By Don Phillips
KANSAS STATE (5-1, 0-0 Big 12) AT GEORGIA (3-2, 0-0 SEC)
Friday, December 4, 2015
Stegeman Coliseum (10,523)
Athens, GA
K-State is averaging 76.3 points per game through the first six games on 42.8 percent shooting (152-of-355), including 29.4 percent (32-of-109) from 3-point range, to go with 72.6 percent (122-of-168) from the free throw line. K-State ranks 7th in the Big 12 in scoring offense, 8th in 3-point field goal percentage and 9th in field goal percentage. The Wildcats recorded three consecutive 80-point games for the first time since doing it three straight times between Dec. 23, 2010 and Jan. 3, 2011 and the first time to start a season since 2009-10. Nearly half of K-State’s points (210) have come in the paint where the team averaging 35.0 points per game.
K-State is connecting on 48.8 percent (120-of-246) inside the 3-point line. The Wildcats have also taken advantage of their opponents’ miscues, averaging 17.2 points off of turnovers. K-State has also been solid on its second chance opportunities, scoring 81 points (13.5) on 82 offensive rebounds. K-State’s 122 free throws made and 168 attempts rank second in the Big 12 to West Virginia (133/18).
Over 75 percent of the team’s points this season have come from its five starters, as they have totaled 347 of the 458 points on 45 percent (112-of-249) shooting from the field… The rest of the team is shooting 37.7 percent (40-of-106). The 75.8 percent of points coming from starters ranks second in the Big 12 behind only Iowa State (83.9). The starters have also dominated in other areas this season, posting 145 of 237 rebounds, 71 of 88 assists and 33 of 47 steals. All five starters scored in double figures against Columbia on Nov. 16, as Justin Edwards (19), Dean Wade (17), Wesley Iwundu(16), Kamau Stokes(11) and Stephen Hurt(10) combined for 73 of the team’s 81 points on 53.1 percent shooting(26-of-49)… It marked the first time that had happened since a 77-74 loss at Missouri on Feb. 2, 2008 when Michael Beasley(17), Blake Young(14), Dominique Sutton(11), Bill Walker(11) and Clent Stewart(10) each scored in double digits.
The Wildcats have had at least two players score in double figures in each of their six games… The team has a combined 21 double-digit scoring games with six players posting at least two such games led by Edwards who has done it in all six games. K-State had a different leading scorer in its first five games, including Iwundu, Edwards, Barry Brown, Wade and Stokes… It marked the first time that has happened since the start of the 1998-99 season.
Three starters (Iwundu, Wade and Hurt) have posted double-doubles in a different game this season. Edwards is the only Big 12 player to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and minutes. Four of the five starters (Edwards, Iwundu, Wade and Stokes) are averaging better than 25 minutes per game.
The Bulldogs are averaging 70.0 points on 42.8 percent shooting, including 35.9 percent from 3-point range, on the season with 38.2 rebounds, 11.4 assists, 5.2 steals and 6.2 blocks per game. They are allowing opponent 68.2 points per game on 37.5 percent shooting, including 29.1 percent from beyond the arc. The team is shooting 69.4 percent from the free throw line.
Georgia is a balanced scoring team with 4 players averaging in double figures led by senior Kenny Gaines’ 16.4 points per game average on 50 percent shooting. Sophomore Yante Maten is second in scoring (14.8 ppg.) and first in rebounding (8.8rpg.) and blocks (2.2 bpg.). J.J. Frazier (13.4 ppg.) and Charles Mann(10.4 ppg.) also average in double figures. Georgia returns nine lettermen, including three starters, from a team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2014-15.
Injuries
[F] 11/28/2015 – Derek Ogbeide “?” Friday vs. Kansas State ( Shoulder )
[G] 11/20/2015 – Juwan Parker out indefinitely ( Achilles )
Selection: Kansas State No Line
