Feb 19, 2022

K-State, OSU tangle on Saturday

Posted Feb 19, 2022 11:09 AM

K-STATE TRAVELS TO OKLAHOMA STATE ON SATURDAY

  1. Kansas State (14-11, 6-7 Big 12) begins a 2-game road trip this Saturday, as the Wildcats travel to Stillwater, Okla., to take on Oklahoma State (12-13, 5-8 Big 12) at 1 p.m., CT on ESPNU. K-State won the first meeting in dramatic fashion, as sophomore Nijel Pack hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds for a 71-68 win at home on Feb. 2.
  2. The win against the Cowboys on Feb. 2 started the recent surge by the Wildcats, as they have won 4 of their last 5 games, including consecutive wins against Iowa State and West Virginia in Big 12 play for the third time this season. After starting in an 0-4 hole, the team has won 6 of their last 9 vs. league competition (losses to Kansas and Baylor (twice).
  3. The biggest factor in K-State's improved play in the last 5 games has been its diversity in scoring, as 4 Wildcats scored in double figures in 3 of the 4 wins, including the back-to-back victories at Iowa State and at home to West Virginia.


OPENING TIP

  1. K-State rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit for the second straight game on Monday night, as the Wildcats overcame a 10-point deficit with 16:12 to play to split the season series with West Virginia with a 78-73 victory at home. The team scored 11 straight points, starting at the 15:51 mark, during a larger 18-2 run that changed the momentum. A layup by junior Markquis Nowell with at the 10:35 mark gave the Wildcats the lead for good, as they held off a late Mountaineer rally with solid defense and an impressive effort from the free throw line in the final minutes. For the game, the team converted on 31-of-39 attempts from the line, as the 31 makes were the most in a game since 2015.
  2. Nowell led 4 Wildcats in double figures against West Virginia with 21 points on 7-of-11 field goals, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, while fifth-year Mark Smith grabbed his Big 12-leading seventh double-double of the season. K-State is now 6-1 this season when at least 4 players score in double figures.
  3. The win against West Virginia marked the second straight game that K-State rallied from a double-digit deficit in the second half. The Wildcats came back from a 15-point deficit in the 75-69 overtime win at Iowa State on Saturday on the strength of an 18-4 run in regulation. The 15-point deficit overcome to win is the second-largest in a road conference game and the most-ever in the Big 12 era. Overall, it is the ninth-largest in school history and the largest since 2019.
  4. The West Virginia win was yet another thriller for K-State, as the Wildcats have played 9 games decided by 5 points or less. Four of the team's 7 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). The team has led or been tied in the second half in 5 of the 7 conference losses. 
  5. Health has been a big storyline for the Wildcats, as 12 of the 16 players listed on  the roster have combined to miss 87 games. Smith is the only player to start in all 25 games, as injuries and COVID-19 protocols have forced head coach Bruce Weber to use 10 different starting lineups. Sophomore Selton Miguel came off the bench for the second straight game on Monday against West Virginia after missing the previous 4 games with an ankle injury, marking just the fifth time that all 10 scholarship players have been available this season.
  6. Although he didn't lead the team in scoring for the first time this month, sophomore Nijel Pack still registered double figures for the 16th consecutive game vs. West Virginia with 13 points to go along with his game-high 5 assists and 6 rebounds. He still leads the Big 12 in 3-point field goals/game (3.26) and 3-point field goal percentage (43.6), while he is third in scoring (17.5 ppg.).
  7. The transfer trio of Smith, Nowell and Ish Massoud continue to play a major role. The trio have been responsible for 44 percent of the team's scoring (746), 42 percent of the rebounding (360) and 52 percent of the assists (167) this season.
  8. K-State's success on offense has hinged on effective 3-point shooting and limiting turnovers. The Wildcats rank second in 3-point makes/game (8.04) and third in 3-point percentage (34.0), while they have the fewest turnovers (285). In Big 12 play, the team leads in 3-pointers (8.08) and fewest turnovers (145).


NOTES ON OKLAHOMA STATE

  1. Oklahoma State (12-13, 5-8 Big 12) enters Saturday's contest having won twice in the last 8 games, including a 76-62 loss at No. 6/6 Kansas on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse. The Cowboys are 8-5 at home this season, including 4-2 in Big 12 games with back-to-back wins over Oklahoma and West Virginia.
  2. The Cowboys are averaging 69.5 points per game on 43.8 percent shooting, including 29.7 percent from 3-point range, while allowing opponents to average 66.9 points on 39.9 percent shooting, including 32.6 percent from long range. The team is among the best in a number of categories nationally, including 16th in steals per game (9.2 spg.), 19th in blocks per game (5.2), 21st in turnovers forced (16.56) and 27th in field goal percentage defense.
  3. OSU has 7 players averaging 6 or more points, including a pair of double-digit scorers in Avery Anderson III (11.4 ppg.) and Bryce Williams (10.4 ppg.). Anderson also has a team-best 46 steals. Keylan Boone has a team-high 35 made 3-pointers. Veteran Isaac Likekele paces the Cowboys in assists (3.6 apg.), while averaging 7.4 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Moussa Cisse is tops in rebounding (5.9 rpg.) and is the Big 12 leader in blocks (1.58 bpg.).
  4. Oklahoma State is led by fifth-year head coach Mike Boynton, Jr., who has posted an 84-71 overall record, including a trip to NCAA Tournament in 2021.


SERIES HISTORY

  1. K-State and Oklahoma State will meet for the 141st time on Wednesday with the Wildcats leading 83-57 in a series that dates back to 1922. OSU leads 22-17 in the Big 12 era, including a 14-4 advantage in games played in Stillwater.
  2. K-State snapped a 4-game losing streak in the series with its 71-68 victory at home on Feb. 2. Last season, OSU posted a 70-54 victory on Jan. 9 at Bramlage Coliseum before a 67-60 win at home on Feb. 13.
  3. Head coach Bruce Weber is 12-9 all-time against OSU, including a 3-6 record on the road, while he is 5-4 vs. head coach Mike Boynton, Jr. Boynton, Jr., is 4-5 all-time against K-State, including 2-2 at Gallagher-Iba Arena.


LAST TIME OUT:
K-STATE 78, WEST VIRGINIA 73

  1. K-State rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit for the second straight game, as the Wildcats scored 11 straight points during a larger 18-2 run to flip the momentum en route to a 78-73 win over West Virginia on Monday night before a crowd of 5,401 fans at Bramlage Coliseum.
  2. K-State made yet another improbable comeback by getting multiple players involved, as junior Markquis Nowell led four players in double figures with 21 points on 7-of-11 field goals, including 4-of-6 from long range, as the Wildcats moved to 6-1 this season when at least four players score in double figures.
  3. Nowell was joined in double figures by fifth-year senior Mark Smith, who collected his Big 12-leading seventh double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomores Ish Massoud and Nijel Pack, who each finished with 13 points. Pack had a game-high 5 assists and 6 rebounds.
  4. K-State, which won for the fourth time in 5 games in February, earned its second victory in 3 days when trailing by double figures in the second half, as West Virginia led 54-44 with 16:12 to play after a 3-pointer by Isaiah Cottrell.
  5. Massoud started the string of 11 consecutive points with a layup at the 15:51 mark that was followed by a pair of free throws by Smith, a layup by Pack and two more throws from Smith before a 1-of-2 effort from the line from Selton Miguel gave the Wildcats their first lead at 55-54 with 11:26 remaining. 
  6. Senior Taz Sherman briefly gave the Mountaineers the lead again at 56-55 after a pair of free throws at the 11:13 mark, but the Wildcats responded with 7 straight to cap the 18-2 run and forced coach Bob Huggins to call a timeout with 7:55 to play. Nowell had 5 of the 7 points in the stretch.
  7. The lead twice grew to as many as 9 points, including 71-62 after a Massoud free throw at the 4:35 mark, but WVU used an 11-3 run to close the deficit to 74-73 on a Sherman jumper with 2:28 remaining. However, on the next possession, Massoud drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and calmly knocked down all 3 free throws to push the lead back out to 77-73 with 2:02 to play.
  8. In a physical game in which 44 personal fouls were called, the Wildcats took advantage of their opportunities from the free throw line, converting on 31-of-39 attempts, including 12-of-13 in the first half. The 31 free throws were the most in game since making 36 against South Dakota on Nov. 10, 2015.


MISSED GAMES

  1. Almost seems like the plot from the movie Groundhog Day, as K-State has once again had to deal with a mixture of injuries, COVID-19 protocols and inexperience in 2021-22. A year after playing with similar issues, the Wildcats have seen 12 of the 16 players listed on the roster combine to miss 87 games this season, while fifth-year senior Mark Smith is the only player to start all 25 games with 10 different starting lineups.
  2. The Wildcats, which started the season with 12 scholarship players, lost 2 (sophomore Seryee Lewis and freshman Maximus Edwards) of those players in the preseason due to season-ending injuries.
  3. Of those 10 available scholarship players, there has only been 5 games (Texas Tech, Texas and Kansas, Iowa State and West Virginia) of which all were healthy and active.
  4. Only 3 Wildcats (Smith, Ish Massoud and Luke Kasubke) have seen action in all 25 games this season.
  5. In addition, head coach Bruce Weber missed 11 days of practice, including games vs. Texas and West Virginia.


SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS MISSING GAMES IN 2021-22 [76]

  1. Davion Bradford - 2 (COVID-19/slowed vs. Baylor, Ole Miss due to hip injury)
  2. Maximus Edwards - 25 (will miss rest of season)
  3. Kaosi Ezeagu - 2 (COVID-19 protocols missed Texas, WVU)
  4. Logan Landers - 3 (COVID-19 protocols missed Texas, WVU)
  5. Seryee Lewis - 25 (will miss rest of season)
  6. Carlton Linguard, Jr. - 7 (missed 7 of 1st 8 rehabbing from off-season surgery)
  7. Mike McGuirl - 3 (flu/COVID-19 protocols missed WVU, TCU)
  8. Selton Miguel - 5 (missed Ole Miss/OSU/TCU/Baylor games due to ankle injury)
  9. Markquis Nowell - 2 (COVID-19 protocols missed OU, Texas)
  10. Nijel Pack - 2 (missed WSU, Marquette due to concussion)


LEADING WITH DEFENSE

  1. 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.
  2. K-State has held 223 opponents (out of 324 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 foes under 60 points, allowing just 59.3 points per game in that span.
  5. In its 6 Big 12 wins this season, K-State is allowing just 64.8 points on 41.7 percent shooting, including 28 percent from 3-point range, while forcing an average of 13.7 turnovers per game. The opponents in those wins have a narrow 34.7-33.7 rebounding average (208-202), while averaging just 24.0 points in the paint and 8.3 second-chance points per game.
  6. In its 7 Big 12 losses this season, K-State is allowing 71.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting, including 30.5 percent from 3-point range, while forcing 12 turnovers per game. The opponents in those losses have a whooping 40.4-30.0 rebounding average (283-210), including 22 more offensive rebounds, while averaging 31.7 points in the paint and 13.1 second-chance points per game.


GOOD AGAINST THE 3

  1. A trademark of Bruce Weber-coached teams has been their ability to defend the 3, as his squads have ranked among the top-40 in 3-point field goal percentage defense 5 times in the last 13 seasons. Three times his K-State teams have ranked among the best, ranking eighth (29.3%) in 2013-14, 20th (31.0%) in 2015-16 and 36th (31.4%) in 2018-19.
  2. K-State has been strong in defending the 3-pointer this season, allowing its opponents to make an average of 6.2 per game on just 27.3 percent shooting. Four times opponents have hit on better than 10 made 3-pointers, including 11 by Omaha, 12 by Illinois, 11 by Marquette and 10 by Oklahoma.
  3. As you would expect, defending the 3 has been a key factor in wins and losses, as K-State is allowing just 5.4 made 3-pointers on 23.7 percent shooting in its 14 wins, while the team is allowing 7.1 made 3-pointers on 31.2 percent shooting in their 11 losses. In Big 12 play, the Wildcats are allowing just 6.2 made 3-pointers on 28 percent shooting in their 6 wins as compared to 6.6 made 3-pointers on 30.5 percent shooting in their 7 losses.


'CATS CONTINUE STRIDES ON OFFENSE

  1. K-State is averaging 67.9 points on 41.9 percent shooting, including 34.0 percent from 3-point range, while connecting on 71.5 percent from the free throw line through the first 25 games. The Wildcats are getting assists on made field goals on 53.9 percent of the time, as they average 12.9 assists and a Big 12-low 11.4 turnovers per game. The team is also averaging 28.3 points in the paint, 16.1 points off the bench, 14.9 points off turnovers, 7.9 fast-break points and 9.2 points on second-chance opportunities.
  2. K-State's offensive numbers are slightly lower in Big 12 play, as the Wildcats are averaging 66.3 points on 40.8 percent shooting, including 34.7 percent from 3-point range, and 68.9 percent from the free throw line. The team is averaging 24.7 points in the paint, 10.7 points off the bench, 13.4 points off turnovers, 8.3 fast-break points and 9.6 points on second-chance opportunities.
  3. K-State's offense shines when the Wildcats share the ball, as the team is averaging 72.6 points and 14.6 assists in their 14 wins compared to just 62 points and 10.8 assists in their 11 losses. The squad has scored 400 points (28.6 ppg.) in the paint in the 14 wins, including 154 (25.7 ppg.) in the 6 Big 12 wins.


MARKED IMPROVEMENT FROM 3

  1. 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 (8.0), while they are third in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (34.0). In Big 12 play, the team is first in 3-point makes (8.1) and second in 3-point percentage (34.7).
  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.
  3. With 201 3-point field goal makes through 25 games, the Wildcats have already surpassed its entire 3-point total (191) from the 2020-21 season, while its 105 treys in Big 12 play are more than they had in 18 league games (102) in 2020-21. They are close to surpassing the 213 made in 2019-20.
  4. The Wildcats' 3-point shooting plays a big part in wins and losses, as the team is averaging 8.7 3-point makes on 37.4 percent shooting in the 14 wins, while they are averaging 7.2 treys on 29.8 percent shooting in their 11 losses.
  5. Sophomore Nijel Pack ranks first in the Big 12 in 3-pointers/game (3.26) and 3-point field goal percentage (43.6). He is also first in 3-point field goals/ game (3.38) in Big 12-only games and second in percentage (43.1).


BUILDING BETTER DEPTH

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. K-State is averaging nearly 16.1 points per game from its bench this season, including 28-point efforts against No. 13/12 Arkansas and No. 14/15 Illinois. The team is 8-2 this season when getting 20 or more points from the bench.
  4. The bench has played a significant factor in success in Big 12 play with the Wildcats averaging 14.0 bench points in their 6 wins (including 4 double-digit efforts) and 7.7 bench points in their 7 losses (including 1 double-digit effort).


MINIMIZING TURNOVERS

  1. K-State ranks among the best in the Big 12 with just 11.4 turnovers per game, including just 11.2 miscues per game in league play. The team has 10 or fewer turnovers in 9 games, including single digits on 7 occasions (3 times in Big 12 play). This is all the more impressive stat because of the competition, as 6 Big 12 teams rank in the top-50 in turnovers forced, including 4 in top-25.
  2. The Wildcats rank fourth in assist/turnover ratio (+1.13) and sixth in turnover margin (+1.80). Those numbers are better in league action, as they are second in turnover margin (+1.62) and third in assist/turnover ratio (+1.02).
  3. Junior Markquis Nowell is second overall in assist/turnover ratio (+2.05) and third in league-only games at +2.04. He is second in the Big 12 in assists (5.0), while he is tops in steals (2.3) in all games. He leads the league in both categories in Big 12 play, averaging 5.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game.


TURNOVER LOW

  1. 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.
  2. The Wildcats have also had 10 turnovers or less 9 times, including 7 vs. Wichita State (12/1/21), 6 vs. Texas (1/4/22) and Kansas (1/22/22), 5 at Ole Miss (1/29/22) and 9 at Iowa State (2/12/22)


BETTER AT THE FREE THROW LINE

  1. One of the areas where K-State has made improvement in 2021-22 has been from the free throw line, where the Wildcats rank third in the Big 12 in hitting on 71.5 percent (299-of-418) from the line. It would be the highest mark for the team since connecting on 73.4 percent in 2017-18. 
  2. While only fifth-year senior Mark Smith has enough attempted to rank in the Big 12's top-12 in free throw percentage, three others (Ish Massoud, Nijel Pack and Markquis Nowell) are all connecting on better than 80 percent from the line, including a team-high 93.3 percent (28-of-30) by Massoud.
  3. Free throw shooting proved to be important in the win over West Virginia, as K-State converted on 31-of-39 attempts, including 12-of-13 in the first half. The 31 free throws were the most in a game in 6 seasons since making 36 against South Dakota on Nov. 10, 2015, while the 39 attempts were the most since posting 40 at West Virginia on Feb. 11, 2017.


MOVING TOWARDS 500

  1. Head coach Bruce Weber is working towards a coaching milestone, as he is 6 wins away from earning 500 in his career. He enters Saturday's game with a 497-296 (.626) record in 24 years as a head coach at Southern Illinois (1998-2003), Illinois (2003-12) and K-State (2012-21).
  2. 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.


PACK CONTINUES ELITE PLAY

  1. 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 15 of 23 games played, which includes 6 games of 20 or more points (all in Big 12 play), along with a pair of 30-point games vs. Top 10 foes Kansas and Baylor. He also had his first game-winner with his 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds against Oklahoma State. He is the only Big 12 player with multiple 30-point games this season.
  2. Pack is averaging a team-best 17.5 points on 46.2 percent (141-of-305) shooting, including 43.6 percent (75-of-172) from 3-point range, to go with 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 32.6 minutes per game. He is the leader in scoring, double-digit scoring games (22), field goals (141) and 3-point field goals (75).
  3. Pack ranks among the Big 12's top-10 in 4 categories, including first in 3-point field goals per game (3.26) and 3-point percentage, third in scoring and fifth in field goal percentage. Through 13 Big 12 games, he is first in 3-point field goals per game (3.38) and second in scoring (19.3 ppg.).
  4. With his lone 3-pointer against West Virginia, Pack extended his streak of consecutive games with a triple to 28, which broke the school record of 25 games set by Steve Henson between Jan. 5, 1989 to Dec. 2, 1989. During this stretch, Pack is averaging 3.3 makes per game on 44.0 percent (91-of-207) shooting. He has hit on at least 4 made 3-pointers 12 times in this 28-game stretch, including career-tying 8 treys in his 35-point effort vs. No. 7/7 Kansas, which are the second-most by a Wildcat in a Big 12 game.


NOWELL PROVIDES SPARK

  1. Junior Markquis Nowell has had one of the bigger impacts for the Wildcats, as the transfer leads the team in assists (115) and steals (52), while he is second in 20-point games (2) and double-doubles (3) and third in scoring (12.0 ppg.) and double-digit scoring games (16). He ranks 16th nationally and first in the Big 12 in steals (2.3), while he is 36th and second in the league in assists (5.0).
  2. The Big 12 leader in steals (2.3 spg.), Nowell is one of just 2 Big 12 players (along with Baylor's James Akinjo) to rank in the top-15 in scoring (14th) and top-5 in steals (1st), assists (2nd) and assist/turnover ratio (2nd). He also leads the Big 12 in both assists (5.2 apg.) and steals (2.6 spg.) in league action.
  3. 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. His 10-point, 10-assist performance at West Virginia is believed to be the first by a Wildcat in his first conference game.


DYNAMIC DUO

  1. The shortest backcourt tandem in the country, sophomore Nijel Pack and junior Markquis Nowell are averaging 29.5 points and 7.5 assists per game this season, which would rank as the third-best duo in the Big 12 behind Kansas' Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun (35.2) and West Virginia's Taz Sherman and Sean McNeil (31.6). Pack and Nowell's assist average also ranks second.


SMITH CONTINUES TO IMPRESS

  1. Fifth-year senior Mark Smith has made a big impact in a short period of time, as the transfer leads in double-doubles (7), rebounding (8.5 rpg.) and defensive rebounds (167) while he ranks second in scoring (12.2 ppg.), double-digit scoring games (17) and 20-point games (4). He leads the Big 12 in both rebounding and defensive rebounds (6.65 drpg.), while he is tied in double-doubles. He has had 16 rebounds twice, which is the most by any Big 12 player.
  2. The loss at Oklahoma on Jan. 1 overshadowed a historic performance by 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 an official stat 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Smith, who is tied for the Big 12 lead with 8 games of 10 or more rebounds, posted his second 20/10 double-double at Ole Miss, as he scored a game-high 20 points and tied his career-high with 16 rebounds. He followed his effort with 21 points vs. Oklahoma State to become the first Wildcat in 3 years with back-to-back 20-point games. He is averaging 17.7 points in the last 6 games.


SUPER SENIOR McGUIRL MATTERS

  1. Although Mike McGuirl went from the primary option in 2020-21 to more of a secondary role in 2021-22, there is no player that more factors in K-State's wins and losses more than the fifth-year senior. 
  2. The Wildcats are 5-0 this season when McGuirl scores in double figures, including 3-0 in Big 12 play (vs. Texas Tech, at Texas and at TCU).
  3. McGuirl is averaging 7.8 points on 40.7 percent shooting, including 36.6 percent from 3-point range, to go with 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in 13 of the 14 wins. Those numbers jump in the 6 Big 12 wins, as he is averaging 9.5 points on 45.5 percent shooting, including 52.4 percent from 3-point range, to go with 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
  4. McGuirl is averaging just 4.4 points on 29.6 percent shooting, including 18.2 percent from 3-point range, with 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in playing in 9 of the team's 11 losses. He is averaging just 3.6 points on 36.4 percent shooting, including 14.3 percent from long range, with 3.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists in playing in 5 of the 7 Big 12 losses. He missed the losses at West Virginia and at home to TCU to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
  5. McGuirl's announcement on March 23 that he was utilizing his extra season and returning in 2021-22 was the first of several key moments for the Wildcats this off-season, which was followed by the additions of transfers Mark Smith (March 31), Markquis Nowell (April 1) and Ish Massoud (April 15).
  6. An All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection, McGuirl enjoyed a solid 'first' 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.
  7. 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.


TRANSFERS PAYING OFF

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 (473) in their respective careers on 36.1 percent shooting.
  4. The trio have made their impact in the first 25 games with Smith starting every game, while Nowell and Massoud have started 17 and 15. They have combined for 746 points (29.8 ppg.) on 40.3 percent (255-of-633) shooting with 360 rebounds (14.4 rpg.), 167 assists (6.7 apg.) and 91 steals (3.6 spg).
  5. Nowell has scored in double figures in 16 games, including 3 points/assists double-doubles, and ranks first in the Big 12 in steals (2.26 spg.) and second in both assists (5.0 apg.) and assist/turnover ratio (+2.05). He also paces first in both assists (5.18 apg.) and steals (2.55 spg.) in league-only games. Massoud has 9 double-digit scoring games. Smith has 7 double-doubles and leads the Big 12 in rebounding (8.5 rpg.) and defensive rebounds (6.68 drpg.).


UP NEXT: AT 6/6 KANSAS (20-4, 10-2 BIG 12)

  1. K-State concludes its 2-game road trip on Tuesday night with a short trip east to Lawrence, Kansas to take on No. 6/6 Kansas (20-4, 10-2 Big 12) at 8 p.m., CT. The Jayhawks won the first meeting, 78-75, on Jan. 22.

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