 of 8 Big 12 games with all 5 contests coming in last 7 games... During that 7-game stretch, the Wildcats are averaging 76.6 points per game on 49.2 percent shooting (188-of-382).
• The Wildcats hit 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.
• All 5 starters are averaging in double figures with remarkable balance with 4 of those players averaging 12 or more points led by Wesley Iwundu (13.4 ppg.), Kamau Stokes (13.4 ppg.), Barry Brown (12.9 ppg.) and D.J. Johnson (12.8 ppg.).

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 37.6 percent (157-of-418) from 3-point range and is averaging 7.5 3-point field goals per game.
• K-State ranks 70th nationally in 3-point field goal percentage... The team is 4th in percentage and 5th in makes in the Big 12.
• K-State has at least 7 3-pointers in 15 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 12 of their 15 wins this season.
• 11 Wildcats have at least one 3-pointer this season, including a team-best 37-of-92 start by Kamau Stokes... Stokes has at least 1 3-pointer in 17 of 21 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 293 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 154 games), the Wildcats lead the Big 12 in scoring defense at 64.4 points per game (9,919)... The next closest team in that span is Baylor (64.9 ppg.) followed by Oklahoma State (65.3 ppg.).
• K-State ranks 23rd in steals (8.3), 26th in turnovers forced (16.0), 38th in scoring defense (65.0) and 68th in FG percentage defense (41.2)... The Wildcats are 2nd in the Big 12 in scoring defense and FG percentage defense and 4th in steals.
• Five opponents have been held to 55 points or less, while 9 of 20 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 13-36 when allowing 70 or more.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TURNOVERS
• K-State ranks among the national leaders in steals (8.3 apg./23rd) and turnovers forced (16.0/26th).
• The current 8.3 steals per game average is on pace to be the 3rd-best average in school history and the highest since 1990-91.
• K-State posted double-digit steals for the 7th time with 12 against West Virginia, including on the 4th occasion in Big 12 play... The team ranks 4th in the Big 12 in steals in all games, including 2nd in league-only games with 71 through first 8 games.
• The Wildcats have forced double figure turnovers in 19 games, including 20 or more turnovers 4 times, with a season-high 25 vs. Robert Morris (11/22) and 23 vs. West Virginia (1/21)... The team has forced double-digit turnovers in 14 of the last 15 games.
• K-State is averaging 17.5 points per game off of turnovers, including 16.1 points per game in Big 12 play, and have outscored opponents, 368-231... The team has scored at least 12 points off turnovers in 20 games, including a season-high 26 vs. Omaha.
• Seven times the team has scored 20 or more points off turnovers, including in games at OSU?(1/18) and West Virginia (1/21).
• K-State has scored more than 2,000 points (2,288) off of turnovers under Bruce Weber, an average of 14.9 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 21 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 9 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 17 of 21 games (including 7 of 8 Big 12 games) by a combined score of 799-626.
• Senior D.J. Johnson leads the team with 145 points on the Play Hard Chart, while sophomore Dean Wade is not far behind with 122 points... Johnson and Wade have won the individual game chart a team-high 7 times... The starters rank in the Top 5 on the Play Hard chart, as Barry Brown (106), Kamau Stokes (93) and Wesley Iwundu (92) round out Top 5.
• Johnson has tallied 585 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 JOINS ELITE COMPANY
• Senior Wesley Iwundu became the first Wildcat in school history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals in a career in the win against No. 7/8 West Virginia (1/21)... He needed 7 rebounds to reach the milestone, grabbing 9 against the Mountaineers after reaching 1,000 points, 300 assists and 100 steals earlier this season.
• 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 scoring (12.4 ppg.), rebounding (5.6 rpg.) and assists (3.6 apg.) and 3rd in steals (1.1 spg.).
• Iwundu has scored in double figures 53 times in his career, including 15 this season (with 7 in the last 9 contests).
• Iwundu ranks among the Top 20 in 8 Big 12 categories, including scoring (16th), rebounding (15th), field goal percentage (14th), free throw percentage (10th), assists (11th), assist-to-turnover ratio (14th), defensive rebounds (9th) and minutes (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 ranks 1st in scoring (13.4 ppg.) and rebounding (6.0 rpg.) and 2nd in assists (4.3 apg.) in Big 12-only games.
• 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 (110/5th), assists (320/t-6th), minutes (3,268/8th) and steals (108/10th).
• Iwundu is the leader in points (1053), rebounds (514), assists (320), steals (108), minutes (3,268), games (118) and starts (110).

JOHNSON A FORCE IN THE MIDDLE
• Senior D.J. Johnson has become a consistent force in the middle, averaging 11.9 points on a Big 12-best 62.0 percent shooting with team-bests in rebounding (6.5 rpg.) and blocks (1.5 bpg.)... He has double figures in 14 games, including 3 20-point games.
• Dating back to the win over No. 1 Oklahoma last season, Johnson is averaging 12.2 points on 60.5 percent shooting (147-of-243) in the last 32 games with 6.6 rebounds per game... He has 21 double-digit scoring in those games with 3 double-doubles.
• Johnson ranks among the Big 12’s Top 20 in 5 different categories, including field goal percentage (1st), blocked shots (6th), offensive rebounds (2.5/7th), rebounding (10th) and defensive rebounds (4.0/14th).
• 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 58.9 field goal percentage ranks 2nd in school history after shooting a school-record 60.8 percent as a junior.

STOKES ON POINT
• Sophomore Kamau?Stokes return from injury has been one of the biggest storylines to K-State’s 15-6 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 21 games and average 11.5 points per game to go with team-highs in assists (4.5 apg.), minutes (32.7) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0).
• Stokes ranks among the Big 12’s Top 10 in 5 categories, including 4th in minutes (32.7), 7th in assists (4.5), 9th in 3-point field goal percentage (40.2) and 10th in both 3-point field goals per game (1.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0).
• Stokes ranks 1st on the team in 3-point field goals (37) and 3-point attempts (92) and 2nd in percentage (40.2).
• Stokes has scored in double figures 16 times, including in 11 consecutive games, with a season-high 18 vs. Gardner-Webb... During that 11-game span, he is averaging 13.3 points on 40 percent shooting, including 40.4 percent from 3-point range.
• Stokes, who ranks in the Top 10 in the Big 12 in both assists (7th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (10th), 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 (13.4 ppg.), 3-pointers (15), assists (5.0 apg.) and minutes (35.2) 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 15th nationally in steals per game (2.2) and 18th in total steals (47).
• Brown has at least 2 steals in 16 of 21 games, including a career-best 5 vs. Hampton (11/20)... He ranks 2nd in the Big 12.
• Brown’s 47 steals have already surpassed his 40 from last season and are the most since Jacob Pullen had 54 in 2008-09.
• Brown has also been a consistent scoring threat for the Wildcats, averaging 12.9 points on 42.7 percent (99-of-232) shooting.
• Brown leads all Wildcats with 17 double-figure scoring games, including 6 of the 8 Big 12 games.
• Brown has led in scoring a team-best 6 times, including a career-high 22 points at Oklahoma State (1/18)... He also led the way vs. Western Illinois (18, 11/11), Omaha (15, 11/15), Green Bay (18, 11/30), West Virginia (15, 1/21) and Tennessee (1/28).

WADE A BIG FACTOR
• Sophomore Dean Wade has broken out to become a major scoring factor for the Wildcats, registering double figures in 9 of the last 14 games... During that stretch, he has led the team in scoring 3 times, including a career-tying 20 points at Kansas (1/3).
• Wade ranks 6th in field goal percentage (55.0/33-of-60) while averaging 11.1 points per game in Big 12 play with double-digit scoring game in 5 of 8 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 has scored in double figures in 27 career games (11 this season) with K-State posting a 22-5 mark in those contests.

X-FACTOR
• Freshman?Xavier Sneed has provided a big boost from the bench this season, averaging 8.7 points on 48.1 percent shooting (62-of-129), including 37.7 percent (29-of-77) from 3-point range, to go with 3.1 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game.
• Sneed has scored in double figures 10 times, including 3 in the last 4 Big 12 games with 12 vs. No. 1/1 Baylor (1/14).
• K-State is 8-2 this season when Sneed scores in double figures, while he is responsible for 10 of the bench’s 11 double-digit games... He ranks 3rd on the team in both 3-point FG makes (29) and attempts (77).

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 94 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 94 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 2/3 BAYLOR (20-1, 7-1 Big 12)
• K-State hits the road for the third time in four games, as the Wildcats travel to No. 2/3 Baylor (20-1, 7-1 Big 12) at 2 p.m. CT on ESPNews. Tickets are available for just $15 by calling (254) 710.1000 or online at www.baylorbears.com/tickets.

Schedule