Kansas State Wildcats
Big 12 (21-10, 10-8)
Coach Frank Martin has done a superb job during his time with Kansas State. This was supposed to be a tough year for the Wildcats, but the young team has grown up as the season has progressed and that makes KSU a dangerous team in March. They are still young, but they have gotten better and better. If they can get hot in March, the Wildcats can make a little tournament run.
Big Wins: 1/7 Missouri (75-59), 1/18 Texas (84-80), 2/18 at Baylor (57-56)
Bad Losses: 1/14 at Oklahoma (73-82), 1/28 Oklahoma (60-63), 2/11 at Texas (64-75)
Coach: Frank Martin (5 seasons at Kansas State)
Why They Can Surprise:
The Kansas State frontcourt has emerged as a major force. Jamar Samuels, a 6-7 senior, leads the way. Samuels is best known for his tough rebounding and defending, but he is also a dynamic scorer who can finish above the rim and step outside and hit the mid-range jumper. The bigger surprise has been the play of freshman Thomas Gipson. At 6-7, Gipson is a little undersized for the five spot, but he tilts the scales and 275 pounds and takes up a lot of space in the paint. Unlike Samuels, Gipson will stay around the basket. A lot of his scoring comes from offensive rebounds, but he is developing into a decent interior scorer. Jordan Henriquez will earn the starting job over Gipson when Coach Martin needs a taller player on the floor. Henriquez is a seven-footer who is a major factor on the defensive end. He is a very good rebounder and a great shot blocker.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The big scorers for Kansas State are Rodney McGruder and Will Spradling. McGruder is a big guard who can attack the basket and knock down the long ball. Spradling is a combo guard who can help out point guard Angel Rodriguez and do plenty of scoring as well. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, McGruder and Spradling have been very inconsistent from three-point land. Rodriguez, Shane Southwell and Martavious Irving have had the same issues. When the outside shot is falling, Kansas State can beat anybody, but they can also have large scoring droughts. This is also a group that can turn the ball over way too much and that has to change. Rodriguez has had some great games, but Kansas State has put a lot of pressure on the freshman and that pressure is only going to rise during the tournament. If Rodriguez can make things happen and take care of the ball and Gipson or Henriquez can force the opposing defense to collapse into the paint and free up the shooters on the wing, Kansas State can beat anybody.
Probable Starters:
Angel Rodriguez, Freshman, Guard, 8.0 ppg, 3.2 apg
Will Spradling, Sophomore, Guard, 9.5 ppg, 2.9 apg
Rodney McGruder, Junior, Guard, 15.4 ppg, 1.4 apg, 5.3 rpg
Jamar Samuels, Senior, Forward, 10.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg
Jordan Henriquez, Junior, Forward, 7.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Thomas Gipson, Freshman, Forward, 7.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Martavious Irving, Junior, Guard, 5.7 ppg, 1.5 apg
Shane Southwell, Sophomore, Guard, 3.4 ppg, 2.1 apg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 71.3 (94th in nation, 6th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 63.1 (76, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.1 (138, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.2 (35, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.7 (206, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.1 (176, 5)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.3 (258, 9)
Rebound Margin: 5.2 (32, 2)
Assists Per Game: 14.4 (61, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.5 (244, 9)
Last Five Postseason Appearances:
Kansas State 2011 NCAA Round of 64 win over Utah State
Kansas State 2011 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Wisconsin
Kansas State 2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over North Texas
Kansas State 2010 NCAA Round of 32 win over BYU
Kansas State 2010 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Xavier
Kansas State 2010 NCAA Regional Final loss to Butler
Kansas State 2009 NIT First Round win over Illinois State
Kansas State 2009 NIT Second Round loss to San Diego State
Kansas State 2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over USC
Kansas State 2008 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Wisconsin
Kansas State 2007 NIT First Round win over Vermont
Kansas State 2007 NIT Second Round loss to DePaul
*all team stats through 3/4
See All Men’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
