SE: K-State MBB Making Defensive Strides, Shows in 61-53 Win Against OU
Jan 30, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
The note, when it comes up, never stops being impressive.
In Bruce Weber's eight seasons as K-State men's basketball head coach, the Wildcats are 86-9 when holding their opponent to 60 points or less. That's a 91 percent win rate. Of K-State's nine wins this season, seven have added to that defensive statistical note, including the Wildcats' 61-53 win against Oklahoma on Wednesday night in Bramlage Coliseum.
"It was a great defensive effort for our guys," Weber said. "I'm happy for them, happy to get a win."
K-State's defense drove it to its second Big 12 win in its last three conference outings. Specifically, its ability to turn Oklahoma over paid big dividends.
K-State forced the Sooners, who came in ranked No. 4 in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game (10.2), into 19 on the night, which tied for their season high. The Wildcats converted them into 18 points.
"We talked about energy and effort," Weber said. "That was our number one thing on the board. I thought we had great effort."
Following one of Oklahoma's turnovers, freshman Montavious Murphy hit a corner three to cap a 9-0 run to start the second half. Xavier Sneed's fourth and final steal led to a layup for David Sloan on the other end. It pushed K-State's lead to its biggest number, 16.
"They're one of the best teams at taking care of the ball in the country," Weber said. "You get 19 and you get 18 points off those turnovers. We were very, very active."
The Wildcats were especially active defensively to start both halves.
They held Oklahoma without a field goal for the first 8:39 of the game en route to a 14-4 lead. The Sooners missed seven field goals before then. Oklahoma went more than five minutes without a field goal to start the second half as K-State used a 9-0 run to open up a 15-point lead.
Weber pointed to senior forward Makol Mawien, who battled foul trouble in the first half, as a big factor in the second half start.
"We shut them out the first five minutes of the second half and were able to extend the lead, and a lot of it was because of his activity," Weber said. "It's good for him."
K-State's trio of newcomers in DaJuan Gordon, Murphy and Sloan also earned some praise from their head coach for the defensive effort, which included limiting Oklahoma to 36 percent from the field and 23 percent from beyond the arc. The three combined for 17 rebounds, five steals and four blocks.
Conversely, Oklahoma's top scoring trio of Kristian Doolittle, Brady Manek and Austin Reaves, who collectively average more than 45 points a game, were limited to a combined 23 against K-State.
"The freshmen have (made improvement on defense) and David has, there's no doubt. He's trying. He's not beautiful and not perfect on D, but he's trying and he's giving a much better effort, which really helps us," Weber said, as K-State will play at West Virginia on Saturday at 1 p.m., on ESPN2. "DaJuan is understanding concepts, rotations. Monte's been the one that's been pretty solid. He gives us a versatile four that can switch ball screens, stay in front of people. We've made some strides."
Junior Mike McGuirl echoed his coach.
"They've been learning," McGuirl, who led K-State with 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting. "As any freshman comes in, they struggle a little bit but they've soaked everything up. They've made some mistakes in the past and they're really starting to learn from them. Coach has really got on us about being more coachable and listening, including the young guys. They really took that to heart and they really improved from it."
The note, when it comes up, never stops being impressive.
In Bruce Weber's eight seasons as K-State men's basketball head coach, the Wildcats are 86-9 when holding their opponent to 60 points or less. That's a 91 percent win rate. Of K-State's nine wins this season, seven have added to that defensive statistical note, including the Wildcats' 61-53 win against Oklahoma on Wednesday night in Bramlage Coliseum.
"It was a great defensive effort for our guys," Weber said. "I'm happy for them, happy to get a win."
K-State's defense drove it to its second Big 12 win in its last three conference outings. Specifically, its ability to turn Oklahoma over paid big dividends.
K-State forced the Sooners, who came in ranked No. 4 in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game (10.2), into 19 on the night, which tied for their season high. The Wildcats converted them into 18 points.
"We talked about energy and effort," Weber said. "That was our number one thing on the board. I thought we had great effort."
Following one of Oklahoma's turnovers, freshman Montavious Murphy hit a corner three to cap a 9-0 run to start the second half. Xavier Sneed's fourth and final steal led to a layup for David Sloan on the other end. It pushed K-State's lead to its biggest number, 16.
"They're one of the best teams at taking care of the ball in the country," Weber said. "You get 19 and you get 18 points off those turnovers. We were very, very active."
The Wildcats were especially active defensively to start both halves.
They held Oklahoma without a field goal for the first 8:39 of the game en route to a 14-4 lead. The Sooners missed seven field goals before then. Oklahoma went more than five minutes without a field goal to start the second half as K-State used a 9-0 run to open up a 15-point lead.
Weber pointed to senior forward Makol Mawien, who battled foul trouble in the first half, as a big factor in the second half start.
"We shut them out the first five minutes of the second half and were able to extend the lead, and a lot of it was because of his activity," Weber said. "It's good for him."
K-State's trio of newcomers in DaJuan Gordon, Murphy and Sloan also earned some praise from their head coach for the defensive effort, which included limiting Oklahoma to 36 percent from the field and 23 percent from beyond the arc. The three combined for 17 rebounds, five steals and four blocks.
Conversely, Oklahoma's top scoring trio of Kristian Doolittle, Brady Manek and Austin Reaves, who collectively average more than 45 points a game, were limited to a combined 23 against K-State.
"The freshmen have (made improvement on defense) and David has, there's no doubt. He's trying. He's not beautiful and not perfect on D, but he's trying and he's giving a much better effort, which really helps us," Weber said, as K-State will play at West Virginia on Saturday at 1 p.m., on ESPN2. "DaJuan is understanding concepts, rotations. Monte's been the one that's been pretty solid. He gives us a versatile four that can switch ball screens, stay in front of people. We've made some strides."
Junior Mike McGuirl echoed his coach.
"They've been learning," McGuirl, who led K-State with 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting. "As any freshman comes in, they struggle a little bit but they've soaked everything up. They've made some mistakes in the past and they're really starting to learn from them. Coach has really got on us about being more coachable and listening, including the young guys. They really took that to heart and they really improved from it."
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