Freshman Michael Beasley had 32 points and a Big 12 Conference-record 24 rebounds in his first game at Kansas State, leading the 25th-ranked Wildcats to a 94-63 victory over Sacramento State on Friday night.
Beasley, the most highly touted recruit in school history and rated the nation's No. 1 incoming freshman by Rivals.com, broke the Big 12 mark of 23 rebounds set by Kevin Durant, who starred at Texas as a freshman last season, and Kansas' Nick Collison.
It was the second 30-point, 20-rebound game in Kansas State history. Bob Boozer had 36 points and 23 rebounds in 1957.
Blake Young had 22 points and Jacob Pullen added 18 points and five assists for the Wildcats (1-0), who are ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 1972. Young was 5-for-8 from the field, including 4-of-5 on 3-pointers.
Kansas State _ in its first game under coach Frank Martin _ was without three of its key returning players. Redshirt freshman Bill Walker and seniors David Hoskins and Clent Stewart all did not play because of injuries.
The Wildcats played at much more of an uptempo pace than last season, when they averaged 70.1 points per game under Bob Huggins, who left after just one season in Manhattan to return to his West Virginia, his alma mater.
While that fast-paced, breakneck style produced a lot of points, it also created a ton of turnovers. The Hornets had 31 and Kansas State had 26, many from Pullen, a freshman point guard.
Kansas State led 50-33 at halftime, and by then Beasley already had 16 points and 17 rebounds. He broke Norris Coleman's freshman record for rebounds in just 19 minutes.
The Wildcats overwhelmed Sacramento State from the start, forcing 10 turnovers in the first 8 minutes and taking a 20-9 lead. Beasley got the fans rocking on Kansas State's third possession when he dunked home a missed layup by Young and forced Hornet coach Jerome Jenkins into a timeout.
All of Beasley's six first-half field goals came off offensive rebounds.
Kansas State is coming off a 23-12 season and a second-round exit in the NIT, but is looking for its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1996.
The Wildcats have won 11 straight home openers.
No comments:
Post a Comment