Game Preview // K-State Hosts 7/7 Kansas in Sunflower Showdown Monday

GAME #22
rv/rv KANSAS STATE (16-5, 5-3 Big 12) vs. 7/7 KANSAS (17-4, 6-2 Big 12)
Monday, January 29, 2018 >> 8 p.m. CT >> Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) >> Manhattan, Kan.

TELEVISION
ESPN // WatchESPN // ESPN3

Bob Wischusen (play-by-play)
Fran Fraschilla (analyst)
Holly Rowe (sideline reporter)
Scott Gustafson (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 84 // XM 84 // Internet 84

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

TICKETS
www.kstatesports.com/tickets
(800) 221.CATS [2287]
Single Game: $100 (GA/bench/chairback)
Wildcat 4 Pack: $300 (4 GA tickets)

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee '78)
Overall: 429-228/20^th season
At K-State: 116-73/6^th season
vs. Kansas: 2-12 (2-3 at home)

Kansas: Bill Self (Oklahoma State '85)
Career Record: 640-197/25^th Year
Record at Kansas: 433-91/15^th Year
vs. Kansas State: 26-5 (10-4 on the road)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (16-5, 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

Kansas (17-4, 6-2 Big 12)
G: #2 Lagerald Vick
G: #4 Devonte Graham
G: #10 Svi Mykhailiuk
G: #14 Malik Newman
F: #35 Udoka Azubuike

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Kansas leads 194-93
Big 12 era: Kansas leads 47-5
In Manhattan: Kansas leads 77-47
In Lawrence: Kansas leads 89-35
Active Streak: Kansas, 6
Weber vs. Kansas: 2-12 (2-3 at home)
Self vs. K-State: 26-5 (10-4 on the road)
Weber vs. Self: 3-13 (3-3 at home)

OPENING TIP

Kansas State (16-5, 5-3 Big 12) makes a quick turnaround on Monday night, as the Wildcats play host to archrival and No. 7/7 Kansas (17-4, 6-2 Big 12) in the 288th edition of the Dillon's Sunflower Showdown at 8 p.m., CT. The teams enter Monday's contest as two of the hottest in the Big 12 with K-State winning five of its last six games, including four in a row, while Kansas has won six of its last seven outings. Monday's game will air nationally on ESPN and the WatchESPN app with Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Fran Fraschilla (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sidelines) on the call.
The rivalry ranks as the eighth-longest continuously played in the country (have met at least twice every season since 1912) with the sixth-most gamed played (287). Kansas' 194 wins are the most against one opponent in NCAA?history, while K-State's 93 victories are the most by any Kansas opponent. The series dates to a 54-39 win by the Jayhawks at home on Jan. 25, 1907.
Kansas leads the all-time series, 194-93, including an 77-47 mark in games played in Manhattan, with K-State. The Jayhawks have won 46 of the last 51 meetings in the Big 12 era, including 17 of 21 at Bramlage Coliseum. However, since the Wildcats ended a 24-game homecourt losing streak to the Jayhawks in the series in 2008, they have almost played even with wins in four of the last 10 meetings. Kansas has won the last six overall matchups, including a 73-72 victory at home on Jan. 13. The last win by K-State came at home, 70-63, on Feb. 23, 2015.
Monday's contest will end a stretch of five home games in a seven-game stretch, as K-State will play three of its next four on the road, beginning Saturday at 7/7 West Virginia (16-5, 5-3 Big 12). The Wildcats are 11-2 at home this season, including 11-1 at Bramlage Coliseum, with four straight wins (Oklahoma State, No. 4/6 Oklahoma, No. 24/25 TCU and Georgia). The team is 2-3 vs. Top 25 foes this season.
K-State ran its winning streak to four games on Saturday afternoon, as the Wildcats used stellar team defense and a 20-point effort from junior Dean Wade to gut out a 56-51 victory over Georgia in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Bulldogs, which was held to a season-low 51 points on 37 percent shooting, was held to just one field goal in the last 7:22 of the game, including a stretch of 6:49. Wade scored 11 of his game-high 20 points after halftime, including back-to-back buckets in the last 1:48 of the contest in a game that saw seven lead changes and six ties. The Wildcats finish non-conference play with an 11-2 record, including 8-0 mark at Bramlage Coliseum.
Junior Barry Brown, Jr., along with Wade, have stepped up their games with the absence of Kamau Stokes, averaging 22.0 and 19.5 points per game in guiding the Wildcats to wins in five of their last six games, including four straight. The duo has accounted for 53.7 percent (249) of the team's points during this stretch, which has included five consecutive 20-point games for Wade and two 30-point outings by Brown.
Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra has performed well since being inserted in starting lineup due to the Stokes injury, averaging 12.9 points on 58.5 percent shooting (31-of-53), including 50 percent (11-of-22) from 3-point range, with 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 33.4 minutes per game.

NOTES ON 7/7 KANSAS

No. 7/7 Kansas enters Monday's game with a 17-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in Big 12 play after posting a 79-68 win over Texas A&M in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Senior sharp-shooter Svi Mykhailiuk paced three players in double figures with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-15 field goals, including 4-of-8 from long range. The Jayhawks have won six of their last seven games and boast a 4-1 record on the road with its only blemish coming in an 85-80 setback at Oklahoma on Jan. 23.
Kansas once again is one of the most potent offenses in the country, ranking in the Top 25 in eight categories, including 22nd in scoring offense (83.8 ppg.), 16th in field goal percentage (49.9), 17th in scoring margin (+13.5), 19th in the 3-point field goal percentage (40.5), 16th in 3-point field goals per game (10.6), 12th in both assists per game (17.8) and assist turnover ratio (1.51). They are dangerous from long range with four players with 35 or more 3-point field goals, including 50+ from Mykhailiuk (74) and senior guard Devonte' Graham (63). The Jayhawks are allowing just 70.4 points per game on 40.7 percent shooting, including 31.7 percent from 3-point range. They are shooting 69.3 percent from the free throw line.
Kansas is a balanced offensive teams with five players averaging in double digits led by Graham's team-best 17.3 points per game on 40.2 percent shooting, including 41.4 percent from 3-point range, and ranks seventh nationally in assists per game (7.4 apg.) and 33rd in 3-point field goals per game (3.05). Mykhailiuk, who ranks ninth in 3-point field goals per game (3.5), is second in scoring at 16.8 points per game on 45.7 percent shooting, including 47.4 percent from long range. Udoka Azubuike (13.9 ppg.), Lagerald Vick (13.4 ppg.) and Malik Newman (11.9 ppg.) also average double figures. Azubuike, who leads the Big 12 and the nation in field goal percentage at 76.1 percent, leads the way in both rebounds (7.6 rpg.)?and blocked shots (1.7 bpg.).
Kansas is led by Hall of Fame head coach Bill Self, who has a 433-91 (.826) record in his 15th season leading the Jayhawks. Overall, he is 640-197 (.764) in his 25th season as head coach leading Oral Roberts (1993-97), Tulsa (1997-2000), Illinois (2000-03) and now Kansas.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be 288th meeting between Kansas State and Kansas on the hardwood, including the 53rd in the Big 12 era, with the Jayhawks holding a 194-93 advantage in a series that dates to 1907. The 194 wins are the most against one opponent in the country, while the 93 victories by the Wildcats are the most by a Kansas opponent. The Jayhawks own a 77-47 lead on the road, including a 17-4 mark since the start of Big 12 play. The two schools have met at least once every season since 1912. It is the eighth-longest continuously played rivalry, while it ties for the sixth-most games played.
Kansas holds a 47-5 mark in the Big 12 era and have won 20 of the last 23 meetings, including 13 of the last 15 games.
Kansas has won six consecutive in the series, including the last two at Bramlage Coliseum, with the last K-State win coming, 70-63, at home on Feb. 23, 2015. Since losing 24 straight at home to the Jayhawks (1984-2007), the Wildcats have gone 4-6 in the last 10 meetings in Manhattan.
K-State's second-half rally came up short against No. 3/3 Kansas, 74-71, in the latest meeting on Feb. 6, 2017 at Bramlage Coliseum. After the Wildcats tied it at 63-all on forward Dean Wade's third 3-point field goal with 2:53 to play, the Jayhawks scored six straight points to take control of the game. The late 6-0 run was keyed by guard Svi Mykhailiuk's 3-pointer with 2:34 remaining. K-State closed to within 72-69 on a 3-pointer by guard Kamau Stokes with 22 seconds to play, but guard Devonte' Graham canned a pair of free throws with 17 seconds to end any further comeback.
Head coach Bruce Weber is 2-12 all-time against Kansas, including 2-3 at home.

LAST MEETING: 12/12 KANSAS 73, K-STATE 72

Junior Barry Brown, Jr.'s off-balanced 3-pointer missed at the buzzer, as No. 12/12 Kansas held on for a 73-72 win over K-State in the last meeting between the teams at Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 13. The two teams battled through eight ties in the final 8:28 of the game before sophomore guard Malik Newman converted on the second of two free throws to give Kansas a 73-72 lead with 15 seconds remaining. Brown inbounded the ball and took a contested 3-pointer as time expired. It marked the second consecutive season that K-State fell in dramatic fashion to Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, where the Wildcats have now lost 12 consecutive games dating back to 2007.
Junior Dean Wade led K-State with a team-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal in 38 minutes. It marked the third consecutive 20-point game for Wade against Kansas. Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra tallied a career-high in points for the second consecutive game with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from long range, while sophomore Xavier Sneed and Brown added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Brown dished out a game-high 6 assists, while Sneed had a team-high 7 rebounds.

HISTORY AT BRAMLAGE COLISEUM

K-State has posted a 363-114 (.761) all-time record at Bramlage Coliseum since its opening during the 1988-89 season. The 363 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 162-34 (.827) record at home over the past 12 seasons, including a 69-29 (.704) mark in Big 12 play. The 162 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.
The Wildcats are 36-57 (.387) all-time at Bramlage Coliseum against ranked teams, including 33-54 (.379) against ranked Big 12 opponents. The team is 21-17 (.553) against ranked opponents at home since 2008, which included a stretch of 10 wins in 13 matchups from 2013 to 2015. Since a double-overtime loss to No. 19 West Virginia on Jan. 2, 2016, K-State has won just four of its last 12 meetings with ranked opponents at home.
Head coach Bruce Weber has a 78-18 (.813) 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 78 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 56, GEORGIA 51

K-State used a stellar defensive effort and a game-high 20 points from junior forward Dean Wade to grind out a 56-51 win over Georgia in the fifth annual Big 12/SEC Challenge in front of 10,314 fans at Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday. The Wildcats, which finished non-conference play with an 11-2 record, extended their non-conference winning streak at Bramlage Coliseum to 23 games and moved to 3-2 all-time in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
The reigning Citizen Naismith Trophy National Player of the Week and Phillips Big 12 Player of the Week, Wade led all scorers with a game-high 20 points on 7-of-17 from the field and a game-tying 8 rebounds. Wade has now notched 20 or more points in five consecutive games and has seven 20-point outings this season. Redshirt freshman guard Cartier Diarra added 12 points and led the Wildcats with 5 assists in his sixth career start.
K-State held Georgia to its season-low 51 points on 37 percent (20-of-54) from the field, including 11.1 percent (2-of-18) from long range. It marked the seventh time the Wildcats have held an opponent under 60 points. The team has now held 65 opponents to 60 points or less under head coach Bruce Weber's direction with the squad boasting a 58-7 record in those contests.
K-State scored 56 points on 38.3 percent shooting (18-of-47), including 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from 3-point range, and connected on 89.5 percent (17-of-19) from the free throw line. It was the second-fewest points scored by the Wildcats this season.
K-State posted a season-low 6 turnovers, which marked the sixth time this season with single-digit turnovers.

OFFENSE OFF TO A GOOD START

K-State is averaging 76.3 points on 48.7 percent shooting, including 37.1 percent from 3-point range, to go with a solid 75.2 percent clip from the free throw line through 21 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 eighth 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 (7.9). 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 21 games since 2009-10 (which had 13 80-point and 4 90-point games), while the 1,603 points are the most points through 21 games since scoring 1,707 (81.3 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. (17.3 ppg.) and Dean Wade (16.2 ppg.) and sophomore Xavier Sneed (11.0 ppg.). They rank third, eighth and 30th in scoring in the Big 12, as the three are averaging 44.5 points per game on 48.7 percent shooting, including 36.3 percent from long range, and 78.9 percent from the free throw line. Since the injury to Stokes, the trio have averaged 50 points per game on 47.7 percent shooting, including 37.8 percent from long range, and 81.3 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 46 double-digit scoring games, including Brown and Wade's team-high 17.
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 10 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 five 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), 24 vs. Baylor (1/22) and 20 vs. Georgia (1/27).
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. Historically, it is the third-most points by a duo in the first eight league games, trailing Chuckie Williams (24.1 ppg.) and Mike Evans (20.5 ppg.).
Sneed is starting to heat back up with five double-figure scoring games in the last eight 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 36, 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 six games. With Diarra running point, K-State has averaged 77.3 points on 50.9 percent shooting (161-of-316), including 40.4 percent (42-of-104) from 3-point range, in this six-game stretch with an average of 13.8 assists and 10.7 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 12.9 points on 58.5 percent shooting (31-of-53), including 50 percent (11-of-22) from 3-point range, and 89.5 percent (17-of-19) from the free throw line in 33.4 minutes per game in the last seven games. Since earning his first start against Oklahoma State (1/10), he is averaging 13.2 points on 58.3 percent shooting (28-of-48), including 47.7 percent (9-of-19) from long range, and 93.3 (14-of-15) percent from the free throw line.
Diarra has tallied double-digit points in six of the last seven games (had 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 seven games, including three vs. 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' co-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 11.0 turnovers per game. The average ranks 22nd nationally, while the 232 total turnovers rank 21st in the nation. In contrast, the Wildcats have also forced their opponents into 14.9 turnovers per game, which ranks fourth in the league. The team ranks 19th nationally and second in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+3.9).
K-State has posted 12 turnovers or less in 16 of 21 games, including single-digit turnovers on six occasions (UC Irvine, George Washington, Oral Roberts, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State and Georgia). The team is averaging just 10.5 turnovers over the last 16 games (168). Since turning over the ball a season-high 17 vs. American (11/10), the Wildcats have averaged just 10.8 turnovers in the last 20 games, including 10 games of 10 turnovers or less.
K-State is averaging 14.9 assists per game on 26.9 made field goals per game, which ranks seventh in the Big 12. However, when comparing it to the low turnover average, the team ranks 31st 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 7.9 treys per game on 37.1 percent shooting (165-of-445). Sophomore Xavier Sneed is one of six players with double-digit 3-point field goals, as he leads all players with 36 treys on 35 percent shooting (36-of-103) 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 (24), 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 21 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 66.6 points while holding its opposition to 41.9 percent shooting, including 31.7 percent from 3-point range. The team ranks among the Top 65 in turnover margin (19th), steals per game (26th), and scoring defense (51st), while they are second in the Big 12 in steals and turnover margin, third in 3-point field goal percentage defense and fourth in scoring defense.
The Wildcats have held seven of the 21 opponents to 45, 51, 49, 58, 59, 49 and 51 points, respectively, as they have now held 65 opponents to 60 points or less under head coach Bruce Weber's direction with the squad boasting a 58-7 (.891) record in those contests.
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 64.5 points per game (12,199 points). K-State has a 96-26 (.787) 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: 7/7 WEST VIRGINIA (16-5, 5-3 Big 12)

K-State continues Big 12 play on Saturday, as the Wildcats travel to Morgantown, W.Va., to take on former head coach Bob Huggins and his No. 7/7 West Virginia Mountaineers (16-5, 5-3 Big 12) at 3 p.m., CT on ESPN2.

Game Preview // K-State Hosts 7/7 Kansas in Sunflower Showdown Monday

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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 Hosts 7/7 Kansas in Sunflower Showdown Monday

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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