SE: K-State MBB Looks to Continue Evolving, Excited to play in NCAA Tournament Venue in Wichita

By Corbin McGuire

Every other year starting in 2011, the K-State men's basketball team has played in Wichita's INSTRUST Bank Arena. In the past, it was a chance to play in an NCAA Tournament-type venue. Now, it's an opportunity to compete in an actual NCAA Tournament venue.

While Wichita will host K-State's battle with Tulsa on Saturday at 7 p.m., in March the city welcomes back the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 24 years.

"The last two times we played there we had good crowds, all purple," K-State head coach Bruce Weber said of Saturday's game, which will broadcast on FOX Sports Kansas City, www.KStateHD.TV and ESPN3. "I told them this a great environment. You have a nice arena, an NCAA Tournament arena. You get that big arena, that feel. To be involved in that is important. Those games are good for us. They're good opportunities for the future."

Saturday is the Wildcats' annual opportunity to play in the type of venue they hope to end up in come March. For now, the Wildcats (8-1) are focused on Tulsa (4-4), which put up 100 points in a win over UTSA and nearly knocked off Iowa State in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

"It's always a bigger stage," junior guard Kamau Stokes said of Saturday's game. "But we have to approach that game the same way we approached (Tuesday's 86-49 win over USC Upstate) and the same way we approach every other game."

In Tuesday's dominant victory, K-State showed off a few of its consistent strengths.

To start, the Wildcats dished out 21 assists to 10 turnovers. As of Wednesday, the Wildcats ranked 11^th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.56), 13^th in average turnover margin (+5.8) and 14^th in turnovers committed per game (10.7).

K-State also limited USC Upstate, averaging 75.0 points a game coming in, to a season-low 49, which marked a 17-point drop from the Spartans' previous low. The Wildcats now rank 14^th nationally and first in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing 61.1 points per game.

Still, Weber continues to remind his team it is far from complete.

"That's been my whole theme with all of them. We can't be a finished product," he said. "Right now, we have to keep evolving, getting better, as individuals and as a team."

One area Stokes said must improve is the team's ability to bring the same amount of energy to every game, regardless of the opponent or environment. The Wildcats showed improvement in that regard against USC Upstate, jumping to a 24-2 lead and ending it with a 10-0 run in the final 3:47.

"Our energy level needs to stay the same," he said. "I feel like, in order for us to be better, our energy level has to stay consistent throughout the season."

Weber pointed to rebounding, an area K-State took a step in the right direction with on Tuesday. The Wildcats won the rebounding battle by 10 against USC Upstate, limiting the Spartans to five second-chance points.

Part of it, Weber said, was playing against an undersized opponent, but he added that it also showed growth from the Wildcats' four newcomers in the post — Makol Mawien, Mawdo Sallah, Levi Stockard III and Nigel Shadd. Those four combined for 11 boards in 44 minutes between them.

"It's all new to them. But there's no doubt it's a positive step," Weber said. "Now we'll a play a Tulsa team on Saturday that's got bigger size and bodies, plays a mixture of zone and man. We're going to have to continue this effort. I keep harping on them about making progress and getting better."

There are a number of ticketing options for the game against Tulsa, including the Wildcat 4 Pack, through selectaseat.com or the K-State Athletics Ticket Office by calling (800) 221.CATS or online at www.kstatesports.com/tickets.

Kansas State University Athletics

SE: K-State MBB Looks to Continue Evolving, Excited to play in NCAA Tournament Venue in Wichita

Players Mentioned

Makol Mawien

Mawdo Sallah

Nigel Shadd

Levi Stockard III

Kamau Stokes

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