Game Preview // K-State Begins 2-Game Homestand Wednesday vs. TCU

GAME 15
KANSAS STATE (8-6, 0-3 Big 12) vs. TCU (10-2, 0-1 Big 12)
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 >> 8:05 p.m. CT >> Bramlage Coliseum (11,643) >> Manhattan, Kan.

TELEVISION
ESPNU / ESPN App (Link)

Mark Neely (play-by-play)
Chris Spatola (analyst)
T.J. McGinnis (producer)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network
Flagships: // KMAN 1350 & WIBW 580
Satellite Radio: XM 375
Online: Varsity Network [free] / SXM 375 / www.kstatesports.com/watch [free]

Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
Stan Weber (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 [Wisconsin-Milwaukee '78]
Record at K-State: 178-136/10th Year
Career Record: 491-291/24th Year
vs. TCU: 16-7 [6-3 at home]

TCU: Jamie Dixon [TCU '87]
Record at TCU: 106-73/6th Year
Career Record: 434-196/19th Year
vs. K-State: 6-9 [3-2 on the road]

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: K-State leads 19-9
Current Streak: K-State, 2
In Manhattan: K-State leads 8-4
At Bramlage Coliseum: K-State leads 6-4
Last Meeting: W, 71-50 [3/10/21 in Kansas City, Mo.]
Weber vs. Dixon: 9-6 [2-3 at home]

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (8-6, 0-3 Big 12)
G: #1 Markquis Nowell
G: #3 Selton Miguel
G: #13 Mark Smith
G: #24 Nijel Pack
F: #25 Ismael [Ish] Massoud

TCU (10-2, 0-1 Big 12)
G: #1 Mike Miles, Jr.
G: #10 Damion Baugh
F: #2 Emanuel Miller
F: #5 Charles O'Bannon
C: #4 Eddie Lampkin

K-STATE BEGINS 2-GAME HOMESTAND WEDNESDAY VS. TCU

Kansas State (8-6, 0-3 Big 12) returns home to Bramlage Coliseum this week, as the Wildcats begin a 2-game homestand with a visit from TCU (10-2, 0-1 Big 12) on Wednesday night at 8 p.m., CT on ESPNU. K-State has won 3 of the last 4 games with TCU, however, the Horned Frogs have won the last 2 meetings (2020, 2021) in Manhattan.
For the second straight game, K-State played short-handed in Saturday's 71-68 loss at West Virginia, as the Wildcats had just 9 available players (8 scholarship) and 2 coaches due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Despite the lack of depth, K-State led for more than 30 minutes, including by 13 at the half, before WVU rallied with a big second half.
K-State is off to an 0-3 start in Big 12 play for the first time since 2019-20. The Wildcats are looking to snap an 11-game losing streak in the month of January with the last victory coming against Oklahoma on January 29, 2020.

OPENING TIP

As the Wildcats return home for the first 2 home games this week, they will again be attempting to win the 400th game in Bramlage Coliseum history. K-State is 399-139 (.742) all-time in the arena, including a 156-111 (.587) mark in conference games. The team is 6-2 at home this season.
K-State fell to 0-3 this season in games decided by 3 points or less, as the Wildcats lost at West Virginia, 71-68. The team led by as many as 17 points in the first half, including 13 at the half, before allowing the Mountaineers to score an opponent-high 44 points in the second half on 50 percent shooting. Five of the Wildcats' 6 losses have come by 22 points, including 8 points to both No. 13/12 Arkansas (64-72), No. 14/15 Illinois (64-72), 1 point to Marquette (63-64) and 2 points to Oklahoma (69-71). The team is 0-5 when allowing 70 or more points.
K-State played short-handed for the second straight game at West Virginia with 9 available players (including 8 scholarship) and just 2 coaches (assistant Jermaine Henderson and graduate assistant Zach Price), but still managed to fight a full healthy Mountaineer squad who had not played since January 1. The Wildcats played with a smaller lineup (4 guards and small forward Ish Massoud) and used it to jump out to a 23-6 lead and a 40-27 advantage at the half behind a season-high 9 3-pointers on 47.4 percent shooting. Overall, the team finished with 13 triples on the day, which tied for the 10th-most in a game and a tie for the sixth-most in a conference game but came on the fifth-most attempts and third-most in a league game (34).
In near carbon copy of the game against No. 14/16 Texas on Jan. 4, it was a different story in the second half, as the Wildcats managed to score just 28 points on 30.6 percent shooting (11-of-36), including 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from long range. Against the Longhorns, the team scored a season-low 22 points after halftime on 22.2 percent (6-of-27) shooting, including 0-of-9 from 3-point range.
Sophomore Nijel Pack continues to play well, as he led 4 Wildcats in double figures with a team-high 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting, including 6-of-15 from 3-point range. After a 21-point effort against No. 14/16 Texas, it marked the first time that he has posted consecutive 20-point games in his career. Pack leads the team in a number of categories, including scoring (16.0 ppg.), double-digit scoring games (11) and 3-point field goals (37) and is the only regular starter in the Big 12 to connect on at least 45 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line.
Pack was joined in double figures by fifth-year senior Mark Smith (14 points), Massoud (13) and junior Markquis Nowell (10), who returned from a 2-game absence due to health and safety protocols. Nowell added a game-high 10 assists in his first Big 12 game and became the first Wildcat to post 3 points/assists double-doubles in both a single season and career. Smith finished with an impressive line of 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in 37 minutes.
The 3 transfers (Massoud, Nowell and Smith) have played a major role in the Wildcats' improved play this season. The trio is averaging 29.9 points, 15.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists per game this season, including 33.8 points, 18.0 rebounds and 10.5 assists in 6 games starting together.

NOTES ON TCU

TCU (10-2, 0-1 Big 12) finally got back to the hardwood on Saturday against top-ranked Baylor after dealing with COVID-19 health and safety protocols between Dec. 22 and Jan. 8. The Horned Frogs had to cancel its non-conference game with Texas Southern on Dec. 29 then had to postpone their first 2 Big 12 games at Kansas on New Year Day and at home to West Virginia on Jan. 3.
TCU saw its 7-game winning streak come to a halt in Saturday's 76-64 home loss to the top-ranked Bears, as the Horned Frogs raced out to a 6-point lead at the half before falling in the second half. The team has some impressive wins on the season, knocking off NCAA Tournament foe Oral Roberts (71-63) to go along with neutral site wins over Utah (76-62) and Texas A&M (68-64) and a road victory over Georgetown (80-73).
The Horned Frogs are averaging 73.3 points per game on 43.2 percent shooting, including 31.6 percent from 3-point range, while allowing opponents to average 62.9 points on 41.2 percent shooting, including 33.8 percent from long range. The team is among the best in the country in rebounds, ranking first in offensive rebounds (15.58), fourth in rebounding margin (+11.9) and sixth in total rebounds per game (42.75). They also played defense without fouling, ranking seventh in fewest fouls (163) and 15th in fewest per game (13.6).
TCU has 3 players averaging in double figures led by one of the Big 12's top scorers in sophomore Mike Miles, Jr., who ranks third in the league in scoring at 17.7 points per game. He is connecting on 40.3 percent from the field, including 33.9 percent from 3-point range, and 77 percent from the line. He also has team highs in assists (51) and steals (14). Transfer Emanuel Miller is close to a double-double, averaging 10.7 points on 46.3 percent shooting and a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game. Senior guard Charles O'Bannon also averages in double figures at 10.1 points per game, while hitting on 46.8 percent from the field, including 40.9 percent from long range. In addition to Miller's rebounding average, 4 other players are averaging better than 4 boards per game.
TCU returned 4 lettermen and 2 starters from the 2020-21 season, in which, the Horned Frogs posted a 12-14 overall record, including a 5-11 mark in Big 12 play. They welcomed 8 transfers, including Miller (Texas A&M), Micah Peavy (Texas Tech), Damion Baugh (Memphis) and JaKobe Coles (Butler).
TCU is led by alum Jamie Dixon, who has a 106-73 record in 6 seasons as head coach. He is in his 19th season overall as a head coach, which includes a stint at Pittsburgh (2003-16). He led the Panthers to 11 NCAA Tournaments.

SERIES HISTORY

K-State and TCU will meet for the 29th time in their histories on Wednesday night with the Wildcats owning a 19-9 advantage in a series that dates to 1947, including a 16-7 mark since the start of the Big 12.
K-State has won 16 of 23 meetings in the Big 12 era, including a 6-3 mark in games played at Bramlage Coliseum. Last season, the Horned Frogs won the first meeting in Manhattan, 67-60, on Jan. 2 before the Wildcats rallied for a 62-54 win in Fort Worth on Feb. 20 and a 71-50 victory in the first round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship in Kansas City on March 10.
Despite K-State's success in the Big 12 era, TCU has won 3 of the last 5 games played at Bramlage Coliseum, including an 86-80 overtime win in 2017, a 59-57 victory on Jan. 7, 2020, and last season's 67-60 win.
Head coach Bruce Weber is 16-7 all-time against TCU, including a 6-3 mark at home, while Weber is 9-6 vs. head coach Jamie Dixon. Dixon is 6-9 all-time against K-State, including 3-2 mark on the road.

LAST TIME OUT:
WEST VIRGINIA 71, K-STATE 68

K-State played short-handed for the second consecutive Big 12 contest, as the Wildcats once again got off to a fast start in the first half before running out of steam in the second half in dropping a 71-68 decision to West Virginia before 11,919 fans at the WVU Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
Down head coach Bruce Weber and at least 6 players due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols for the second straight game, the Wildcats once again got the start they had been lacking at times during the season, leading by 17 points near the midway point of the first half and 13 at the half.
However, in a game similar to one against No. 14/16 Texas, West Virginia used a strong start to second half to slowly chip away at the double-digit deficit. The Mountaineers scored 44 points on 50 percent (16-of-32) shooting in the second half after scoring just 27 points on 32.3 percent (10-of-31) in the first half. WVU grabbed its first lead at 53-50 on a 3-pointer by senior Sean McNeil with 8:35 to play then took it for good on a 3-pointer by fifth-year senior Taz Sherman just over a minute later. McNeil led all scorers with 26 points.
After falling behind 61-53 with just over 6 minutes to play, the Wildcats tried to rally back, closing to 67-65 on a driving layup by junior Markquis Nowell with 18 seconds then, after a pair of Mountaineers free throws, got it to within 69-68 on a 3-pointer by sophomore Ish Massoud with 5.1 seconds. However, sophomore Jalen Bridges knocked down both of his free throws to extend the lead to 71-68 with 4.8 seconds before Nowell's tying 3-pointer from the top of the arc was off the mark at the buzzer.
Sophomore Nijel Pack led 4 Wildcats in double figures with a team-high 20 points on 7-of-18 field goals, including 6-of-15 from 3-point range, in playing 33 minutes, while senior Mark Smith and Massoud added 14 and 13 points, respectively. Nowell, playing in his first Big 12 game after missing the last 2 games due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, collected his third points/assists double-double with 10 points and a game-high 10 assists. His 3 such double-doubles are the most by a Wildcat in a career and single season.
K-State finished with a season-high 13 made 3-point field goals, but they came on a season-high 34 attempts. Overall, the Wildcats connected on 37.3 percent (25-of-67) shooting, including 38.2 percent (13-of-34) from 3-point range, and made 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from the free throw line.

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 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 217 opponents (out of 314 total) under 70 points during Bruce Weber's tenure, including a program-best 31 in 2012-13. The Wildcats have also held 109 opponents under 60 points in that span, while 29 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.
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.
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 foes 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 61.9 points on 39.2 percent shooting, including 26.5 percent from 3-point range. The Wildcats rank among the top-40 in 3 defensive categories, including eighth in 3-point field goal percentage defense, 34th in scoring defense and 36th in field goal percentage defense.
Before allowing 70 or more points in the first 3 Big 12 games, the Wildcats allowed just 55.6 points in a 7-game span from Nov. 28 to Dec. 21. That stretch included allowing the fewest points (85) in consecutive games to North Dakota (11/28/21) and UAlbany (12/1/21) since 2012-13. Five of the team's 6 losses have come when allowing 70 or more points.
K-State has been able to score points off its opponent turnovers (16.3 ppg.) while forcing an average of 13.2 turnovers per game. The Wildcats has scored 20 or more points off turnovers 3 times, including 22 vs. Nebraska (12/19/21).

IMPROVED OFFENSE, BUT WORK CONTINUES FROM 3

The Wildcats are averaging 69.6 points on 43 percent shooting, including 34.4 percent from 3-point range, while connecting on 75.2 percent from the free throw line through the first 14 games. The team is averaging 28.9 points in the paint, 19.1 points off the bench, 16.3 points off turnovers, 9.6 fast-break points and 8.8 points on second-chance opportunities.
K-State's offense shines when the Wildcats share the ball, as the team is averaging 73.6 points and 15.8 assists in their 8 wins compared to just 64.2 points and 11.3 assists in their 6 losses. The squad has scored 246 combined points (30.8 ppg.) in the paint in their 8 victories, including 46 vs. North Dakota, which were the most since scoring 50 against Eastern Kentucky in Nov. 16, 2018.
After ranking among the worst 3-point shooting teams in the country in 2020-21, those numbers have improved in 2021-22. The Wildcats are tied with Kansas for third in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals per game (8.0), while they are fourth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (34.4).
The Wildcats' 3-point shooting needs consistency, as they made just 22.6 percent (31-of-137) vs. Arkansas, Illinois, Wichita State, Marquette, Nebraska and Texas while hitting on 42.9 percent (81-of-189) vs. Florida A&M, Omaha, North Dakota, UAlbany, Green Bay, McNeese, Oklahoma and West Virginia.
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 January 2020. It marked the first time that the Wildcats had shot better than 60 percent 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 the Power 6. The Wildcats were one of 10 teams to start at least 3 true freshmen in one game with Davion Bradford, Selton Miguel and Nijel Pack starting in 17 of the 29 games.
The Wildcats have used at least 7 players in each of the first 14 games with all 7 those players totaling double-digit field goals made and 7 averaging nearly 6 points per game, including a pair of double-digit scorers (Pack and Nowell).
K-State is averaging nearly 19.1 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 scored 20 or more bench points in 9 of 14 games.
Before joining the starting lineup, Nowell had provided a spark off the bench, averaging 11.7 points in the first 6 games, while Miguel has been that spark of late with 4 of his 6 double-digit scoring games coming off the bench, including tying his career-high with 17 points vs. McNeese.

IMPROVED FREE THROW SHOOTING

Again, it's a small sample size with just 14 games, but so far, K-State has taken care of its opportunities from the free throw line, connecting on 75.2 percent (170-of-226) from the charity stripe, which ranks third 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 the Razorbacks and Fighting Illini.
Five players (Nijel Pack, Markquis Nowell, Ish Massoud, Selton Miguel and Mike McGuirl) are hitting on better than 70 percent from the free throw line, as Massoud (18-of-18) has 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.
The Wildcats have also had single digits turnovers 3 times in the last 7 games, including 7 vs. Wichita State (12/1/21) and 6 vs. Texas (1/4/22).

PACK OFF TO STRONG START

Sophomore Nijel Pack is off to an impressive start to the 2021-22 season, as he has led or have been tied for the team lead in scoring in 8 of 12 games played, including posting consecutive 20-point outings against No. 14/16 Texas (21) and West Virginia (20) for the first time in his career.
Pack is averaging a team-best 16.0 points on 45.8 percent (66-of-144) shooting, including 42 percent (37-of-88) from 3-point range, to go with 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 29.4 minutes per game. He is the leader in scoring, double-digit scoring games (11) and 3-point field goals (37).
Pack ranks among the Big 12's top-10 in 4 categories, including first in 3-point field goals per game (3.08), third in 3-point field goal percentage, fifth in field goal percentage and sixth in scoring. Through 3 Big 12 games, he is fourth in scoring (19.3 ppg.) and second in 3-point field goals per game (4.00).
Coupled with his free throw percentage of 92 percent (23-of-25), Pack is the only regular starter in the Big 12 shooting at least 45 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line.

NOWELL PROVIDES SPARK

Junior Markquis Nowell returned to the lineup against West Virginia and provided an immediate spark to the Wildcat, collecting his third points/assists double-double with 10 points and a game-high 10 assists in 32 minutes. He is believed to be the first Wildcat to accomplish the feat in his first league game.
His 3 points/assists double-doubles are the most-ever by a Wildcat in both a single-season and career, as he also posted double-doubles against Marquette (11 points, 11 assists) and McNeese (18 points, 10 assists). He nearly tallied the school's first recorded triple-double vs. Marquette, as he added 8 rebounds to his 11 points and 11 assists in 37 minutes. He now has 8 such double-doubles in his college career, posting 5 during his 3-year stint at Little Rock (2018-21).
Nowell ranks second on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg.), while he is tops in assists (64) and steals (24), while connecting on 41.1 percent from the field and 88.9 percent from the free throw line. He ranks second in the Big 12 in assists (5.3), while he is sixth in steals (2.0) and 12th in scoring.

SMITH'S IMPRESSIVE NIGHT

The loss at Oklahoma overshadowed a historic performance by senior Mark Smith, who became the first Wildcat in school history to post a game of at least 25 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists since assists became officially kept by the NCAA in 1976-77. He had career-highs in points (25), rebounds (16) and assists (5), while posting zero turnovers in 39 minutes. His 16 rebounds were the most since Michael Beasley registered 17 boards against Missouri on Feb. 16, 2008.
For his efforts, Smith was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, becoming the first Wildcat to earn the honor since Dean Wade in 2016.
Smith, who averaging a near double-double (10.6 ppg., 8.4 rpg.) has 4 double-doubles in his last 10 games and is the Big 12 leader in rebounding.

MOVING TOWARDS 500

Head coach Bruce Weber is working towards a coaching milestone, as he is 9 wins away from earning 500 in his career. He enters Saturday's game with a 491-291 (.628) 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 499 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 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 practice in late December.
Although that luck has been tested early with 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 practice in late December.
The backcourt has been hit of late, as Pack missed 2 games against Wichita State and Marquette due to a concussion, while Markquis Nowell missed the first 2 Big 12 games due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Seven players (Bradford, Edwards, Nowell, junior Kaosi Ezeagu, freshman Logan Landers and walk-ons Jordan Brooks and Trey Harris) plus head coach Bruce Weber missed the game vs. No. 14/16 Texas (1/4/22), while six players (Edwards, Ezeagu, Landers, Brooks, Harris and senior Mike McGuirl) and Weber missed the game at West Virginia (1/8/22) due to health protocols.
K-State has not played one game with 10 healthy scholarship players.

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 more than 400 triples (438) in their respective careers on 36.1 percent shooting.
The trio have made their impact in the first 13 games with Massoud and Smith each starting every game, while Nowell has 6 starts. They have combined for 419 points (29.9 ppg.) on 41 percent (143-of-346) shooting with 220 rebounds (15.7 rpg.), 100 assists (7.1 apg.) and 53 steals (3.8 spg). Nowell has scored in double figures in 9 games, including 3 points/assists double-doubles, while Massoud has 7 double-digit scoring games. Smith has 4 double-doubles and is the Big 12 leader in rebounding (8.4 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: 19/19 TEXAS TECH (11-3, 1-1 Big 12)

K-State is scheduled to play host to No. 19/19 Texas Tech (11-3, 1-1 Big 12) on Saturday morning at 11 a.m., CT on ESPN2. The Red Raiders head into their midweek game at No. 1/1 Baylor (15-0, 3-0 Big 12) with a big 75-67 victory over No. 6/6 Kansas on Saturday night at home.
Texas Tech is averaging 75.7 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting, including 33.4 percent from 3-point range, while allowing just 58.3 points per game on 37.6 percent shooting, including 31.4 percent from long range. The team has 4 players in double figures and is led by All-American candidate Terrence Shannon, Jr. (14.3 ppg.) and Kevin McCullar (13.5 ppg.).

Game Preview // K-State Begins 2-Game Homestand Wednesday vs. TCU

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Players Mentioned

Davion Bradford

Jordan Brooks

Maximus Edwards

Kaosi Ezeagu

Trey Harris

Drew Honas

Luke Kasubke

Logan Landers

Seryee Lewis

Carlton Linguard, Jr.

Mike McGuirl

Selton Miguel

Markquis Nowell

Nijel Pack

Mark Smith

Kansas State University Athletics

Game Preview // K-State Begins 2-Game Homestand Wednesday vs. TCU

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Davion Bradford

Jordan Brooks

Maximus Edwards

Kaosi Ezeagu

Trey Harris

Drew Honas

Luke Kasubke

Logan Landers

Seryee Lewis

Carlton Linguard, Jr.

Mike McGuirl

Selton Miguel

Markquis Nowell

Nijel Pack

Mark Smith

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