SE: Xavier Sneed Bringing More Consistency, Versatility to K-State as a Junior

By Corbin McGuire

Xavier Sneed described his play during this Big 12 season as a "rollercoaster, up and down."

If compared to the rollercoasters at the Six Flags in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, however, the junior's 2018-19 campaign has been more American Thunder — a classic, reliable wooden model with fewer major drops. His first two were arguably more Screamin' Eagle-like, with more severe ups and downs.

Put another way: "He's been more consistent," K-State head coach Bruce Weber said of Sneed. "The older you get the more consistent you are, the more dependable you are."

Sneed has definitely stabilized his production for K-State (20-6, 10-3), which hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday at 3 p.m., on ESPN2.

To start, his lows have been less frequent. Sneed has scored three or less points only three times this season. That number was six by the end of the regular season last year and 12 as a freshman.

On the other side of things, the 6-foot-5 wing has finished in double figures 13 times this season. K-State is 11-2 overall and 5-0 in Big 12 play in those games. He's also scored between seven and nine points eight different times this season, more evidence of his development.

"I think he's made steps of being consistent," Weber said. "Is he perfect yet? No, but he's come a long way, obviously, since freshman year."

Part of Sneed's growth in this area stemmed from natural maturity. Within this has included him buying into what those around him are telling him, even when he's not playing well.

Take K-State's latest win at West Virginia for example. Sneed went 1-for-6 from the field, missed a few shots at the rim and only grabbed one rebound in the first half. In the final 20 minutes, he broke out for 16 points on 5-of-5 from the floor, 4-of-4 from beyond the arc and six rebounds.

In between the two halves, senior guard Barry Brown, Jr., gave Sneed a message: Stay confident in yourself and keep moving forward. Sneed took it to heart.

"I had a rough start in the first half, so just putting it in the past, knowing it is what it is, and you can't go back and change it now. He just talked to me about staying confident in myself and that he was confident in me as well," Sneed said. "You can't keep dwelling on the past or any past plays, so I just keep playing my game and I think everything will be alright."

Another example of growth: Sneed's comfort playing the four.

As a freshman, Weber said he "begged" Sneed to play the position. Last season, when Dean Wade went down with an injury, Sneed was forced into the role more often and started to see how he could make it work to his advantage. This season, he's put those lessons to use more often.

"Sometimes I have a bigger defender playing me so I can bring him out to the perimeter," Sneed said. "Just being able to be versatile, step up and play different roles for the team has been good for us. Learning and being in that position so, when it comes time with foul trouble or anything like that, I'm able to understand and know what to do at the four and be able to guard the four as well."

Sneed has produced in a versatile way as well.

Weber said he leads the team's season-long Play Hard Chart count, which was not the case a year ago. In conference play he ranks third on the team in scoring average (10.0), tied for first in rebounding (5.4), second in blocks (6), third in steals (15) and third in made free throws (24). Of those free throws, 11 came in K-State's last three games.

"I'm just growing every game, being more of an all-around player, doing all the little things, the dirty work, anything the team needs from me to win," Sneed said. "I feel like I've been stepping up and taking on that role this year."

"In a nutshell, he's advanced his game," Weber added. "He's more diversified."

Kansas State University Athletics

SE: Xavier Sneed Bringing More Consistency, Versatility to K-State as a Junior

Players Mentioned

Barry Brown, Jr.

Xavier Sneed

Dean Wade

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