SE: K-State MBB Focused on Poise, Defense in Road Battle with No. 15 WVU
Feb 02, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Be quick but don't hurry.
Those five words, made famous by legendary UCLA head coach John Wooden, have been emphasized by K-State head coach Bruce Weber heading into the Wildcats' game at No. 15 West Virginia on Saturday at 3 p.m., on ESPNU.
The Mountaineers (16-6, 5-4) thrive on speeding teams up with their defensive pressure, in turn creating either turnovers or quick, low-percentage shots. Weber said K-State (16-6, 5-4) fell victim to this in its eight-point home loss to West Virginia on January 1, an outing the Wildcats have learned from.
"We were in a hurry," Weber said. "They watched (the film Wednesday). Even against Kansas, we made some hurried plays, tough shots, quick shots, and we have to maintain our poise and get open shots.
"That's going to be a key for us. If we get assists, one, it means we're making some shots and, two, it means we're making the right passes."
K-State recorded 13 assists and 15 turnovers in its previous meeting with West Virginia, an uncharacteristic ratio considering the Wildcats rank third in the conference and 28th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio.
"It was a lot of self-inflicted things last game (against West Virginia)," sophomore Xavier Sneed said. "We looked at the film and saw it. We just have to slow down. Everybody was pretty hyped for that game, so just slow it down and be ready for anything that we see."
The simplest way to handle West Virginia's vaunted full-court pressure, Weber said, is to keep the Mountaineers from setting it up in the first place. Meaning, K-State's defense may dictate its offensive success as much as anything else.
"I've always said that the key is stops against them," Weber said.
The numbers tend to back up this sentiment.
West Virginia, 5-5 in its last 10 games, has combined to shoot 43.9 percent in its last five wins and limited opponents to 39.7 percent from the field in those same games. In the Mountaineers' last five losses, however, they have shot only 39.0 percent from the field while their opponents have converted 48.6 percent.
When K-State first faced West Virginia this season, the Mountaineers made 53.6 percent of their shots while the Wildcats finished at 35.7 percent.
"I think the paint is important," Weber said. "Stopping them from being in the paint and getting to the paint on the other end is important."
K-State WBB Hosts Iowa State on Saturday for annual Pack the House game
After splitting a two-game road trip, Kansas State's women return to Bramlage Coliseum to begin a two-game homestand to start the month of February. The Wildcats (12-10, 4-7) host Iowa State (9-13, 3-8) on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Saturday's game is K-State's annual Pack the House game. All tickets for the Big 12 matchup with the Cyclones are available for just $1, which includes all available seating in the chairbacks, reserved bench and general admission seating areas of Bramlage Coliseum. To purchase tickets, please contact the K-State Athletic Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or visit www.kstatesports.com.
Designated concession items will be sold for just $1, including: pretzels, popcorn and candy, which will be available at all of the main concession stands on the Bramlage concourse.
At halftime of the game, fans will be entertained by Christian and Scooby. They have performed on America's Got Talent and at several college and professional basketball arenas across the nation.
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and will be available on the K-State Sports Network.
Be quick but don't hurry.
Those five words, made famous by legendary UCLA head coach John Wooden, have been emphasized by K-State head coach Bruce Weber heading into the Wildcats' game at No. 15 West Virginia on Saturday at 3 p.m., on ESPNU.
The Mountaineers (16-6, 5-4) thrive on speeding teams up with their defensive pressure, in turn creating either turnovers or quick, low-percentage shots. Weber said K-State (16-6, 5-4) fell victim to this in its eight-point home loss to West Virginia on January 1, an outing the Wildcats have learned from.
"We were in a hurry," Weber said. "They watched (the film Wednesday). Even against Kansas, we made some hurried plays, tough shots, quick shots, and we have to maintain our poise and get open shots.
"That's going to be a key for us. If we get assists, one, it means we're making some shots and, two, it means we're making the right passes."
K-State recorded 13 assists and 15 turnovers in its previous meeting with West Virginia, an uncharacteristic ratio considering the Wildcats rank third in the conference and 28th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio.
"It was a lot of self-inflicted things last game (against West Virginia)," sophomore Xavier Sneed said. "We looked at the film and saw it. We just have to slow down. Everybody was pretty hyped for that game, so just slow it down and be ready for anything that we see."
The simplest way to handle West Virginia's vaunted full-court pressure, Weber said, is to keep the Mountaineers from setting it up in the first place. Meaning, K-State's defense may dictate its offensive success as much as anything else.
"I've always said that the key is stops against them," Weber said.
The numbers tend to back up this sentiment.
West Virginia, 5-5 in its last 10 games, has combined to shoot 43.9 percent in its last five wins and limited opponents to 39.7 percent from the field in those same games. In the Mountaineers' last five losses, however, they have shot only 39.0 percent from the field while their opponents have converted 48.6 percent.
When K-State first faced West Virginia this season, the Mountaineers made 53.6 percent of their shots while the Wildcats finished at 35.7 percent.
"I think the paint is important," Weber said. "Stopping them from being in the paint and getting to the paint on the other end is important."
K-State WBB Hosts Iowa State on Saturday for annual Pack the House game
After splitting a two-game road trip, Kansas State's women return to Bramlage Coliseum to begin a two-game homestand to start the month of February. The Wildcats (12-10, 4-7) host Iowa State (9-13, 3-8) on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Saturday's game is K-State's annual Pack the House game. All tickets for the Big 12 matchup with the Cyclones are available for just $1, which includes all available seating in the chairbacks, reserved bench and general admission seating areas of Bramlage Coliseum. To purchase tickets, please contact the K-State Athletic Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or visit www.kstatesports.com.
Designated concession items will be sold for just $1, including: pretzels, popcorn and candy, which will be available at all of the main concession stands on the Bramlage concourse.
At halftime of the game, fans will be entertained by Christian and Scooby. They have performed on America's Got Talent and at several college and professional basketball arenas across the nation.
Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and will be available on the K-State Sports Network.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballK-State Men's Basketball | Postgame Press Conference at Texas Tech
Sunday, February 22
K-State Men's Basketball | Haggerty and Johnson Historic Night vs Baylor
Thursday, February 19
K-State Men's Basketball | Interim Head Coach Driscoll Press Conference vs Baylor
Wednesday, February 18
K-State Men's Basketball | Press Conference vs Baylor
Wednesday, February 18
