Game Preview // 12/14 K-State Ends Road Swing at Oklahoma Tuesday

• James Westling (play-by-play)
• Lance Blanks (analyst)
• John J. Wilson (producer)

 
RADIO
Ok-State Sports Network

Flagships: // KMAN 1350 & WIBW 580
Satellite Radio: Sirius XM 84/84
Online: Varsity Network [free] / www.kstatesports.com/watch [free]

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• Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play)
• Stan Weber (analyst)

 
LIVE STATS
www.kstatesports.com
oklahoma.statbroadcast.com
 
COACHES
Ok-State: Jerome Tang [Charter Oak State College ’07]
Record at Ok-State: 19-6/1st Year
Career Record: 21-6/1st Year+
vs. Oklahoma: 0-0 [0-0 at K-State]
 
Oklahoma: Porter Moser [Creighton ’90]
Record at Oklahoma: 31-29/2nd Year
Career Record: 324-271/nineteenth Year
vs. Ok-State: 3-1 [2-0 at Oklahoma]
 
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Oklahoma leads 112-103
Big 12 Era: Oklahoma leads 20-18
In Norman: Oklahoma leads 66-28
At Lloyd Noble Center: Oklahoma leads 28-11
Active Streak: Oklahoma, 2
Tang vs. Oklahoma: 0-0 [0-0 at K-State]
Tang vs. Porter Moser: 0-0 [0-0 on the road]
 
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP (Based off the final sport)
12/14 Kansas State (19-6, 7-5 Big 12)
G: #1 Markquis Nowell
G: #5 Cam Carter
F: #11 Keyontae Johnson
F: #35 Nae’Qwan Tomlin
F: #3 David N’Guessan
 
Oklahoma (12-13, 2-10 Big 12)
G: #25 Grant Sherfield
G: #12 Milos Uzan
G: #3 Otega Owen
F: #1 Jalen Hill
F/C: #35 Tanner Groves
 
OPENING TIP
No. 12/14 Ok-State (19-6, 7-5 Big 12) continues its 2-game street swing on Tuesday night time with a go to to Oklahoma (12-13, 2-10 Big 12) for an 8 p.m., CT tip at the Lloyd Noble Center. In a bizarre scheduling twist, this would be the first assembly between the groups this season with the second contest coming the ultimate week of the common season on March 1. The groups have break up the final 10 conferences with the Sooners profitable each regular-season matchups in 2022.

KEY STORYLINES

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• Ok-State’s turnover issues as soon as once more proved to be detrimental within the 71-63 loss at Texas Tech on Saturday, because the Wildcats’ season-high 23 turnovers led to twenty-eight factors for the Red Raiders. The crew is permitting 23.8 factors off 17.8 turnovers of their 5 Big 12 losses in comparison with simply 15.3 factors off 13.6 turnovers of their 7 league wins. The loss dropped Ok-State right into a 3-way tie for fourth place with Iowa State and Oklahoma State within the Big 12 standings, 2 video games behind chief Texas and a sport again of second place Baylor and Kansas.   
• Ok-State remains to be off to one in all its finest begins, as the present 19-6 report ties 4 different groups for the third-best report after 25 video games prior to now 50 seasons with solely the 1972-73 (21-4), 2009-10 (21-4) and 2012-13 (20-5) having higher marks in that span. Among the 13 wins within the final 18 outings is a 9-game streak from Dec. 3, 2022 to Jan. 10, 2023, which was the longest by the Wildcats since a 10-game profitable streak in 2013-14, and a 4-0 begin in Big 12 play.
• Ok-State’s 19-6 begin below head coach Jerome Tang is the second-best by a first-year coach in class historical past, simply behind the 15-2 report by Zora G. Clevenger (1916-17). Tang’s 19-6 begin additionally ranks among the many best by all first-year coaches in Division I, tying Missouri’s Dennis Gates (19-6) and Xavier’s Sean Miller (19-6) for the most effective mark. His subsequent victory will make him simply the fourth Ok-State head coach (Lon Kruger [1986-87], Bob Huggins [2006-07] and Frank Martin [2007-08]) to win 20 or extra video games in his first season. 
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• Seniors Keyontae Johnson (17.6 ppg.) and Markquis Nowell (16.9 ppg.) have been one of the crucial prolific tandems within the nation, as they mix to common 34.5 factors per sport on 45.1 % (277-of-614) capturing, together with 37.1 % (86-of-232) from 3-point vary, and 80.8 % (223-of-276) from the free throw line. They are the fourth-most prolific scoring duo among the many energy conferences, together with the second-best within the Big 12. They had been every named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy, John R. Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy Watch Lists, whereas every had been chosen to their respective place award (Bob Cousy and Julius Irving) Top 10 lists.
• Nowell joined elite firm within the win over TCU on Feb. 7, as his 7 assists allowed him to move Steve Henson (186; 1987-88) to change into the college’s single-season chief. His present whole of 191 assists rank third nationally, whereas he’s third in assists per sport (7.6 apg.). He is one in all 3 lively Division I participant with at least 1,500 factors, 500 assists and 200 steals. In addition, he has gathered 250 profession steals, that are first amongst lively Division I gamers.

 
NOTES ON OKLAHOMA

• Oklahoma (12-13, 2-10 Big 12) enters Tuesday’s sport having misplaced 4 in a row, together with a 78-55 loss to No. 9/8 Kansas on Saturday at dwelling. Despite the skid, the Sooners personal one of the crucial spectacular wins of the season, a 93-69 victory over No. 2/2 Alabama within the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Jan. 28.
• Oklahoma is averaging 67.5 factors on 46.8 % capturing, together with 34.9 % from 3-point vary, with 32.6 rebounds, 13 assists, 5.6 steals and three.1 blocks per sport, whereas permitting 67.4 factors on 43 % capturing, together with 30.4 % from 3-point vary. The Sooners are connecting on 72.5 % from the free throw line.
• The Sooners are led by senior Grant Sherfield, who’s averaging 16.5 factors on 42.5 % capturing, together with 42.1 % from 3-point vary. He is joined in double figures by senior Jalen Hill, who’s averaging 10.2 factors on 52 % capturing. Senior Tanner Groves is averaging 9.6 factors on 52.6 % capturing with a team-high 6.9 rebounds. Brother Jacob Groves is averaging 7.2 factors. Sherfield has a team-best 83 assists.
• Oklahoma is led by second-year head coach Porter Moser, who has a 31-29 report. He led the Sooners to 19-16 report and a visit to the NIT in 2021-22. Overall, he’s 324-271 in his nineteenth season as a head coach. He is 3-1 all-time vs. Ok-State, together with 2-0 at Oklahoma.

 
SERIES HISTORY

• Oklahoma leads the all-time collection, 112-103, together with a 66-28 edge in video games performed in Norman and 28-11 at the Lloyd Noble Center. It is the Fifth-most performed rivalry in class historical past, because the groups have performed one another for 96 consecutive seasons courting to Feb. 5, 1927. The Sooners are additionally 20-18 within the Big 12 period with the groups splitting final 5 conferences.
• Oklahoma has gained 3 of the final 4 conferences, together with a sweep of the regular-season collection in 2022 with a 71-69 win at dwelling on Jan. 1 and a 78-71 victory in Manhattan on March 5. The final Ok-State win got here at dwelling on Feb. 23, 2021, whereas the final win in Norman got here on Jan. 16, 2019.

 
LAST 10 MEETINGS [5-5]
Date                    Rank     Result   Score                  Location
2/16/2018          —/—     W          87-69                  Manhattan
2/24/2018          —/—     L             77-86                  Norman
1/16/2019          —/—     W          74-61                  Norman
3/9/2019            —/—     W          68-53                  Manhattan
1/4/2020            —/—     L             61-66                  Norman
1/29/2020          —/—     W          61-53                  Manhattan
1/19/2021          —/—     L             50-76                  Norman
2/23/2021          —/—     W          62-57                  Manhattan
1/1/2022            —/—     L             69-71                  Norman
3/5/2022            —/—     L             71-78                  Manhattan                     
 
LAST MEETING:
OKLAHOMA 78, Ok-STATE 71 [Mar. 5, 2022]

• Despite sensational efforts from senior Mark Smith and Mike McGuirl, who had a mixed 43 factors of their closing video games at Bramlage Coliseum, Oklahoma obtained its personal particular efficiency from senior Umoja Gibson who led all scorers with 29 factors, because the Sooners obtained a sweep of the season collection with a 78-71 victory within the final assembly on March 5, 2022.
• Oklahoma led by as many as 11 factors, together with 70-59 with 4:27 to play, whereas Ok-State was capable of near 73-67 on a 3-pointer by Nijel Pack with 2:20 left, however the Wildcats may get no nearer within the 78-71 loss.
• Smith scored 22 factors on 9-of-17 capturing to go together with 9 rebounds whereas enjoying all however 38 seconds, whereas McGuirl added 21 factors to go together with game-highs in assists (5) and steals (3) in practically 39 minutes.

 
LAST TIME OUT: TEXAS TECH 71, 12/11 Ok-STATE 63

• No. 12/11 Kansas State had quite a few possibilities to take the lead within the closing minutes however couldn’t fairly make the best play at the best time in dropping a 71-63 choice at Texas Tech on Saturday night time earlier than a crowd of 12,973 at United Supermarkets Arena.
• The Wildcats had alternatives to win the sport down the stretch regardless of a season-high 23 turnovers which the Red Raiders transformed into 28 factors. It is essentially the most factors allowed to an opponent by way of turnovers since Texas Tech scored 30 in a win on Jan. 17, 2020.
• Seven instances within the final 12 minutes Ok-State was inside one possession and every time Texas Tech had a solution. The Red Raiders responded with 3-point performs after the Wildcats closed to inside 2 factors at 43-41 and 46-44 halfway by the second half.
• Ok-State closed to 50-49 on 2 free throws by senior Keyontae Johnson and a 3-pointer from reserve Desi Sills with below 9 minutes to play then once more at 52-51 on 2 extra free throws by senior Markquis Nowell with 8:19 remaining. However, every time Texas Tech made a clutch shot, together with a dunk by junior D’Maurian Williams after the Sills’ 3-pointer and a layup by senior De’Vion Harmon, who led all scorers with 20 factors, after Nowell’s free throws.
• Two extra free throws by Nowell gave the Wildcats’ one final alternative at 62-61 with 1:45 to play, however the Red Raiders had been capable of reply with a layup from sophomore Jaylon Tyson that ignited a 9-2 run to finish the sport that included a jumper from Harmon and 4 free throws from senior Kevin Obanor.
• Nowell led three gamers in double figures with 18 factors, whereas Sills and junior Nae’Qwan Tomlin added 12 and 10 factors, respectively. Johnson didn’t attain double figures for the primary time this season, scoring 9 factors on 3-of-11 area targets however he did seize a game-high 8 rebounds to go together with 3 assists.
• For the sport, Ok-State hit on simply 35.2 % (19-of-54) of its area targets, together with 23.1 % (6-of-26) from lengthy vary, whereas hitting on 67.9 % (19-of-28) from the free throw line. Although the Wildcats had been capable of flip the Red Raiders over 18 instances, they scored simply 14 factors off these miscues.
• Texas Tech obtained a spirited effort from Harmon – the switch from Oklahoma and Oregon – who had a game-high 20 factors on 7-of-16 area targets to go together with 4 assists and three rebounds in 31 minutes. He was joined in double figures by freshman Lamar Washington with 13, Tyson with 11 and Obanor with 10.
• The Red Raiders hit on 41.8 % (23-of-55) from the sector, together with 28 % (7-of-25) from 3, and made 72 % (18-of-25) of their free throws.

 
POSTGAME NEWS & NOTES

• Ok-State nonetheless leads the all-time collection with Texas Tech, 26-22, whereas the Red Raiders have now gained 9 in a row at dwelling… Tech holds a slim 21-19 edge within the Big 12 period, because the groups break up the collection for second yr in a row.
• Ok-State has now misplaced 4 straight Big 12 street video games after opening 2-0.
• Ok-State fell to 9-3 in video games determined by single digits (9 factors or much less).
• Ok-State held a 36-32 rebounding benefit, together with 12 offensive rebounds, which resulted in 11 second-chance factors… The Wildcats at the moment are 11-2 when profitable the rebounding battle.
• Ok-State obtained 26 factors from its bench, which marked the third consecutive sport with 20 or extra bench factors.
• Ok-State is now 6-4 this season when trailing at the half.

 
TANG DEBUTS AS HEAD COACH

• First-year head coach Jerome Tang loved a profitable a debut, because the Wildcats posted a 93-59 win towards UTRGV on Nov. 7, turning into the twenty fourth man and the primary full-time black head coach in class historical past. He adopted along with his first street victory at Cal to begin his tenure off with a 2-0 report. He is the sixth minority males’s head coach in Ok-State Athletics historical past, together with the third in males’s basketball following interim head coach Darryl Winston (1984-85) and former full-time head coach Frank Martin (2007-12).
• Ok-State’s 19-6 begin below Jerome Tang is the second-best by a first-year coach in class historical past, simply behind Zora G. Clevenger, who went 15-2 in 1916-17. The begin ties for the most effective by any present first-year coach in Division I with Missouri’s Dennis Gates (19-6) and Xavier’s Sean Miller (19-6).
• This just isn’t Tang’s first time being a head coach, as he served as athletics director and head coach at Heritage Christian Academy in Cleveland, Texas from 1993-2003, main the college to five TAPPS Division A State Championships.
• In addition, Tang twice served as interim head coach in his 19 seasons as an assistant and affiliate head coach at Baylor, main the Bears to 4-0 report. He helped Baylor to wins over Texas (86-79 in OT) and at Texas Tech (82-48) throughout the 2012-13 season, whereas he guided the squad to wins over Louisiana (112-82) and Washington (86-52) to open the 2020-21 season. Tang is barely credited with the wins in 2013, transferring his school head teaching report to 21-6.

 
A TEAM OF WINNERS

• Head coach Jerome Tang has remarked on a lot of events that he recruited a crew ‘filled with winners’ as exemplified by the variety of championships that the collective group has gained.
• There are a mixed 8 state championships among the many 15 gamers on the roster, together with 2 every gained by seniors Desi Sills and Abayomi Iyiola and true freshmen Taj Manning. In addition, sophomore Jerrell Colbert and true freshman Dorian Finister additionally gained state titles throughout their senior seasons.
• In addition to the highschool success, a lot of gamers have been part of profitable school applications, together with Sills and Iyiola being members of Arkansas’ Elite Eight crew in 2021 and senior Keyontae Johnson (Florida) and junior David N’Guessan (Virginia Tech) being part of 2 NCAA Tournaments.
• This championship mentality stretches to the workers, as affiliate head coach Urlic Maligi has been a part of 5 NCAA Tournament and 5 convention title groups in his profession. Assistant coach Jareem Dowling has been concerned with groups which have gained 4 convention titles and earned 4 postseason journeys, whereas assistant coach Rodney Perry is coming off a 2021-22 yr wherein he led Link Academy to a nationwide runner-up end at the GEICO National Tournament earlier than serving to MOKAN Elite to its third Nike Peach Jam title.

 
1700 WINS AND COUNTING

• Ok-State’s extra time 96-87 win over Nevada within the semifinals of the Cayman Islands Classic represented the 1,700th win in class historical past. The Wildcats are the forty third Division I crew to eclipse 1,700 wins, together with the sixth Big 12 faculty.
• The Wildcats have a 1,714-1,219 (.586) all-time report as a program, which incorporates 31 NCAA Tournament appearances and 21 convention championships.

 
1,000-WIN CLUB

• Ok-State is one in all 11 Division I faculties whose males’s and ladies’s basketball groups have each gained greater than 1,000 video games. Joining Ok-State is that this distinctive membership is Baylor, Georgia, Maryland, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, UConn and Western Kentucky.

 
SUCCESS IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY

• With the 64-50 win over Florida within the closing SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 28, Ok-State accomplished its non-conference schedule with a 12-1 mark, together with an ideal 8-0 in dwelling video games (Nebraska was performed at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City is taken into account a house sport).
• The 12-1 report is the most effective non-conference report for the reason that Wildcats gained a program-best 13 non-conference video games in 2009-10. The groups additionally gained 12 non-conference video games in each 2008-09 (12-3) and 2010-11 (12-3). Ok-State had gained simply 19 non-conference video games, together with 16 at dwelling, within the 3 seasons (2019-20 to 2021-22) earlier than this season.
• Ok-State has posted a 171-53 (.762) report in non-conference play for the reason that 2006-07. During that span, the Wildcats have a 129-14 (.901) mark at dwelling venues (contains video games at Bramlage Coliseum, INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita and the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City in non-conference play, together with a 119-12 (.908) mark at Bramlage Coliseum.

 
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE

• Ok-State loved a particular night time on offense in its 116-103 win over No. 6/6 Texas, because the Wildcats not solely broke the college report for factors but in addition tied the Big 12 report in handing the Longhorns their first loss within the brand-new Moody Center earlier than a sold-out crowd of 10,763 followers on Jan. 3.
• The 116 factors eclipsed the earlier school-record mark of 115, which first got here vs. Delaware State on Dec. 7, 1991, then once more vs. Fresno State within the NIT on March 24, 1994. It was additionally the most-ever in a street sport, surpassing the 108 at Iowa State on Jan. 29, 1975, whereas it was most in a convention sport, topping the 114 scored vs. Nebraska at dwelling on Jan. 10, 1987, and essentially the most in a Big 12 sport, surpassing the 111 vs. Missouri at dwelling on Jan. 3, 1998.
• According to ESPN Stats & Info, Ok-State’s 116 factors within the win at No. 6/6 Texas marked essentially the most by an unranked crew in a win over a top-10 opponent since Missouri scored 119 towards Iowa State in 1988.
• All 5 starters scored in double figures, together with a career-best 36 factors from senior Markquis Nowell and a career-tying 28 by senior Keyontae Johnson. The 64 mixed factors tied for the fourth-most by a duo in class historical past and most since 2008, whereas it marked simply the sixteenth time (together with the second time this season) that tandem has every had at least 25 factors in a sport. Nowell’s 36 factors are the seventh-most factors by a Wildcat in a Big 12 sport and essentially the most since Barry Brown, Jr., scored 38 factors vs. Oklahoma State on Jan. 10, 2018.
• As a crew, the Wildcats linked on 61 % (36-of-59) from the sector, together with 56.5 % (13-of-23) from 3-point vary, and set a school-record by hitting on 93.9 % (31-of-33) from the free throw line. It marked the primary time the crew has shot higher than 60 % towards a Big 12 opponent since 2018, whereas the 13 treys tied for the sixth-most made in a convention sport.

 
POTENT OFFENSIVE ATTACK

• Ok-State is averaging 76.4 factors this season on 45.2 % (657-of-1453) capturing, together with 34.7 % (177-of-510) from 3-point vary, whereas hitting on 74.8 % (418-of-559) from the free throw line. The Wildcats lead the Big 12 in assists (16.9 apg.), whereas they’re third in free throw proportion, fourth in scoring offense and fifth in 3-pointers/sport and help/turnover ratio.
• The present scoring common (76.4 ppg.) is on tempo to be the sixth-best in class historical past and the best for the reason that 2009-10 crew averaged 79.7 factors per sport. The 45.2 area objective proportion is on tempo to complete within the top-10 within the shot clock period (1985-86) and the best since 2017-18 (46.3 %).
• Ok-State has scored 80 or extra factors 9 instances, together with 5 video games of 90 or extra factors highlighted by the school-record 116-point effort within the win at No. 6/6 Texas (1/3/23), which was the primary 100-point sport since 2011. It is essentially the most video games of 80 or extra factors since posting 11 in 2017-18 and most video games of 90 or extra factors since additionally totaling 5 in 2009-10.
• The 93 factors vs. UTRGV (11/7/22) had been the fourth-most in a season opener within the final 25 seasons and essentially the most since scoring 98 vs. Southern Utah to open the 2014-15 season. The Wildcats additionally topped the 90-point barrier in a 96-87 extra time win over Nevada (11/22/22) at the Cayman Islands Classic, whereas the squad fell 2 factors wanting their first 100-point sport since 2010-11, totaling 98 vs. UIW (12/11/22) behind a school-record first 7 double-digit scorers.
• Twice this season the Wildcats have had 2 gamers (Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson) rating 25 or extra factors in the identical sport, which hadn’t occurred since 2010. Nowell (29) and Johnson (28) mixed for 57 factors within the extra time win over Nevada (11/22/22) earlier than they went for 64 within the win at No. 6/6 Texas (1/3/23), which ties for the fourth-most by a duo in class historical past and essentially the most since Michael Beasley and Bill Walker at Baylor in 2008.
• Ok-State has linked on higher than 50 % of its area targets in 7 video games, together with back-to-back vs. Rhode Island (11/21/22) and Nevada (11/22/22) and ACU (12/6/22) and UIW (12/11/22). The crew hit on a season-best 60 % (36-of-60) vs. Texas (1/3/23), which included a season-high 13 3-pointers, and a school-record efficiency from the free throw line of 93.9 % (31-of-33).

 
DISHING THE ROCK

• Ok-State ranks among the many finest within the nation in sharing the basketball, because the Wildcats rank thirteenth nationally and first within the Big 12 with 16.9 assists per sport. Among the 423 assists are 7 gamers with double-digit totals, together with senior Markquis Nowell, who ranks third nationally in assists/sport (7.6) and whole assists (191). Nowell, who has double-digit assists in 6 video games, turned the college’s single season help chief along with his 7 dimes within the win over TCU.
• The Wildcats additionally rank within the top-10 with a 64.4 help proportion based on KenPom, which calculates assists (423) to made area targets (657). Only Lafayette (69.1), Virginia (67.0), Xavier (66.9), Arizona (66.7), Tennessee (65.9) and Air Force (64.5) have a greater proportion nationally.
• Although Nowell will get all the eye for his playmaking capability, the remainder of the crew has shared the ball, because the Wildcats have had 3 or extra gamers dish out at least 2 assists in 19 of 25 video games. The crew had 7 gamers with 2 or extra assists vs. UTRGV (11/7/22), whereas 6 vs. Nebraska (12/17/22) and Baylor (1/3/23) and 5 vs. UIW (12/11/22), Texas (1/3/23), TCU (twice) and Texas Tech (1/21/23).

 
TEAM FULL OF SCORERS

• Ok-State is one in all simply 15 faculties to have at least 4 1,000-point scorers on its roster, as Wildcats Tykei Greene (1,191 factors), Keyontae Johnson (1,229 factors), Markquis Nowell (1,731 factors) and Desi Sills (1,327 factors) have all reached the milestone of their Division I careers. Only Johnson, who did it towards Radford (12/21/22), and Nowell have reached the mark whereas at Ok-State.
• Ok-State has now six 1,000-point scorers if you happen to depend senior walk-on Nate Awbrey, who scored 1,032 factors in his 4-year profession at Manhattan Christian College, and junior Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who scored greater than 1,000 factors in his junior school profession at Monroe (2019-20) and Chipola Colleges (2020-22).
• Missouri has 6 1,000-point scorers adopted by Notre Dame, Penn State, San Diego and UAB with 5, whereas Alabama, Iowa State, Ok-State, Miami, UNC, Ohio State, Southern Utah, Texas, Xavier and Youngstown State have 4 such scorers.

 
BENCH PRODUCTION

• Ok-State is getting stable manufacturing from its bench by the primary 25 video games, because the Wildcats are averaging 18.4 factors per sport.
• The Wildcats obtained 41 factors from its bench within the opener vs. UTRGV (11/7/22) with 3 reserves (Abayomi Iyiola (12), Massoud (10) and Sills (10) all posting double-digit factors. As a bunch, the bench linked on 14-of-29 from the sector, together with a collective 11-of-17 effort by Iyiola, Massoud and Sills.
• Senior Desi Sills has been notably impactful from the bench, scoring in double figures 11 instances, together with a season-high 24 factors within the win over No. 2/2 Kansas (1/17/23). He is third on the crew in scoring in Big 12 play, averaging 9.0 factors on 47.9 % capturing. Junior Ismael Massoud has additionally proved to be a spark of the bench, posting 4 double-digit scoring video games, whereas averaging 6.5 factors on 40.7 % capturing in Big 12 play with 3 double determine video games.

 
FORCING TURNOVERS

• Ok-State’s protection has compelled 387 turnovers by the primary 25 video games, which incorporates 196 steals, whereas averaging 16.6 factors per sport off these miscues.
• The 15.5 turnovers compelled per sport ranks thirty third nationally, whereas it locations fourth within the Big 12 behind Iowa State, TCU and Texas. Ok-State ranks sixth in steals (7.8) and seventh in turnover margin (+1.1), whereas senior Markquis Nowell locations thirteenth nationally and second within the Big 12 in steals (2.32 spg.).
• Ok-State has scored 20 or extra factors off turnovers 6 instances with a season-high 31 factors off 26 UTRGV (11/7/22) turnovers within the season opener. The Wildcats scored 20+ factors off miscues in back-to-back video games vs. Kansas City (11/17/22; 26 factors) and Rhode Island (11/21/22; 21 factors) in addition to ACU (12/6/22; 23 factors), UIW (12/11/22; 28 factors) and West Virginia (12/31/22; 22 factors).

 
JOHNSON MAKES RETURN TO COURT

• Junior Keyontae Johnson made his triumphant return to basketball court docket on Nov. 7 within the season opener with UTRGV after a 2-year absence after struggling a medical emergency towards Florida State on Dec. 12, 2020. He completed the night time with 13 factors, 4 assists and a pair of rebounds in a team-high 26 minutes.
• Johnson was named the March Madness National Player of the Week and the Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Nov. 14, as he averaged 14.5 factors on 47.6 % (10-of-21) capturing, together with 57.1 % (4-of-7) from 3-point vary, to go together with 5.5 rebounds and a pair of.5 assists within the Wildcats’ first 2 wins.
• Johnson helped the Wildcats win the Cayman Islands Classic and was named to the All-Tournament crew, as he averaged a team-best 19.3 factors on 53.6 % (15-of-28) capturing, together with 50 % (4-of-8) from 3-point vary, to go together with a team-best 6.0 rebounds in 32.3 minutes per sport.
• Johnson earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors for the second time this season on Dec. 19 after his spectacular efficiency in Ok-State’s win over Nebraska, as he posted game-highs in each factors (23) and rebounds (11) to go along with his career-tying 4 steals. It was his seventh profession double-double with at least 20 factors and 10 rebounds, whereas it was his eleventh profession 20-point sport.
• Johnson was chosen for the Newcomer award for the third time on Jan. 9 after posting consecutive 20-point video games in wins at No. 6/6 Texas and No. 19/17 Baylor whereas including a game-high 9 rebounds in every contest. He continued his spectacular play with the game-winning dunk to cap a 24-point effort within the win over No. 2/2 Kansas earlier than logging his third double-double with 15 factors and 11 rebounds vs. Texas Tech to earn Newcomer honors for fourth time on Jan. 23.
• Johnson has scored in double figures in a team-best 24 video games, main the Wildcats and rating second within the Big 12 in scoring (17.6 ppg.). He is second within the league in area objective proportion (51.3), whereas he’s within the top-15 in 6 different classes. He is one in all two Big 12 gamers (Kansas’ Jalen Wilson) rank within the league’s top-5 in scoring and rebounding in general and conference-only video games.

 
NOWELL STILL RUNNING THE SHOW

• On a crew with 13 new gamers and a brand new workers, fifth-year senior Markquis Nowell as soon as once more has demonstrated he’s nonetheless the man working the present for the Wildcats, as he leads in each assists (7.6 apg.) and steals (2.3 spg.) whereas averaging the second-most factors (16.9 ppg.). He was named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy, John R. Wooden and Naismith Trophy Award Midseason Watch Lists and Bob Cousy Point Guard Award Top 10 List.
• Nowell ranks third nationally in assists/sport (7.6 apg.) and whole assists (191), whereas he’s within the top-30 in 4 different classes, together with thirteenth in steals (58) and steals/sport (2.3), sixteenth in free throws (125) and twenty seventh in minutes/ sport (36.2). He is one in all 3 Division I gamers with at least 1,500 factors, 500 assists and 200 steals, whereas he just lately eclipsed 1,700 factors in his profession. He additionally ranks first amongst all lively Division I gamers in steals (250).
• Nowell was acknowledged for his MVP efficiency in serving to the Wildcats win the Cayman Islands Classic, as he was chosen because the Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week on Nov. 28. He averaged 18.7 factors, 9.0 assists and three.7 rebounds in 33.6 minutes per sport. It was his first weekly honor within the Big 12 and his fourth general after profitable it 3 instances within the Sun Belt.
• In wins vs. Rhode Island and Nevada, Nowell turned the primary Wildcat to report double-digit assists in consecutive video games, whereas he turned the second participant in class historical past and the primary since 1989 to publish a 25-point/10-assist sport along with his 29-point, 11-assist effort within the extra time win over the Wolf Pack.
• Nowell was a part of the primary Wildcat duo since 2010 to every accumulate at least 25 factors in a sport, as he and fellow senior Keyontae Johnson mixed for 57 factors within the extra time win over Nevada. He capped the event with a game-high 18 factors on 6-of-14 capturing within the title sport win over LSU, as he helped the Wildcats rally from an 11-point second-half deficit.
• Nowell loved a particular efficiency within the historic win at No. 6/6 Texas, scoring a career-best 36 factors on 9-of-15 capturing, together with 6-of-10 from 3-point vary, to go together with an ideal 12-of-12 effort from the free throw line. It was the seventh-most factors by a Wildcat in a Big 12 sport and essentially the most since Barry Brown, Jr., scored 38 factors vs. Oklahoma State on Jan. 10, 2018.
• Nowell capped his spectacular week with the college’s first 30-point, 10-assist sport within the win at No. 19/17 Baylor, scoring 32 factors whereas dishing a career-best 14 assists. He turned the primary Wildcat since Michael Beasley in 2008 with consecutive 30-point video games, whereas his 14 assists tied the report for many in a convention sport in class historical past. In addition to his second Big 12 Player of the Week on Jan. 9, he was named the NCAA March Madness, ESPN, Naismith Trophy and Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week.
• Nowell practically posted the college’s first triple-double within the win over Florida on Jan. 28, scoring 13 factors on 4-of-9 area targets, together with 2-of-4 from 3-point vary, to go together with a career-tying 9 rebounds and a game-high 8 assists. He has 5 double-doubles (factors/assists) this season and 13 in his profession.
• Nowell turned the college’s single season assists chief (187) within the win over TCU, as he eclipsed the report of Steve Henson (186) set in 1987-88.

 
AN INSTANT IMPACT

• Junior switch Nae’Qwan Tomlin has given Ok-State one other scoring menace within the publish, because the junior school All-American ranks third on the crew in scoring (10.2 ppg.) whereas connecting 45.2 % (95-of-210) from the sector to go together with 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks in 27.9 minutes per sport. He ranks within the Big 12’s top-15 in rebounding (twelfth) and blocks (eleventh).
• Tomlin was chosen because the Big 12 co-Newcomer of the Week on Dec. 26 after his close to double-double within the win over Radford on Dec. 21. He led 4 Wildcats in double figures with a season-high 26 factors, as he hit on 11-of-18 area targets, which included 4 dunks, a 3-pointer and three free throws, to go together with 9 rebounds.
• Tomlin noticed his streak of double-digit scoring video games finish at 7 video games after scoring 9 factors within the win at No. 19/17 Baylor. The streak started with 14 factors vs. Wichita State and was highlighted by 15-point efforts vs. UIW and Nebraska and a career-best 26 factors vs. Radford. In that 7-game stretch, he averaged 14.9 factors on 55.4 % (41-of-74) capturing to go together with 6.3 rebounds.
• Tomlin has grabbed 10 rebounds twice this season, whereas posting his first profession double-double (15 factors/10 rebounds) within the win over No. 2/2 Kansas. He has scored in double figures in 5 video games in Big 12 play.
• Tomlin scored greater than 1,000 factors in his junior school profession at each Monroe College (2019-20) and Chipola College (2020-21) whereas connecting on 54.2 % from the sector. He averaged a team-leading 13.8 factors on 52.4 % capturing with 5.9 rebounds throughout his All-American season at Chipola, as he guided the college to the semifinals of the NJCAA National Tournament.

 
STARTER OFF THE BENCH

• Senior Desi Sills has offered a spark for the Wildcats off the bench, as he’s averaging 8.7 factors on 45.2 % (76-of-168) capturing with 3.4 rebounds and a pair of.2 assists in 28.5 minutes per sport. He has scored in double figures 11 instances, together with a season-high 24 factors within the win over No. 2/2 Kansas.
• Sills scored in double figures in 2 of the primary 3 video games, together with 10 in his first sport as a Wildcat vs. UTRGV. He scored 16 factors vs. LSU within the championship sport of the Cayman Islands Classic, hitting on 6-of-9 area targets, earlier than his 17-point effort at Butler, which all got here within the second half. He has scored in double figures in every of the final 3 video games, together with 14 vs. TCU.
• Although Sills went scoreless within the win over Wichita State, he had the play of the sport along with his block of Shammah Scott’s breakaway layup with 1:42 to play with the Wildcats trailing 50-49.

 
UP NEXT: 18/19 IOWA STATE (16-8, 7-5 Big 12)  

• Ok-State returns dwelling to Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday, because the Wildcats play host to No. 18/19 Iowa State (16-8, 7-5 Big 12) at 1 p.m., CT on ESPN. The Cyclones gained the primary assembly, 80-76, at dwelling on Jan. 24.