Game Preview // K-State Travels to Ole Miss in Big 12/SEC Challenge Saturday

Saturday, January 29

Oxford, Miss

3 p.m.

Kansas State University

Ole Miss

Game Preview // K-State Travels to Ole Miss in Big 12/SEC Challenge Saturday

Jan 28, 2022 | Men's Basketball

K-State Notes (.pdf)Ole Miss Notes (.pdf)Watch [ESPNU]Listen Live Stats

The Wildcats are 3-5 all-time in the Big 12/SEC Challenge

GAME 20
KANSAS STATE (10-9, 2-6 Big 12) AT OLE MISS (10-10, 2-6 SEC)
Saturday, January 29, 2022 >> 3:05 p.m. CT >> Sandy & John Black Pavilion (9,500) >> Oxford, Miss.

TELEVISION
ESPNU / ESPN App (Link)

Mike Morgan (play-by-play)
Dane Bradshaw (analyst)
Jim Holder (producer)

RADIO
K-State Sports Network
Flagships: // KMAN 1350 & WIBW 580
Satellite Radio: XM 385
Online: Varsity Network [free] / SXM 975 / www.kstatesports.com/watch [free]

Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
Stan Weber (analyst)

LIVE STATS
www.kstatesports.com
olemiss.statbroadcast.com

TICKETS
https://olemisssports.com/
Single Game: $10-$15

COACHES
Kansas State: Bruce Weber [Wisconsin-Milwaukee '78]
Record at K-State: 180-139/10th Year
Career Record: 493-294/24th Year
vs. Ole Miss: 2-1 [0-0 on the road]

Ole Miss: Kermit Davis [Mississippi State '82]
Record at Ole Miss: 61-52/4th Year
Career Record: 530-315/27th Year
vs. K-State: 0-1 [0-0 at home]

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Ole Miss leads 3-2
Big 12/SEC Challenge: 3-5 [2-0 vs. Ole Miss [2013, 2016]
Current Streak: K-State, 2
In Oxford: Ole Miss leads 1-0
At Sandy & John Black Pavilion: First meeting
Last Meeting: W, 69-64 [1/30/16 in Manhattan, Kan.]
Weber vs. Davis: 0-0 [0-0 on the road]

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Kansas State (10-9, 2-6 Big 12)
G: #1 Markquis Nowell
G: #3 Selton Miguel
G: #13 Mark Smith
G: #24 Nijel Pack
F: #25 Ish Massoud

Ole Miss (10-10, 2-6 SEC)
G: #2 Daeshun Ruffin
G: #11 Matthew Murrell
G/F: #15 Luis Rodriguez
F: #4 Jaemyn Brakefield
C: #3 Nysier Brooks

K-STATE TRAVELS TO OLE MISS FOR BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE

Kansas State (10-9, 2-6 Big 12) steps out of conference play for the final time this season, as the Wildcats travel to Oxford, Miss., to play Ole Miss (10-10, 2-6 SEC) in the ninth annual Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday at 3 p.m., CT. This will be the third meeting between the schools in the Challenge series with K-State winning matchups in 2013 and 2016.
K-State ran into a buzzsaw on Tuesday night, as the No. 4/4 Baylor displayed its immense talents on both ends of the court in earning a 74-49 victory over the Wildcats at the Ferrell Center. The Bears connected on an opponent-best 56.9 percent from the field, while they held the Wildcats to season-lows in 5 offensive categories.
Despite finishing off a 4-game stretch against Top 25 opponents on Tuesday at No. 4/4 Baylor, K-State still has one of most difficult schedules remaining in the country with the eighth-toughest schedule according to the NCAA NET rankings.

OPENING TIP

K-State is coming off its most lopsided loss of the season, as the Wildcats lost to the defending national champions, 74-49, to cap off the first half of the Big 12 season on Tuesday night. The double-digit setback was just the second of the year following a 70-57 loss at home to No. 14/16 Texas, in which, K-State played with just 7 scholarship players and without head coach Bruce Weber. In contrast, the Wildcats had led or been tied in the second half in their 5 other Big 12 losses with 4 of those setbacks coming by a total of 11 points.
In total, 7 of K-State's 9 losses have come by a total of 28 points, which include non-conference setbacks to No. 13/12 Arkansas (64-72) and No. 14/15 Illinois (64-72) by 8 points and Marquette (63-64) by 1 point. Four of the 6 Big 12 losses have been by one possession, including 2 points to Oklahoma (69-71) and 3 points to West Virginia (68-71), TCU (57-60) and Kansas (75-78).
K-State was held to its worst offensive performance of the season in the loss at No. 4/4 Baylor, as the Wildcats posted season-lows in 5 categories, including points (49), field goals made (19) and field goal percentage (31.7). The team had a season-low 21 points in the first half on 26.9 percent (7-of-26) shooting from the field, including 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from 3-point range. The Bears were equally as impressive on offense, connecting on an opponent-high 56.9 percent (29-of-51), including 73.3 percent (22-of-30) on baskets inside the 3-point arc.
The loss at No. 4/4 Baylor came on the heels of a really impressive 3-game stretch, in which, K-State posted back-to-back victories over No. 19/19 Texas Tech (62-51) and No. 23/22 Texas (66-65) before losing a late lead to No. 7/7 Kansas (75-78). The wins over ranked Texas Tech and Texas squads marked the first wins over consecutive ranked foes since winning 4 such games from Jan. 12-Feb. 5, 2019. That 3-game stretch was also the first time all season that all 10 healthy scholarship players have been available.
Baylor held sophomore Nijel Pack, who ranks second in scoring in Big 12 games at 18.3 points per game, to just 13 points on 4-of-12 field goals, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range, in 31 minutes. Pack has led the Wildcats in scoring in 11 of 17 games played this season with 16 double-digit scoring games. He had a near-legendary performance against the Jayhawks, scoring a career-high 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting, including 8-of-12 from 3-point range. His 35 points tied for the seventh-most by a Wildcat in a Big 12 game, while his 8 made 3-pointers tied for the second-most of any game in school history. For his efforts, Pack was named the Phillips 66 Big 12 co-Player of the Week on Monday.
Junior Markquis Nowell, who had 11 points and a game-high 4 assists at No. 4/4 Baylor, along with fellow transfers Ish Massoud and Mark Smith, continue to play a major role for the Wildcats. The trio have been responsible for 42 percent (541) of the team's scoring and 41 percent (269) of its rebounding. They are averaging 28.5 points, 14.2 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals per game. Nowell leads the Big 12 in steals (2.41), while he is second in assists (5.29).
K-State has made strides this season with its 3-point shooting and turnovers. The Wildcats rank second in 3-point makes per game (7.84) and third in 3-point percentage (33.9), while they have the fewest turnovers (219).

NOTES ON OLE MISS

Ole Miss (10-10, 2-6 SEC) enters Saturday's game having snapped a 4-game losing streak in Monday's 70-54 victory over Florida at home before dropping a 64-55 decision at home to Arkansas on Wednesday night. The Rebels opened the year by winning 8 of their first 11 games, including impressive victories over Memphis (67-63) and Dayton (76-68). Much like K-State, the team has been close in conference play, dropping 3 of their 6 SEC games by single digits.
The Rebels are averaging 67.4 points per game on 42.8 percent shooting, including 32.2 percent from 3-point range, while allowing opponents to average 66 points on 44.1 percent shooting, including 29.2 percent from long range. The team ranks in the top-5 in the SEC in a number of categories, including second in 3-point field goal percentage defense, personal fouls/game (14.6), third in fewest fouls (292) and fifth in turnovers/game (12.8).
Three Rebels are averaging in double figures led by senior Jarkel Joiner, who is averaging 13.6 points on 41.8 percent shooting, including 35.5 percent from 3-point range. Freshman Daeshun Ruffin averages 11.8 points on 35.7 percent shooting and is the team leader in steals (29), while sophomore Matthew Murrell also averages double figures at 10.6 points per game and paces the squad in 3-point field goals (35) on 40.7 percent shooting. Transfer Nysier Brooks leads the way in rebounding at 7.9 per game, while averaging 9.6 points per game on 60.4 percent shooting.
Ole Miss is led by longtime head coach Kermit Davis, who is in midst of his fourth season in Oxford with a 61-52 record. He has led the Rebels to a pair of postseason appearances, including the NCAA Tournament in 2018-19. He is in his 27th season as a head coach, posting a 530-315 mark in stops at Idaho (twice), Texas A&M (1990-91) and Middle Tennessee State (2002-18).

SERIES HISTORY

K-State and Ole Miss will meet for just the sixth time with the Rebels leading 3-2. This will be just the second meeting in Oxford with the Rebels winning the first-ever matchup, 60-46, at home on Dec. 5, 2000.
Ole Miss won the first 3 meetings, including a sweep of a home-and-home series with a 67-65 win in Manhattan on Nov. 24, 2001, and an 86-74 neutral-site victory at the Puerto Rico Tipoff on Nov. 20, 2009.
This will be the third time that the teams have met in the Big 12/SEC Challenge with the Wildcats winning games in 2013 (61-58) and 2016 (69-64).
Head coach Bruce Weber is 9-11 all-time against Baylor, including a 4-5 record on the road, while he is also 9-11 against head coach Scott Drew. Drew is 16-16 all-time against K-State, including a 7-6 mark at home.

BIG 12/SEC CHALLENGE

K-State is 3-5 all-time in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, including 0-4 in those matchups on the road. The Wildcats have lost at Tennessee twice (2014 and 2017), Texas A&M (2019) and Alabama (2020).
Overall, K-State has lost the last 3 matchups in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, losing at Texas A&M (53-65) and at Alabama (74-77) before a 68-61 loss at home to the Aggies in the lastest meeting on Jan. 30, 2021. The last win the series came at home against Georgia, 56-51, on Jan. 27, 2018.

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS

K-State has posted a 159-50 (.761) 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 previous 13 seasons.
K-State is 8-3 this season in non-conference play, which includes a pair of road wins at Wichita State (65-59) and Nebraska (67-58). The 8 non-conference wins are the most since posting 10 in 2018-19.

LAST TIME OUT:
4/4 BAYLOR 74, K-STATE 49

K-State could never really recover from an early onslaught by the defending national champions, as No. 4/4 Baylor displayed its immense talents on both ends of the court in earning a 74-49 victory over the Wildcats on Tuesday night before 8,062 fans at the Ferrell Center.
K-State, which scored the opening points of the game on a 3-pointer by sophomore Ish Massoud, surrendered the next 9 points before falling behind by as many as 21 points in the first half. The Wildcats made some in-roads in the early part of the second half, slicing the lead to 14 points, but that was the closest it would get as the Bears built as much as a 29-point lead.
For K-State, it was the worst offensive performance of the season, as the Bears stifled the Wildcats at every turn, causing them to post season-lows in 5 categories, including points (49), field goals (19) and field goal percentage (31.7). The team had a season-low 21 points in the opening half on 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from the field, including 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from long range.
As dominated as Baylor was on the defensive end, the Bears were equally efficient on the offensive end, connecting on an opponent-best 56.9 percent (29-of-51) from the field, including an astonishing 73.3 percent (22-of-30) on baskets inside the 3-point arc. More than half of the team's points came in the paint (38), while they had assists on 21 of their 29 made field goals.
Sophomore Nijel Pack led the way for K-State with 13 points on 4-of-12 field goals, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range, to go with 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 31 minutes. He has now scored in double figure in 16 of 17 games played this season, while he has led in scoring on 11 occasions. Junior Markquis Nowell also registered double figures, posting 11 points on 5-of-11 field goals, while adding a team-high 4 assists in 30 minutes. Senior Mark Smith led the way on the glass with a team-best 6 rebounds to go with 6 points.
The Bears, which played without one of their key players in senior James Akinjo, were the definition of balance, as 6 players had at least 7 points, including 4 double-digit scorers led by sophomore L.J. Cryer's 14 points. Junior Adam Flagler scored 13 points to go with a team-tying 5 assists, while junior Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (13 points, 12 rebounds) and freshman Kendall Brown (10 points, 11 rebounds) each had double-doubles. In all, they got 25 points from their bench, which was the most of any Big 12 foe this season.

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 220 opponents (out of 318 total) under 70 points during Bruce Weber's tenure, including a program-best 31 in 2012-13. The Wildcats have also held 110 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 in 2020-21 due to their improved defense, as they held 5 of those 7 opponents under 60 points, allowing just 59.3 points per game in that span.
K-State has started the season off where they left off at the end of the 2020-21 season, as the defense is allowing 62.8 points on 40.5 percent shooting, including 26.6 percent from 3-point range. The Wildcats rank among the top-35 in 2 defensive categories, including fifth in 3-point field goal percentage defense and 34th in scoring defense.
After allowing 70 or more points in the first 3 Big 12 games, K-State had been better in the 3 league contests before Kansas, allowing just 58.7 points on 40.5 percent shooting, including 25.9 percent from long range. The Wildcats held the Red Raiders to one of their worst offensive performances on Jan. 15, allowing their second-fewest points (51) and forcing 18 turnovers. It marked the 100th win under Weber when holding an opponent below 60 points (100-10).

'CATS CONTINUE STRIDES ON OFFENSE

The Wildcats are averaging 67.5 points on 42.5 percent shooting, including 33.9 percent from 3-point range, while connecting on 70.2 percent from the free throw line through the first 19 games. The team is averaging 27.8 points in the paint,17.5 points off the bench, 15.6 points off turnovers, 7.8 fast-break points and 9.1 points on second-chance opportunities.
K-State's offensive numbers are slightly lower in Big 12 play, as the Wildcats are averaging 62.9 points on 40.1 percent shooting, including 34.2 percent from 3-point range, and 64.1 percent from the free throw line. The team is averaging 23.8 points in the paint, 10.5 points off the bench, 12.9 points off turnovers, 7.5 fast-break points and 9.1 points on second-chance opportunities.
K-State's offense shines when the Wildcats share the ball, as the team is averaging 71.7 points and 14.9 assists in their 10 wins compared to just 63.3 points and 11.4 assists in their 9 losses. The squad has scored 294 points (29.4 ppg.) in the paint in their 10 wins, including a season-high 46 vs. North Dakota, which were the most since scoring 50 vs. Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 16, 2018.

MARKED IMPROVEMENT FROM 3

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 second in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal per game (7.84), while they are third in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (33.9). In Big 12 play, the team ranks second in 3-point makes (8.00) and third in 3-point percentage (34.2).
Last season, K-State ranked eighth in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made (6.59) and 10th in 3-point field goals percentage (29.6). In league play, the team was 10th in both 3-point makes (5.67) and 3-point percentage (27.0). The Wildcats ranked 319th (out of 340) in 3-point field goal percentage, while they were 126th in total 3-point field goals (191) and 243rd in 3-pointers per game.
The Wildcats' 3-point shooting plays a big part in wins and losses, as the team is averaging 8.6 3-point makes on 37.7 percent shooting in their 10 wins, while they are averaging 7.0 treys on just 29.9 percent shooting in their 9 losses.
Sophomore Nijel Pack ranks second in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals/ game (3.12), while he is third in 3-point field goal percentage (42.1). Junior Markquis Nowell is 13th in 3-point makes (1.41). Pack is also second in 3-point field goals/game (3.50) in Big 12-only games and third in percentage (40.6).

BUILDING BETTER DEPTH

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. The team ranked second nationally in true freshmen starts with Davion Bradford, Selton Miguel and Nijel Pack starting in 17 of the 29 games.
The team has used at least 7 players in each game with 6 averaging nearly 6 points per game, including 3 double-digit scorers (Pack, Nowell and Smith).
K-State is averaging nearly 17.5 points per game from its bench this season, including 28-point efforts against No. 13/12 Arkansas and No. 14/15 Illinois. The team is 8-2 this season when getting 20 or more points from the bench.
The bench has played a significant factor in success in Big 12 play with the Wildcats combining for 38 bench points in the wins over No. 19/19 Texas Tech (21) and No. 23/22 Texas (17), while just getting 32 combined points in the losses to Oklahoma (8), Texas (4), West Virginia (6), TCU (7) and Kansas (7).

MINIMIZING TURNOVERS

K-State ranks among the best in the Big 12 with just 11.5 turnovers per game, including just 10.50 miscues per game in league play. The team has single-digit turnovers in 5 games, including twice in Big 12 play.
The Wildcats rank fourth in assist/turnover ratio (+1.12) and seventh in turnover margin (+1.95). Those numbers are better in league action, as they are second in assist/turnover ratio (+1.01) and third in turnover margin (+2.13).
Junior Markquis Nowell is second overall in assist/turnover ratio (+2.09) and second in league-only games at +2.12. He is second in the Big 12 in assists (5.29), while he is tops in steals (2.41) in all games.
The Wildcats managed just 12 turnovers at No. 4/4 Baylor on Tuesday, which ranks among the best in Big 12 in forcing turnovers at 17.63 per game.

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 10 turnovers or less 5 times in the last 12 games, including 7 vs. Wichita State (12/1/21) and 6 vs. Texas (1/4/22) and Kansas (1/22/22).

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 11 of 17 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 to go along with his career-high 35-point outburst vs. No. 7/7 Kansas.
Pack is averaging a team-best 16.5 points on 45.2 percent (98-of-217) shooting, including 42.1 percent (53-of-126) from 3-point range, to go with 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 31.1 minutes per game. He is the leader in scoring, double-digit scoring games (16), field goals (98) and 3-point field goals (53).
Pack ranks among the Big 12's top-10 in 4 categories, including second in 3-point field goals per game (3.12), third in 3-point field goal percentage, fourth in scoring and sixth in field goal percentage. Through 8 Big 12 games, he is second in both scoring (18.3 ppg.) and 3-point field goals per game (3.50).

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 leads in assists (90) and steals (41), while he is second in scoring (12.2 ppg.), while connecting on 40.9 percent from the field and 88.6 percent from the free throw line. He ranks ninth in the nation and first in the Big 12 in steals (2.41), while he is 26th nationally and second in the Big 12 in assists (5.3).

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 is averaging a near double-double in Big 12 play (12.1 ppg., 8.0 rpg.), posted his second 20-point game in just his sixth Big 12 game in the win at No. 23/22 Texas with a team-high 22 points on 9-of-14 field goals, including 2-of-5 3-point range. He has 4 double-doubles this season (5 in his career).

MOVING TOWARDS 500

Head coach Bruce Weber is working towards a coaching milestone, as he is 7 wins away from earning 500 in his career. He enters Saturday's game with a 493-294 (.627) 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 27 current Division I coaches have reached 500 wins in their career with Herb Sendek (Santa Clara) recently joining the club.

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 played just 3 games 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 450 triples (452) in their respective careers on 36.1 percent shooting.
The trio have made their impact in the first 19 games with Smith starting every game, while Massoud and Nowell have 15 and 11 starts, respectively. They have combined for 541 points (28.5 ppg.) on 40.5 percent (189-of-467) shooting with 269 rebounds (14.2 rpg.), 132 assists (6.9 apg.) and 76 steals (4.0 spg). Nowell has scored in double figures in 12 games, including 3 points/assists double-doubles, while Massoud has 7 double-digit scoring games. Smith has 4 double-doubles and leads the Big 12 in rebounding (7.9 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: OKLAHOMA STATE (10-9, 3-5 Big 12)

K-State returns to Big 12 play on Wednesday, Feb. 2 when the Wildcats play host to Oklahoma State (10-9, 3-5 Big 12) at 8 p.m., CT. The Cowboys, who just knocked off No. 1 Baylor on Jan. 15, have lost their last 2 games, including a double-overtime loss at home to Iowa State on Wednesday night. They have won the last 4 games in the series, including the last 2 in Manhattan.