Feb 17, 2021

K-State renews Dillons Sunflower Showdown vs KU Wednesday

Posted Feb 17, 2021 1:06 PM

Kansas State (5-17, 1-12 Big 12) returns home on Wednesday to host No. 23/24 Kansas (15-7, 9-5 Big 12) in the 295th edition of the Dillons Sunflower Showdown at 7 p.m., CT at Bramlage Coliseum. It is the sixth-most played rivalry (294) and eighth-most continuously played (115) in NCAA Division I history. The rivals have met at least twice a year every season since 1912. Wednesday's game will air on Big 12 Now with Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play) and Robbie Hummel (analyst).

  1. This will be the Wildcats' 10th matchup against a Top 25 opponent this season, including the fifth in a row (No. 23/22 Kansas, No. 13/11 Texas Tech, No. 13/13 Texas, No. 23/22 Oklahoma State and No. 23/24 Kansas). It will mark the first time in school history that a team has faced 5 consecutive Top 25 foes, while it continues a stretch of 7 ranked foes in an 8-game stretch. K-State has lost 14 in a row against ranked opponents, including Saturday's 67-60 loss at No. 23/22 Oklahoma State, while the Wildcats have dropped 6 straight to ranked teams at home. K-State is 119-271 all-time vs. ranked opponents, which includes a 5-7 mark vs. the AP's No. 23 ranked squad. Head coach Bruce Weber has a school-record 26 wins vs. Top 25 foes.
  2. K-State tried to make yet another second-half rally, using a 16-0 run to close to within 4 points, however, No. 23/22 Oklahoma State responded with a decisive run of its own to maintain the lead in a 67-60 win on Saturday. The loss extended the Wildcats' losing streak to 12 games, including 11 in Big 12 play. The 12-game losing streak is the longest in a single season and the second-longest in school history.
  3. After scoring just 19 points in the first half against OSU on a season-low 25 percent (8-of-32), K-State woke up offensively in the second half, scoring 41 points on 55.2 percent (16-of-29) shooting, including 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from 3-point range.  It marked the first 40-point half since the second half of the first meeting with Texas on Jan. 16. In the last 3 games (13/11 Texas Tech, 13/13 Texas and 23/22 Oklahoma State), the Wildcats have been better offensively in the second half, averaging 38.7 points on 51.9 percent (41-of-79) shooting.
  4. Sophomore Antonio Gordon capped an impressive stretch for the Wildcats with his first career double-double (15 points, 14 rebounds) at No. 23/22 Oklahoma State on Saturday. Since returning to the starting lineup against No. 23/22 Kansas on Feb. 2, Gordon is averaging a near double-double with 8.5 points on 44.8 percent (13-of-29) shooting with 10 rebounds in 34.3 minutes per game.
  5. K-State has continued to juggle its lineup, as the Wildcats played its fourth straight game without sophomore starter DaJuan Gordon, who was injured against Texas A&M on Jan. 30. Gordon is the eighth Wildcat to miss a game due to either injury or COVID-19 related protocols, while only Mike McGuirl is the only player to start all 22 games. K-State has started 3 true freshmen (Davion Bradford, Selton Miguel and Nijel Pack) in half of their 22 games, including 8 times in Big 12 play. The 51 combined starts by true freshmen ranks second nationally to Kentucky's 57 and just ahead of Washington State's 49.


NOTES ON 23/24 KANSAS (15-7, 9-5 Big 12)

  1. No. 23/24 Kansas (15-7, 9-5 Big 12) ran its winning streak to 3 games with consecutive victories over Iowa State last week, including a 64-50 win in Ames on Saturday afternoon. The Jayhawks broke a 24-all tie with a 40-point second half, as the frontcourt of David McCormack (13) and Jalen Wilson (22) combined for 35 points. Wilson added 10 rebounds.
  2. Kansas is averaging 74.6 points on 44 percent shooting, including 35.5 percent from 3-point range, to go with 38.3 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 6.8 steals and 4.1 blocks per game, while allowing 67.4 points on 41.3 percent shooting, including 34.4 percent from 3-point range. The team is connecting on 72.4 percent from the free throw line. The Jayhawks are averaging 72.1 points on 44.2 percent shooting, including 34.2 percent from 3-point range, in Big 12 play, while allowing 66.4 points on 41.1 percent shooting.
  3. All 5 starters are averaging in double figures led by junior Ochai Agbaji's 13.9 points per game average on 42.4 percent shooting, including a team-best 57 3-pointers. McCormack is second in scoring at 13.0 points on 48.9 percent shooting with 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks, while Wilson is averaging 12.8 points on 44.7 percent shooting with a team-best 7.8 rebounds. Senior Marcus Garrett paces the team in assists (78) and steals (34).
  4. Kansas is led by Hall of Fame head coach Bill Self, who has posted a 516-116 (.817) record in his 18th season, which includes the 2008 national title and 3 Final Fours. He is 723-221 (.766) in his 28th season as a head coach.


SERIES HISTORY

  1. K-State and Kansas will meet for the 295th time in their histories with the Jayhawks holding a 200-94 advantage in a series that dates to 1907. Kansas is 79-48 all-time in games played in Lawrence, including 27-5 at Bramlage Coliseum. The Jayhawks are 53-6 all-time in the Big 12 era.
  2. Kansas has won 4 straight in the series, including a 74-51 win at home on Feb. 2. The Jayhawks broke open a tight 33-25 contest at halftime with a strong start to the second half, scoring 10 of the first 14 points. All told, they out-scored the Wildcats, 23-7, in the first 10 minutes after halftime.
  3. Head coach Bruce Weber is 3-18 all-time against Kansas with all 3 wins coming at home (2014, 2015, 2019), while he is 4-19 against head coach Bill Self. Self is 36-6 vs. Kansas, including 13-5 in Manhattan.


LAST TIME OUT: 23/22 OKLAHOMA STATE 67, K-STATE 60

  1. K-State tried to make yet another second-half rally, using a 16-0 run to close to within 4 points, however, No. 23/22 Oklahoma State responded with a decisive run of its own to maintain the lead in a 67-60 win on Saturday in front of a limited capacity crowd of 3,350 fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
  2. Down by 20 in the early moments of the second half, K-State attempted to rally from a big deficit for the second straight game, using a 16-0 run over a near 4-minute stretch to close to within 41-37 to play. Five different Wildcats scored during the stretch, including a pair of 3-pointers by freshman Nijel Pack, who scored 12 of his 14 points after halftime and has now scored in double figures in 8 consecutive games.
  3. However, just as quick, Oklahoma State rattled off a 10-2 run, keyed by National Freshman of the Year candidate Cade Cunningham, who like Pack had a terrific second half, scoring 12 of his team-high 15 points after halftime. After pushing the lead back out to 51-39 with 12:38 to play, the Cowboys maintained a double-digit lead for much of the rest of the way.
  4. For the second straight game, it was the 3-pointer that hurt the Wildcats the most, as Oklahoma State connected on 10 triples on 28 attempts (35.7 percent) compared to K-State's 5 on 19 attempts (26.3 percent). The shooting percentages were nearly identical with the Cowboys hitting on 40.7 percent (24-of-59), while the Wildcats were at 39.3 percent (24-of-61). K-State shot 55.2 percent (16-of-29) in the second half, including 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from long range, after shooting a season-low 25 percent (8-of-32) in the first half, including 0-of-8 from long range.
  5. The loss spoiled an impressive day from sophomore Antonio Gordon, who posted his first career double-double with a game-tying 15 points on 7-of-13 field goals and a career-best 14 rebounds. It continued a solid stretch for Gordon, who is averaging 8.4 points and 9 rebounds in the last 5 games. Aside from Gordon and Pack, freshman Davion Bradford also registered double figures with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting.


INJURIES, YOUTH DEFINE SEASON SO FAR FOR K-STATE 

  1. Very few teams in the country have had to deal with the mixture of injuries, COVID-19 protocols and youth quite like K-State has in 2020-21. Already one of the country's most inexperienced teams with just 4 returning lettermen (only 4 schools have fewer) and 11 underclassmen (only 6 schools have more), the Wildcats have seen 8 different players combined to miss 58 games this season, while senior Mike McGuirl is the only player to start all 22 games with 8 different starting lineups.


GAMES MISSED IN 2020-21 [58]

  1. Montavious Murphy - 18 (expected to miss rest of season)
  2. Luke Kasubke - 13 (saw first action at Texas)
  3. Kaosi Ezeagu - 10 (returned to action at Oklahoma)
  4. Antonio Gordon - 4 (returned to action at Texas)
  5. Carlton Linguard, Jr. - 4 (returned to action vs. Fort Hays State)
  6. Nijel Pack - 4 (returned to action at Baylor)
  7. DaJuan Gordon - 4 (no timetable for return)
  8. Seryee Lewis - 1 (returned to action at Texas)
  1. K-State is one of just 9 schools (Arizona, Duke, Kentucky, James Madison, Marist, North Carolina, Sacred Heart and Washington State) to start at least 3 true freshmen in one game, while the 51 combined starts by Wildcat true freshmen rank second nationally to Kentucky's 57 and just ahead of Washington State's 49


A SPECIAL FRESHMAN

  1. Freshman Nijel Pack is off to an impressive start to his rookie season in Manhattan, as he ranks among team leaders in several categories, including scoring (12.6 ppg./1st), double-digit scoring games (12/2nd), field goals made (84/2nd), 3-point field goals made (44/2nd), assists (63/2nd), steals (22/t-1st) and minutes per game (32.9/2nd). He is attempting to become the first true freshman to lead the Wildcats in scoring since Marcus Foster averaged 15.5 points during the 2013-14 season.
  2. Before missing the Oklahoma State game on Jan. 9, Pack had started to hit his scoring groove, scoring in double figures in 3 of 4 games, including a then season-high 17 points at No. 18/19 Texas Tech (1/5/21). He returned to the court against No. 2/2 Baylor on Jan. 27 and has continued his stellar play, rattling off double-digit scoring games in 6 straight games.
  3. It was during this stretch that Pack came up with a special performance in K-State's 68-61 loss to Texas A&M in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge Jan. 30, as the rookie scored a season-high 26 points on 9-of-16 field goals, including 8-of-14 from 3-point range, to go with 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals in just his second game back from missing 4 games due to COVID-19 protocols. 
  4. Dating back to the Big 12 opener with TCU on Jan. 2, Pack has scored in double figures in 8 consecutive contests. In this 8-game span, he is averaging 16 points on 47.4 percent (45-of-95) shooting, including 45.6 percent (26-of-57) from 3-point range, with 3.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals.
  5. The 26-point effort was the most by a Wildcat true freshman since Marcus Foster scored 34 points against Texas on Feb. 8, 2014. The 8 3-pointers tie for the second-most in a game in school history and are the most-ever by a Wildcat freshman. His 8 treys are only surpassed by Askia Jones' school-record 14 against Fresno State on March 24, 1994, while Steve Henson (vs. Iowa State on Feb. 17, 1990) and Cortez Groves (vs. Texas A&M on March 23, 2000) also had 8 treys in a game. It was his team-leading eighth game of at least 5 assists, while he tied his season-high with 3 steals.
  6. Pack ranks third in the Big 12 in 3-point field goals made per game (2.44), as he has knocked down at least 3 triples in 9 games, including a season-high 8 vs. Texas A&M (1/30/21). His 44 makes already rank third by a true freshman in school history, while his 41.5 3-point field goal percentage is on pace to be the best-ever by a freshman. He also ranks fourth in the Big 12 with a 1.91 assist/turnover ratio, while he is also in the Top 15 in assists (13th/3.50), steals (14th/1.22) and minutes (11th/32.8).


McGUIRL DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES

  1. Mike McGuirl is making the most of his senior season, as he is among the leaders in a number of categories, including first in total points (258), double-digit scoring games (15), field goals made (85) and attempted (236), 3-point field goals made (47) and attempted (142), assists (78), steals (22) and minutes (34.0). He is second in scoring (11.7 ppg.).
  2. McGuirl ranks in the Top 15 in several categories in the Big 12, including 11th in assists (3.55 apg.), 10th in assist-turnover ratio (1.47), ninth in 3-point field goals made (2.14) and fifth in minutes (34.0 mpg.).
  3. McGuirl has led the team in scoring a team-best 8 times, while he has led in rebounding twice, in assists 10 times and in steals on 7 occasions.
  4. McGuirl's 15 double-digit scoring games have already surpassed his entire career total (10) that he had entering the 2020-21 season. He opened the year with his first career 20-point game vs. Drake on Nov. 25 with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range. He equaled that mark with 22 vs. Fort Hays State (12/8/20). He has scored in double figures in 11 of the last 14 games, where he is averaging 11.4 points per game.
  5. In addition to his scoring, McGuirl has also set up his teammates, dishing out a team-best 78 assists (to 53 turnovers). He has 8 games at least 5 assists this season, including a career-best 8 vs. Milwaukee (12/11/20).


AGORDON LEARNING HIS ROLE

  1. Despite an up-and-down season, in which, he missed 5 games due to COVID-19 protocols in late December and early January, sophomore Antonio Gordon is starting to settle into his role. He is averaging 5.9 points on 44.6 percent shooting with 5.7 rebounds in 18 games, including 7.3 points on 50.9 percent shooting with a team-best 6.4 rebounds in Big 12 play.
  2. Gordon came off the bench with a big game against No. 2/2 Baylor (12/19/20) by collecting a career-high 23 points on 9-of-9 field goals. The 23 points tie for the eighth-most by reserve in a conference game.
  3. Since returning to start at No. 4/4 Texas (1/16/21), Gordon is averaging 6.2 points on 41.2 percent shooting with 6.8 rebounds in 25.9 minutes per game. He has started each of the last 4 games, averaging 8.5 points on 44.8 percent shooting (6-of-16) with 10.0 rebounds in 34 minutes per game. He earned his first double-double at No. 23/22 Oklahoma State on Saturday, posting a team-high 15 points to go with a career-best 14 rebounds.


MR. DO-EVERYTHING

  1. Sophomore DaJuan Gordon has proved to be K-State's Mr. Do Everything, as he is third on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game, while leading the way in both rebounding (5.8 rpg.) and steals (1.2 spg.). He is also second in free throws made (34), attempted (46) and percentage (73.9). He has missed the last 4 games due to injury against Texas A&M.
  2. Gordon is 1 of 4 guards (OSU's Likekele and Cunningham and OU's Reaves) to rank in the Big 12's Top 15 in rebounding, as he is 11th with 5.8 rebounds per game, while he is 13th in defensive rebounds (4.3).
  3. Gordon's 3 double-doubles are the most by Big 12 guard and rank sixth among all Big 12 players. Gordon's 3 career double-doubles have all come in the last 13 games played, including 2 in Big 12 play. He posted his first career double-double at Iowa State (12/15/20), scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He followed that with a 13-point, 12-rebound effort vs. Jacksonville (12/21/20) before his latest vs. Oklahoma State (1/9/21) with 14 points and 11 rebounds in a career-best 39 minutes. He has also grabbed double-digit rebounds in 4 games, including in back-to-back contests vs. Jacksonville (12/21/20) and Omaha (12/29/20). He is the first Wildcat to post double-digit rebounds in back-to-back games since Wesley Iwundu in March 2017.
  4. Gordon has scored in double figures in 9 games this season, including a career-best 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting vs. TCU (1/2/21). Six of those 9 double-digit scoring games have come in the last 13 games.


MIGUEL ANOTHER ROOKIE HAVING A SOLID YEAR

  1. A starter in 15 of the last 17 games, freshman Selton Miguel is having a solid freshman campaign, averaging 7.5 points on 34.2 percent shooting, including 7.8 points on 33.7 percent shooting in Big 12 play. He is fourth on the team in scoring and steals (17), while his third in 3-pointers (18).
  2. Miguel's 7 double-digit scoring games have come in the last 18 outings, including a team-tying 17 points at No. 18/19 Texas Tech (1/5/21). He also scored a season-tying 17 points vs. Milwaukee (12/11/20) on 7-of-14 field goals, while he had 14 vs. No. 2/2 Baylor (12/19/20).
  3. Miguel connected on a 3-pointer with 9.7 seconds left to lift K-State to a 60-58 win over Omaha on Dec. 29.  It was the rookie's first game-winner, as he capped his 11-point effort with his third trey of the game.


IMPRESSIVE YOUNG BIG MAN

  1. With sophomore Kaosi Ezeagu out for an extended time, freshman Davion Bradford has had an opportunity to display his skills, earning starts in each of the last 18 games. He is averaging 7.1 points on a team-best 61.2 percent shooting (63-of-103) with 4.1 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game.
  2. Bradford has scored in double figures in 6 games thus far, including scoring a season-high 18 points vs. Milwaukee (12/11/20). He also played a major role in the win at Iowa State (12/15/20) with 14 points on 5-of-7 field goals and a 4-of-4 effort from the line. He has posted double digits 5 times in Big 12 play, including team-high 14 points at No. 4/4 Texas (1/16/21).
  3. Bradford has already shown the ability to finish at the rim, totaling a team-high 28 dunks through 22 games, which in comparison surpasses Makol Mawien's entire total of 17 in 32 games played in 2019-20 season.


IRON 'CATS

  1. Due to low numbers caused by injuries and COVID-19 protocols, K-State had just 8 available players - including 6 on scholarship - for its outing against Oklahoma State at home on Saturday, Jan. 9. To make the situation worse, sophomore Carlton Linguard, Jr., was on a minutes' limit due to a back injury (playing just over 14 minutes), while freshman Davion Bradford ended up playing just over 12 minutes due to foul issues.
  2. This caused the remaining 6 to play the bulk of the minutes, including walk-on Joe Petrakis logging a career-high 15 minutes of action.  Senior Mike McGuirl and junior Rudi Williams each played all 40 minutes, setting career-highs, while two others - sophomore DaJuan Gordon and freshmen Selton Miguel - each registered 39 minutes, also career-highs. All told, those 4 players were responsible for 158 of K-State's 200 total minutes.
  3. McGuirl and Williams are the first Wildcats to play all 40 minutes of a regulation game since Barry Brown, Jr., played all 40 against Baylor on March 2, 2019. It marked the first time two teammates played all 40 minutes in a regulation game in more than 30 years since Steve Henson and LaKeith Humphrey accomplished the feat against Oklahoma State in a 69-62 win at home on Feb. 5, 1989.


PETRAKIS EARNS SCHOLARSHIP

  1. Sophomore walk-on Joe Petrakis earned a scholarship for the rest of the 2020-21 season prior to the game with No. 14/15 West Virginia on Jan. 23.
  2. After redshirting in 2019-20, Petrakis took advantage of his opportunity with the loss numbers against Oklahoma State on Jan. 9, outscoring freshman All-American candidate Cade Cunningham (6 points to 5 points), while logging a career-high 15 minutes of action.
  3. Petrakis, who redshirt his first season in 2019-20 after playing one season at Dodge City College, scored his first career points with 6:13 left in the first half and finished with a career-high 6 points on 2-of-5 field goals, including his first 3-pointer, to go with 2 rebounds.


MURPHY EXPECTED TO MISS SEASON

  1. Sophomore Montavious Murphy has elected to have what is expected to be season-ending surgery to fix his ailing knee, which has caused him to miss 18 games this season. Murphy, who was the opening day starter vs. Drake (11/25/20), saw action in 4 games, including the first 3.
  2. Murphy, who became just the fourth true freshman to start an opener under Bruce Weber in 2019-20, has now missed 31 games in his career due to injury, including the last 6 games of his freshman season.
  3. Murphy had a solid freshman season in 2019-20, averaging 5.2 points on 40.7 percent shooting with 3.7 rebounds in 25.1 minutes per game.


UP NEXT: TCU (11-8, 4-6 Big 12)

  1. K-State finishes the regular season with 2 of 3 games on the road, as the Wildcats head to Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday afternoon to take on TCU (11-8, 4-6 Big 12) at the Schollmaier Arena at 4 p.m., CT on Big 12 Now. The Horned Frogs are looking to sweep the regular-season series for the second straight season after posting a 67-60 win over the Wildcats in Manhattan on Jan. 2. TCU has won the last 2 of the last 3 meetings at home in the series.
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