K-State Concludes Homestand vs. UAlbany Wednesday

GAME 6
KANSAS STATE (3-2) vs. UALBANY (1-5)
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 >> 7:01 p.m. CT >> Bramlage Coliseum (11,654) >> Manhattan, Kan.

TELEVISION
Big 12 Now on ESPN+ / WatchESPN

Ben Boyle (play-by-play)
Stan Weber (analyst)
Kelsey Bigelow (sideline reporter)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network
Flagships: // KMAN 1350 & WIBW 580
Satellite Radio: XM 389
Online: Varsity Network [free]/SXM 979 / www.kstatesports.com/watch [free]

Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
Matt Walters (analyst)

LIVE STATS
www.kstatesports.com
kstate.statbroadcast.com

TICKETS
www.kstatesports.com/tickets
(800) 221.CATS [2287]
Single Game: $10, $15, $25

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee '78)
Overall: 486-287/24^th season
At K-State: 173-132/10^th season
vs. UAlbany: 0-0 (0-0 at K-State)

UAlbany: Dwayne Killings (Howard '03)
Overall: 1-5/1^st season
School Record: 1-5/1^st season
vs. K-State: 0-0 (0-0 at UAlbany)

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: First meeting
Current Streak: n/a
In Manhattan: First meeting
At Bramlage Coliseum: First meeting
Last Meeting: n/a
Weber vs. Killings: First meeting

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (3-2)
G: #00 Mike McGuirl
G: #13 Mark Smith
G: #21 Nijel Pack
F: #25 Ismael [Ish] Massoud
F: #20 Kaosi Ezeagu

UAlbany (1-5)
G: #5 Jamel Horton
G: #20 Matt Cerruti
G/F: #3 Trey Hutcheson
F: #2 Dre Perry
C: #24 Paul Newman

K-STATE CONCLUDES HOMESTAND VS. UALBANY WEDNESDAY

Kansas State (3-2) concludes a brief 2-game homestand on Wednesday night, as the Wildcats play host to America East foe UAlbany (1-5) at 7 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum. Fans are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys and/or gift cards to Wednesday's game to support Fort Riley's Operation Santa Claus.
Celebrating its 37th year, Fort Riley's Operation Santa Claus helps service members, and their families provide gifts to their children during the holiday season. All donations will go towards a Fort Riley soldier, especially to families under financial constraints and families of deployed, fallen, or injured soldiers.
K-State has won 6 straight at Bramlage Coliseum against non-conference opponents dating back to last season, including opening the season with wins over Florida A&M (67-57), Omaha (79-64) and North Dakota (84-42).

OPENING TIP

K-State is in the midst of playing 5 of its next 7 games at Bramlage Coliseum, including a marquee matchup with Marquette (6-1) in the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle on Wednesday, Dec. 8. Following Wednesday's game against UAlbany (1-5), the Wildcats will face their next significant challenge against in-state rival Wichita State (5-1) at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita on Sunday afternoon.
K-State is coming off perhaps its most complete effort of the season in an 84-42 dispatching of North Dakota (2-5), as the Wildcats connected on 60.3 percent (35-of-58) from the field en route to registering their first 80-point game since scoring 84 vs. West Virginia on Jan. 18, 2020, while the defense held the Fighting Hawks to nearly 30 points under their scoring average (70.0 ppg.) on just 29.3 percent (17-of-58) shooting, including 9.7 percent (3-of-31) from long range.
Five Wildcats scored in double figures for the first time vs. North Dakota led by a game-high 18 points from junior Markquis Nowell. Sophomore Nijel Pack had 16 points, including 4 triples, while junior Kaosi Ezeagu and senior Mike McGuirl added 15 points each. Senior Mark Smith had a double-double.
The effort against North Dakota came on the heels of consecutive Top 15 losses to No. 13/12 Arkansas and No. 14/15 Illinois at the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, in which, the Wildcats averaged just 64 points on 37.9 percent (47-of-124), including 20.9 percent (9-of-43) from 3-point range.
K-State is 3-0 at Bramlage Coliseum this season, averaging 76.7 points per game on 52.2
percent (84-of-161) shooting, including 45 percent (27-of-60) from 3-point range to 18.0 assists per game. Four Wildcats are averaging double figures at home, including 16.3 points per game by sophomore Nijel Pack, who scored his season-high of 18 in the opener vs. Florida A&M (11/10/21).
K-State hopes for more of the offense it produced against North Dakota (11/28/21), as the Wildcats connected on better than 60 percent from the field for the first time since hitting on 62.5 percent against Alabama State on Dec. 11, 2019. More than half of the team's 84 points came in the paint (46), where were the most points in the paint since scoring 50 vs. Eastern Kentucky in the first game of the Paradise Jam on No. 16, 2018.
Much like the offense, the defense got back on track against North Dakota, holding the Fighting Hawks to just 42 points, where were the fewest allowed to an opponent since allowing 41 vs. Alabama State on Dec. 11, 2019. The Wildcats have now held 28 opponents to less than 50 points in the Bruce Weber era.
UAlbany enters Wednesday's game with a 1-5 record after snapping a 5-game losing streak with a 64-62 win over Eastern Illinois on Nov. 24 to secure the first victory for first-year head coach Dwayne Killings, who was previously the top assistant at Marquette under former head coach Steve Wojciechowski. He was on the Golden Eagle staff that swept the Wildcats in 2018 and 2019.
UAlbany returns 6 lettermen, including 2 starters, from a squad that posted a 7-9 record in 2020-21. The Great Danes are led by a pair of fifth-year transfers in Dre Perry (12.7 ppg.) and Matt Cerruti (11.3 ppg.).

NOTES ON UALBANY

UAlbany has not played since November 24 when the Great Danes snapped a 5-game losing streak with a 64-62 win over Eastern Illinois. The team had opened the season with losses to Towson (56-77), at La Salle (64-67), Harvard (53-60), at Eastern Kentucky (64-77) and at No. 9/10 Kentucky (61-86).
UAlbany is averaging 60.3 points per game on 39.1 percent shooting, including 29.7 percent from 3-point range, with 29.5 rebounds, 9.3 assists, 7.8 steals and 2.2 blocks per game, while allowing opponents to average 71.5 points on 45.2 percent shooting, including 34.1 percent from long range. The team is connecting on 66.3 percent from the free throw line.
Six players are averaging 6 or more points, including a pair of double-digit scorers in fifth-year seniors De'Vondre (Dre) Perry (12.7 ppg.) and Matt Cerruti (11.3 ppg.), who transferred from Temple and Lock Haven, respectively. Perry is connected on 48.3 percent from the field, including 43.8 percent from 3-point range, while averaging a team-tying 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 32.8 minutes per game. Cerruti is the team leader in 3-pointers (12), while connecting on 44.1 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from long range. Junior Trey Hutcheson, who is averaging 8.2 points per game, has 10 3-pointers on 41.7 percent shooting. Senior Jamel Horton, who played at Pratt Community College, leads the team in both assists (24) and steals (11), while averaging 7.5 points per game on 37 percent shooting.
UAlbany returns 6 lettermen, including a pair of starters, from a squad that posted a 7-9 overall record, including a fifth-place finish in the America East with a 6-6 record, during its abbreviated COVID-19 season in 2020-21.
Head coach Dwayne Killings is in his first season at UAlbany after an extensive career as a Division I assistant coach at Boston U (2010-11), Temple (2011-16), UConn (2016-18) and Marquette (2018-21).

SERIES HISTORY

This will be the first meeting between K-State and UAlbany.
K-State has played just 2 other America East opponents (UMBC and Vermont) in its history, both coming in postseason action. The Wildcats knocked off Vermont, 59-57, in the first round of the NIT on March 14, 2007, which was Bob Huggins' last victory as K-State head coach, while they eliminated UMBC, 50-43, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 18, 2018. UMBC became the first 16-seed to ever defeat a No. 1 seed in the previous game.
Head coach Bruce Weber is 3-0 vs. America East opponents in his career, defeating Hartford, 78-46, at the Las Vegas Invitational on Nov. 23, 2001, while at Southern Illinois, a 76-66 win at Stony Brook in the first round of the NIT on March 17, 2010, while at Illinois and the 50-43 win over UMBC in 2018.

LAST TIME OUT:
K-STATE 84, NORTH DAKOTA 42

K-State responded from its consecutive losses to Top 15 opponents earlier in the week with perhaps its most complete effort of the season, as the Wildcats easily dispatched North Dakota, 84-42, on Sunday at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats connected on 60.3 percent (35-of-58) of their field goals, including 69 percent (20-of-29) in the second half, to post their first 80-point game since scoring 84 against West Virginia on Jan. 18, 2020. More than half of the 84 points came in the paint (46) with the team dishing out a season-high 21 assists. It marked the first time the Wildcats had shot better than 60 percent since hitting on 62.5 percent (35-of-56) against Alabama State on Dec. 11, 2019.
Five Wildcats scored in double figures for the first time this season led by a game-high 18 points from reserve Markquis Nowell, who collected double-figure points for the fourth straight game. Nowell, who hit on 8-of-12 field goals, also added a game-high 5 assists and 5 steals in 22 minutes. Sophomore Nijel Pack, who has double figures in all 5 games, scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range, while junior Kaosi Ezeagu and senior Mike McGuirl each added 15 points.
Fifth-year senior Mark Smith registered his second career double-double, including his first as a Wildcat, with 11 points on 5-of-11 field goals, and a game-high 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.
The defense was equally as potent, as K-State held North Dakota (2-5) to nearly 30 points under their scoring average (70.0 ppg.) on just 29.3 percent (17-of-58) shooting, including 9.7 percent (3-of-31) from 3-point range.
The Wildcats harassed the Fighting Hawks into 17 turnovers, including a season-high 13 on steals, while converting those into 25 points. It was the fewest points allowed by the team since holding Alabama State to 41 on Dec. 11, 2019.
The game was close in the early going before the Wildcats rattled off a 19-1 run, which included a stretch of 16 straight points, to push the lead to 36-16 after a 3-pointer by McGuirl with 3:53 to play before the half.
Leading 38-20 at the half, K-State had a strong start to the second half, scoring 16 of the first 20 points to take a 54-24 lead into the media timeout with 11:49 to play. Four Wildcats (Ezeagu, Pack, Nowell, McGuirl) had points in the stretch, including a pair of 3-pointers by Pack.

NON-CONFERENCE HISTORY

K-State has an 118-13 (.898) record at home venues (includes home games played at Bramlage Coliseum, INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita and the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City) in non-conference play dating back to the 2006-07 season, including a 109-11 (.906) mark at Bramlage Coliseum
Despite seeing their 33-game winning streak end at Bramlage Coliseum with a loss to Marquette on Dec. 7, 2019, the Wildcats have still won 105 of their last 116 non-conference home games.
K-State has posted a 154-49 (.757) record in non-conference play since the 2006-07 season. Prior to the 2020-21 season, the Wildcats had posted double-digit non-conference wins in 12 of the last 13 seasons.
Head coach Bruce Weber is 85-33 (.718) in non-conference play since he arrived at K-State, including a 66-11 (.851) mark at home.

HOME SWEET HOME // BRAMLAGE COLISEUM (1989-present)

K-State has posted a 395-137 (.742) all-time record at Bramlage Coliseum since its opening during the 1988-89 season. The 395 wins are the most at a home venue for the Wildcats, surpassing the 378 wins at Ahearn Field House (1950-88). It is the school's third home venue.
K-State has registered a 195-57 (.772) record at home over the past 15 seasons, including an 84-46 (.646) mark in Big 12 play. The 195 wins rank fourth among all Big 12 schools in that span, while the 84 league victories at home are among the top in the Big 12. In all, the program has double-digit victories in 26 of its 33 seasons in the arena.
K-State has a 256-79 (.763) record at home, including a 150-16 (.902) mark in non-conference action, since the 2001-02 season for an average of just over 13 home wins (13.1) per season in that span.
Head coach Bruce Weber has recorded a 111-41 (.725) record at Bramlage Coliseum since taking over at K-State in 2012-13 with just 11 non-conference home losses. The 41 losses (30 of which have come in Big 12 play) have come by a total of 418 points or 10.2 points per game. Weber has posted a 49-32 (.6050) record in Big 12 play at Bramlage Coliseum.

LEADING WITH DEFENSE

K-State has developed a strong reputation as defensive team under head coach Bruce Weber, ranking among the top-60 nationally in opponent points per game 6 times in the 9 seasons.
The Wildcats ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense (59.6 ppg.) during its Big 12 Championship season in 2018-19, while they placed 36th (60.4 ppg.) in 2012-13 and 46th (67.0 ppg.) in 2017-18.
K-State has held 211 opponents (out of 305 total) under 70 points during Bruce Weber's tenure, including a program-best 31 in 2012-13. The Wildcats have also held 105 opponents under 60 points in that span, while 28 have scored less than 50 points in his tenure.
In addition to its scoring defense, K-State has ranked among the top-40 in opponent 3-point field goal percentage 3 times (2013-14, 2015-16 and 2018-19) and among the top-50 in steals on 5 occasions (every season from 2015-16 to 2019-20) in the Bruce Weber era. Twice (2016-17 and 2019-20) the school has ranked the top-45 in opponent turnovers.
The Wildcats have held opponents to under 40 percent shooting in 103 games in the Bruce Weber era, including under 35 percent in 49 games.
K-State struggled mightily across the board during the 2020-21 season, but no more than on defensive end, allowing 80 or more points 7 times in the first 21 games, including allowing 100 or more points in both regular-season games with eventual national champion Baylor. However, the Wildcats were able to win 4 of their last 7 games due to their improved defense, as they held 5 of those 7 opponents under 60 points. During the last 7 games of the season, the team held their opponents to 59.3 points on 40.6 percent shooting (146-360), including 26.1 percent (36-of-138) from 3-point range.
K-State has started the season off where they left off at the end of the 2020-21 season, as the defense is allowing 61.4 points through the first 5 games on 38.2 percent shooting, including 26.4 percent from 3-point range.
The Wildcats responded to allowed 72 points in back-to-back games vs. No. 13/12 Arkansas (11/22/21) and No. 14/15 Illinois (11/23/21) with a stellar effort vs. North Dakota, allowing its fewest points since 2019 on just 29.3 percent (17-of-58) shooting, including 9.7 percent (3-of-31) from 3-point range.
K-State has been able to score points off its opponent turnovers (20.6 ppg.) while forcing an average of 15.2 turnovers per game. The Wildcats has scored 20 or more points off turnovers in the last 2 games, including 25 vs. North Dakota.

IMPROVED OFFENSE, BUT WORK CONTINUES FROM 3

The Wildcats are averaging 71.6 points on 46 percent shooting, including 35 percent from 3-point range, while connecting on 72.3 percent from the free throw line through the first 5 games. The team is averaging 32.4 points in the paint, 25.0 points off the bench, 20.6 points off turnovers, 8.5 fast-break points and 6.4 points on second-chance opportunities.
K-State's offense shines when the Wildcats share the ball, as the team is averaging 76.7 points and 18 assists in their 3 wins compared to just 64 points and 8 assists in their 2 losses. The squad also scored 100 combined points (33.3 ppg.) in the paint in their 3 victories, including 46 vs. North Dakota, which were the most since scoring 50 against Eastern Kentucky in November 2018.
The Wildcats' 3-point shooting needs to find some consistency, as they made just 20.9 percent (9-of-43) combined from long range in the 2 games with No. 13/12 Arkansas and No. 14/15 Illinois while hitting on 45 percent (27-of-60) in games against Florida A&M, Omaha and North Dakota.
The Wildcats were really clicking offensively in the 79-64 win over Omaha (11/17/21), as the team connected on 52.8 percent (28-of-53) from the field, including 47.4 percent (9-of-19) from the 3-point line, and hit on 87.5 percent (14-of-16) from the free throw line. The squad hit 50 percent or better from the field in each half for the first time since the Milwaukee game (12/21/20).
K-State played even better offensively against North Dakota (11/28/21), hitting on 60.3 percent (35-of-58) from the field, including 69 percent (20-of-29) in the second half, to post their first 80-point game since scoring 84 vs. West Virginia on Jan. 18, 2020. It marked the first time that the Wildcats had shot better than 60 percent from the field since hitting on 62.5 percent (35-of-56) against Alabama State on Dec. 11, 2019.

IMPROVED DEPTH/EXPERIENCE

It has been well chronicled how young the Wildcats were during the 2020-21 season, as only 11 Division I schools were less experienced than K-State with only Auburn and Duke less experienced among teams in the Power 6. The 11 underclassmen were the third-most of any Power 6 school, while the 3 upperclassmen were the fourth-fewest. In addition, K-State was one of 10 schools to start at least 3 true freshmen in one game with trio of Davion Bradford, Selton Miguel and Nijel Pack starting in 17 of the team's 29 games.
K-State is hoping that the return of 9 of 14 lettermen, including senior Mike McGuirl and sophomores Bradford, Miguel and Pack, as well as the influx of 7 newcomers, including 3 transfers in Ish Massoud (Wake Forest), Markquis Nowell (Little Rock) and Mark Smith (Missouri) will lead to improved play.
Head coach Bruce Weber has remarked numerous times that this improved experience and depth could be a strength for the Wildcats in 2021-22.
The Wildcats have used at least 10 players in each of the first 5 games with 7 of those players totaling double-digit field goals made and 6 averaging nearly 7 points per game, including a pair of double-digit scorers (Pack and Nowell).
K-State is averaging 25 points per game from its bench this season, including 28-point efforts against No. 13/12 Arkansas and No. 14/15 Illinois. The team has posted 5 consecutive games of 22 or more bench points.
Junior Markquis Nowell has provided a spark off the bench, averaging 12.8 points on 46.8 percent (22-of-47) shooting and 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the free throw line. He has scored in double figures in each of the last 4 games, including a season-high 19 points vs. No. 14/15 Illinois.

IMPROVED FREE THROW SHOOTING

Again, it's a small sample size with just 5 games, but so far, K-State has taken care of its opportunities from the free throw line, connecting on 72.3 percent (60-of-83) from the charity stripe, which ranks second in the Big 12.
That percentage was even better in its 3-game stretch vs. Omaha, No. 13/12 Arkansas and No. 14/15 Illinois, as the Wildcats hit on 81.3 percent (39-of-48) during that stretch, including 78.1 percent (25-of-32) in the games against No. 13/12 Arkansas and No. 14/15 Illinois.
Four players (Nijel Pack, Markquis Nowell, Ish Massoud and Mike McGuirl) are hitting on better than 70 percent from the line, as Pack (9-of-9) and Massoud (4-of-4) have been perfect so far.
The Wildcats shot just 66.4 percent from the free throw line in 2020-21, while they haven't connected on better than 70 percent from the line since hitting on 73.4 percent as a team in 2017-18.

TURNOVER LOW

K-State turned the ball over just 4 times in the loss to No. 14/15 Illinois, which tied 5 others for the third-fewest in a game in school history and fewest since also registered 4 turnovers in a win over Gonzaga on Dec. 21, 2013. It tied the 2013 Gonzaga contest for the fewest turnovers in the Bruce Weber era.
In contrast, the Wildcats were able to force the Fighting Illini into 18 turnovers, which resulted in a 23-3 advantage in points off turnovers.

NIJEL TO THE RESCUE

Sophomore Nijel Pack has picked up where he left off from his freshman season, as he has led or have been tied for the team lead in scoring in 3 of the first 5 games, including an 18-point performance in the opener vs. Florida A&M, 15 points vs. Omaha and 14 points vs. No. 12/13 Arkansas.
Pack is averaging a team-best 15.6 points on 50.9 percent (28-of-55) shooting, including 44.8 percent (13-of-29) from 3-point range, to go with 2.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 27.1 minutes per game. He is the leader in scoring, field goals, 3-pointers and double-digit scoring games (5) and second in assists (10).
The promising point guard enjoyed one of the best freshmen seasons in school history, ranking first or second in nearly every major offensive category, while becoming the third true freshman (Michael Beasley, Marcus Foster) to lead the team in scoring (12.7 ppg.) and the first since Foster in 2013-14.

MOVING TOWARDS 500

Head coach Bruce Weber is working towards a coaching milestone, as he is 14 wins away from earning 500 in his career. He enters Wednesday's game 14 shy of the mark with a 486-287 (.629) record in 24 years as a head coach at Southern Illinois (1998-2003), Illinois (2003-12) and K-State (2012-21).
If Weber were to achieve the milestone in 2021-22, he would be among elite company as only 26 current Division I coaches have reached 500 wins in their career with Herb Sendek (Santa Clara) just ahead of him with 497 victories.

HOPING FOR BETTER INJURY LUCK

K-State is hoping for better luck on the injury front in 2021-22 after injuries were a major factor in the 2020-21 season, as 9 players combined to miss 75 games, which caused head coach Bruce Weber to start 3 true freshmen (Davion Bradford, Selton Miguel and Nijel Pack) a combined 71 times, which ranked second nationally to Kentucky.
Only one other Division I team (Long Beach State) had more players miss time due to injuries in 2020-21.
Although that luck has been tested early with promising big man Seryee Lewis going down with a season-ending knee injury in the preseason, along with injuries slowing down the progress made by junior Carlton Linguard, Jr., and freshman Maximus Edwards. Linguard returned to the floor against North Dakota (11/28/21), while there is optimism about Edwards' progress.

McGUIRL UTILIZES EXTRA SEASON

K-State received some good news on March 23 when senior Mike McGuirl announced that he was utilizing his extra season and returning to the Wildcats for the 2021-22 season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA announced in October that they had agreed to grant players an additional year of eligibility.
An All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection, McGuirl is coming off solid senior season in 2020-21, in which, he either led or was tied for the team lead in 12 categories, including points, field goals, 3-pointers, assists and steals. He was second in scoring (11.8 ppg.) to freshman teammate Nijel Pack.
McGuirl's 20 double-digit scoring games doubled his entire career total (10) that he had entering the 2020-21 season. He opened the season with his first career 20-point game vs. Drake on November 25 with 22 points then equaled it against Fort Hays State on December 8, while he had a team-high 19 points in the upset of No. 7/8 Oklahoma on February 23. Of his 705 career points, 542 have come in the last two seasons in 58 games played with 49 starts (9.3 ppg.).
The only player to start all 29 games, McGuirl showed his versatility by leading the Wildcats in scoring a team-best 11 times, while he also paced the team in rebounding 4 times, in assists 14 times and in steals on 10 occasions. He led the team in scoring (16), rebounding (9) and assists (5) in the win over TCU on February 20, a win which started the team's late surge to end the season (four wins in the last 6 games).

THE 'CATS INK 3 HIGH-PROFILE TRANSFERS

K-State got an infusion of experience with the addition of 3 high-profile Division I transfers in fifth-year Mark Smith (Missouri), junior Markquis Nowell and sophomore Ismael (Ish) Massoud (Wake Forest). All 3 took advantage of the new transfer rules and are immediately eligible in 2021-22.
Like McGuirl, Smith earned a second senior season due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and will bring 100 games of experience to the court after playing at Illinois (2017-18) and Missouri (2018-21). Nowell, who was a Lou Henson All-American at Little Rock, averaged double figures in each of his three seasons as a Trojan. Massoud played in all 53 games of his Wake Forest career, averaging 8.3 points per game as a sophomore in 2020-21.
The transfers presumably fill the Wildcats' greatest need from the 2020-21 season, which was a lack of production from the 3-point line. The team ranked 319th (out of 340 teams) in 3-point field goal percentage (29.6), while they were 126th in total 3-point field goals made (191) and 243rd in 3-point field goals per game (6.6). The trio have combined for nearly 400 triples (390) in their respective careers on 36.1 percent shooting.
The trio made their impact in the first 5 games with Massoud and Smith each starting every game, while Nowell has averaged 21.7 minutes of the bench. They have combined for 141 points on 38.5 percent (51-of-124) shooting with 72 rebounds and 27 assists. Nowell has scored in double figures in each of the last 4 games, including 19 vs. No. 14/15 Illinois, while Massoud added 13 points vs. the Fighting Illini. Smith is the team's leading rebounder (7.0 rpg.).

A QUICK LOOK AT K-STATE

K-State returns 9 lettermen, including 4 players (Davion Bradford, Mike McGuirl, Selton Miguel and Nijel Pack) who registered starts during its COVID-19 challenging 2020-21 campaign, which resulted in the Wildcats' second consecutive non-winning season at 9-20 overall and 4-14 in Big 12 play. In addition to these 4 players, the team will get back the services of several key lettermen, including juniors Kaosi Ezeagu and Carlton Linguard, Jr., sophomores Luke Kasubke and Seryee Lewis and walk-on Drew Honas.
The biggest headliner from the returners might be McGuirl, who opted to return for an extra season in 2021-22 after his senior season was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. He earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors in 2020-21 after leading the Wildcats in 12 categories, including points (342), double-digit scoring games (20), field goals (112), 3-point field goals (60), assists (103), steals (30) and minutes (34.3).
The freshmen trio of Bradford, Miguel and Pack had to grow up fast in their first season, starting together in 17 games with 12 of those coming in Big 12 play. The 71 combined starts by the three true freshmen in 2020-21 ranked second nationally only to Kentucky (72). The three combined to average 25.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.0 steals in 2020-21, as Pack (12.7 ppg.) became the first true freshman to lead the Wildcats in scoring since 2013-14. Bradford (7.7 ppg.) and Miguel (7.2 ppg.) were fourth and fifth in scoring.
Ezeagu started early on for K-State before an injury forced him to miss 10 games. He returned in mid-January as mostly a reserve, averaging 5.2 points on 67.7 percent (21-of-31) in his last 10 games. Linguard and Lewis each showed flashes in their first seasons, playing in 17 and 18 games, respectively, while Kasubke recovered from a preseason injury that forced him to miss the first 13 games to be a key contributor in the final 16 games.

UP NEXT: AT WICHITA STATE (5-1)

K-State will hit the road this weekend, as the Wildcats open a 4-game series with state rival Wichita State (5-1) on Sunday at 5 p.m., CT at Wichita's INTRUST Bank Arena. The Shockers have lost just one game (82-78 in overtime to No. 11/11 Arizona) this season with impressive wins over UNLV (74-73) and at Missouri (61-55).
This will be the first meeting between the in-state rivals since 2013 and the first-ever at INTRUST Bank Arena.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Davion Bradford

Maximus Edwards

Kaosi Ezeagu

Drew Honas

Luke Kasubke

Seryee Lewis

Carlton Linguard, Jr.

Mike McGuirl

Selton Miguel

Markquis Nowell

Nijel Pack

Mark Smith

Kansas State University Athletics