SE: K-State MBB Starts Off Rigorous Big 12 Schedule at Iowa State

By Corbin McGuire

Every year, it seems like, the Big 12 looks tougher than ever before. This season is no different.

Six Big 12 teams are ranked in the Associated Press's top 25, including four in the top 12. Two others are receiving votes. Entering Friday, the league's combined record is 102-16.

"One through 10, I think it's the best I've ever been part of. You just keep thinking the league can't get any better but obviously it's very good," K-State head coach Bruce Weber said. "The depth is great."

K-State (10-2) starts off conference play at Iowa State (9-2) on Friday at 8 p.m., in Hilton Coliseum, one of the tougher venues in not only the Big 12 but also the country.

The Cyclones have won 49 of their last 56 Big 12 games at home, including six in a row in Ames, Iowa, against K-State. Five of those losses were by six or less points.

"If you look back, basically every game has been very close and almost the same scenario, where we'll play well, push them and then they go make a play or two down the stretch," Weber said. "Now you have to find a way to get over the hump. It's a challenge, a great environment."

Iowa State enters Friday's game, which will be nationally broadcast on ESPNU, on a nine-game win streak and with a balanced scoring attack.

Four Cyclones average 10 or more points a game, led by senior guard Donovan Jackson (16.2) and freshman guard Lindell Wigginton (15.5). Redshirt junior guard Nick Weiler-Babb, who was moved to the point guard spot this season, is producing 12.5 points and 7.4 assists a game.

"He gives them some versatility. He's really embraced being the point guard quite well. He's tall, can get to the hoop, create, pass the basketball," Weber said of the 6-foot-5 Weiler-Babb, whose assist average ranks third in the Big 12. "They've had a nice run. They beat Iowa a couple of weeks ago, a nice win for them, and beat Northern Iowa in a neutral game. They're on a roll and we're going to have to play well."

To help prepare for nine road tests in the Big 12, K-State has played five games away from home already this season. The Wildcats won their two true road tests against Vanderbilt and Washington State to tie Oklahoma for the most true road wins in the conference so far this season.

Weber said those experiences, and what his team gained from them, would be key in successfully navigating its 18-game conference schedule.

"Every game, whether it's home or road, is going to be a battle. Because of the depth of the league, it's going to make it tough," he said. "We've had some experiences, and that's what you want to go through. Hopefully we learned and grew as we went through some of those experiences."

The Wildcats' most recent outing was on the road against Washington State on December 20. Trailing by eight with seven minutes to play, K-State made enough plays down the stretch to walk away with the win and enter Big 12 play on a positive note.

"I thought our guys down the stretch at Washington State had good execution, stayed focused, did what we needed to, made the plays and found a way to win, which is important. Now, you're going to have to do that for 20 more games," Weber said, adding in a guaranteed Big 12 Championship game and K-State's matchup with Georgia in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on January 27. "That'll be the test of not only our team but all the teams in the league."

More than anything, Weber said the Wildcats must bring a high level of consistency to this conference slate.

For his team, he said that includes everything from bench production to scoring from his veterans to efficiency on offense. K-State has fared as well as anyone in multiple offensive efficiency categories, ranking in the top 20 nationally for assist-to-turnover ratio (1.59/8^th), turnovers per game (10.4/10^th), fewest turnovers (125/11^th) and turnover margin (4.8/19^th).

"We have to be very efficient on offense. I think that'll be a key — shot selection, making sure we take care of business on every possession," he said. "If you're going to have any chance in the league, you have to have some consistency."

Kansas State University Athletics

SE: K-State MBB Starts Off Rigorous Big 12 Schedule at Iowa State

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