Game Preview // K-State Hosts Baylor on Senior Day Saturday

Game Preview // K-State Hosts Baylor on Senior Day Saturday

Mar 02, 2018 | Men's Basketball

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Game Preview // K-State Hosts Baylor on Senior Day Saturday

GAME #31
KANSAS STATE (20-10, 9-8 Big 12) vs. BAYLOR (18-12, 8-9 Big 12)
Saturday, March 3, 2018 >> 1 p.m. CT >> Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) >> Manhattan, Kan.

TELEVISION
ESPN // WatchESPN // ESPN3

Mark Neely (play-by-play)
Bryndon Manzer (analyst)
Joe McCoy (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
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: 433-233/20^th season
At K-State: 120-78/6^th season
vs. Baylor: 6-6 (2-3 at home)

Baylor: Scott Drew (Butler '93)
Career Record: 315-203/16^th season
Record at Baylor: 295-192/15^th season
vs. Kansas State: 11-13 (5-6 on the road)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (20-10, 9-8 Big 12)
G: #2 Cartier Diarra
G: #5 Barry Brown, Jr.
G: #20 Xavier Sneed
F: #32 Dean Wade
F: #14 Makol Mawien

Baylor (18-12, 8-9 Big 12)
G: #3 Jake Lindsey
G: #20 Manu Lecomte
F: #21 Nuni Omot
F: #31 Terry Maston
F: #00 Jo Lual-Acuil, Jr.

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: K-State leads 20-18
Big 12 era: Baylor leads 17-15
In Manhattan: K-State leads 10-8
In Waco: Baylor leads 8-7
Active Streak: K-State, 3
Weber vs. Baylor: 6-6 (2-3 at home)
Drew vs. K-State: 11-13 (5-6 on the road)
Weber vs. Drew: 6-6 (2-3 at home)

OPENING TIP

Kansas State (20-10, 9-8 Big 12) wraps up its regular season schedule on Saturday afternoon, as the Wildcats play host to Baylor (18-12, 8-9 Big 12) at 1 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum. The game will serve as Senior Day for walk-ons Mason Schoen and Kade Kinnamon as well as senior manager Josh Burk. Each will be honored in a pre-game ceremony that will start at the 12-minute mark on the game clock.
Saturday's game is not only vital to both K-State and Baylor's NCAA?Tournament chances but also to their seedings at the upcoming Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship that runs March 7-10 at Kansas City's Sprint Center. The Wildcats are in a fourth-place tie with TCU with a 9-8 league record and are just a game ahead of the Bears in the standings, but have already clinched a bye to Thursday's quarterfinals where they can be the No. 4, 5 or 6 seeds. A win over Baylor would give K-State the No. 4 or 5 seed, while a loss would make them either No. 5 or 6 seed depending on other results. The Bears can be the No. 5, 6, or 7 seed. There exists 22 different scenarios in regards to the tournament seedings with only the No. 1 seed (Kansas) and the No. 10 seed (Iowa State) decided heading into the final games of the regular season.
K-State heads into the regular-season finale having already clinched a 20-win season for the 29th time in school history, including the 10th in the last 12 seasons and the fourth in the six seasons under head coach Bruce Weber. However, much is still at stake for the Wildcats, who could finish as high as a tie for third place with a win over a Baylor and a win by TCU?over Texas Tech. A third-place finish would not only be the highest since tying for the Big 12 title in 2012-13, but also just the fifth time with a third-place or better finish since the inception of the Big 12 in 1997. A victory would also give the squad double-digit victories in Big 12 play for the eighth time in the last 12 seasons, but the first time since the 2013-14 season.
K-State and Baylor will meet for the second time this season, as the Wildcats will attempt to the sweep the season series for the first time since 2013 after winning the first meeting, 90-83, in Waco on Jan. 22. Junior Barry Brown, Jr. (34) and Dean Wade (24) combined to score 58 points on 18-of-28 shooting from the field and 18-of-20 from the free throw line, as the squad shot 57.1 percent (28-of-49) as a team in winning from wire-to-wire. Overall, this will be the 39th meeting between the schools, including the 33rd in the Big 12 era, with K-State owning a slight 20-18 edge all-time, including a 10-8 mark at home. The Bears have won the last two meetings at Bramlage Coliseum with the last Wildcat home win coming in 2015.
Balanced scoring has been a key to K-State's success under Bruce Weber, as the Wildcats are 51-18 (.739) when four or more players score in double figures, including 10-2 (.833) this season. The team averages 77.9 points on 51 percent shooting with 16.8 assists in games (12 total) where four or more players score in double figures, while they are averaging just 59.1 points on 38.5 percent shooting with 12.0 assists in games (7 total) where only two or less players register double digits.

NOTES ON BAYLOR

Baylor enters Saturday's game with an 18-12 overall record and an 8-9 mark in Big 12 play after an impressive 87-64 win over Oklahoma on Senior Night. The Bears connected on 51.4 percent from the field, including 50 percent or better in each half, while holding the potent Sooner offense to just 64 points on 37.7 percent shooting, including 23.1 percent from 3-point range. In all, five players scored in double figures led by senior forward Terry Maston's 23 points and fellow senior Jo Lual-Acuil, Jr's double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. After starting Big 12 play with a 2-7 record, the Bears have rebounded to win six of their last eight league games.
Baylor is averaging 76.1 points on 46.8 percent shooting, including 35.5 percent from 3-point range, while allowing opponents 69.2 points on 41.2 percent shooting, including 33.5 percent from 3-point range. The Bears are once again one of the top defensive teams in the country, ranking 18th in rebounding margin (+6.5), 30th in blocks per game (5.1), 37th in rebounding (38.7) and 41st in field goal percentage defense. The team leads the Big 12 in rebounding margin, while is second in defensive rebounds (26.7) and third in offensive rebounds (12.0).
The Bears have seven players averaging seven or more points this season led by seniors Manu Lecomte (16.0 ppg.) and fellow seniors Jo Lual-Acuil, Jr. (14.7 ppg.) and Terry Maston (10.8 ppg.). Lecomte, who has 82 3-point field goals on the year, is one of the Big 12's top long-range shooters, averaing 2.8 treys per game on 38.5 percent shooting. Lual-Acuil, Jr., is one of the league's top big men, hitting on 51.4 percent from the field to go with a team-best 9.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He ranks among the Big 12's Top 15 in scoring, field goal percentage, rebounding and blocked shots. Maston is shooting 52.6 percent from the field to go with 5.7 rebounds per game. Senior Nuni Omot and junior King McClure average 9.2 and 8.4 points per game and have combined for 78 3-point field goals. Redshirt freshman Mark Vital (7.3 ppg.) and freshman Tristan Clark (7.1 ppg.) both average better than 7 points per game, while junior Jake Lindsey is one the league's top defensive players averaging 4.6 points, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
Baylor is led by head coach Scott Drew, who has a 295-192 (.606) record in his 15th season leading the Bears. Overall, he is 315-203 (.608) in his 16th season as a head coach, which includes a one-year stint at Valparaiso (2002-03). He has completely rebuilt the Baylor programs into one of the nation's most consistent with six consecutive 20-win seasons and seven NCAA Tournament appearances in the last 10 seasons.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be 39th meeting between Kansas State and Baylor on the hardwood, including the 33rd in the Big 12 era, with the Wildcats holding a slight 20-18 edge in a series that dates to 1948. Among the six meetings between the schools prior to the Big 12 era was a 60-52 win by the Bears in the 1948 NCAA Tournament. K-State won five of the first six meetings before the inception of Big 12 play, but Baylor has held the advantage since the start of league play winning 17 of the last 32 in league play, including an 8-6 edge at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats' current three-game winning streak is the longest since also winning three in a row from 2010 to 2011, while they have not won four straight in the series since the start of Big 12 in 1997.
The Bears have won three of the last four meetings at Bramlage Coliseum, including the last two (82-72 on Feb. 10, 2016 and 77-68 on Jan. 14, 2017) by average of 9.5 points per game. The last Wildcat win in Manhattan came in a 63-61 win on Jan. 17, 2015.
Junior guard Manu Lecomte scored 18 of his game-high 26 points in the second half, as No. 1/1 Baylor rallied past No. 25 K-State, 77-68, in the last meeting between the schools at Bramlage Coliseum on Jan. 14, 2017. The Wildcats fought hard against the top-ranked Bears, leading 44-43 with just over 10 minutes to play. However, the squad lost the lead just moments later, as Baylor scored six straight points out of a timeout to recapture the lead and the momentum en route to their fourth straight win in the series. Senior forward D.J. Johnson paced four Wildcats in double figures with 20 points on 9-of-13 field goals, including 6-of-6 in the second half, while then sophomore guard Barry Brown, Jr. and freshman guard Xavier Sneed finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Sophomore guard Kamau Stokes added 10 points, eight of which came in the first half.
Head coach Bruce Weber is 6-6 all-time against Baylor, including 2-3 at home.

LAST MEETING: K-STATE 90, BAYLOR 83 (JAN. 22, 2018)

Juniors Barry Brown Jr., and Dean Wade combined for 58 points, as K-State led from wire-to-wire for the second consecutive Big 12 game in a 90-83 victory over Baylor in the last meeting between the teams at the Ferrell Center on Jan. 22. The Wildcats' 90-point effort was the most points allowed by the Bears this season, and the third time K-State scored 90 or more points this season.
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. It was the best shooting performance from the line by a Wildcat since Denis Clemente also went 12-of-12 from the line in a win at Texas on Jan. 31, 2009. Paired with Brown to combine for 58 points, 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. The 58 combined points are the most by a pair of Wildcats this season.
Redshirt freshman guard Cartier Diarra (11 points) and sophomore forward Makol Mawien (10 points) gave K-State four double-digit scorers for the fifth consecutive game. The Wildcats connected on 57.1 percent (28-of-49) from the field, including 50 percent or better in each half.
Baylor was led by senior guard Manu Lecomte, who scored a team-high 18 points to lead six different players in double figurs. The Bears were held to 46.6 percent (28-of-60) shooting in the game, while turning the ball over 15 times.

HISTORY AT BRAMLAGE COLISEUM

K-State has posted a 365-116 (.758) all-time record at Bramlage Coliseum since its opening during the 1988-89 season. The 365 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 164-36 (.820) record at home over the past 12 seasons, including a 71-31 (.696) mark in Big 12 play. The 164 wins rank fourth among Big 12 schools in that span, while the 71 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 an 80-20 (.800) record at Bramlage Coliseum since taking over at K-State with the 20 losses (17 in Big 12 play) coming by 140 points or 7.0 points per game. Among the 80 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: TCU 66, K-STATE 59

TCU used a late 9-0 run keyed by a steal and layup by sophomore guard Desmond Bane to outlast K-State, 66-59, on an emotional Senior Night on Tuesday at Schollmaier Arena. With the win, the Horned Frogs ran their winning streak to four games and moved into a tie for fourth place with the Wildcats with one regular season game to play.
With the Wildcats clinging to a 56-55 lead with less than two and half minutes to play, Bane ignited a 9-0 run with his steal of Brown and subsequent layup with 2:24 to play and was followed by a huge 3-point field goal by senior forward Vlad Brodziansky on a steal by junior guard Alex Robinson with 1:49 remaining. Bane hit four consecutive free throws in the last 90 seconds before redshirt freshman guard Cartier Diarra ended the drought with a 3-pointer with 33 seconds left. In all, the Horned Frogs ended the game on an 11-3 run.
The loss spoiled an impressive night by juniors Dean Wade and Barry Brown, Jr., who scored 41 of the team's 59 points on a combined 17-of-24 shooting from the field. During a 12-minute stretch in the second half, Wade and Brown accounted for 16 consecutive points, as Wade went on to lead all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-14 field goals, while Brown added 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting before fouling out with 43 seconds left.
K-State shot 47.2 percent (25-of-53) from the field, including 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from beyond the arc in the game. However, K-State turned the ball over a season-high 19 times, including 5 each by Brown and Diarra, as TCU scored 22 points off those miscues.
The loss also marred an impressive defensive effort by the Wildcats, which held a Horned Frog offense that ranks among the nation's Top 15 in six categories to 66 points on 44.2 percent (23-of-52) shooting, including 25.0 percent (5-of-20) from 3-point range.

ANOTHER 20-WIN SEASON AND OTHER NOTABLE ACCOLADES

With the win over Texas, K-State collected a 20-win season for the 29th time in school history, including the fourth time in six seasons under head coach Bruce Weber. The four 20-win seasons are the fourth-most by a head coach in school history, trailing Jack Hartman (seven), Tex Winter (five) and Frank Martin (five). The Wildcats have now posted 10 20-win seasons in the last 12 seasons, which is the best stretch in school history.
K-State's nine Big 12 wins are the most in a single season since winning 10 in 2013-14 and the Wildcats are guaranteed a .500 or better finish in league play for the first time since 2013-14. The five Big 12 home wins are the most since posting seven in 2014-15 and guaranteed a winning home record in league play for the first time since 2014-15 (7-2). The team had been below .500 (4-5) at home in Big 12 play in each of the last two seasons.
K-State has now swept the season series from Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Texas. It marked the first time sweeping the Cyclones since 2011 and the first win at Hilton Coliseum since 2011 to go with the first sweep of the Cowboys since 2012. Wednesday's win over the Longhorns gave the Wildcats four straight victories in the series for first time in the Big 12 era and first time since winning the first five meetings from 1971-84.

EFFICIENT OFFENSE

K-State is averaging 72.6 points on 47.1 percent shooting, including 35.3 percent from 3-point range, to go with a solid 74.5 percent clip from the free throw line through 30 games. The Wildcats' offensive numbers are slightly less since the start of Big 12 play with the team averaging 70.6 points on 46.5 percent shooting, including 36.3 percent from 3-point range, and 74.1 percent from the free throw line in Big 12 play. Although the team ranks ninth in scoring offense in league play, they are second in turnover margin (+1.5) and third in field goal percentage.
The current 47.1 field goal percentage is tied for the fourth-highest by a K-State team (along with the 1986-87 squad) since the introduction of the shot clock in 1985-86 and the highest since connecting on 48.4 percent in 1988-89. The current 74.5 free throw percentage ranks second for a single season and is the highest since the 1973-74 team connected on 75.5 percent. The Wildcats eclipsed 2,000 points in a single season for the 12th consecutive season vs. Texas (2/21), while they have posted at least 200 3-point field goals in consecutive seasons with the current total (218) ranking eighth.
The Wildcats have scored 80 or more points 11 times, including three 90-point efforts against Arizona State (11/23), Iowa State (12/29) and Baylor (1/22), while five of the 11 80-point games have come since the start of Big 12 play. It is the most 90-point (three) and 80-point games (11) in the first 30 games since the 2009-10 season, which saw the team post 17 80-point and five 90-point games.
K-State has connected on better than 50 percent from the field in 14 games, including a season-best 62.5 percent (35-of-56) vs. SE?Missouri State (12/16), while eight have come in Big 12 play. The 14 games of 50 percent or better shooting is the highest for a single season since registering 19 such games in 1987-88. The team has hit on 50 percent or better in both halves in 10 games (American, Arizona State, Vanderbilt, USC?Upstate, SE Missouri State, Iowa State, TCU, Baylor, Texas and Oklahoma State). The Wildcats tied a season-high for both field goals made (35) and attempted (62) vs. Oklahoma (1/16), while they registered season-highs for assists (25), points in the paint (44) and dunks (7) vs. SE?Missouri State.

BALANCE A KEY

Perhaps the biggest key to K-State's offensive success under head coach Bruce Weber has been its balance. Last season in advancing to the NCAA?Tournament, the Wildcats saw four players average in double figures for the first time since 2009-10, while it marked the first time since 1980-81 that four starters averaged double digits. Since Weber took over the reigns in 2012-13, K-State has posted a 51-18 (.739) record when four or more players score in double figures, including a 10-2 (.833) mark this season. The team is 6-0 (3-0 in Big 12 play) this season when sophomore big man Makol Mawien scores in double figures, while they are 8-2 (6-2 in Big 12 play) when redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra registers double digits.
In the 12 games this season when four or more players score in double figures, K-State is averaging 77.9 points on 51 percent shooting, including 37.4 percent from 3-point range, to go with 16.8 assists and 11.7 turnovers per game. Seven of the 11 80-point games this season have come in these 12 games. In contrast, in the seven games this season when two or less players post double digits, the Wildcats are averaging just 59.1 points on 38.5 percent shooting, including 25.9 percent from 3-point range, to go with 12.0 assists and 11.7 turnovers per outing.

CLOSE GAMES

Nearing half of K-State's 30 games this season (17) have been decided by 10 points or less, including eight by 5 points or less. The Wildcats boast an 11-6 (.647) record in games decided by 10 points or less this season, including a 6-3 (.667) mark in Big 12 play. The team is 6-2 (.750) in games decided by 5 points or less with a two-point loss to Arizona State (11/23) and a one-point setback at Kansas (1/13), including 3-1 (.750) in league play.

OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES OF LATE AT HOME

K-State has struggled offensively at home of late, averaging just 59 points on 38.9 percent shooting (103-of-265), including 26 percent (25-of-96) from 3-point range, in posting a 3-2 record against Georgia (1/27; 56), No. 7/7 Kansas (1/29; 56), No. 7/7 Texas Tech (2/10; 47), Iowa State (2/17; 78) and Texas (2/21; 58).
With the exception of the 78-point effort vs. the Cyclones, the team has not elipsed 60 points in four of the last five home games. During this five-game stretch, three players (Dean Wade, Barry Brown, Jr., and Xavier Sneed) are averaging in double figures, but only Wade is shooting better than 45 percent from the field. The Wildcats offense is averaging just 10.6 assists in contrast to 11.0 turnovers per game.
In comparison, K-State averaged 79.4 points on 49.1 percent shooting, including 40.9 percent from 3-point range, in posting a 10-1 record in its first 11 games at Bramlage Coliseum this season. In these games, four Wildcats are scoring in double figures (Dean Wade/16.0 ppg., Barry Brown, Jr./15.5 ppg., Xavier Sneed/12.1 ppg. and Kamau Stokes/11.8 ppg.) and eight are shooting 40 percent or better with five at 50 percent or higher.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL

K-State has been solid taking care of the basketball this season, averaging just 11.5 turnovers per game. The average ranks 47th nationally and second in the Big 12, while the 344 total turnovers places 55th in the nation. It is on pace to be the lowest turnover average in school history with only the 2012-13 squad averaging less than 12 turnovers per game (403/11.5). In contrast, the Wildcats have also forced their opponents into 14.4 turnovers per game, which ties for third in the league. The team ranks 33rd nationally and third in the Big 12 in turnover margin (+2.9).
K-State has posted 12 turnovers or less in 22 of 30 games, including single-digit turnovers on nine occasions (UC Irvine, George Washington, Oral Roberts, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State (twice), Georgia, Kansas and Oklahoma). Despite turning it over a season-high 19 times at TCU (2/27), the Wildcats have still registered 13 games of 10 turnovers or less in last 29 games. The team is averaging just 12.5 turnovers per game in Big 12 play.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS

K-State has been solid on the defensive end this season, allowing 67.5 points on 42.6 percent shooting, including 32.6 percent from 3-point range. The team ranks among the Top 60 in steals per game (23rd), turnover margin (33rd), 3-point field goal percentage defense (52nd) and scoring defense (56th), while they are second in the Big 12 in scoring defense and steals and third in turnover margin and 3-point field goal percentage defense.
K-State has held all but four opponents (Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State, Baylor and West Virginia) 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 in the win on Jan. 16. Twice it has held TCU to less than 70 points, including 68 on 42.9 percent shooting on Jan. 20 and 66 on 44.2 percent shooting on Feb. 27.
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 64.8 points per game (12,826 points). K-State has a 99-28 (.786) record when holding a foe to 69 points or less since 2012-13 and a 21-50 (.300) mark when allowing an opponent to score 70 or more.

DYNAMIC DUO

Juniors Barry Brown, Jr. (16.6 ppg.) and Dean Wade (16.4 ppg.) have developed into one of the top scoring tandems in the Big 12, as they rank fifth and seventh, respectively, in scoring in the Big 12. They have been responsible for over 45 percent of the team's scoring (990/2178 points) on 50.1 percent shooting (356-of-710), including 37 percent (75-of-203) from 3-point range, and 76.3 percent (203-of-266) from the free throw line. They have combined to score in double figures 49 times this season, including a team-best 26 by Wade, to go with 21 combined 20-point games.
Brown and Wade are nearing a milestone on Saturday, as Brown needs two points and Wade eight points to each eclipse 500 points this season. They would just the 30th and 31st players in school history to score 500 or more points in a season and would be the first duo to do so since Jacob Pullen (715) and Denis Clemente (613) in 2009-10. In all, they are looking to become the seventh duo in school history to each eclipse 500 points in the same season, all coming since 1975-76.
The duo has been even better in Big 12 play, as Brown ranks third in scoring at 18.6 points on 48.6 percent shooting and Wade is fourth at 18.5 points on 54.4 percent shooting in league-only action. They have been responsible for more than 50 percent of the Wildcats' scoring (630/1201 points) so far in league play on 51.5 percent (226-of-439) shooting, including 41.3 percent (52-of-126) from 3-point range, and 76.8 percent (126-of-164) from the free throw line. The have combined to score in double figures 32 times in Big 12 play with 17 combined 20-point games. If they finish in the Top 10 in scoring in league-only games, they would be the first Wildcat duo since Jacob Pullen (17.8 ppg./6th) and Denis Clemente (17.7 ppg./7th) in 2009-10, while if they both finish in the Top 5, they would be the first since Michael Beasley (28.4 ppg./1st) and Bill Walker (16.6 ppg./3rd) in 2007-08.
Brown posted his 11th 20-point game of the season with a game-tying 28 points in the loss at Oklahoma (2/24), including his eighth in Big 12 play. He also has two 30-point game with a career-best 38 vs. Oklahoma State (1/10) and 34 at Baylor (1/22), making him the first Wildcat with multiple 30-point games since Rodney McGruder (three) in 2011-12. His career-best 38 points vs. the Cowboys were the most by a Wildcat since Jacob Pullen also had 38 vs. Wisconsin in the NCAA?Tournament on March 19, 2011 and the most at home since Pullen's 38 vs. Kansas on Feb. 14, 2011. Brown needs two points and seven rebounds to become the first Wildcat to have 500 points, 100 rebounds, 100 assists and 50 steals in a single season.
Wade has scored in double figures a team-best 26 games, which includes 10 20-point games. Nine of 10 20-point games have come in Big 12 play, which includes six consecutive 20-point games from Jan. 13 to Jan. 29. He also has four double-doubles this season and narrowly missed becoming the first Wildcat with a triple-double vs. Iowa State (2/17) with 22 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds. He is one of just three Big 12 players in the last three seasons to average 15 points, 5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in a single season, joining George?Niang (twice) and Josh Jackson (2016-17). He is eight points and eight rebounds shy of becoming the first Wildcat since Michael Beasley in 2007-08 to post 500 points and 200 rebounds in a season.

DIARRA FILLING IN NICELY

Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra has played well since having to take over for Kamau Stokes, who was injured against Texas Tech (1/6) and missed seven games before returning to play 10 minutes at West Virginia (2/3). With Diarra running point, K-State has averaged 69.3 points on 46.1 percent shooting (371-of-804), including 34.3 percent (95-of-277) from 3-point range, with an average of 12.9 assists and 11.7 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 10.1 points on 50.5 percent shooting (55-of-109), including 40.9 percent (18-of-44) from 3-point range, and 82.5 percent (33-of-40) from the free throw line in 29.3 minutes per game in the last 16 games. Since earning his first start against Oklahoma State (1/10), he is averaging 10 points on 50 percent shooting (52-of-104), including 39 percent (16-of-41) from long range, and 83.3 percent (30-of-36) from the free throw line.
Diarra has tallied double-digit points in eight of the last 16 games (had two before joining lineup), which includes a season-best 18 points at No. 12/12 Kansas (1/13). He ranks seventh in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage in league-only (43.9) games with at least two treys in six games.

STOKES RETURNS BUT SLOWLY

Junior guard Kamau Stokes returned the lineup against No. 15/11 West Virginia (2/3), posting 2 points on 0-of-3 shooting, including 0-of-3 from 3-point range, and a 2-of-2 effort from the free throw line to go with a team-best 4 assists and 1 turnover in 10 minutes of action. It marked his first action since going down with a foot injury at No. 18/18 Texas Tech (1/6), which required him to miss seven games.
Stokes is being brought back slowly but seems to be returning to form after a stellar performance at Oklahoma State (2/14), in which, he scored 11 points on 4-of-7 field goals, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, to go with 3 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal in 25 minutes. It marked his most minutes since playing 38 vs. West Virginia (1/1), while it was his first double-digit scoring game since his 23-point effort at Iowa State (12/29/17).

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.

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: PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP

K-State opens play in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship on Thursday at time to be determined after the conclusion of Saturday's regular-season games. The most likely scenarios on Thursday is either the first game at 11:30 a.m., CT (No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed) or the last game at 8 p.m., CT (No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed).