Kansas State (19-10) at Iowa State (14-16)
FACTS & STATS: Site: Hilton Coliseum (14,092) -- Ames, Iowa. Television: none. Home Record: KSU 15-2, ISU 12-5. Away Record: KSU 2-5, ISU 1-10. Neutral Record: KSU 2-3, ISU 1-1. Conference Record: KSU 9-6, ISU 4-11. Series Record: KSU leads, 128-76.
GAME NOTES: The Kansas State Wildcats are in search of their 20th win this season, finishing off the regular season with a Big 12 Conference battle at Hilton Coliseum against the Iowa State Cyclones. The Wildcats are currently on a season-worst four-game losing streak, continuing their woes this past Tuesday by taking care of Colorado, 78-72. The win put Kansas State in sole possession of the three-seed in the league standings, and also gives the 'Cats an opportunity for their first back-to-back 20 win seasons since the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons. Iowa State began its campaign with a solid 12-6 record. However, the Cyclones spun downward for the rest of the season, losing all but two of their remaining 12 games. ISU lost a heartbreaker to Missouri this past Wednesday, falling in double overtime, 81-75 for its fourth straight loss. The setback brought the team all the way down to the second-to-last seed in the Big 12, where it will be tough going next week in the conference tournament. KSU dominated the Cyclones, 82-57 earlier this season, expanding its lead in the all-time series to, 128-76.
Every hyperbole can be used for Player of the Year candidate and freshman sensation Michael Beasley. He has broken practically every significant single- season record for Kansas State this season, including points (780) and rebounds (366), while holding a handful of Big 12 records as well. His 26 double-doubles is a freshman national record, which he averages on a nightly basis with 26.9 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. Beasley put together a typical 33-point, 14-rebound effort in the win over Colorado earlier this week, while Bill Walker once against played second fiddle with 25 points of his own. Walker tends to be overlooked because of Beasley's dominance, but the forward is contributing 16.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, numbers that would lead almost any other team in the conference. Jacob Pullen paces the team with 98 assists while adding 9.8 ppg.
Iowa State hit a superb 30-of-35 from the free throw line against Missouri, but the Cyclones couldn't overcome 17 turnovers and 39.2 percent shooting from the floor in the double overtime defeat to Missouri. Diante Garrett and Jiri Hubalek were the beneficiaries of the free throw barrage, each sinking eight attempts from the stripe to finish with 20 and 15 points, respectively. Hubalek tops the Cyclones in points (13.1 ppg) and rebounds (7.5 rpg), while Craig Brackins, who tallied 13 points in the loss, is chipping in 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. In a disappointing effort, Wesley Johnson (12.6 ppg) hit just 1-for-8 from the floor, and the defense simply couldn't stop the Tigers down the stretch.
Not many defenses can contain Beasley if he stays out of foul trouble. Expect the big man to play smart and put together another highlight reel in a game that should not be too competitive.
Kansas State by 10+:SIB
FACTS & STATS: Site: Hilton Coliseum (14,092) -- Ames, Iowa. Television: none. Home Record: KSU 15-2, ISU 12-5. Away Record: KSU 2-5, ISU 1-10. Neutral Record: KSU 2-3, ISU 1-1. Conference Record: KSU 9-6, ISU 4-11. Series Record: KSU leads, 128-76.
GAME NOTES: The Kansas State Wildcats are in search of their 20th win this season, finishing off the regular season with a Big 12 Conference battle at Hilton Coliseum against the Iowa State Cyclones. The Wildcats are currently on a season-worst four-game losing streak, continuing their woes this past Tuesday by taking care of Colorado, 78-72. The win put Kansas State in sole possession of the three-seed in the league standings, and also gives the 'Cats an opportunity for their first back-to-back 20 win seasons since the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons. Iowa State began its campaign with a solid 12-6 record. However, the Cyclones spun downward for the rest of the season, losing all but two of their remaining 12 games. ISU lost a heartbreaker to Missouri this past Wednesday, falling in double overtime, 81-75 for its fourth straight loss. The setback brought the team all the way down to the second-to-last seed in the Big 12, where it will be tough going next week in the conference tournament. KSU dominated the Cyclones, 82-57 earlier this season, expanding its lead in the all-time series to, 128-76.
Every hyperbole can be used for Player of the Year candidate and freshman sensation Michael Beasley. He has broken practically every significant single- season record for Kansas State this season, including points (780) and rebounds (366), while holding a handful of Big 12 records as well. His 26 double-doubles is a freshman national record, which he averages on a nightly basis with 26.9 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. Beasley put together a typical 33-point, 14-rebound effort in the win over Colorado earlier this week, while Bill Walker once against played second fiddle with 25 points of his own. Walker tends to be overlooked because of Beasley's dominance, but the forward is contributing 16.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, numbers that would lead almost any other team in the conference. Jacob Pullen paces the team with 98 assists while adding 9.8 ppg.
Iowa State hit a superb 30-of-35 from the free throw line against Missouri, but the Cyclones couldn't overcome 17 turnovers and 39.2 percent shooting from the floor in the double overtime defeat to Missouri. Diante Garrett and Jiri Hubalek were the beneficiaries of the free throw barrage, each sinking eight attempts from the stripe to finish with 20 and 15 points, respectively. Hubalek tops the Cyclones in points (13.1 ppg) and rebounds (7.5 rpg), while Craig Brackins, who tallied 13 points in the loss, is chipping in 10.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. In a disappointing effort, Wesley Johnson (12.6 ppg) hit just 1-for-8 from the floor, and the defense simply couldn't stop the Tigers down the stretch.
Not many defenses can contain Beasley if he stays out of foul trouble. Expect the big man to play smart and put together another highlight reel in a game that should not be too competitive.
Kansas State by 10+:SIB
