Pack named Big XII POW

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Sophomore guard Nijel Pack was selected as the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday (February 7) after he posted consecutive 20-point performances in a pair of wins this past week, including the game-winner against Oklahoma State.

Pack is the first Wildcat to win multiple Player of the Week honors in the same season in more than 7 seasons since Nino Williams won it twice during the 2014-15 season (Dec. 15, 2014, and Jan. 26, 2015). Pack also won the weekly accolade on January 24 after his career-high 35-point effort against Kansas.

For the week, Pack averaged 21 points on 59.3 percent (16-of-27) shooting, including 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from 3-point range, along with 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.5 assists in 36.5 minutes in helping K-State post consecutive wins over OSU (71-68) and TCU (75-63) last week. He capped a game-high 22-point performance against the Cowboys with the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds, while he followed with 20 points, a career-high 4 steals, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in the road win over the Horned Frogs.

Pack is just the eighth Wildcat to earn the weekly Player of the Week honor at least twice in the same season, joining the likes of Jeremiah Massey (2004-05), Michael Beasley (2007-08), Denis Clemente (2009-10), Jacob Pullen (2010-11), Jamar Samuels (2011-12), Rodney McGruder (2012-13) and Williams. Overall, it marks the school's 31st Player of the Week honor since the inception of the Big 12 in 1997, including the 16th under head coach Bruce Weber. It is the third weekly honor for the Wildcats this season, as fifth-year senior Mark Smith was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on January 3.

A 6-foot, 180-pound guard from Indianapolis, Indiana, Pack is the Big 12 leader in 3-point field goals made per game (3.30) while he is among the top-10 in 4 other categories, including third in scoring (17.0 ppg.) and 3-point field goal percentage (43.4), sixth in field goal percentage (46.0) and ninth in minutes (31.9). His numbers are even better in Big 12 play, ranking second in scoring (18.8 ppg.) and 3-point field goals made per game (3.50), third in 3-point field goal percentage (42.7), fourth in field goal percentage (45.5) and 10th in steals (1.50).

Pack is off to a strong start to 2021-22, leading the Wildcats in scoring (17.0 ppg.), double-digit scoring games (19), field goals (120), 3-point field goals (66) and minutes (31.9). He has led the team in scoring in 13 of 20 games played, scoring in double figures in all but game, including a team-high five 20-point games. He has now scored in double figures in 35 of 44 career games, including 8 games of 20 or more points.

K-State (12-10, 4-6 Big 12) begins a brutal stretch of 3 games in 6 days on Wednesday night, as the Wildcats welcome the defending national champion Baylor Bears (19-4, 7-3 Big 12) to Bramlage Coliseum at 7 p.m., CT on Big 12 Now. Tickets can be purchased for as low as $20 or Bramlage Bundles (ticket, $10 concession voucher, $10 K-State Super Store credit) are available for just $40 at kstatesports.com/tickets.