Game Preview // K-State Plays Host to Georgia in Big 12/SEC Challenge Saturday

GAME #21
KANSAS STATE (15-5, 5-3 Big 12) vs. GEORGIA (12-7, 3-5 SEC)
Saturday, January 27, 2018 >> 1 p.m. CT >> Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) >> Manhattan, Kan.

PROMOTION
Stripe Out / Coaches vs. Cancer
K-State is asking fans to help stripe out Bramlage Coliseum for Saturday's game to help benefit Coaches vs. Cancer and the American Cancer Society. The first 3,000 students receive the official T-shirt, while fans can purchase the T-shirt for $15 (with $5 going to the American Cancer Society) at K-State Super Store locations, on the concourse and online at kstatesuperstore.com.

TELEVISION
ESPNU // WatchESPN // ESPN3

Mark Neely (play-by-play)
Bryndon Manzer (analyst)
Mandy Cohen (producer)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network

Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
Stan Weber (analyst)

Listen Online: TuneIn.com [free] // www.kstatesports.com/watch [free]
Satellite Radio: Sirius 132 // XM 199 // Internet 953

LIVE STATS
www.kstatesports.com
kstate.statbroadcast.com [media only]

TICKETS
www.kstatesports.com/tickets
(800) 221.CATS [2287]
Single Game: $25 (bench & GA)/$50 (chairback)
Wildcat 4 Pack: $75 (4 GA tickets)
Groups (12+): $15

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee '78)
Overall: 428-228/20^th season
At K-State: 115-73/6^th season
vs. Georgia: 3-2 (0-1 at home)

Georgia: Mark Fox (Eastern New Mexico '91)
Career Record: 280-168/14^th Year
Record at Georgia: 157-125/9^th Year
vs. Kansas State: 1-1 (1-0 on the road)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (15-5, 5-3 Big 12)
G: #2 Cartier Diarra
G: #5 Barry Brown, Jr.
G: #20 Xavier Sneed
F: #32 Dean Wade
F: #14 Makol Mawien

Georgia (12-7, 3-5 SEC)
G: #0 William Jackson II
G: #3 Juwan Parker
F: #20 Rayshaun Hammonds
F: #1 Yante Mante
F: #34 Derek Ogbeide

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: K-State leads 2-1
Big 12/SEC Challenge: First meeting
In Manhattan: Georgia leads 1-0
In Athens: K-State leads 1-0
Active Streak: K-State, 1
Weber vs. Georgia: 3-2 (0-1 at home)
Fox vs. K-State: 1-1 (1-0 on the road)
Weber vs. Fox: 2-3 (0-1 at home)

OPENING TIP

Kansas State (15-5, 5-3 Big 12) returns home to Bramlage Coliseum this Saturday afternoon, as the Wildcats play host to Georgia (12-7, 3-5 SEC) in the fifth annual Big 12/SEC Challenge at 1 p.m., CT. K-State has won four of its last five games, including three in a row in Big 12 play, while Georgia enters the game with losses in four of its last five outings, including a double-overtime 80-77 loss at home to Arkansas on Tuesday. Saturday's game will air on ESPNU and the WatchESPN?app with Mark Neely (play-by-play) and Bryndon Manzer (analyst) on the call.
Saturday's contest will be the first of two home games at Bramlage Coliseum in a three-day span, as K-State will play host to archrival and No. 5/5 Kansas (16-4, 6-2 Big 12) in the 288th edition of the Dillon's Sunflower Showdown on Monday night. The Wildcats are 10-2 at home this season, including 10-1 at Bramlage Coliseum, with three consecutive wins (Oklahoma State, No. 4/6 Oklahoma and No. 24/25 TCU).
K-State will play its final non-conference game on Saturday before resuming the rest of its Big 12 slate on Monday against Kansas. The Wildcats currently boast a 10-2 record in non-conference play, including 7-0 at Bramlage Coliseum. The team has a 32-6 record in non-conference play over the last three seasons, which includes a 22-game non-conference winning streak at Bramlage Coliseum. The last time the Wildcats lost a non-conference home game came against Georgia in 2014.
K-State is 2-2 all-time in the Big 12/SEC Challenge series, winning home games against Ole Miss in 2013 (61-58) and 2016 (69-64) and losing road tilts at Tennessee in 2014 (64-65) and 2017 (58-70). This will be the first meeting with Georgia in the Challenge series, however, the schools have recently played a home-and-home series during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons with the Bulldogs earning a 50-46 win at Bramlage Coliseum on Dec. 31, 2014 and the Wildcats winning 68-66 on a Dean Wade game-winning shot at Stegeman Coliseum on Dec. 21, 2015. Overall, the Big 12 is 25-15 all-time in the Challenge series, including winning the event in 2013, 2014 and 2016. The two conferences went 5-5 in the event in 2017.
Wade, along fellow junior Barry Brown, Jr., combined for 58 of the Wildcats' 90 points on Monday, as K-State led wire-to-wire for the second straight game with a 90-83 victory over Baylor at the Ferrell Center. The Wildcats' connected on 57.1 percent from the field, which marked the fourth time in five games that the team has shot 50 percent or better from the field. Brown recorded his second 30-point game of the season with a game-high 34 points on 9-of-16 field goals, while Wade posted a 20-point game for the fourth consecutive game with 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting.
Wade's impressive performance came the same day he was selected as the Citizen Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week as the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week after his efforts in wins over No. 4/6 Oklahoma and No. 24/25 TCU. He averaged 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.0 steals in 37.5 minutes per game.

NOTES ON GEORGIA

Georgia enters Saturday's game with a 12-7 overall record and a 3-5 mark in SEC play after dropping an 80-77 double-overtime heartbreaker to Arkansas on Tuesday. Senior Yante Maten posted his ninth double-double of the season with game-highs in both points (26) and rebounds (15), while junior William Jackson II and senior Juwan Parker added 15 and 12 points, respectively. The Bulldogs opened the season with an 11-3 record, which included non-conference wins over Saint Mary's (83-81), Marquette (73-66), Georgia Tech (80-59) and Temple (84-66) and SEC?wins over Ole Miss (71-60) and Alabama (65-46), but has since dropped four of their last five games.
Georgia is averaging 70.3 points on 43.3 percent shooting, including 32.7 percent from 3-point range, while allowing opponents 66.6 points on 38.8 percent shooting, including 31.7 percent from 3-point range. The Bulldogs are one of the top defensive teams in country, ranking 10th in field goal percentage defense, 23rd in rebounds per game (40.1), 27th in rebounding margin (+6.6), 35th in blocks per game (4.9 bpg.) and 44th in 3-point field goal percentage defense (31.7).
The Bulldogs are led by Preseason SEC?Player of the Year Yante Maten, who leads the league in scoring (19.9 ppg.) and is second in rebounding (9.4 rpg.). The expected lottery pick is connecting on 46.6 percent from the field, including 36 percent from 3-point range, and 84.4 percent from the free throw line. He leads the team in scoring, field goals made (118), free throws made (124) and attempted (147), rebounding, blocked shots (1.5 bpg.) and minutes (33.9 mpg.). Four others are averaging between 6.7 and 9.7 points per game, including junior William Jackson II, who paces the team in 3-point field goals (35) and assists (3.6 apg.) to go with his 9.7 points per game average. Senior Juwan Parker is averaging 8.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game, while junior Derek Ogbeide is averaging 7.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per outing.
Georgia is led by head coach Mark Fox, who has a 157-125 (.557) record in his ninth season leading the Bulldogs. Overall, he is 280-168 (.625) in his 14th season as a head coach, which includes a stint at Nevada (2004-09). He led the Wolf Pack to five consecutive 20-win seasons and three NCAA appearances, while he has guided the Bulldogs to four 20-win seasons, including three in the last four seasons, and two NCAA Tournaments.

K-STATE/GEORGIA CONNECTIONS

Georgia head coach?Mark?Fox is a native of Garden City,?Kan., and is a former assistant coach at K-State under Tom Asbury from 1994-2000. During his six-year stint on the staff, he helped the school to an 85-88 overall record with three postseason appearances, including a trip to the 1996 NCAA?Tournament. He also played two seasons at Garden City Community College (1987-89).
Fox's wife, Cindy, also spent time in the K-State Athletic Department, serving five years as Assistant AD for Marketing/SWA.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be fourth meeting between K-State and Georgia with the Wildcats holding a 2-1 edge in a series that dates to 1987. K-State won the first meeting, an 82-79 win in overtime in the 1987 NCAA West Regional First Round in Salt Lake City, Utah. Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Mitch Richmond led four Wildcats in double figures with 34 points and game-high 11 rebounds, while Georgia's Willie Anderson had a game-high 35 points.
The schools played a home-and-home series during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons with Georgia earning a 50-46 victory at Bramlage Coliseum on Dec. 31, 2014 and K-State posting a 68-66 win at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Ga., on Dec. 4, 2015.
Saturday's game will mark the sixth time that head coach?Bruce Weber and Fox have met on the sidelines. Weber's Illinois team defeated Fox's Nevada squad, 71-59, in the second round of the NCAA?Tournament en route to the 2005 Final Four, while Nevada defeated Illinois, 67-64, in the second round of the 2006 NCAA?Tournament. Fox's Georgia squad also knocked off Illinois, 70-67, on Dec. 19, 2009 at the Gwinnett Arena in?Duluth,?Ga.

BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE HISTORY

K-State is 2-2 all-time in the four-year history of the Big 12/SEC Challenge with home wins against Ole Miss in 2013 (61-58) and 2016 (69-64) and road losses at Tennessee in 2014 (64-65) and 2017 (58-70). Overall, the Wildcats are 162-149 (.521) all-time against the SEC, including an 85-49 (.634) mark at home. The team has won four of the last five meetings with SEC?foes, including an 84-79 victory at Vanderbilt on Dec. 3, 2017.

NON-CONFERENCE HISTORY

K-State has a 97-6 (.941) record at home venues (includes home games played at Bramlage Coliseum, INTRUST?Bank Arena and the Sprint Center) in non-conference game dating back to the 2006-07 season, including an 89-5 (.946) mark at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats have won 84 of their last 88 non-conference home games, including a 22-game non-conference winning streak at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State has gone 10-2 in non-conference play in 2017-18, including a 7-0 mark at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats have won double-digit non-conference games 11 times in the last 12 seasons. The school is 32-6 (.842) in non-conference play the last three seasons since posting a 7-6 mark in 2014-15. The last non-conference loss at Bramlage Coliseum came in a 50-46 loss to Georgia on Dec. 31, 2014.

HISTORY AT BRAMLAGE COLISEUM

K-State has posted a 362-114 (.761) all-time record at Bramlage Coliseum since its opening during the 1988-89 season. The 362 victories are the second-most at a home venue for the Wildcats, trailing the 378 wins at Ahearn Field House (1950-88).
K-State has collected a 161-34 (.826) record at home over the past 12 seasons, including a 69-29 (.704) mark in Big 12 play. The 161 wins rank fourth among Big 12 schools in that span, while the 69 league victories at home are only surpassed by Kansas and Texas. In all, the school has earned double-digit wins in 25 of its 30 seasons in the arena, including a current streak of 17 straight seasons.
Head coach Bruce Weber has a 77-18 (.811) record at Bramlage Coliseum since taking over at K-State with the 18 losses (15 in Big 12 play) coming by 107 points or 5.9 points per game. Among the 77 victories are 14 over ranked teams, including five against teams ranked in the Top 10 (No. 6 Oklahoma State and No. 7 Kansas in 2014, No. 8 Kansas in 2015, No. 1 Oklahoma in 2016, No. 7 West Virginia in 2017 and No. 4 Oklahoma in 2018).

LAST TIME OUT: K-STATE 90, BAYLOR 83

Juniors Barry Brown Jr., and Dean Wade combined for 58 points, as Kansas State led from wire-to-wire for the second consecutive Big 12 game in a 90-83 victory over Baylor on Monday night at the Ferrell Center. Brown scored a game-high 34 points of 9-of-16 field goals, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range, and went a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line. Wade added his fourth consecutive 20-point game with 24 points on 9-of-12 field goals and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra (11 points) and sophomore Makol Mawien (10 points) gave K-State four double-digit scorers for the fifth consecutive game and the ninth time this season.
K-State scored 90 points on 57.1 percent shooting (28-of-49), including 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from 3-point range, and connected on 78.8 percent (26-of-33) from the free throw line. It marked the third time scoring 90 or more points and the 10th time with 80 or more points this season. The Wildcats connected on 50 percent or better from the field for the 11th time this season, including the fourth time in the last five games and in three consecutive games. The team hit on 57.7 percent (15-of-26) in the first half and 56.5 percent (13-of-23) in the second half, which marked the eighth time this season that they have shot 50 percent or better in each half. The team has done it in back-to-back games.
With his game-high 34 points, Brown has now scored in double figures in nine consecutive games, which is the longest such stretch in his career, and has included four 20-point outings and both career 30-point games (averaging 22.8 ppg., on 51.1 percent shooting). It was his 12th career 20-point game, including his eighth this season. Brown has now led the team in scoring in 23 career games, including eight this season. He also added 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in tying his career-high in minutes (40) for the second consecutive game.
Brown's 12-of-12 effort from the free throw line was best by a Wildcat since Denis Clemente also went 12-of-12 at Texas on Jan. 31, 2009. He is the ninth Wildcat (done 10 times) to go perfect from the line on 12 or more attempts. The 12 free throw makes are the career-high for Brown.
Wade has now scored in double figures in all eight Big 12 games, averaging 20.3 points on 60.6 percent (60-of-99) shooting, including 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from 3-point range. It was his 10th career 20-point game, including his sixth this season (five in Big 12). He also posted a team-high 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and 1 steal in tying his career-high in minutes (39) for the second consecutive game.
Mawien registered double figures for the fifth time this season, including consecutive Big 12 games for the first time in his career.
Diarra posted double-digit scoring for the seventh time this season, including the fifth time in the last six games (where he is averaging 13 points on 58.7 percent shooting, including 57.9 percent from 3-point range since replacing Kamau Stokes). He also dished out a career-best 6 assists.

OFFENSE OFF TO A GOOD START

K-State is averaging 77.3 points on 49.2 percent shooting, including 37.6 percent from 3-point range, to go with a solid 74.6 percent clip from the free throw line through 20 games. The Wildcats' offensive numbers are slightly better since the start of Big 12 play with the team averaging 78.2 points on 50.6 percent shooting, including 42.6 percent from 3-point range, and 75.6 percent from the free throw line in Big 12 play. Although the team ranks sixth in scoring offense in the league, they are third in field goal percentage, fourth in 3-point field goal percentage and fifth in 3-point field goals per game (8.1). The Wildcats lead the Big 12 in field goal percentage (50.6) and 3-point field goal percentage (42.6) since the start of league play.
The Wildcats have scored 80 or more points 10 times, including three 90-point efforts against Arizona State (11/23), Iowa State (12/29) and Baylor (1/22). It is the most 90-point and 80-point games in the first 20 games since 2009-10 (which had 13 80-point and 4 90-point games), while the 1,547 points are the most points through 20 games since scoring 1,628 (81.4 ppg.) in the same span to start the 2009-10 season. The current 78.2 points per game scoring average in Big 12 play is the highest by a Wildcat team through eight league games since averaging 78.4 points in 2007-08.
K-State scored a season-best 91 points at Iowa State (12/29) on 55.2 percent shooting (32-of-58), including 50 percent (13-of-26) from 3-point range. It was the most points in a Big 12 opener since scoring 97 at home against Nebraska on Jan. 8, 2000, while it was the most in a Big 12 opener on the road since scoring 92 at Colorado on Jan. 21, 1987. The 91 points were the most in a Big 12 road game overall since scoring 96 at Oklahoma State on Jan. 18, 2017. The 13 3-point field goals tied for the ninth-most makes and the most in a Big 12 game since hitting 14 at Iowa State on Feb. 5, 2011.
K-State has connected on better than 50 percent from the field in 11 games, including a season-best 62.5 percent (35-of-56) in the win over SE?Missouri State (12/16). The team has hit on 50 percent or better in both halves in eight games (American, Arizona State, Vanderbilt, USC?Upstate, SE Missouri State, Iowa State, TCU and Baylor). The Wildcats tied a season-high for both field goals made (35) and attempted (62) against Oklahoma (1/16), while they registered season-highs for assists (25), points in the paint (44) and dunks (7) vs. SE?Missouri State (12/16). It was the most assists in a game since dishing out 25 at Baylor on Feb. 15, 2014, while it was the most points in the paint since posting 46 in a win over Iowa State on Feb. 28, 2015.

TRIPLE SCORING THREAT

Even without junior Kamau Stokes, K-State still has a trio of scoring threats in juniors Barry Brown, Jr. (17.8 ppg.) and Dean Wade (16.0 ppg.) and sophomore Xavier Sneed (11.1 ppg.). They rank second, 10th and 31st in scoring in the Big 12, as the three are averaging 44.9 points per game on 49.7 percent shooting, including 36.8 percent from long range, and 78.4 percent from the free throw line. Since the injury to Stokes, the trio have averaged 52 points per game on 50.5 percent shooting, including 39.4 percent from long range, and 82.2 percent from the free throw line.
The trio of Brown, Wade and Sneed have all scored in double figures in 12 career games, including eight this season. The three have combined for 50 or more points three times this season, including 51 against No. 6/5 West Virginia (1/1) on 50 percent shooting, 59 against Oklahoma State (1/10) on 55.2 percent shooting and 58 against No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16) on 57.5 percent shooting (23-of-40). They combined for 48 points against No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13) on 46.2 percent shooting. They have combined for 45 double-digit scoring games, including Brown's team-high 17 this season.
Brown is averaging 22.8 points on 51.8 percent shooting (59-of-114), including 40.5 percent (15-of-37) from 3-point range, and 77.8 percent (49-of-63) from the free throw line, through the first eight Big 12 games. His scoring average ranks second in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma's Trae Young (32.4 ppg.). His 182 points are the second-most by a Wildcat though the first eight Big 12 games since 2007-08, trailing the 215 scored by Michael Beasley in 2008. After his 34 points at Baylor (1/22), Brown is the first Wildcat with multiple 30-point games since Rodney McGruder (three) in 2011-12. His career-best 38 points vs. Oklahoma State (1/10) were the most by a Wildcat since Jacob Pullen also scored 38 against Wisconsin on March 19, 2011 and the most in a home game since Pullen's 38 against Kansas on Feb. 14, 2011. He leads the Wildcats with 12 career 20-point games, including a team-best eight this season (with six in the last nine outings).
Wade is not far behind Brown in Big 12 games, averaging 20.3 points on 60.6 percent shooting (60-of-99), including 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from 3-point range, and 79.4 percent (27-of-34) from the free throw line to go with 6.5 rebounds through the first eight league contests. The average ranks third in the league, while Wade is second in 3-point field goal percentage, fourth in field goal percentage and ninth in rebounding. His 162 points are the fourth-most by a Wildcat through the first eight Big 12 games. He has scored 20 or more points in each of the last four games, including a game-high 22 points vs. No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13), 21 vs. No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16), 20 vs. No. 24/25 TCU (1/20) and 24 vs. Baylor (1/22).
Brown (22.8 ppg.) and Wade (20.3 ppg.) have combined to score 344 points on 55.9 percent shooting in the first eight Big 12 games, which is the most points by a duo since Michael Beasley (26.9 ppg.) and Bill Walker (16.6 ppg.) combined for 348 points in the first eight league games in 2008.
Sneed is starting to heat back up with five double-figure scoring games in the last seven outings and has registered double-digit points 12 times this season, including three 20-point games (Vanderbilt, SE Missouri State and West Virginia). He is the 3-point leader with 34, which includes a career-best 6-of-9 effort vs. West Virginia (1/1). He collected his first career double-double vs. Oklahoma State (1/10) with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

DIARRA FILLING IN NICELY

Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra has played well since having take over for Kamau Stokes, who was injured 15 minutes into the first half against Texas Tech (1/6) and has missed the last five games. With Diarra running point, K-State has averaged 81.6 points on 53.2 percent shooting (143-of-269), including 43.3 percent (39-of-90) from 3-point range, in this five-game stretch with an average of 15.2 assists and 11.6 turnovers per game.
Diarra, who was averaging 3.9 points on 44.2 percent shooting in the 14 games prior to the Texas Tech game, has averaged 13.0 points on 58.7 percent shooting (27-of-46), including 57.9 percent (11-of-19) from 3-point range, and 86.7 percent (13-of-15) from the free throw line in 33.0 minutes per game in the last six games. Since earning his first start against Oklahoma State (1/10), he is averaging 13.4 points on 58.5 percent shooting (24-of-41), including 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from long range, and 90.9 (10-of-11) percent from the free throw line.
Diarra has tallied double-digit points in five of the last six games (had just two before joining lineup), which includes 17 points vs. Oklahoma State (1/10), a season-best 18 points at No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13) and 16 vs. No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16). The Big 12 leader in 3-point field goal percentage in overall (47.6) and league-only (60.0) games has knocked down at least two 3-pointers in four of the last six games, including three against the Jayhawks.

IMPRESSIVE SCORING FEAT, PART 1

In the Big 12 opener at Iowa State, Dean Wade (34), Kamau Stokes (23) and Barry Brown, Jr. (21) combined for 78 of the team's 91 points on 62.8 percent shooting (27-of-43), including 64.7 percent (11-of-17) from 3-point range. It marked just the second time that the Wildcats had a 30-point scorer and two 20-point scorers in the same game since Chuckie Williams (34), Daryl Winston (23) and Mike Evans (20) accomplished the feat in a 108-93 victory at Iowa State on Jan. 29, 1975. It was also the most combined points for three players in a game since Michael Beasley (44), Bill Walker (31) and Clent Stewart (5) combined for 80 points in a loss a Baylor on Feb. 23, 2008. In addition, it was the first time K-State had three 20-point scorers (Jacob Pullen, Denis Clemente and Curtis Kelly) since the 2010 NCAA West Regional Semifinal against Xavier on March 25, 2010.
Wade became the first 30-point scorer since Marcus Foster also scored 34 vs. Texas on Feb. 8, 2014, while it was the most points by in a Big 12 road game since Clemente scored 44 at Texas on Jan. 31, 2009 and most in a Big 12 opener since Beasley had 32 at Oklahoma on Jan. 12, 2008.

IMPRESSIVE SCORING FEAT, PART 2

Barry Brown, Jr., enjoyed a special night with a career-high 38 points in the Wildcats' 86-82 win over Oklahoma State on Jan. 10. The 38-point scoring output by Brown was the most by a Wildcat since Jacob Pullen also scored 38 points against Wisconsin in the NCAA?Tournament on March 19, 2011, while it was most in a Big 12 home game since Pullen's 38 against top-ranked Kansas on Feb. 14, 2011. Brown, who scored 20 or more points in the fourth time in a five-game stretch, connected on 12-of-17 from the field to go with an 11-of-16 effort from the free throw line. He scored 26 of his 38 points after halftime on 8-of-10 field goals and 9-of-13 free throw line. He also added 6 steals, which were the most by a Wildcat in a Big 12 game.
The Wildcats' leader with 17 double-figure scoring games, Brown paces the team with 12 career 20-point games, which includes eight this season. Brown scored a then career-best 27 points in a loss to Arizona State (11/26) and also has 20-point efforts against Northern Arizona (11/20), Washington State (12/20), Iowa State (12/29), Texas Tech (1/6) and No. 4/6 Oklahoma (1/16) to go with the 38-point effort vs. Oklahoma State (1/10).

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

K-State has been solid taking care of the basketball this season, averaging a Big 12-low 11.3 turnovers per game. The average ranks 28th nationally, while the 226 total turnovers rank 32nd in the nation. In contrast, the Wildcats have also forced their opponents into 15.1 turnovers per game, which ranks fourth in the league. The team ranks 20th nationally and third in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+3.8).
K-State has posted 12 turnovers or less in 15 of 20 games, including single-digit turnovers on five occasions (UC Irvine, George Washington, Oral Roberts, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma State). The team is averaging just 10.8 turnovers over the last 15 games (162). Since turning over the ball a season-high 17 vs. American (11/10), the Wildcats have averaged just 11.0 turnovers in the last 19 games, including nine games of 10 turnovers or less.
K-State is averaging 15.5 assists per game on 27.3 made field goals per game, which ranks seventh in the Big 12. However, when comparing it to the low turnover average, the team ranks 29th nationally and third in the league in assist turnover ratio at 1.37. They have dished out 20 or more assists four times, including a season-best 25 against SE?Missouri State (12/16) and 22 against American (11/10) and Northern Arizona (11/20).

SUCCESS BEYOND THE ARC

K-State has been successful from 3-point range, averaging 8.1 treys per game on 37.6 percent shooting (162-of-431). Sophomore Xavier Sneed is one of six players with double-digit 3-point field goals, as he leads all players with 34 treys on 35.8 percent shooting (34-of-95) this season. Injured junior Kamau Stokes is second on the team with 33 treys on 41.3 percent shooting (33-of-80), while Barry Brown, Jr. (29), Dean Wade (23), Cartier Diarra (20), Brian Patrick (10) and Amaad Wainright (9) all have more than nine 3-point makes. Wade (Iowa State) and Sneed (West Virginia) both hit a career-high 6 treys recently, while Brown had a career-best 4 against Arizona State (11/23) and Diarra had 4 vs. American (11/10).
K-State has hit on six or more 3-pointers in 15 of 20 games this season, including double-digits against American (12), Arizona State (15), USC Upstate (12), SE?Missouri?State (11), Iowa State (13) and West Virginia (10). The 15 makes against the Sun Devils tied for the second-most in school history and were the most since also converting on 15 3-pointers against Nebraska on Jan. 8, 2000. Overall, the Wildcats hit on 46.9 percent from beyond the arc against ASU with the 32 attempts the third-most ever in a game and the most since attempting a school-record 37 at Texas on Feb. 12, 2005.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS

K-State has been solid on the defensive end to start the season, allowing 67.4 points while holding its opposition to 42.1 percent shooting, including 32.6 percent from 3-point range. The team ranks among the Top 65 in turnover margin (20th), steals per game (26th), and scoring defense (65th), while they are second in the Big 12 in steals, third in turnover margin and 3-point field goal percentage defense and fourth in scoring defense.
K-State has held all but three opponents (Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State and Baylor) to below its scoring average and has held its opponents to an average of 11 points below its season scoring average. The nation's top-ranked scoring team -- Oklahoma (93.6 ppg.) -- was held to a season-low 69 points on 41.9 percent shooting, including 28 percent from 3-point range, and were forced into a season-worst 20 turnovers. TCU, who ranked fifth in scoring offense at 88.6 points per game on 50.8 percent shooting, were held to 68 points on 42.9 percent shooting.
K-State has put up some impressive defensive numbers under Weber, leading the Big 12 in scoring defense twice in his tenure (60.4 ppg., in 2012-13 and 65.4 ppg., in 2013-14). Since his arrival in 2012-13, the Wildcats are allowing opponents just 64.6 points per game (12,148 points). K-State has a 95-26 (.785) record when holding a foe to 69 points or less since 2012-13 and a 20-47 (.299) mark when allowing an opponent to score 70 or more.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

K-State enjoyed quite the memorable night on defensive end against Northern?Arizona (11/20), as the Wildcats tied the school record with 19 steals while forcing 31 total turnovers and enjoying a 38-15 edge in points off turnovers in the convincing 80-58 win. The 19 steals tied the school mark set against Tulane on Jan. 10, 1976 at Ahearn Field House. The 31 turnovers tied for the fifth most and were the most since also forcing 31 against Kentucky on Nov. 28, 2008. The 38 points off of turnovers were the fourth-most and the most since totaling 39 against Washington State on Dec. 5, 2009.
In all, five different Wildcats had at least two steals, including a career-best 6 by Barry?Brown, Jr., and 5 by Dean?Wade. The 6 steals by Brown tied nine other players for the eighth-most steals in a game. He now has 150 in his career, which ranks third on the all-time list. Kamau Stokes also had 3 steals, while sophomore Xavier Sneed and redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra had 2 each.

ONE OF THE YOUNGEST TEAMS

K-State is one of 15 schools nationally (Auburn, American, Bowling Green, UC Irvine, The Citadel, Holy Cross, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Marquette, Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Toledo and Wofford) to have one or fewer seniors on its roster in 2017-18, while the Wildcats' nine freshmen (true and redshirt) and sophomores ranks nine nationally and are only surpassed by the 12 at Auburn and Kentucky, 11 by UC Irvine, 10 each by American, The Citadel, Tennessee, Toledo and Wofford.

K-STATE WELCOMES SHAUN WILLIAMS

Head coach Bruce Weber announced the signing of Shaun Williams (St. Louis, Mo./Hazelwood Central) on the first day of the National Signing Period on Nov. 8.
A 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard, Williams led Hazelwood Central in 12 categories en route to helping the Hawks to a 17-11 record and a trip to the Class 5, District 3 Championship Game. He averaged a team-best 18.6 points on 47.4 percent shooting (155-of-237), including 35.2 percent (38-of-108) from 3-point range, to go with 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. He connected on a team-best 83.8 percent (98-of-117) from the free throw line. He was a First Team Class 5 All-State selection by the Missouri Basketball?Coaches Association as a junior.

UP NEXT: 5/5 KANSAS (16-4, 6-2 Big 12)

K-State makes another quick turnaround on Monday night, as the Wildcats play host to No. 5/5 Kansas (16-4, 6-2 Big 12) in the 288^th edition of the Dillion's Sunflower Showdown at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Game Preview // K-State Plays Host to Georgia in Big 12/SEC Challenge Saturday

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Players Mentioned

Barry Brown, Jr.

Cartier Diarra

Makol Mawien

Brian Patrick

Xavier Sneed

Kamau Stokes

Dean Wade

Amaad Wainright

Kansas State University Athletics

Game Preview // K-State Plays Host to Georgia in Big 12/SEC Challenge Saturday

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Barry Brown, Jr.

Cartier Diarra

Makol Mawien

Brian Patrick

Xavier Sneed

Kamau Stokes

Dean Wade

Amaad Wainright

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