Welcome to Five Questions for... Kansas State Wildcats
Here you'll see five of the most pressing questions for the Wildcats and our response to them. Feel free to contribute your answers in the comments section.
1. Is Jamar Samuels the most frustrating player in the Big 12?
2. Rodney McGruder was named 3rd Team All Big 12 by the coaches last season averaging 11.1 points as a sophomore. Can he make it onto either the 2nd or 1st team this season?
3. Kansas State takes on West Virginia this year in a game in Wichita in the brand new INTRUST Arena there and now WV is joining the Big 12. If you were an athletic director and could hire either Bob Huggins or his protege Frank Martin who would you go with?
4. Which K-State player do you expect to have improved the most from last season?
5. Here is a link for K-State's men basketball roster. http://www.kstatesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/ksu-m-baskbl-mtt.html - Do you see any player who will ever step onto an NBA Court?
See the answers after the jump...
1. Is Jamar Samuels the most frustrating player in the Big 12?
Evan Pfaff: JamSam might have the highest ceiling of any Big 12 player who hasn't come close to reaching his potential (eclipsing Wally Judge, since his departure). He actually dropped in PPG and field goal percentage last season, compared to his junior year. This is do-or-die time, though, for the senior, so if he can't put together a memorable season this year, he might go down as one of those "coulda been" athletes.
Matt Patton: Well if you ignore watching the Plumlees play at Duke, he's definitely up there. Though, looking at his stat line from last season, I'm shocked Frank Martin let him launch 39 threes... One thing I can't figure out is why his shooting percentage regressed so much last season (disregarding the poor decision that was taking 39 threes). I still expect him to be huge this season for the Wildcats' interior as they try to replace Curtis Kelly.
Joe Loyd: I have to think that he is the most frustrating player on K-State's roster and in the Big 12. I can remember a game in the Big 12 tournament against I believe Oklahoma State where he looked like an all conference performer and then he has a lot of games where he simply disappears and commits some of the dumbest fouls you have ever seen. I know Matt that you expect him to be huge this year, all I can say is for KSU's chances this season he better be good.
2. Rodney McGruder was named 3rd Team All Big 12 by the coaches last season averaging 11.1 points as a sophomore. Can he make it onto either the 2nd or 1st team this season?
EP: I think the Big 12 is stacked this year, so breaking into the First team All Conference will be a tall order. He nearly tripled his PPG over his freshman year, and while I don't see him tripling his stats again, I don't see why he can't be a 15 PPG scorer, which would land him on the Second team.
MP: I think so. He's going to have to develop into more than a knock down shooter, as Pullen won't be around anymore to draw the defense. But I think he definitely has the potential to wind up on the second team if the Wildcats have a solid season. He's definitely a player with a lot of potential to improve on a solid resume.
JL: I find McGruder fascinating as he made the 3rd team by the coaches last season but in the preseason voting this season he did not even get mentioned in the honorable mention list but multiple players who have never suited up in the Big 12 did make it. Guys like Royce White & Chris Allen along with LeBryan Nash were selected over McGruder, it's entirely plausible that each of those guys far outperforms McGruder this year but jeez doesn't the guy at least deserve honorable freaking mention.
3. Kansas State takes on West Virginia this year in a game in Wichita in the brand new INTRUST Arena there and now WV is joining the Big 12. If you were an athletic director and could hire either Bob Huggins or his protege Frank Martin who would you go with?
EP: I'm still not 100% sold on Martin. I think he's a good coach, but with the number of transfers they saw leave Manhattan last season, something must be going on in that locker room. By default I'll go with Huggy Bear, but I wish there was a third option...
MP: Frank Martin in a flash because I'd hate to be on the other end of the conversation (or basketball court) when he found out I picked someone else. I also have a real problem with Huggins' total disregard for academics during his past (he seems to be turning that around at West Virginia).
JL: I am a huge Frank Martin fan especially with how he was willing to change things up last season to pull his team out of a spiral but I think I would have to pick Huggins. Even though Hugs doesn't probably have a lot of years left in the tank I am guessing you don't really make coaching hires for 20-30 year periods anymore. I know that Martin has gotten one team to the Elite Eight but Huggins has a longer track record and some Final Fours on his resume so he is my pick for the time being.
4. Which K-State player do you expect to have improved the most from last season?
EP: Will Spradling. He had a productive rookie campaign and I see him as the prototypical Big 12 lifer, who just gets better with age.
MP: Speaking of Jamar Samuels... Seriously, I think Samuels is in line for a great season. Spradling should also improve a lot, but I don't think he'll be quite as front and center (unless Bob Knight is calling the game) most of the time. My sleeper candidate is Jordan Henriquez-Roberts.
JL: I am going to go with Shane Southwell who got a surprisingly large amount of minutes (and starts) last season while providing almost no offense. I think after a year in the program and a full offseason to work on his game you should see him be more comfortable and maybe be able to step up and knock down some shots from the mid-range area.
5. Here is a link for K-State's men basketball roster. http://www.kstatesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/ksu-m-baskbl-mtt.html - Do you see any player who will ever step onto an NBA Court?
EP: The bigger question is whether we'll see NBA players step onto a court this year... but that's a different article all together. I don't. If I were to have to take a guess though, I'd say the best long shot would be JamSam as a muscle-power forward guy who could push his way through and get junk buckets. Otherwise... not really.
MP: Truthfully, no. There's definitely a chance that a guy like Samuels or McGruder could really come into his own over the next couple of years, but I'm not sure either is an NBA talent. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of those two and Will Spradling play in Europe though.
JL: I do not see anyone either, I agree with Matt that a couple could make some money somewhere in Europe someday but no one in the NBA. I think this is a bad omen for Frank Martin and his program as you win in the BCS conferences with NBA talent and the Wildcats simply do not appear to have the necessary firepower.
Loading comments...