KANSAS STATE (16-6, 5-4 Big 12) vs. 15/11 WEST VIRGINIA (16-6, 5-4 Big 12)

Saturday, February 3, 2018 >> 3 p.m. CT >> WVU Coliseum (14,000) >> Morgantown, W.Va.

COACHES

Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)

Overall: 429-229/20^th season

At K-State: 116-74/6^th season

1. West Virginia: 4-8 (1-4 on the road)

West Virginia: Bob Huggins (West Virginia ’77)

Career Record: 835-336/36^th Year

Record at West Virginia: 245-125/11^th Year

1. Kansas State: 9-4 (4-1 at home)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (16-6, 5-4 Big 12)

G: #2 Cartier Diarra

G: #5 Barry Brown, Jr.

G: #20 Xavier Sneed

F: #32 Dean Wade

F: #14 Makol Mawien

West Virginia (16-6, 5-4 Big 12)

G: #2 Jevon Carter

G: #14 Chase Harler

F: #21 Wesley Harris

F: #23 Esa Ahmad

F: #50 Sagaba Konate

SERIES HISTORY

Overall: West Virginia leads 9-5

In Morgantown: West Virginia leads 4-2

In Manhattan: Tied 3-3

Big 12 era: West Virginia leads 8-4

Active Streak: West Virginia, 3

Weber vs. West Virginia: 4-8 (1-4 on the road)

Huggins vs. K-State: 9-4 (4-1 at home)

Weber vs. Huggins: 6-8 (1-4 on the road)

OPENING TIP

• Kansas State (16-6, 5-4 Big 12) begins the second half of Big 12 play on Saturday afternoon, as the Wildcats travel to Morgantown, W. Va., to take on No. 15/11 West Virginia (16-6, 5-4 Big 12) at 3 p.m., CT at the WVU Coliseum. Both teams sit in a tie for fourth place in the Big 12 standings after the first half of league competition with 5-4 marks, just two games behind Kansas and one game behind second-place Texas Tech and Oklahoma. Saturday’s game will air on ESPN2 and the WatchESPN app with Rich Hollenberg (play-by-play) and Fran Fraschilla (analyst).
• K-State hasn’t fared well in recent trips to play West Virginia with the Wildcats dropping four straight at the WVU Coliseum by an average of 12 points per game, including an average of 17 points per game in the last two visits which includes a 70-55 loss in 2016 and a 85-66 setback in 2017. Overall, the team is 2-4 in games played in Morgantown with the last win coming 65-64 on Jan. 12, 2013.
• West Virginia owns a 9-5 advantage in the all-time series with K-State with eight wins in the last nine meetings between the schools by an average margin of 8.4 points per game. The Mountaineers are 8-4 in the Big 12 era and are attempting to sweep the season series for the third time in four seasons after earning a 77-69 win over the Wildcats in the first meeting on New Year’s Day at Bramlage Coliseum. In that contest, West Virginia connected on 53.6 percent from the field and had four players score in double figures led by freshman Teddy Allen’s 22 points. K-State was held to just 35.7 percent shooting, as sophomore Xavier Sneed led with 20 points.
• Saturday’s contest marks the start of three road games in a four-game stretch, as the Wildcats play back-to-back road tilts at No. 15/11 West Virginia and Texas (14-8, 4-5 Big 12) before returning home to face No. 10/10 Texas Tech (18-4, 6-3 Big 12) on on Feb. 10. The team is 5-4 away from Bramlage Coliseum this season, which includes a 4-2 mark in true road games and a 2-2 mark on the road in Big 12 play. The four true road wins are the second-most of any Big 12 team this season and only eclipsed by Kansas’ five. The team is 0-2 away from home against ranked teams, falling 74-58 at No. 18/18 Texas Tech on Jan. 6 and 73-72 on No. 12/12 Kansas on Jan. 13.
• K-State saw its four-game winning streak come to an end on Monday night, as No. 7/7 Kansas completed the season sweep with a 70-56 win at Bramlage Coliseum.   The Jayhawks jumped out to a 15-4 lead en route to a 40-27 advantage after halftime on 70 percent shooting, as the Wildcats could get no closer than five points the rest of the way. K-State shot a near season-low 32.3 percent from the field, including a season-worst 25.7 percent in the first half, despite scoring 21 points off of 16 Kansas turnovers. Junior Dean Wade continued his solid play with his sixth consecutive 20-point outing with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting. He is the first Wildcat since Michael Beasley in 2007-08 to post six straight 20-point games.
• Junior Barry Brown, Jr. and Wade are averaging 21.2 and 20.2 points per game at the midway point of Big 12 play, which rank second and third, respectively, among all Big 12 players. They are two of only four league players (along with Oklahoma’s Trae Young (33.7 ppg.) and Texas Tech’s Keenan Evans (20.1 ppg.) to average 20 points or more points per game. Brown and Wade have combined to score 373 points in the first nine Big 12 games, which is the fourth-best totalat this point of league play and the most since Michael Beasley and Bill Walker totaled 397 points in 2008.

NOTES ON 15/11 WEST VIRGINIA

• West Virginia enters Saturday’s contest with a 16-6 overall record and a 5-4 mark in Big 12 play after dropping a 93-77 decision at Iowa State on Wednesday night. The Mountaineers shot just 43.3 percent from the field, including 34.6 percent from 3-point range, while the Cyclones connected on 62.1 percent, including 55.6 percent from long range, while posting just 8 turnovers. Senior Jevon Carter paced three players in double figures with 18 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds, while junior Esa Ahmad and sophomore Sagaba Konate each added 17 points.
• The Mountaineers are averaging 80.6 points on 42.4 percent shooting, including 33.6 percent from 3-point range, while they are allowing 67.8 points on 41.6 percent from the field, including 35.6 percent from long range. The team is averaging 9.0 3-point field goals per game with four players totaling 24 or more treys. They lead the Big 12 in turnover margin (+6.8), offensive rebounds (14.9) and steals (8.8) and rank second nationally in turnover margin and offensive rebounds, fifth in turnovers forced (18.4), 10th in steals per game and 18th in scoring margin (+12.9).
• Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Jevon Carter paces four players in double figures at 17.4 points per game on 41.1 percent shooting, including 39.5 percent from 3-point range, and 86.1 percent from the free throw line. The senior, who ranks second in both steals/game and total steals (71) and 11th in assists (6.6 apg.), places among the Top 10 in the Big 12 in seven categories, including steals (1st), scoring (3rd), free throw percentage (3rd), assists (4th), minutes (4th), assist/turnover ratio (5th) and 3-point field goals made (9th)  Senior Daxter Miles, Jr., is second in scoring at 12.8 points per game on 43.2 percent shooting, while sophomore Lamont West (10.7 ppg.) and Sagaba Konate (10.1 ppg.) also average double figures. Konate, who is shooting 51.6 percent from the field, leads in both rebounding (8.0 rpg.) and blocked shots (3.3 bpg.).
• West Virginia is led by soon-to-be Hall of Fame head coach Bob Huggins, who has an 835-336 (.713) overall record in 36 seasons as head coach, which includes stints at Walsh College (1980-83), Akron (1984-89), Cincinnati (1989-2005), Kansas State (2006-07) and now his alma mater, West Virginia. He has a 245-125 (.662) record in his 11th season in Morgantown, which includes eight NCAA Tournaments and a Final Four in 2010.

TOM GILBERT
Associate Director for Athletics Communications | K-State Athletics

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State has been selected to participate in the 2018 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, which is set for Friday–Monday, November 16-19, 2018 at the University of the Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center.

The 19^th annual event will return to UVI Sports and Fitness Center in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands after being relocated to Lynchburg, Virginia and Liberty University this past November due to hurricane damage.

The field includes Eastern Kentucky, Kennesaw State, Missouri, Northern Iowa, Old Dominion, Oregon State and Pennsylvania. A matchup with the Tigers would be the second since 2015 and also pit head coach Bruce Weber against former player Cuonzo Martin, who he helped coach as assistant coach at Purdue from 1991-95. The Wildcats have faced the other seven teams at least once in their history, including seven meetings with Northern Iowa, five with Oregon State and two each with Eastern Kentucky and Old Dominion.

All the games of the Paradise Jam will stream live on FloHoops at www.FloHoops.com. To access the live event coverage and replays of the tournament, users must sign up to become FloPRO subscribers on FloHoops.com.

“We are excited to take our team to the Paradise Jam and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said head coach Bruce Weber. “Obviously, it is very encouraging to see that the tournament will be able return to its regular site after all the hurricane damage inflicted on the islands. This is a really competitive tournament that includes a number of quality, historically-strong programs like Missouri, Northern Iowa, Old Dominion and Oregon State.”

Previous winners of the Paradise Jam include Maryland (2013), Seton Hall (2014), South Carolina (2015) and Creighton (2016) as well as Big 12 participant Baylor (2007). Colorado won the latest title at Liberty with a 79-70 victory over Mercer in a field that included Drake, Drexel, Houston, host Liberty, Quinnipiac and Wake Forest.

This will mark the Wildcats’ second appearance in the Paradise Jam and the first since going 1-2 in the 2002 event. K-State lost back-to-back to BYU (64-73) and Toledo (50-58) before defeating Michigan, 82-71, in the consolation game.

The complete bracket, including match-ups and television broadcast times, will be announced later this spring.

–www.kstatesports.com–

TOM GILBERT
Associate Director for Athletics Communications | K-State Athletics

The Saint Xavier boys basketball team defeated Tescott 59-40 Tuesday night.

The rams got 18 points from Jalyn Dyer and 15 from Damon Smith in the victory.

The Chapman Fighting Irish boys basketball team defeated Clay Center 70-53 Tuesday night.

Chapman had four players score in double figures, including Talor Warner with 23 points, Anthony Wasylk 16, Zack Loy 12 and Izek Jackson 10 points.

In the girls game Clay Center picked up a 50-28 win over Chapman. McKenna Kirkpatrick scored 11 points for Chapman.

Final Stats  |  Postgame Notes  |  Highlights

MANHATTAN, Kan. – No. 7/7 Kansas jumped out to a big lead and held off several attempted comebacks by Kansas State to earn a 70-56 win before a sold-out crowd at Bramlage Coliseum on Monday night.

K-State (16-6, 5-4 Big 12) was led by junior Dean Wade, who posted his sixth consecutive 20-point contest, with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. Sophomore forward Xavier Sneed added 10 points, as the Wildcats shot a paltry 32.3 percent (21-of-65) from the field.

Defensively, the Wildcats forced the Jayhawks into 16 turnovers, the most Kansas has turned the ball over in Big 12 play this season, and the most since Dec. 10 loss against Arizona State (16). The 16 turnovers forced on Monday night marks the fifth time K-State has forced the opponent into 15 or more turnovers this season.

Kansas (18-4, 7-2 Big 12) was led by senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk, who scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Mykhailiuk was joined by fellow seniorDevonte’ Graham, who added 16 points. As a team, the Jayhawks shot 45.7 percent (21-of-46).

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Wildcats entered the Big Monday contest as winners of their last four games and five of their last six, though, the Jayhawks were the ones to gain an advantage early.

Right out of the gates, Kansas spouted off an 12-0 run behind three consecutive 3-pointers from the Jayhawks’ guard tandem of senior Devonte’ Graham, junior Lagerald Vick and senior Svi Mykhailiuk.

Despite the early deficit, K-State was able to force the Kanas defense into foul trouble, as junior guard Barry Brown, Jr. drew an and-one on an athletic drive. On the subsequent offensive possession, junior forward Dean Wade followed suite by drawing a foul on a successful fade-away jumper to bring the margin to just five points at 15-10 just 8:46 into the first half.

After the run by the Wildcats, the Jayhawks put together a run of their own to bring the largest deficit of the game (15) at the 7:48 mark. During the run, Kansas connected on 7-of-8, including two lay-ups from Mykhailiuk, who had a team-high 13 points at the half.

K-State answered back with a punch, scoring 9 unanswered against Kansas to bring the score to 31-25. Wade connected on seven of the points for the Wildcats during the run, including a pair of post-move scores and a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Wade had a team-high 13 points at the half.

During the K-State scoring streak, the Wildcats forced three turnovers in 2 minutes and 37 seconds of play, as they forced the Jayhawks into 12 turnovers in the first half. Just before the halftime buzzer, the Jayhawks were able to put together an 8-0 run, to end the half with a 40-27 lead.

K-State shot just 25.7 percent (9-of-35) in the first half, while the defense forced the Jayhawks into 12 turnovers in the first half. Along with leading the team in scoring, Wade added a team-high 4 rebounds at the break.

After making halftime adjustments, the Wildcats strung together another run to bring the score back to within single digits. The leading K-State scorer in the first half, Wade, hit his third 3-pointer of the game to bring the score to 40-33 with 16:33 remaining in the contest. Sneed would also add a boost for the Wildcats, scoring 9 of his 10 points in the game in the second half, including all four of his field goals in the game.

In the ensuing five minutes, the Wildcats battled to keep margin close. With under eight minutes remaining in the game, Kansas sophomore Malik Newman drove the lane to bring the deficit back to 10 at 51-41.

Kansas possessed a steady lead throughout the entirety of the contest, with the only lead change coming in the opening minute of play. In the end, the Wildcats were unable to cut the deficit throughout the contest, ultimately falling 70-56.

K-State connected on just 32.3 percent (21-of-65) from the field in the game, and had two individuals in double-digits, Wade and Sneed. Defensively, the Wildcats played opportune, forcing 16 turnovers in the game, including 3 steals from Brown to up his career total to 168.

Kansas was led by Mykhailiuk, who scored a game high 22 points on 8-of-18 from the field. As a team, the Jayhawks shot 45.5 percent (21-of-46) from the field.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Dean Wade – Junior Dean Wade reached the 20-point plateau for the sixth consecutive contest, as he tallied 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Wade also grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds.

STAT OF THE GAME

16 – K-State forced a total of 16 turnovers in Monday’s contest including 12 in the first half, to mark the fifth time this season that the Wildcats have forced 15 or more turnovers. The 16 turnovers were the most since forcing 20 against Oklahoma on Jan. 16.

SEASON RECORD UPDATE

• K-State 16-6 (5-4 Big 12)
• Kansas 18-4 (7-2 Big 12)

GAME #22

rv/rv KANSAS STATE (16-5, 5-3 Big 12) vs. 5/5 KANSAS (17-4, 6-2 Big 12)

Monday, January 29, 2018 >> 8 p.m. CT >> Bramlage Coliseum (12,528) >> Manhattan, Kan.

COACHES

Kansas State: Bruce Weber (Wis.-Milwaukee ’78)

Overall: 429-228/20^th season

At K-State: 116-73/6^th season

1. Kansas: 2-12 (2-3 at home)

Kansas: Bill Self (Oklahoma State ’85)

Career Record: 640-197/25^th Year

Record at Kansas: 433-91/15^th Year

1. Kansas State: 26-5 (10-4 on the road)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP

Kansas State (16-5, 5-3 Big 12)

G: #2 Cartier Diarra

G: #5 Barry Brown, Jr.

G: #20 Xavier Sneed

F: #32 Dean Wade

F: #14 Makol Mawien

Kansas (17-4, 6-2 Big 12)

G: #2 Lagerald Vick

G: #4 Devonte Graham

G: #10 Svi Mykhailiuk

G: #14 Malik Newman

F: #35 Udoka Azubuike

SERIES HISTORY

Overall: Kansas leads 194-93

Big 12 era: Kansas leads 47-5

In Manhattan: Kansas leads 77-47

In Lawrence: Kansas leads 89-35

Active Streak: Kansas, 6

Weber vs. Kansas: 2-12 (2-3 at home)

Self vs. K-State: 26-5 (10-4 on the road)

Weber vs. Self: 3-13 (3-3 at home)

OPENING TIP

• Kansas State (16-5, 5-3 Big 12) makes a quick turnaround on Monday night, as the Wildcats play host to archrival and No. 5/5 Kansas (17-4, 6-2 Big 12) in the 288th edition of the Dillon’s Sunflower Showdown at 8 p.m., CT. The teams enter Monday’s contest as two of the hottest in the Big 12 with K-State winning five of its last six games, including four in a row, while Kansas has won six of its last seven outings. Monday’s game will air nationally on ESPN and the WatchESPN app with Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Fran Fraschilla (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sidelines) on the call.
• The rivalry ranks as the eighth-longest continuously played in the country (have met at least twice every season since 1912) with the sixth-most gamed played (287). Kansas’ 194 wins are the most against one opponent in NCAA history, while K-State’s 93 victories are the most by any Kansas opponent. The series dates to a 54-39 win by the Jayhawks at home on Jan. 25, 1907.
• Kansas leads the all-time series, 194-93, including an 77-47 mark in games played in Manhattan, with K-State. The Jayhawks have won 46 of the last 51 meetings in the Big 12 era, including 17 of 21 at Bramlage Coliseum. However, since the Wildcats ended a 24-game homecourt losing streak to the Jayhawks in the series in 2008, they have almost played even with wins in four of the last 10 meetings. Kansas has won the last six overall matchups, including a 73-72 victory at home on Jan. 13. The last win by K-State came at home, 70-63, on Feb. 23, 2015.
• Monday’s contest will end a stretch of five home games in a seven-game stretch, as K-State will play three of its next four on the road, beginning Saturday at 7/7 West Virginia (16-5, 5-3 Big 12). The Wildcats are 11-2 at home this season, including 11-1 at Bramlage Coliseum, with four straight wins (Oklahoma State, No. 4/6 Oklahoma, No. 24/25 TCU and Georgia). The team is 2-3 vs. Top 25 foes this season.
• K-State ran its winning streak to four games on Saturday afternoon, as the Wildcats used stellar team defense and a 20-point effort from junior Dean Wade to gut out a 56-51 victory over Georgia in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Bulldogs, which was held to a season-low 51 points on 37 percent shooting, was held to just one field goal in the last 7:22 of the game, including a stretch of 6:49. Wade scored 11 of his game-high 20 points after halftime, including back-to-back buckets in the last 1:48 of the contest in a game that saw seven lead changes and six ties.  The Wildcats finish non-conference play with an 11-2 record, including 8-0 mark at Bramlage Coliseum.
• Junior Barry Brown, Jr., along with Wade, have stepped up their games with the absence of Kamau Stokes, averaging 22.0 and 19.5 points per game in guiding the Wildcats to wins in five of their last six games, including four straight. The duo has accounted for 53.7 percent (249) of the team’s points during this stretch, which has included five consecutive 20-point games for Wade and two 30-point outings by Brown.
• Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra has performed well since being inserted in starting lineup due to the Stokes injury, averaging 12.9 points on 58.5 percent shooting (31-of-53), including 50 percent (11-of-22) from 3-point range, with 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 33.4 minutes per game.

NOTES ON 5/5 KANSAS

• No. 5/5 Kansas enters Monday’s game with a 17-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in Big 12 play after posting a 79-68 win over Texas A&M in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Senior sharp-shooter Svi Mykhailiuk paced three players in double figures with a game-high 24 points on 8-of-15 field goals, including 4-of-8 from long range. The Jayhawks have won six of their last seven games and boast a 4-1 record on the road with its only blemish coming in an 85-80 setback at Oklahoma on Jan. 23.
• Kansas once again is one of the most potent offenses in the country, ranking in the Top 25 in eight categories, including 22nd in scoring offense (83.8 ppg.), 16th in field goal percentage (49.9), 17th in scoring margin (+13.5), 19th in the 3-point field goal percentage (40.5), 16th in 3-point field goals per game (10.6), 12th in both assists per game (17.8) and assist turnover ratio (1.51). They are dangerous from long range with four players with 35 or more 3-point field goals, including 50+ from Mykhailiuk (74) and senior guard Devonte’ Graham (63). The Jayhawks are allowing just 70.4 points per game on 40.7 percent shooting, including 31.7 percent from 3-point range. They are shooting 69.3 percent from the free throw line.
• Kansas is a balanced offensive teams with five players averaging in double digits led by Graham’s team-best 17.3 points per game on 40.2 percent shooting, including 41.4 percent from 3-point range, and ranks seventh nationally in assists per game (7.4 apg.) and 33rd in 3-point field goals per game (3.05). Mykhailiuk, who ranks ninth in 3-point field goals per game (3.5), is second in scoring at 16.8 points per game on 45.7 percent shooting, including 47.4 percent from long range. Udoka Azubuike (13.9 ppg.), Lagerald Vick (13.4 ppg.) and Malik Newman (11.9 ppg.) also average double figures. Azubuike, who leads the Big 12 and the nation in field goal percentage at 76.1 percent, leads the way in both rebounds (7.6 rpg.) and blocked shots (1.7 bpg.).
• Kansas is led by Hall of Fame head coach Bill Self, who has a 433-91 (.826) record in his 15th season leading the Jayhawks. Overall, he is 640-197 (.764) in his 25th season as head coach leading Oral Roberts (1993-97), Tulsa (1997-2000), Illinois (2000-03) and now Kansas.

SERIES HISTORY

• This will be 288th meeting between Kansas State and Kansas on the hardwood, including the 53rd in the Big 12 era, with the Jayhawks holding a 194-93 advantage in a series that dates to 1907. The 194 wins are the most against one opponent in the country, while the 93 victories by the Wildcats are the most by a Kansas opponent. The Jayhawks own a 77-47 lead on the road, including a 17-4 mark since the start of Big 12 play. The two schools have met at least once every season since 1912. It is the eighth-longest continuously played rivalry, while it ties for the sixth-most games played.
• Kansas holds a 47-5 mark in the Big 12 era and have won 20 of the last 23 meetings, including 13 of the last 15 games.
• Kansas has won six consecutive in the series, including the last two at Bramlage Coliseum, with the last K-State win coming, 70-63, at home on Feb. 23, 2015. Since losing 24 straight at home to the Jayhawks (1984-2007), the Wildcats have gone 4-6 in the last 10 meetings in Manhattan.
• K-State’s second-half rally came up short against No. 3/3 Kansas, 74-71, in the latest meeting on Feb. 6, 2017 at Bramlage Coliseum. After the Wildcats tied it at 63-all on forward Dean Wade’s third 3-point field goal with 2:53 to play, the Jayhawks scored six straight points to take control of the game. The late 6-0 run was keyed by guard Svi Mykhailiuk’s 3-pointer with 2:34 remaining. K-State closed to within 72-69 on a 3-pointer by guard Kamau Stokes with 22 seconds to play, but guard Devonte’ Graham canned a pair of free throws with 17 seconds to end any further comeback.
• Head coach Bruce Weber is 2-12 all-time against Kansas, including 2-3 at home.

LAST MEETING: 12/12 KANSAS 73, K-STATE 72

• Junior Barry Brown, Jr.’s off-balanced 3-pointer missed at the buzzer, as No. 12/12 Kansas held on for a 73-72 win over K-State in the last meeting between the teams at Allen Fieldhouse on Jan. 13. The two teams battled through eight ties in the final 8:28 of the game before sophomore guard Malik Newman converted on the second of two free throws to give Kansas a 73-72 lead with 15 seconds remaining. Brown inbounded the ball and took a contested 3-pointer as time expired. It marked the second consecutive season that K-State fell in dramatic fashion to Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, where the Wildcats have now lost 12 consecutive games dating back to 2007.
• Junior Dean Wade led K-State with a team-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal in 38 minutes. It marked the third consecutive 20-point game for Wade against Kansas. Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra tallied a career-high in points for the second consecutive game with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-5 from long range, while sophomore Xavier Sneed and Brown added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Brown dished out a game-high 6 assists, while Sneed had a team-high 7 rebounds.

TOM GILBERT
Associate Director for Athletics Communications | K-State Athletics